You are wondering what’s the deal with
silencers? OK, let me tell you what I
know.
First up, some language issues must be addressed.
You probably hear people speak about silencers,
then some yahoo chimes in and screams “it’s not a silencer, it’s a
suppressor”. Here are the facts;
Silencer: The term used when the original patent was
filed over 100 years ago. (Yes, the technology has been around for a very long
time).
Suppressor: A term that more accurately describes what a
silencer does.
Bottom line is they are two terms that describe
the exact same object. Yes, the terms
are interchangeable.
So no need to get bent out of shape over which
term is correct. They both are. So stop the petty squabbling and move on.
What does a Silencer actually do?
A silencer is a device you attach to the end of
your firearm that slows the expanding gasses as they exit the barrel thus
muffling the sound the operator hears.
That’s it. A silencer is just a
muffler for a gun.
Let me use an analogy. The muffler on your car is technically a
silencer, just optimized for a car engine.
In fact, a car muffler and a firearm silencer utilize the exact same
technology. Just optimized for each
application.
Is your car silent? Nope!
Just muffled, a lot. If you want
an idea of what a car sounds like without a muffler, go to a monster truck
rally or a top fuel drag race. They
often run without mufflers. And you will
see many audience members wearing hearing protection.
Being a muffler, this makes a silencer a safety
device. A safety device that muffles but
does not silence your firearm.
For you techno-geeks out there, here are some
hard numbers to play with.
A gunshot is approximately 150-160 dB
(decibels). This is loud enough to cause
instant and permanent hearing loss especially if done next to your ears. (Think of standing next to a jet engine on
full power. Without hearing protection,
you are going deaf)
A silencer muffles that noise down to 130-140
dB. (Think of a jackhammer or loud rock
concert such as AC/DC) This is what is
considered the beginnings of “hearing safe” levels according to the safety
weenies at OSHA.
You can further muffle the sound by using
sub-sonic ammunition, which will bring you down into the 120’s range, maybe a
little more. (Think of your spouse
chastising you for not taking out the garbage).
Further attenuation is possible, but you are
now down to experimenting and optimizing the caliber, powder used, burn rate,
barrel length, etc. etc. Not worth the
time and effort unless you really want to geek out.
What's inside?
AAC Tyrant 45M Silencer taken apart
How do you purchase a silencer?
A lot of people think it is hard to buy a
silencer. It isn’t that difficult, but
there are some fire-hoops to jump through.
The anti-gunners and lame stream news just make it appear difficult. In fact, silencers are legal at the federal
level and in over 40 states. (check your
state and local laws).
Here is the process:
1. Find a dealer who sells Class 3 items. Not all gun dealers can sell silencers. Silencers fall into a special category called
“Destructive Devices” and requires a special license to manufacture, sell (as a
retailer) and to possess. Yes, a safety
device is in the same category as Machine Guns and various explosives such as
grenades. Stupid, yes! But we are dealing with the government
OK. Just roll with it.
2. Purchase your silencer from said dealer. (This is the easy part)
a. This is the first step, as the dealer needs the serial number on
the silencer to put on the application paperwork.
3. Fill out the ATF application form and transfer forms in duplicate.
4. Provide two passport photos.
5. Provide two sets of fingerprint cards.
6. Pay your $200 tax.
7. Pay money for your background check.
8. Your dealer sends in all the paperwork.
9. Wait 6-12 months for the ATF to complete the paperwork and return
your tax stamp. (The sucky part)
a. No, you cannot take your silencer home until the paperwork is
approved and returned to the dealer.
Your silencer remains in, what we call “ATF Jail” until the paperwork is
done. (Sad face)
b. As much as we all love to beat up government agencies, the ATF does
a decent job given their budget and current political climate. Be patient.
10. When your tax stamp comes back, go through the regular 4473 form
and background check as would when buying any firearm.
a. Yes, the ATF already did a background check on you. Remember, it’s the government, it doesn’t
make sense. It is what it is.
The above must be repeated for each silencer
you buy. Even if you buy multiple
silencers at the same time, you must provide everything for each silencer you
purchase. Once again, it’s the government.
You actually expect them to be efficient about this?
Some of you may be confused about what I am
calling a “Tax Stamp”. Well the federal
government does not have the constitutional authority (if we followed the
constitution) to actually make things like silencers and machine guns
illegal. But they can tax things. This is how they got around that pesky second
amendment and its “shall not be infringed” part. They claim it is not a license but instead a
tax. Well, BULLSHIT! It’s a fucking license. A tax is something I pay extra at the cash
register. I don’t need fingerprint cards
or photos or anything else. I pay the
tax and I go home with my purchase.
Again, like a broken record, government
rules.
Some final comments on purchasing:
As the silencer is a registered and licensed
item to you, DO NOT LOAN OUT YOUR SILENCER TO ANYONE. It is registered to YOU. Therefore, the silencer, the tax stamp and
you must all travel together. Yep, more
bullshit rules! The government considers
a safety device, your silencer, deadlier than your single-shot hunting rifle.
Make sure you have a copy of your Tax Stamp
with your silencer when you go to the range.
What a lot of guys do is immediately photocopy their tax stamps. The original goes into the safe, the copy
goes into the range bag so it is there at all times.
Now lets say you have family who you want to
allow use of your silencer, or even friends.
You can do this by forming a corporate Trust and have the Trust “own”
the silencer. Then anyone listed on the
Trust can take possession of the silencer.
This is advantageous if you have a spouse and children who might inherit
your property. A Trust makes the
transfer much easier.
The bad news is, each person listed on the
trust must go through the exact same process as listed above. This is the 41P ruling that came out a few
years ago. Which pretty much eliminated
the value of the Trust except for inheritance rights.
Apparently gang-bangers were employing lawyers
to form Trusts and buying guns and silencers without background checks. The horrors!
Yeah, I don’t believe that story either, but this is what the anti-gun
politicians sold to the lame stream media.
So that’s it for purchasing. Not too ominous. If you have more questions consult your
dealer. For questions about Trusts,
contact a lawyer who specializes in gun Trusts.
There are gun friendly lawyers who can walk you through the
process.
Why do silencers cost so much?
It’s just a tube and sheet metal baffles.
Yeah, I hear lots of people moan about the cost
of silencers. They do cost as much as any firearm. They start around $300 and go upwards of
$1500. Plus add the $200 Tax Stamp. No they are not cheap. Here’s why.
Government Regulation!
That’s it.
If manufacturers could produce silencers without all the red tape they
could produce in high enough volumes to bring the prices down. Under current rules, the manufacturers cannot
build a single silencer without government approval PRIOR to start of
manufacture. So the manufacturer must
first apply for a set of serial numbers from the ATF. And the ATF only issues a certain quanity of
serial numbers at one time. (Say 50-100
serial numbers at a time) Then and only
then can the manufacturer start to build a silencer. Thus the supply is artificially limited. Simple supply and demand.
Also, without the Tax Stamp, you would knock
$200 dollars off as well.
There are other factors such as accuracy,
repeatability, decibel reduction, quality, durability, reliability, etc. But I doubt these factors outweigh the cost
of government regulation. All these
factors become relatively cheap when produced in high enough volumes. I think it is the artificial scarcity that
really drives prices up.
The good and bad about silencer ownership.
The good:
1. Much more pleasant to shoot with a silencer. Once you try it, you don’t want to go
back. And you become a snob when someone
next to you doesn’t have one.
2. Can help increase accuracy.
Not always, but it can. On my
precision rifles it does. I do shoot
slightly smaller groups.
a. Silencer technology has greatly improved the past 20 years. The quality, repeatability and accuracy is vastly
superior to what was available in the past.
3. You can pick up a little bit of velocity if that matters to
you. The silencers effectively lengthen
the barrel.
4. Less likely to scare the game away while hunting.
a. Silencers are now legal to hunt with in over 40 states. Imagine no more short-circuited hunts because
someone shoots and the rifle report echoes through the valley scaring the game
away. Silencers will help with this. Not eliminate it, but help.
5. In a zombie apocalypse, you won’t attract as many zombies when you
shoot one.
The bad:
1. Cost and paperwork hassle.
2. Adds length and weight to your firearm.
a. Not a big deal on a rifle or shotgun (Yes, they do make shotgun
silencers) as these are typically two handed weapons. A little nose heavy, but just hit the gym and
you’ll be fine.
b. Kind of a drag on pistols.
i. Because of the extra length there are no holsters readily made to
accommodate a silencer.
ii. Concealed carry with a silencer attached is basically a no go do to
size.
3. It is a registered and licensed item. The government now knows who you are and
what’s in your house (The silencer).
It’s a drag, but I think the benefits are worth the hassle.
Glock model 19 with AAC Tyrant 45M silencer (top)
Ruger 22/45 Lite with Thunderbeast .22 silencer (bottom)
12 inch ruler above Glock
Silencers do add length to your firearm
Now for some politics:
Unfortunately, we must talk a bit of politics
when it comes to silencers. Silencers in
essence are safety devices, yet they are regulated as a “Destructive
Device”. As if they are somehow
magically more dangerous than a rifle, shotgun or handgun. This is simply not true, a tube with baffles
cannot harm you.
The regulations came out of the era of
Prohibition when the Mafia gangs used extreme violence to control the flow of
alcohol. So in 1934, when the
regulations were put in place, sport shooters and hunters thought nothing of it
because, back then, silencers were not as good as they are today and often
times negatively affected accuracy. So, silencers
were allowed to be over regulated because only the criminals were using them on
a regular basis and the at the time the average gun owner did not understand
the benefits. A bit of freedom was lost.
But times have changed. The quality is now excellent. Silencers can actually enhance accuracy today
and are now a great benefit to everyone who shoots firearms. Why must we jump through fire-hoops to
protect our hearing?
It is time to change the laws to allow
silencers to be purchased over the counter without regulation. Why should a safety device be regulated more
than a deadly weapon? It shouldn’t!
In fact, the united states Marines are nowexperimenting with silencers. (Integrated suppressors, stealth infantry) They are
doing trials and so far the first results are highly favorable. It will be a huge win for us if the military
adopts silencers across the board. If
the military is finally realizing the benefits why shouldn’t the general public
realize the benefits as well?
We almost had the Hearing Protection Act passed
earlier this year, but then Parkland happened and the legislation was
tabled. This legislation would have
removed silencers from the NFA (National Firearms Act) List and allowed them to
be purchased as you would purchase any firearm.
Simple 4473 form and background check and you are done. Hell even if the $200 tax was left in, it
would have been a step forward. But no,
Republicans have no fortitude to finish the fight and they folded. It had a good chance of passing.
So, please don’t wait to buy a silencer. Help drive demand for them. This will show congress silencers are wanted
and desired by the public and that the red tape needs to be eliminated.
Contact your congress critters and tell them to
support the Hearing Protection Act and other pro-gun bills.
Miscellaneous thoughts:
If you don’t know where to start, try
SilencerShop.com. The sell a wide
variety of manufacturers. They can
answer questions you may have. They can even help you with a Trust if that is
the path you want to take. SilencerShop
is a good place to start your research.
If you don’t know what to buy. First, slow down, you do not need a dedicated
silencer for each firearm you own. If
you are unsure what to buy I recommend buying a dedicated .22 silencer for your
.22 rifle and pistols. A silencer for
your pistol and then one for your rifles.
A total of three to start.
If you buy a pistol silencer for .45 caliber it
will also work on all calibers smaller than .45. You just need to purchase the adaptor. So your one silencer will work on your .45,
your .40 and your 9mm. Same with your
rifles. If you buy a .30 caliber
silencer, it will also work with your 6.5mm and your .223 calibers rifles as
well. Though you do lose 2-4 dB of
attenuation. But no big deal.
So, don’t go wild and buy a bunch of
silencers. Start with one or two and see
how it works.
And chose your silencers carefully and
wisely. If you change your mind, they
are a pain to sell due to government regulations.
When considering a silencer, do remember you
will need a threaded barrel to attach them.
For pistols, many models have aftermarket drop in barrels readily
available.
For rifles and shotguns you may need a gunsmith
to thread your barrel. The good news is,
if you are buying a new rifle, many manufacturers have models with factory-threaded
barrels, especially on their target models.
This is forward thinking, as silencers are the future, though they were
invented in the past. (Weird huh?)
Silencers do get very hot. So be careful. Let them cool down before trying to unthread
them or placing them into your carrying case.
Throwing an oven mitt into the range bag is useful.
You probably want to buy a thermal cover, as they
produce a large amount of mirage once they heat up. The long-range shooters will understand what
I mean. A thermal cover is almost
mandatory.
On semi-automatic firearms, silencers create
more back pressure and blow extra fouling back into the action. You will need to clean your firearm more
frequently.
Buy quality.
Don’t buy the bargain basement models.
They are not as durable or repeatable as bigger, well known brands.
Silencers are legal at the Federal level. And legal in most states now. Check your local laws. But mostly legal across the nation, you just
need some additional paperwork.
If you double up on hearing protection (20-30
dB), silencer plus ear protection (18-25 dB), you bring your exposure down to
approximately 120 decibels or less. Now
you are down to normal everyday background noise levels, which are very safe
noise levels. Makes shooting very
pleasant.
Silencers are very useful for shooters who may
not enjoy the muzzle blast and giant flame coming out of the muzzle. Silencers will contain a large portion of the
muzzle blast, making shooting more pleasant.
A side benefit with less noise and less muzzle blast, the brain is
tricked into thinking there is less recoil.
You cannot eliminate recoil but your brain thinks there is less recoil
therefore there is less recoil (again, it’s just a trick of the mind) the end
result is a more pleasant shooting experience.
A good thing, especially for new shooters who may not be accustom to the
muzzle blast of a firearm.
Remington 700 in KRG Chassis
Thunderbeast Ultra 7 Silencer with Armageddon Gear thermal cover
(20 inch barrel, silencer is 7 inches)
AR-15 with Silencer Co Silencer.
(16 inch barrel. Silencer is 6 inches)
There is even an educational group called the American Suppressor Association.
Final Thoughts:
Many people ask why do I want a silencer? Why bother with the paper work hassle? These are wrong questions! Wrong questions get wrong answers. Proper questions are, why do you not want a
silencer? Don’t you care about your
hearing? Don’t you care about the
hearing of others and not disturbing your neighbors or wildlife?
Sure, a $30 pair of ear muffs, or $1 set of
foam ear plugs is good enough. But why
settle for good enough?
Silencers are a valuable safety device that can
enhance accuracy and enjoyment of the shooting sports. Why not use them? Why are they not readily available cash and
carry just like any other safety device?
I encourage you to take the plunge. Do not be intimidated by the paperwork. It is worth it in the end. Silencers will help protect your hearing and
of those around you. And by purchasing
you help drive demand that shows congress, we the shooting community, do want
these devices.
Silence is golden!
By: Mez
9/22/2018