Suppressor
Disposal
There is no explicit requirement to notify the ATF of an NFA Firearm that you have destroyed. The ATF *does* however advise that you do notify them for their records. If you choose to notify the ATF of the NFA Firearm that you destroyed, they request that you send them a letter with your information to them alongside supporting documents, pictures, etc showing that the NFA Firearm was destroyed.
Their mailing address is;
You can use the below predefined form letter to fill out, print, and mail to the ATF to notify them of destruction if youd like.
<<<<INSERT LINK TO PREWRITTEN DESTRUCTION FORM LETTER HERE>>>
1
The ATF NFA Handbook states;
Section 2.5 Removal of firearms from the scope of the NFA by modification/elimination of components.
Firearms, except machineguns and silencers, that are subject to the NFA fall within the various definitions due to specific features. If the particular feature that causes a firearm to be regulated by the NFA is eliminated or modified, the resulting weapon is no longer an NFA weapon.
2.5.1 Removal of machineguns and silencers from the scope of the NFA. Machineguns are defined to include the receiver of a machinegun and the definition of silencer includes each component of a silencer. Therefore, to remove these weapons from the provisions of the NFA, the receiver of a machinegun or all the components of a silencer must be destroyed.
The preferred method for destroying a machinegun receiver is to completely sever the receiver in specified locations by means of a cutting torch that displaces at least one-quarter inch of material at each cut location. ATF has published rulings concerning the preferred destruction of specific machineguns.
A machinegun receiver may also be properly destroyed by means of saw cutting and disposing of certain removed portions of the receiver. To ensure that the proposed saw cutting of a particular machinegun receiver is acceptable, FTB should be contacted for guidance and approval of any alternative destruction proposal. Note: a machinegun receiver that is not properly destroyed may still be classified as a machinegun, particularly in instances where the improperly destroyed receiver is possessed in conjunction with other component parts for the weapon.
A silencer may be destroyed by completely severing each component by means of a cutting torch that has a tip of sufficient size to displace at least one-quarter inch of material at each cut location.
Concerning the outer tube(s) of a silencer, these components may be destroyed by crushing them flat in lieu of cutting with a torch.
Anyone interested in destroying an NFA weapon by means other than described above should contact FTB to discuss possible alternatives.
2
Specifically regarding silencer destruction
The ATF Firearms Technology Industry Services Branch also published a guide specifically regarding silencer destruction
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/silencer-destruction-diagram/download
