Anyone have recent experience with ATF wait times?

Machineguntony · July 18, 2013, 12:53 PM

About two weeks back, I was talking to this guy today that said that I will be waiting much more than 6 or 6.5 months to get my stamps.

He said that the dealers just say that so that you don't get discouraged.

I kind of ignored him, until today.

Today is week number four from when I first submitted my ATF paperwork.

According to one of my dealers, he said it will take about 3-6 weeks, and on average four weeks, for the form 3 (to transfer the gun from that out-of-state dealer to the dealer in my state). Today, when I called my local dealer, they said it takes much longer than 4 weeks for them to receive the MG. DOAH!

I read that ATF strives to have the stamp issued within 9 months!!!

I read on another forum (from about a year ago), that some guy had waited seven months, and still didn't have his stamp.

Does anyone have recent experience on the actual wait time? Is it really 6-6.5 months? Or am I waiting until spring for my guns?

**Tom Servo** · July 18, 2013, 01:39 PM

Actually, the ATF strives to get them out in six months. Until recently, that's been the average. Lately, times seem to be closer to seven.

Old Stony · July 18, 2013, 04:06 PM

I got two a few months ago and they were pretty close to the 6 month mark.

Machineguntony · July 18, 2013, 05:30 PM

This wait officially sucks.

I've bought everything possible and reloaded to my heart's content.

Now it's just a matter of waiting.

I'm gonna go picket DC and put some pressure on the ATF, I'm so bored.

tmorone · July 18, 2013, 06:06 PM

I just got one back that was right at 7 months, almost to-the-day.

Check out nfatracker.com - that place confirms, everyone is waiting pretty much seven months right now.

Adventurer 2 · July 19, 2013, 03:48 PM

Place that I bought my NFA item from told me to expect 8 month wait. Getting the Sherrifs signature on the forms took 3 weeks - I'm going to try to forget about it and wait to be surprised someday when I get my tax stamp.

Machineguntony · July 19, 2013, 04:15 PM

I gotta gripe a bit.

This absolutely sucks.

If this was a private enterprise, the enterprise would hire more people and speed up the wait times, knowing that they would be making more money.

But then again...ehhhh...maybe I'm wrong because there's still an ammo, powder, and primer shortage and manufacturers and suppliers have said that they aren't going to add production because they expect the bubble to burst.

Screw me! This wait sucks.

tmorone · July 20, 2013, 02:48 PM

The first one is the hardest, hang in there man. Once I had my first stamp come in it was soooooo much easier to wait, since I could at least play with something.

jclayto · July 22, 2013, 01:22 PM

Tony, I just received a stamp last week that took right at 7 months from the date the stamp tax check cleared the bank.

You do realize that your real wait has not even started right? Once the dealer receives it you get to do your form 4 and that's when your 6-7 month wait will begin. My last F3 to dealer took about 5 weeks.

Hang in there.

medalguy · July 24, 2013, 04:06 PM

Submitted Form 4 February 3, returned by BATF this week for a minor typing error in the address so it should be here approved within 2 weeks. That's 7 month hopefully. Later submissions will be taking longer.

Coach Z · July 25, 2013, 06:10 PM

I posted this in the thread about my first purchase so I'll be brief. I submitted last october and it was 179 days.

Willie Lowman · July 25, 2013, 10:46 PM

They cashed my check in early January. My dealer called ATF a few weeks back to check on the status of all the items transfering through him and he was told to expect transfers to take 9 months right now.

Machineguntony · July 26, 2013, 11:44 AM

Hmmm. I heard from someone else that 9 months can happen. Wow!

I wonder what they'll do when the line/wait reaches 12 months? Are they going to add staff? Probably not, is my guess. That's what happens when you have a monopoly.

Rikakiah · July 26, 2013, 12:31 PM

I'll let you know how accurate the 6 month time frame is in January when my suppressor stamp does or doesn't get completed...

hulley · July 26, 2013, 01:55 PM

See my sig line. I'm now over 6 months on my current form 4.

velillen · July 26, 2013, 02:43 PM

I ordered my can December 23rd. Still waiting for it. I don't check the status or anything to know any more than I am still waiting

Lonestar06 · July 29, 2013, 05:49 PM

6 months to the day, Dec 1 - June 1.

Machineguntony · July 29, 2013, 06:49 PM

So I spoke to my class 3 dealer today, and I mentioned the issues brought up in this thread. They say that they're on very good terms with the ATF processors. They are seeing things come back at exactly 6 months, most of the time. Otherwise, they see, at most 6.5 months. They assured me that I am 4 - 4.5 months away from possessing my silencers and machine guns.

We shall see.

Deja vu · July 30, 2013, 07:54 PM

My check was cashed December 20th... went pending Jan 4th

Still waiting....

My first suppressor took a bit under 6 months.

Coach Z · August 1, 2013, 10:53 PM

I thought once it went pending that 90 days to poop or get off the pot?

Willie Lowman · August 3, 2013, 11:56 PM

The volume of transfers that your state's ATF inspector has on their desk has a lot to do with the transfer time. Also what inspector it is doing the transfer has some to do with how fast they get done.

tmorone · August 4, 2013, 04:08 PM

I feel your pain Deja Vu- I had a check cashed 3 Jan (dropped in the mail 29 Dec) and am still waiting also.

asharpshooter · August 4, 2013, 04:22 PM

ATF/NFA cashed my checks on 01/08/2013 and I'm still waiting.

tmorone · August 4, 2013, 05:42 PM

How do you guys get the pending date? Is it just a matter of bugging the NFA people to ask? I've only called them one time, and really felt like I was being a nuisance/slowing the work.

KO3422 · August 5, 2013, 12:18 AM

I'd just call and ask when it went pending. Now, don't be calling every other day.

I knew a guy that literally called every few days or so. I know that can't be a good thing.

July 18, 2013, 12:53 PM	#1
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Anyone have recent experience with ATF wait times? About two weeks back, I was talking to this guy today that said that I will be waiting much more than 6 or 6.5 months to get my stamps. He said that the dealers just say that so that you don't get discouraged. I kind of ignored him, until today. Today is week number four from when I first submitted my ATF paperwork. According to one of my dealers, he said it will take about 3-6 weeks, and on average four weeks, for the form 3 (to transfer the gun from that out-of-state dealer to the dealer in my state). Today, when I called my local dealer, they said it takes much longer than 4 weeks for them to receive the MG. DOAH! I read that ATF strives to have the stamp issued within 9 months!!! I read on another forum (from about a year ago), that some guy had waited seven months, and still didn't have his stamp. Does anyone have recent experience on the actual wait time? Is it really 6-6.5 months? Or am I waiting until spring for my guns?

July 18, 2013, 01:39 PM	#2
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	Re: Anyone have recent experience with ATF wait times? Actually, the ATF strives to get them out in six months. Until recently, that's been the average. Lately, times seem to be closer to seven.

July 25, 2013, 06:10 PM	#11
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: RI Posts: 795	just a shade under six months I posted this in the thread about my first purchase so I'll be brief. I submitted last october and it was 179 days. __________________ Love my guns

July 25, 2013, 10:46 PM	#12
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	They cashed my check in early January. My dealer called ATF a few weeks back to check on the status of all the items transfering through him and he was told to expect transfers to take 9 months right now. __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

July 26, 2013, 01:55 PM	#15
hulley Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2008 Location: Hoschton, Ga. Posts: 726	See my sig line. I'm now over 6 months on my current form 4. __________________ Nov 2, 2011 sent form 4, SS Sparrow. Arrived May 29, 2012. Jan 30, 2012 sent form 1 for SBR. Arrived July 12, 2012 Jan 22, 2013 Sent form 4, 762-SDN-6. Arrived Sept 13, 2013

July 18, 2013, 04:06 PM	#3
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I got two a few months ago and they were pretty close to the 6 month mark.

July 18, 2013, 05:30 PM	#4
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	This wait officially sucks. I've bought everything possible and reloaded to my heart's content. Now it's just a matter of waiting. I'm gonna go picket DC and put some pressure on the ATF, I'm so bored.

July 18, 2013, 06:06 PM	#5
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	I just got one back that was right at 7 months, almost to-the-day. Check out nfatracker.com - that place confirms, everyone is waiting pretty much seven months right now.

July 19, 2013, 03:48 PM	#6
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	Place that I bought my NFA item from told me to expect 8 month wait. Getting the Sherrifs signature on the forms took 3 weeks - I'm going to try to forget about it and wait to be surprised someday when I get my tax stamp.

July 19, 2013, 04:15 PM	#7
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I gotta gripe a bit. This absolutely sucks. If this was a private enterprise, the enterprise would hire more people and speed up the wait times, knowing that they would be making more money. But then again...ehhhh...maybe I'm wrong because there's still an ammo, powder, and primer shortage and manufacturers and suppliers have said that they aren't going to add production because they expect the bubble to burst. Screw me! This wait sucks.

July 20, 2013, 02:48 PM	#8
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	The first one is the hardest, hang in there man. Once I had my first stamp come in it was soooooo much easier to wait, since I could at least play with something.

July 22, 2013, 01:22 PM	#9
jclayto Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 600	Tony, I just received a stamp last week that took right at 7 months from the date the stamp tax check cleared the bank. You do realize that your real wait has not even started right? Once the dealer receives it you get to do your form 4 and that's when your 6-7 month wait will begin. My last F3 to dealer took about 5 weeks. Hang in there.

July 24, 2013, 04:06 PM	#10
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Submitted Form 4 February 3, returned by BATF this week for a minor typing error in the address so it should be here approved within 2 weeks. That's 7 month hopefully. Later submissions will be taking longer.

July 26, 2013, 11:44 AM	#13
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Hmmm. I heard from someone else that 9 months can happen. Wow! I wonder what they'll do when the line/wait reaches 12 months? Are they going to add staff? Probably not, is my guess. That's what happens when you have a monopoly.

July 26, 2013, 12:31 PM	#14
Rikakiah Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2013 Posts: 189	I'll let you know how accurate the 6 month time frame is in January when my suppressor stamp does or doesn't get completed...

July 26, 2013, 02:43 PM	#16
velillen Member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 93	Re: Anyone have recent experience with ATF wait times? I ordered my can December 23rd. Still waiting for it. I don't check the status or anything to know any more than I am still waiting

July 29, 2013, 05:49 PM	#17
Lonestar06 Junior Member Join Date: July 29, 2011 Posts: 8	6 months to the day, Dec 1 - June 1.

July 29, 2013, 06:49 PM	#18
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	So I spoke to my class 3 dealer today, and I mentioned the issues brought up in this thread. They say that they're on very good terms with the ATF processors. They are seeing things come back at exactly 6 months, most of the time. Otherwise, they see, at most 6.5 months. They assured me that I am 4 - 4.5 months away from possessing my silencers and machine guns. We shall see. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

July 30, 2013, 07:54 PM	#19
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	My check was cashed December 20th... went pending Jan 4th Still waiting.... My first suppressor took a bit under 6 months. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

August 1, 2013, 10:53 PM	#20
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: RI Posts: 795	I thought once it went pending that 90 days to poop or get off the pot? __________________ Love my guns

August 3, 2013, 11:56 PM	#21
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	The volume of transfers that your state's ATF inspector has on their desk has a lot to do with the transfer time. Also what inspector it is doing the transfer has some to do with how fast they get done. __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

August 4, 2013, 04:08 PM	#22
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	I feel your pain Deja Vu- I had a check cashed 3 Jan (dropped in the mail 29 Dec) and am still waiting also.

August 4, 2013, 04:22 PM	#23
asharpshooter Junior Member Join Date: February 1, 2010 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 6	ATF/NFA cashed my checks on 01/08/2013 and I'm still waiting. __________________ "He's a politician. It's like being a hooker. You can't be one unless you can pretend to like people while you're screwing them."

August 4, 2013, 05:42 PM	#24
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	How do you guys get the pending date? Is it just a matter of bugging the NFA people to ask? I've only called them one time, and really felt like I was being a nuisance/slowing the work.

August 5, 2013, 12:18 AM	#25
KO3422 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2011 Posts: 124	I'd just call and ask when it went pending. Now, don't be calling every other day. I knew a guy that literally called every few days or so. I know that can't be a good thing.