Thread: Hardys are making suppressors in the USA

How so?

Suppressors are regulated by the national firearms act. For those who don't understand how that works, it's akin to the system we have here for E/B/C category firearms.
If you want to purchase a suppressor in the USA, you have to find one you want, then you pay the supplier for it (This could be the manufacturer or the dealer or whatever), then you fill out an ATF form 4 (It's like a permit to procure, only it requires a set of fingerprints and a signature of a law enforcement officer*) You then file the form 4 with the ATF along with a cheque for $200. ATF does background checks and approves you form 4, which can take anywhere from a month to 6 months. ATF affixes a stamp and sends you the completed form 4 back. You then take the form 4 back to the dealer/individual/manufacturer from which you purchased the suppressor and they let you take possession of it.

So- you pay for the suppressor, then six months later you can finally take it home. If you sell it - same process again.

EDIt: Also - general usage varies a heap as well. Suppressors are still illegal for hunting in a lot of states, so the majority of usage they get is heavy sustained fire on a range. Bearing in mind that if you damage the suppressor, its a lot of rigmarole to go through to have it repaired.
Suppressor designs in the USA are traditionally aimed at achieving robustness as opposed to weight reduction. A lightweight aluminium suppressor might be ideal for hunting, but sustained fire will cause issues.
With that in mind, and the hoops you jump through to get a suppressor, a large number of consumers are going to prefer a heavier, but more durable design, as opposed to a lighter suppressor.

*Note: I know you can bypass this with a trust but shhhhh for the sake of simplicity.