The Rush Is On… Or Is It?

I am not convinced that the upcoming changes to the NFA regulations which reduce to the tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns is going to result in a land-office rush on cans. Yes, there will be an uptick of interest in suppressors. However, I think it’ll be a gradual swell, as those of us who have cans (and some disposable income) start to buy the cans we kinda sorta wanted but never got around to buying. This in turn will spark other people’s interest in buying suppressors, which will in turn result in more and more cans eventually being sold.

The big winners in this scenario will be Silencer Central and Silencer Shop, both of which have easy to use systems in place for buying suppressors and creating trusts to cover the legal folderol about owning them.

(Oh, BTW, if the NFA does go away, I think that removal of the need for a trust that will REALLY kick off the rush for NFA items).

What will be really interesting, however, is what these changes will mean for “two stamp” guns like the De Lisle Carbine in the header image. As it stands now, you have to pay $200 to the .gov for the tax on the suppressor and another $200 in tax because it’s considered a short-barreled rifle. What happens to the market for integrally suppressed firearms when those to penalties go away? Could we see semi-automatic versions of the H&K MP5SD from Military Arms Corp and other manufacturers? Let’s hope so.

Speaking of integrally suppressed guns, maybe it’s time for another look at something like the SilencerCo Maxim9. SilencerCo owns Zev now, so they could make a chassis for the OZ.9 trigger pack which includes an integral can and put that on sale. Or for a more budget-priced option, Ruger could make a chassis which used the Fire Control Insert for the RXM with a integral suppressor (remember, the “gun” part of this is the trigger chassis, not the barrel, etc). Chamber it in .380 ACP and 9mm (the smaller caliber means a smaller suppressor and an easier to carry gun) and then market it via their Dead Air suppressor brand.

All of a sudden, things get interesting again.