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. ​
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Their mailing address is;
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​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.
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<<<<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.
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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
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https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/silencer-destruction-diagram/download
