Lost or Stolen Suppressor? Reporting, ATF, and Serial Number Tips

Misplaced gear happens. But a lost or stolen suppressor needs quick, clean action so you protect yourself, help the right people, and set up the best shot at recovery. Below you’ll find a fast plan that respects the rules, keeps your records tight, and puts ZastavaArms owners in the best possible position.

First Five Moves When You Notice a Loss

1. Stop, Retrace, Verify. Check the case, range bag, safe, and vehicle. Confirm which serialized can went missing and when you last handled it. Create a simple timeline with date, time, and place—this timeline will anchor every report you make.
2. Call Local Law Enforcement Now. File a police report immediately and keep the report number. ATF’s own public guidance tells private citizens to report firearm thefts or losses to local law enforcement; ATF does not take theft reports from private individuals through its theft/loss portal.
3. If an FFL Had Custody, Loop Them In Immediately. When a suppressor disappears from an FFL’s premises or while in the FFL’s shipment, the FFL must report the theft/loss to ATF within 48 hours and submit ATF Form 3310.11 (Theft/Loss Report). That duty sits on the licensee, not on you—but your fast notice helps them meet the clock.
4. Capture Every Identifier. Write down the serial number, model, manufacturer (ZastavaArms), caliber, and your tax stamp details (Form 4 control number, approval date). Photograph any paperwork you still have.
5. Contact ATF’s NFA Division For Questions Or Paperwork Help. For NFA-specific questions (like replacing a missing copy of your approved Form 4), you can reach the NFA Division at (304) 616-4500. That’s the official contact number.

Who Reports What (And Why That Matters)

• You, the owner: You report to local police. That establishes the incident in the criminal system, lets officers enter the serial number as stolen/missing, and gives you the case number you’ll need later. ATF explicitly says it does not accept theft reports from private citizens.
• Your FFL (if they had it): The FFL must call ATF and file ATF Form 3310.11 within 48 hours. If an NFA firearm is involved, the licensee must also notify ATF’s NFA side as regulations require. You help by providing the exact serial and facts.

That split matters because it prevents double-reporting to the wrong place and keeps the compliance trail spotless.

Serial Number Mastery: Habits That Save You Time

You want the serial number and your paperwork ready at hand before trouble ever starts. Use these habits:

• Create a One-Page “Suppressor Card.” Include: serial number, make “ZastavaArms,” model, caliber, barrel thread pitch (if you track setups), and the Form 4 control number with the approval date. Print one card for the safe and one for the range bag.
• Maintain Redundant Copies of Your Tax Stamp. Keep a laminated copy in the case, a digital scan in a secure cloud folder, and the original in your files. If you ever lose the original, you can request a duplicate from ATF’s NFA Division (by phone or by sending a signed request; many owners report success via NFAFAX@atf.gov). For official contact info, use the NFA Division’s published phone line.
• Log Every Out-of-Safe Movement. Date, location, and purpose. When you later reconstruct where the lost or stolen suppressor went missing, that log shaves hours off detective work.

Your Reporting Checklist (Individuals)

You can run this checklist in fifteen minutes:

• Call Local Police. Give the serial number, description, and your timeline. Get the case number. ATF points private owners to law enforcement for theft/loss reporting.
• Document Everything. Write a short, factual incident memo: who, what, where, when, and the serial number. Save officer names and badge numbers.
• If an FFL Was Involved, Notify Them Immediately. They must meet the 48-hour ATF reporting requirement with Form 3310.11 and, for NFA firearms, the NFA notification.
• Notify Your Insurer (If Applicable). Provide the police case number and serial.
• Call the NFA Division if You Need Paperwork Support. Ask about best practices to document your loss in your registration file and how to obtain a duplicate copy of your approved Form 4 for your records. Use the official NFA Division number.

Form 3310.11: When It Applies

ATF Form 3310.11 exists for FFLs to report lost or stolen firearms (including NFA items in their inventory or in transit). Private citizens do not file this form; the FFL files it when they had custody. The 48-hour clock starts at discovery, and the form goes to ATF’s National Tracing Center as the regulation requires.

Smart Prevention for ZastavaArms Owners

You can’t bulletproof life, but you can stack odds in your favor:

• Travel With a Routine. Before leaving a range, do a “case-to-muzzle” sweep: rifle, mounts, suppressor, thread protector, tools, paperwork copy, and case lock.
• Mark Your Cases. Put a discreet contact tag inside your suppressor case insert. Honest finders exist.
• Use a Range Bag Inventory Card. One glance tells you if the lost or stolen suppressor problem even started, or if you just tucked it into the wrong pocket.
• Store Tax Stamps Smart. Keep the original in a fire-resistant document bag and the digital copy in a secure cloud folder; call or email the NFA Division if you ever need a certified duplicate.

If Recovery Happens

If police recover your suppressor, they’ll contact you using the report info. Bring your ID and your approved Form 4 copy to establish lawful possession. 

If you replaced paperwork in the meantime, bring the NFA Division’s duplicate. For NFA paperwork status or process questions, the official NFA Division line is your best, most current source. 

A Note on State Rules

A handful of states or localities set their own deadlines for reporting lost or stolen firearms. Those rules vary, but your fastest path always starts with a local police report and the serial number in hand. 

National organizations track policy trends, but your PD and sheriff remain the ground truth for local timelines.

Learn more about the suppressor legal states in the US.

Why This System Helps You

You protect yourself with clean documentation, you help law enforcement with the right identifiers, and you keep your NFA file tidy if you ever need replacement paperwork. 

ZastavaArms owners already run a disciplined setup—treat loss response as another range drill: short, repeatable, and squared away.