How to Buy a Suppressor in New Mexico

New Mexico doesn't ban, license or register suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, AOWs or machine guns, so federal law sets the rules for owning them. You can own a suppressor in New Mexico and hunt with it. Order online from anywhere in the state, and we handle the paperwork. After ATF approves your Form 4, your order ships to your door.

We put every NFA item we transfer in New Mexico on a Form 4. It's what we recommend, since ATF's October 9 change is a policy of not enforcing the NFA, not a change in the law. We don't offer 4473 transfers in New Mexico at this time, but we may in the near future. If you want a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW on a 4473 now, we'll ship it to a New Mexico dealer near you for the transfer.

Suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs have a $0 federal tax. Machine guns and destructive devices have a $200 tax. The sections below explain New Mexico law for each NFA item, our transfer options, and the hunting rules.

New Mexico NFA Laws at a Glance

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1. We don't offer 4473 transfers in New Mexico at this time, but we may in the near future. To use a 4473 now, choose a New Mexico dealer near you at checkout.
2. Form 4 items ship to your New Mexico address after ATF approval. Destructive devices ship to a New Mexico dealer.
3. New Mexico's hunting rules have some exceptions. It's up to you to make sure you're in compliance before you hunt.
4. New Mexico has no state law that bans, licenses or registers these items.
5. Legal when registered and transferred in compliance with the National Firearms Act.
6. Legal, except explosive and incendiary devices.

Form 4 in New Mexico

On October 9, ATF announced that, for the time being, it won't enforce the NFA for items with a $0 tax: suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs (ATF open letter). That could change. Since New Mexico law doesn't require a Form 4, a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW can go on a 4473 when the buyer picks it up in person at a dealer. Shipping a 4473 item to your home under ATF Procedure 2020-1 requires a qualifying carry permit, and ATF doesn't accept the New Mexico concealed handgun license as an alternative to a NICS background check. For a 4473 now, pick a New Mexico dealer near you at checkout, and we'll ship the item there for the transfer. A Form 4 is still our recommendation, because the NFA hasn't changed.

With a Form 4:

• Federal Tax Is $0 on suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs.
• Current Form 4 Wait Times: In August 2026, ATF averaged 6 days for individual eForm 4s and 20 days for trusts. See our current approval times.
• Trusts: a trust can own an item only through a Form 4, and each trustee you list can possess it.
• Future Orders Require Just a Signature. After your first Form 4, we keep your photo and prints on file.

A Form 4 also registers the item to you or your trust, which matters if ATF goes back to enforcing the NFA. Our 4473 vs. Form 4 page goes over the risks.

New Mexico Suppressor Laws

Are suppressors legal in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico has no state law that bans, licenses or registers a suppressor, so federal law sets the rules. That's true for rifle, pistol and shotgun suppressors.

New Mexico isn't one of the 14 states that tie suppressor ownership to NFA registration, and its hunting rules don't restrict suppressors either. Our suppressor laws by state page compares the rest of the country.

New Mexico SBR and SBS Laws

Are SBRs legal in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico doesn't ban, license or register short-barreled rifles or short-barreled shotguns, so the NFA and other federal law cover them. You can own one in New Mexico whether you bought it on a Form 4 or a 4473. On a Form 4, our recommendation, we ship it to your New Mexico home, and on a 4473, we ship it to a New Mexico dealer near you. New Mexico doesn't ban, license or register AOWs either, so they're legal here too, and they ship to your New Mexico door on a Form 4 or to a New Mexico dealer near you for a 4473.

New to short-barreled rifles? Our SBR & SBS Buying Guide covers the basics, or you can browse short-barreled rifles.

Machine Guns and Destructive Devices in New Mexico

Can you own a machine gun in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico doesn't ban machine guns, so you can own one that's registered and transferred in compliance with the National Firearms Act.

ATF's October 9 policy didn't change anything for machine guns. They still go through the full NFA with the $200 tax, and a civilian can own one only if it's a transferable machine gun lawfully registered before May 19, 1986 (18 U.S.C. 922(o)). Every machine gun we sell goes on a Form 4 and ships to your New Mexico address once ATF approves it.

New Mexico doesn't ban large-bore destructive devices like 40mm launchers. It does ban explosive and incendiary devices, such as explosive bombs, grenades and missiles, except lawfully acquired household, commercial, industrial or sporting devices with a legitimate and lawful purpose (NMSA 30-7-19.1). Every destructive device has to be registered and transferred in compliance with the National Firearms Act, with the $200 tax, and we ship them to a New Mexico dealer, who handles the transfer.

Hunting With NFA Items in New Mexico

Can you hunt with a suppressor in New Mexico? Yes. The New Mexico Department of Wildlife's 2026-2027 hunting rules don't mention suppressors, so you can put one on any firearm that's legal for the animal you're after, whether you bought it on a Form 4 or a 4473.

• Deer, elk, pronghorn, oryx, ibex, Barbary sheep, bighorn sheep and bear: Any centerfire firearm .22 caliber or larger, any muzzleloader .45 caliber or larger, any shotgun .410 or larger firing a single slug, and bows and crossbows are legal. Bullets have to be designed to expand or fragment, so full metal jacket and tracer bullets aren't allowed.
• Cougar, javelina and furbearers: Any firearm, muzzleloader, air gun, shotgun, bow or crossbow is legal. For cougar and javelina, air guns have to be .22 caliber or larger, and shotguns have to fire a single slug or No. 4 buckshot or larger.
• Wild turkey: Only a shotgun firing shot, a bow or a crossbow.
• Quail, pheasant, grouse, squirrels and collared-doves: Quail and pheasant can be taken with shotguns firing shot, bows and crossbows. Grouse, squirrels and Eurasian collared-doves can also be taken with rimfire and muzzleloading firearms and air guns firing a .177 or larger pellet.
• Coyotes, prairie dogs and feral hogs: Coyotes, skunks, rabbits, prairie dogs and other nongame species have no closed season or bag limit. Residents don't need a license for them, but nonresidents need a nonresident nongame license or a New Mexico nonresident game-hunting license. Anyone can hunt feral hogs year-round without a license.
• Ducks, geese and other migratory birds: A shotgun no larger than 10 gauge, fired from the shoulder and holding no more than three shells, is legal, along with muzzleloading shotguns firing shot, bows and crossbows. Shooting hours run from a half hour before sunrise to sunset. During the light goose conservation order, which takes a free permit, unplugged shotguns are legal and shooting runs to a half hour after sunset.
• SBRs, SBSs and AOWs: Every firearm except a handgun has to be designed to be fired from the shoulder, so SBRs and SBSs are legal wherever their firearm type is. An AOW is legal only if it's a handgun or is designed to be fired from the shoulder. Some AOWs may not meet either test, so check yours before you hunt with it.
• Hours, lights, bait and vehicles: Shooting hours for big game, furbearers, upland game and turkey run from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. You can't shine a spotlight or other light where big game or livestock may be while you have a sporting arm, hunt coyotes or other nongame with a light unless you have an artificial light permit, or hunt game species over bait. You also can't shoot at game from a motor vehicle or on, from or across a maintained public road, hunt from an aircraft or drone, or fire a gun within 150 yards of a dwelling or building without the owner's or lessee's permission.
• Machine guns: New Mexico's hunting rules don't allow fully automatic weapons.

Use this hunting section as a general guide. The Department of Wildlife can change its rules each season, so check the current Department of Wildlife hunting rules before every hunt.

How Buying Works in New Mexico

At checkout, choose a Form 4 and home delivery to your New Mexico address. You pay no transfer fee on items you buy from us.

Read every step in our guide on how to buy a suppressor.

Serving Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho and All of New Mexico

We serve buyers across New Mexico, including Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho and Roswell. We keep hundreds of suppressors in stock, including brands and models many local gun stores don't carry. Call us if you'd like help choosing one for your rifle, pistol or shotgun.

Once we have all your information, we file your eForm 4 within 24 hours. ATF can approve it in just a few days (check our current approval times), and then your order ships to your New Mexico address following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1. You won't need a trip to a gun store to finish the transfer, and we've shipped suppressors directly to customers' homes for more than 10 years.

Questions? Call (512) 879-1068  ·  Shop in-stock suppressors

New Mexico Suppressor Brands We Sell

We sell two suppressor brands based in New Mexico:

• CAT, Artesia
• CGS, Artesia

We ship these, and all the other suppressors on our site, to your New Mexico door on a Form 4.

Why New Mexico Buyers Choose Capitol Armory

New Mexico Suppressor and NFA Questions

How do you buy a suppressor in New Mexico in 2026?

Order online and choose a Form 4 at checkout, which is our recommendation. We take care of the paperwork, and once ATF approves the Form 4, which can take just a few days, we ship to your New Mexico address following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1. See our current approval times.

Can I buy a suppressor in New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico doesn't ban, license or register suppressors, and we sell them online. On a Form 4, our recommendation, we ship to your New Mexico door. If you'd prefer to purchase a suppressor without a Form 4 and on a 4473 only, we'll ship to a New Mexico dealer near you.

Can I buy a suppressor on a 4473 in New Mexico?

New Mexico law allows it. We don't offer 4473 transfers in New Mexico at this time, but we may in the near future. Home delivery on a 4473 requires a qualifying carry permit, and ATF doesn't accept the New Mexico concealed handgun license as an alternative to a NICS background check. To get one on a 4473 now, pick a New Mexico dealer near you at checkout, and we'll ship it there. We still recommend a Form 4, since ATF's change is a policy of not enforcing the NFA, not a change in the law.

What do I need to buy a suppressor in New Mexico?

You have to be 21 or older and legally able to buy a firearm. You can buy as an individual or through an NFA trust, and you don't need a New Mexico concealed handgun license.

Do I need a tax stamp for a suppressor in New Mexico?

Not under ATF's current policy. On October 9, ATF announced that, for the time being, it won't enforce the NFA for items with a $0 tax, meaning suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs. A Form 4 is voluntary for those items now, but it's still the route we recommend because of the uncertainty and because the law didn't change. ATF is just choosing not to enforce it. For New Mexico buyers, that means a Form 4 shipped to your home or a 4473 at a New Mexico dealer near you. The $200 tax hasn't changed for machine guns and destructive devices.

Can you hunt with a suppressor in New Mexico?

Yes. The New Mexico Department of Wildlife's 2026-2027 hunting rules don't mention suppressors, so you can use one on any firearm that's legal for the animal, on a Form 4 or a 4473. For deer, elk, pronghorn, oryx, ibex, Barbary sheep, bighorn sheep and bear, that means a centerfire firearm .22 caliber or larger with bullets designed to expand or fragment, a muzzleloader .45 caliber or larger, or a shotgun .410 or larger firing a single slug.

Are SBRs legal in New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico doesn't ban, license or register short-barreled rifles or short-barreled shotguns. We ship either one to your New Mexico door on a Form 4, our recommendation, or to a New Mexico dealer near you for a 4473. For hunting, every firearm except a handgun has to be designed to be fired from the shoulder, which an SBR is.

Can you own a machine gun in New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico doesn't ban machine guns, so the National Firearms Act sets the rules for owning one. A civilian can own a machine gun only if it's transferable and was lawfully registered before May 19, 1986, and each one goes on a Form 4 with the $200 tax. After ATF approves the Form 4, we ship the machine gun to your New Mexico address.