The industry finally got a win—and it’s a big one. With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4th, we’re staring down the end of the $200 Tax Stamp requirement for suppressors. Come January 1, 2026, consumers will no longer have to pay Uncle Sam that burdensome fee just to protect their hearing.

But, as with all things in this business, the good news comes with a catch.

That $200 tax? It’s still in effect for the rest of the year. And that six-month window is a real problem for suppressor manufacturers trying to keep product moving and machines humming. Consumers are already tapping the brakes, waiting to buy until the tax goes away. It’s not hard to see why. Who wouldn’t wait six months to save two hundred bucks?

This has put some in the suppressor side of the house into a strategic bind. It’s not a sales slowdown—it’s a sales stall. And it’s the kind of challenge that separates real manufacturing partners from just another job shop.

Three Buckets, One Problem

Suppressor makers fall into one of three categories right now:

First, there are the companies that can sell direct-to-consumer. Think Silencer Central. These guys have the most control and can, in theory, absorb the $200 hit for the next six months to keep sales flowing…not to mention market share. It’s not ideal—but at least they have options.

Second, you’ve got the standalone suppressor companies that don’t sell direct. They have to go through distribution and dealers, and those dealers don’t have the margin or motivation to eat all let alone part of the tax. These companies are in a tougher spot. They either ride out the slowdown or scramble to figure out how to share the burden without burning bridges.

Third, there are the firearm and accessory brands that also make suppressors. These companies have more flexibility. They can cross-subsidize, bundle, partner up, or even shift production focus if needed.

No matter where they fall, every one of them will be watching orders tighten up—and looking at what comes next—if they cannot overcome the $200 hurdle for their consumers.

Here’s Where Suppliers Come In

If you’re a supplier in this space—machining, metal printing, laser welding, Swiss turning, EDM, QC, you name it—this is your window. Suppressor companies need help. Not sympathy, not theory. Help.

You can provide that help by leaning into three key areas:

1. Short-Run Flexibility

Suppressor makers are trying to avoid sitting on unsold inventory, and that means smaller, smarter runs. If you can support low-volume production with quick turnarounds and tight tolerances, you just became mission-critical. Help them stay responsive.

2. Cost-Control Engineering

When a company eats $200 per unit just to keep things moving, every penny matters. Can you help reduce scrap? Optimize materials? Improve process flow? Good. Do it now. Be the supplier that actually helps protect their margin, not the one padding your own.

3. Prototype Acceleration

Come January, this market will more than pop. It will explode. New suppressors, new mounting systems, new crossovers. Every company wants to be first out of the gate. That means they need prototype parts, test units, and iteration support—now. Not in Q1. Right now.

If you’ve got additive capabilities or advanced machining for complex baffle designs, make sure your customers know. If you don’t, find a way to support them anyway.

An Open Door for New Players

There’s another layer to all of this that smart suppliers should pay attention to. The removal of the tax stamp isn’t just going to boost consumer demand—it’s going to open the floodgates for new brands entering the suppressor market.

Firearms companies that never bothered with suppressors before? They’re running the numbers. Niche accessory makers? They’re kicking tires. The appeal of adding a profitable SKU in a high-growth category is too good to ignore.

And guess who those companies are going to call first?

That’s right. You.

If you’ve already worked with suppressor designs—or you have the machines and materials knowledge to support them—this is your chance to become a launch partner. Engineering support. Materials consulting. Rapid prototyping. Low-run production. You can help these new players hit the ground running.

The suppressor category isn’t going to be some side gig. It’s about to be a core product line for a lot of manufacturers. And suppliers who step up now will be baked into those programs for years.

Don’t Wait for the Rush

By the time January rolls around, the companies that are ready will making announcements and introducing products at SHOT Show. The ones that aren’t will be left behind—or scrambling through the Supplier Showcase to find suppliers who can keep up.

Use the next six months to prove that you’re more than just a vendor. Be the strategic partner. Help your customers navigate the slowdown, prep for the surge, and expand their footprint.

Because one thing is certain: the market’s about to get a lot louder.

– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network