Suppressor Boom: How the $0 Tax Fee Is Reshaping the Market
The $0 tax stamp fee changed more than suppressor prices — it changed who's buying. Here's what manufacturers say about demand and what to expect in 2026.
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The suppressor market is no stranger to change, but manufacturers and retailers say the $0 tax stamp fee implemented on January 1 brought something new — a wave of first-time buyers.
We talked to a couple of suppressor manufacturers to get a pulse on what the suppressor world looks like now and whether demand spikes will stall purchases down the line.
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Market Reset
President Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill kicked the door for suppressor ownership right down, eliminating the $200 tax stamp fee for ownership. Though suppressors still undergo the same form process and approval from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the barrier to entry is a lot more budget-friendly these days.
With that change came a surge of buyers ready to purchase.
On January 1, 2026 — the official launch of the $0 fee — the ATF saw an overwhelming 5,900% increase in e-form submissions, skyrocketing from a 2,500 per day volume to 150,000, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
A few months out, the rush for suppressors hasn’t calmed, with retailers and manufacturers saying the boom is still ongoing, with suppressors moving fast.
"We definitely see the tide rising for suppressors," Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central, told Pew Pew Tactical in an email.
"Awareness and interest amplified with the tax stamp going away, and we’ve seen organic growth in the market as more people start shooting suppressed and then get their friends and family on board. It really is an elevated shooting experience, less noise and less recoil. This market is just going to continue to grow."
Silencer Central’s increase in shoppers began in 2025 as the company launched a program covering the cost of the $200 tax stamp. That indicated that once the price of the stamp went down, sales would go up.
"There was a surge of demand for several weeks following January 1, but Silencer Central also did well with ‘free tax stamp’ promotions in 2025, so it was clear that the $200 stamp fee was an obstacle for customers. Removing that barrier certainly increased demand."
Though you’d expect the “typical” buyer who already owns a suppressor or two to pick up a few extra with the fee now cleared, our sources reported that buyers also include a lot more first-timers. This trend appeared before the $0 tax, as education and word spread about suppressors and their uses.
"We've had a great mix of both new and returning customers,” Maddox confirmed. "Ever since the Big Beautiful Bill, suppressors have been a hot topic and the legislative process exponentially increased awareness among firearms owners."
First-timers tiptoed into the suppressor arena during the “free tax stamp” promotion in the second half of 2025, with that trend in new suppressor ownership continuing in 2026.
"A $200 barrier to ownership has been removed, so a lot of people are taking advantage and starting to shoot suppressed,” he added.
Angstadt Arms Founder & Lead Designer, Rich Angstadt, told Pew Pew Tactical that budget models have also helped ease people into suppressor ownership. With budget pricing enticing first-timers, lower-priced cans are flying off shelves.
"From a product standpoint, lower-priced suppressors typically move the fastest. Suppressors under roughly $500—particularly .22 caliber models—are often the entry point for new buyers and tend to sell through quickly. The next tier, generally under $800, also sees strong demand."
Supply & Demand: What's Happening?
The demand for suppressors wasn’t surprising, and some retailers, like Silencer Central, say they started prepping for a potential rush of buyers well before the January 1 launch.
"Since early 2025, we had a good idea that changes were coming for suppressors through the Big Beautiful Bill, whether that was a reduction in the tax stamp fee or full deregulation," Joe Kurtenbach, Silencer Central’s Senior Manager, Media & Relationships, told Pew Pew Tactical.
"So even before President Trump signed the legislation on July 4, [Silencer Central’s] BANISH team was already forecasting increased demand and building up our inventory levels."
Despite the heads-up and preparation, the company still experienced pains as it worked to ensure supply could meet demand and tackle the ATF’s new eForms.
"Silencer Central faced several significant challenges in a very short timeframe," Maddox explained.
"Not only did we need to engage our manufacturing partners on inventory, but we also had to address some big technical and logistical issues. Along with the tax stamp fee going away, the ATF was changing their eForms process, and Silencer Central was rolling out self-certification through our customer portal (previously, customers had to schedule a quick phone call to review and submit their paperwork)."
Though Silencer Central was able to meet the demand, other products struggle to stay on shelves.
"We are already seeing a lot of suppressors go out of stock, not just at Silencer Central but throughout the marketplace," he told us.
A quick tour of suppressors online backs this up, showing cans marked out of stock or limited availability, specifically those in the “affordable” bracket. Angstadt pointed out that this is expected, given how shoppers operate.
"Historically, the most accessible price points are always the first to experience shortages when demand accelerates," he said.
Our sources indicated that this isn’t a temporary lack of availability either. They point to long-term supply chain back-ups as companies fight to ramp up production and meet the demand.
"At the moment, most products are still available and pricing remains relatively stable. However, if demand continues at its current pace, availability could tighten as the year progresses, particularly for the most popular models and accessories," Angstadt clarified.
What Consumers Should Expect
With supply chain issues looming, where does that leave interested consumers who want a piece of the suppressor pie?
Simply put, if you want a suppressor, now is the time to buy.
Though manufacturers say demand will eventually normalize, it’s hard to tell when that will be and what the new norm will look like. Beyond that, retailers say that suppressors are typically not a one-and-done purchase — with consumers often returning to add to their collection.
"There will likely be some normalization after the initial surge, which is typical anytime a regulatory barrier is removed. However, over the longer term I expect the suppressor market to continue expanding," Angstadt relayed.
"As more shooters experience suppressed firearms firsthand, they quickly recognize how much more enjoyable the shooting experience becomes compared to unsuppressed firearms. That tends to create lasting demand rather than purely short-term interest."
For now, Angstadt and Silencer Central say they are both focusing on increasing their suppressor lines to ensure consumers have options when it comes to keeping guns quiet.
"We are doing everything we can to offer great customer service through timely in-stock reminders, while also being the best partner we can to the manufacturers. Our customers want their products, so we want to help those brands deliver," Silencer Central’s Maddox said.
Brands are not the only ones struggling to keep up. The ATF itself has seen an increase in the time between eForm submission and approval.
In 2025, it wasn’t uncommon to get same-day approvals, but in 2026, increased volume has taken its toll.
At the time of this article’s publishing, the ATF’s website reports eForm 4s are taking 26 days for Trusts and 10 days for individuals.
Although retailers are optimistic that the ATF will eventually work through the backlog, buyers should factor those wait times into their purchase plans in the meantime.
Final Thoughts
With the $0 tax fee in place and the barrier to ownership significantly reduced, suppressors have gained a sort of momentum they haven’t really seen before.
With lingering concerns of supply chain issues, retailers and manufacturers agree that if you’re thinking of getting a suppressor, now’s the time.
Have you bought a suppressor this year? Let us know in the comments below. Ready to shop? We have a ton of suppressor-related resources below!