Rock House Firearms · Lufkin, TX · Class 3 / SOT Dealer · Updated October 2026
How to Buy a Suppressor in 2026
The rules changed more in 2026 than in the previous ninety years: the federal tax stamp dropped to $0 in January, and an August federal court ruling ended the NFA registration requirement for many buyers. Here is what that means for you, how the process works at our shop, and what to bring.
$0
Tax stamp
Since Jan 1, 2026
21+
Minimum age
Dealer purchase
$50
NFA transfer
Or Form 1 filing help
What changed in 2026
Two Ways To Take Home A Suppressor
The traditional path — ATF Form 4. Your suppressor ships to us, we file an electronic Form 4 with your fingerprints and photo, and the ATF approves the transfer. The $200 tax became $0 on January 1, 2026, but the paperwork and the wait remain. This path works for every eligible buyer in Texas and is still the standard for suppressors already on a dealer’s NFA books.
The new path — background check only. In Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF a federal court in Texas held that NFA registration cannot be required for items taxed at $0. The ruling took effect August 13, 2026, and the Department of Justice confirmed on October 1 that it will not appeal. The relief is not automatic for everyone: it covers the plaintiff organizations’ members and customers of the companies in the case, who can complete a normal Form 4473 and NICS check and leave the same day. Texas is one of the 27 states where that applies, and Rock House Firearms is a qualifying dealer under the ruling.
Where things stand today: the ATF is still updating its systems and guidance for the new path, so for now every suppressor at our shop goes through the electronic Form 4 — filed by us, fingerprints and photo taken here, $0 tax. As soon as the ATF’s process is in place we will move qualifying buyers to the same-day background check, and this page will say so. Call or message us for the current status before you order.
Quick facts
Legal in Texas
Yes — to own, carry on your firearm, and hunt with
Tax stamp
$0 federal tax since January 1, 2026
Age
21 or older to buy from a dealer
Fees
$50 NFA transfer for suppressors shipped to us from elsewhere; $50 Form 1 filing service for your own SBR or suppressor build
Pickup
In person at our Lufkin shop, by appointment — suppressors never ship to your door
Step by step
The Process At Rock House Firearms
1
Pick Your Can
Match the suppressor to your caliber and thread pitch. Browse our silencer inventory or ask us — we will help you choose.
2
Order It
Buy from our store for pickup in Lufkin, or buy from another dealer and have it shipped to us on a Form 3 (dealer-to-dealer NFA transfer).
3
Paperwork
We file an electronic Form 4 — individual or trust — and capture your fingerprints and photo here. Once the ATF finishes its transition, qualifying buyers will instead complete a Form 4473 and NICS check at the counter. Either way, we handle the filing.
4
Take It Home
We call you the moment the ATF approves the Form 4 and you pick up in Lufkin. When the same-day path opens, qualifying buyers will leave with the suppressor the day they clear the background check.
Trust Or Individual?
On a Form 4 you can register as an individual or through an NFA gun trust. An individual filing is simpler; a trust lets every trustee you name legally possess and use the suppressor, which matters for families and hunting buddies. If you already have a trust, bring a copy. Building your own SBR or suppressor instead? Our $50 Form 1 service handles the fingerprints, photo and filing for your application.
What To Bring
A valid government photo ID with your current address and your trust paperwork if you are using one. For a Form 4 we capture your fingerprints and photo here electronically and file the whole application for you — no ink cards, no trip to the police station. Texas License to Carry holders should bring the LTC as well.
Suppressors Bought Elsewhere
Already ordered from Silencer Shop, Silencer Central or another retailer? Enter Rock House Firearms as your receiving dealer. The suppressor comes to us on a Form 3, we complete your transfer, and our NFA transfer fee is $50. Call ahead so we are expecting it.
Questions
Suppressor FAQ
More answers on our FAQ page, or contact us — we answer every message within a business day.
Are suppressors legal in Texas?
Yes. Texas allows private ownership of suppressors with no state permit or registration, and Texas Parks and Wildlife allows them for hunting game animals and non-game animals alike. Only the federal process applies.
Is the $200 tax stamp really gone?
Yes. The federal transfer and making tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns dropped to $0 on January 1, 2026. Nobody pays the $200 stamp anymore.
Do I still have to file a Form 4?
For now, yes. The August 2026 ruling lets covered buyers — members of the plaintiff organizations and customers of the companies in the case — take a suppressor home after a standard Form 4473 and NICS check, and Rock House Firearms is a qualifying dealer. But the ATF has not finished changing its procedures, so we are completing every suppressor transfer on an electronic Form 4 ($0 tax) until the transition is clean. We will update this page the day that changes.
How long does a Form 4 take?
Electronic Form 4 approvals have ranged from a few days to several months depending on ATF workload. We file within a day or two of receiving your suppressor and paperwork, and you can check status with us any time.
Can a suppressor be shipped to my house?
No. Suppressors are NFA items and must transfer through a licensed SOT dealer in your state, on either path. Choose Rock House Firearms as your dealer and pick up in Lufkin.
How old do I have to be?
21 to buy a suppressor from a dealer. You must also be legally able to own a firearm.
Can I hunt hogs and deer with a suppressor in Texas?
Yes. Suppressors are legal for hunting in Texas, which is one of the main reasons East Texas hog and deer hunters buy them — less noise, less recoil, better hearing protection in the stand.
What does Rock House charge?
No transfer fee on suppressors bought from our store and picked up here. Suppressors purchased elsewhere and shipped to us are $50 per NFA transfer, which covers the dealer-to-dealer paperwork and your filing. We also offer a $50 Form 1 service — electronic fingerprints, photo and filing help for customers making their own SBR or suppressor — and ATF-compliant NFA engraving.
Ready to go quiet?
Shop Silencers or Ask Us Which Path Applies
Browse our suppressor inventory, or call and we will tell you exactly how your purchase will work before you pay.