Suppressor Sales Double in September as ATF Eases Rules

Suppressors are flying off shelves faster than makers can build them, and a recent ATF enforcement shift is about to pour more fuel on the fire.

Key points

• September spike: American Rifleman reports NFA item purchases, mostly suppressors, hit 149,614 units in September, more than double the 65,273 figure from September 2025.
• Nine-month surge: Total 2026 NFA purchases through September reached roughly 1.59 million, a 137 percent jump over the same stretch in 2025, per NSSF estimates cited in the article.
• ATF enforcement change: On Oct. 12, NRA-ILA reported that ATF will suspend enforcement of large parts of the NFA following the Jensen v. ATF and Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF rulings, treating suppressors and other covered items more like ordinary firearms.
• Simplified buying process: In many areas, picking up a suppressor now mainly means passing a background check and filling out a 4473, the article notes, without the old registration wait.
• Supply crunch: American Rifleman reports popular models are out of stock online, with some FFLs now notifying regulars when new inventory lands.

Quick take

The numbers in this piece make it clear this isn't a blip. When demand doubles year over year and the regulatory friction drops at the same time, you get exactly the kind of bottleneck American Rifleman describes. If you've been putting off buying a can, expect longer waits and thinner selection heading into the holidays, not a sudden restock.

Read the full story: americanrifleman.org