Last checked October 22, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Laws and federal enforcement policy can change.
Missouri: state law points to federal law
Missouri only makes a silencer a crime when it is held "in violation of federal law" (RSMo 571.020). Federally, a suppressor now transfers on a Form 4473 with a NICS check, with no Form 4 approval and no tax stamp (ATF policy since October 9, 2026). But that is an enforcement policy, not a change to the statute, so we recommend Missouri buyers file the voluntary $0 Form 4 through JCM. Ask us or your FFL before choosing the 4473-only option. Shop suppressors →
From the Ozarks to the farm country north of the Missouri River, Missouri hunters and shooters can own suppressors and use them in the field. JCM Armory ships silencers to Missouri FFLs from Kansas City and Columbia to St. Louis and Springfield.
Are silencers legal in Missouri?
Yes, as long as the silencer is not held in violation of federal law. RSMo 571.020.1(6)(c) makes it an offense to knowingly possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell a firearm silencer "in violation of federal law," and RSMo 571.020.3 makes that a class D felony. Missouri defines a firearm silencer as "any instrument, attachment, or appliance that is designed or adapted to muffle the noise made by the firing of any firearm" (RSMo 571.010(9)). Missouri has no separate state silencer permit or registry.
Can you hunt with a silencer in Missouri?
Yes. The Missouri Wildlife Code's hunting-methods rule (3 CSR 10-7.410) does not list suppressors among prohibited methods. It does prohibit fully automatic firearms for all hunting, and it limits pistols, revolvers and rifles for game birds (crows excepted).
Watch the special firearms provision during deer season: during the November and antlerless portions of the firearms deer season, in counties open to deer hunting, other wildlife may be hunted and feral hogs taken only with a .22 caliber or smaller rimfire pistol, revolver or rifle, or a shotgun with shot no larger than No. 4. Waterfowl hunters, trappers and landowners on their own land have exceptions (3 CSR 10-7.410(1)(I)). Deer, turkey, elk and black bear firearm methods are set out in the Missouri Department of Conservation's species booklets, so check MDC's current booklet for your hunt.
What Missouri buyers should know
Missouri's silencer law is written around federal law, not around a state process. ATF's October 9, 2026 open letter says ATF will no longer require NFA approval or registration for suppressors, but it describes this as enforcement discretion. The NFA registration provisions are still in the statute, and the court injunction behind the change applies only to the plaintiffs in that case. Filing the voluntary $0 Form 4 gives you federal paperwork on file that matches Missouri's "federal law" wording, so it is the safer choice for Missouri buyers.
How buying a silencer from JCM Armory works
Since October 9, 2026, ATF does not enforce Form 4 approval or registration for suppressors. At JCM you pick one of two options (full details in our How to Buy a Silencer Online guide):
- Option 1: Walk out on a Form 4473 + NICS. Fill out the 4473 at your Missouri FFL, pass the background check and take it home. This relies on ATF's current enforcement policy, which could change.
- Option 2: File a voluntary $0 Form 4 through JCM. We file the ATF Form 4 with the $0 tax option so your suppressor is registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. You wait for ATF processing, but you have federal paperwork on file.
Our recommendation for Missouri: Option 2, the voluntary $0 Form 4, because Missouri law ties silencer possession to federal law.
Ships to your local Missouri FFL
Choose a Missouri dealer at checkout who handles suppressor transfers (call them first). We ship your silencer there, and you complete the paperwork and background check in person. Your Missouri dealer sets and collects their own transfer fee. Questions? Call us at (410) 419-9896.
Shop silencers · Subsonic ammo · Silencer buying guide · Buy guns online in Missouri · Tennessee silencer guide · All state guides
Missouri silencer FAQ
Is a silencer legal in Missouri?
Yes, when it is not held in violation of federal law. RSMo 571.020.1(6)(c) makes it a crime to knowingly possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell a firearm silencer in violation of federal law. Because that wording points to federal law, we recommend Missouri buyers file the voluntary $0 Form 4.
Can I hunt with a suppressor in Missouri?
Missouri's hunting-methods rule, 3 CSR 10-7.410, does not list suppressors as a prohibited method. Fully automatic firearms are prohibited, and the usual season, permit and caliber rules still apply.
Can I hog or coyote hunt with my centerfire suppressed rifle during Missouri's November deer season?
Not with a centerfire rifle unless an exception applies. During the November and antlerless portions of firearms deer season, other wildlife may be hunted and feral hogs taken only with a .22 caliber or smaller rimfire or a shotgun with shot no larger than No. 4. Waterfowl hunters, trappers and landowners on their own land have exceptions (3 CSR 10-7.410(1)(I)).
How long does it take to get a silencer in Missouri?
With Option 1 you can usually pick up once it reaches your Missouri FFL and you pass the background check. With Option 2, ATF's Form 4 processing time applies.
Do you ship silencers directly to my house in Missouri?
No. Silencers ship to a licensed Missouri dealer, and you complete the paperwork and background check there.
Sources
- RSMo 571.020, Possession, manufacture, transport, repair or sale of certain weapons (Missouri Revisor of Statutes)
- RSMo 571.010(9), definition of firearm silencer (Missouri Revisor of Statutes)
- 3 CSR 10-7.410, Hunting Methods (Missouri Code of State Regulations, Wildlife Code ch. 7)
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Hunting Regulations
- ATF Open Letter, NFA making and transfer requirements for certain firearms and devices (October 9, 2026)
Shoot quieter with subsonic ammo
Get the most out of your new suppressor with subsonic loads that stay below the speed of sound. Shop subsonic ammo →