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NFA Item Transfers in Charleston

What's an NFA Item?

Charleston FFL Transfers can assist customers with NFA sales and transfers. The National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), any other weapons (AOWs), and machine guns. We help customers with every NFA transfer, from ordering most makes and models of suppressors to completing the transfer at our Charleston office.

NFA Transfers Under ATF's October 2026 Guidance

Effective October 9, 2026, ATF no longer requires Form 4 approval, a tax stamp, fingerprints, photos, or NFA registration to transfer suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), or Any Other Weapons (AOWs). These items now transfer like any other firearm: you complete an ATF Form 4473, pass an FBI NICS background check, and take your item home. There’s no more months-long wait. Machine guns are not affected. They remain fully regulated under the NFA. A few things still apply:
  • State and local laws still apply.
  • SBR and SBS owners still need ATF approval (Form 5320.20) before taking the firearm across state lines.
  • NFA transfers are billed at our standard transfer fee.
  • Buying a suppressor in Charleston? We can order most makes and models and complete the transfer here, by appointment, at our standard transfer fee.

Types of NFA Firearms

MACHINE GUNS

Includes any firearm which can fire repeatedly, without manual reloading, “by a single function of the trigger”, Both continuous fully automatic fire and “burst fire” (e.g., firearms with a 3-round burst feature) are considered machine gun features. The weapon’s receiver is by itself considered to be a regulated firearm. A non-machine gun that may be converted to fire more than one shot per trigger pull by ordinary mechanical skills is determined to be “readily convertible”, and classed as a machine gun.

SHORT-BARRELED RIFLES (SBRs)

Includes any firearm with a buttstock and either a rifled barrel less than 16″ long or an overall length under 26″. The overall length is measured with any folding or collapsing stocks in the extended position. The category also includes firearms which came from the factory with a buttstock that was later removed by a third party.

SHORT-BARRELED SHOTGUNS (SBSs)

Similarly to SBRs, but with either a smoothbore barrel less than 18″ long or a minimum overall length under 26″.

SUPPRESSORS

The legal term for a suppressor is silencer, and includes any portable device designed to muffle or disguise the report of a portable firearm, but does not include non-portable devices, such as sound traps used by gunsmiths in their shops which are large and usually bolted to the floor.

ANY OTHER WEAPON (AOW)

The AOW definition includes specifically described weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more but less than 18 inches in length from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading.

PLEASE USE THIS FORM
FOR ALL NFA REQUESTS.