Will Suppressors ever become legal and popular in the US?

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In the most recent Outdoor Life magazine they talk about what will happen in the future. One of the things was that suppressors would become legal and popular in the US for hunting.


I guess someone said in Europe the majority of people at gun ranges use suppressors and that it's almost rude to not use a suppressor at the range because of the noise.


I know that for hunting animals like deer, bear, or moose (big game), suppressors might not be useful, but for animals like prairie dogs and ground squirrels where there are many targets and you don't want to alarm the others it could be very useful.


They said that suppressor use around the world is very popular and only in the United States are suppressors really frowned upon. Apparently in the US when people hear suppressors it conjures images of hitmen and assassins wherein outside the US suppressors are common and not thought of in a negative light.






Will Suppressors ever become legal and popular in the US?



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They are already legal in most states. Popular? Not so long as there is a $200 tax for each one, extra paperwork and a 6+ month wait.

Will Suppressors ever become legal
As Zane said they are perfectly legal in most states. But most people are either ignorant of that fact or they do not want to jump through all the hoops. Though that was the point of the tax stamp, make it such a PITA that it will be defaco illegal...

Yep, legal to own and hunt with in many states already.

Ditto what Zane says...............................chris3

I consulted my ouija board and the spirits say it will happen at 1422 hours on April 3rd, 2014.

Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

I think when OP said legal he meant no tax stamp or NFA business, which is what turns off most people from suppression.

Not when they (you know who "they" are) can close the ranges and ban the weapons that the suppressors attach to instead.

I heard the same thing though --but nearly twenty years ago.

no tax stamp

Never gonna happen.

Not so long as there is a $200 tax for each one, extra paperwork and a 6+ month wait.

And the added cost of buying a threaded barrel or having yours threaded.

I consulted my ouija board and the spirits say it will happen at 1422 hours on April 3rd, 2014.

Except that the end of the world is in 2012...

They're about to become legal for hunting here in Georgia.

the expense + the govt. will keep them from being popular. if our government was not so paranoid, and factories could offer them as part of the gun, they might. but with the govt. sticking its hand out, and investigating you, and the expense, not likely.

As everyone has pointed out already they are legal in many (most?) states with the appropriate stamp. If the NFA, 6+ month wait, etc was lifted and a suppressor was the same as buying any other gun accessory (or even if you had to complete a 4473 & NICS check) I believe the popularity would increase. How much is hard to say but I can think of several instances where a suppressor would be very useful. I know I would love to have one for my rimfires plinking in the backyard and imagine every shooter at an indoor range using a suppressor would have to be a more enjoyable experience.

So I guess the real question is, will the NFA restrictions ever be lifted? I'm inclined to go with hso's "never going to happen" response. Like the OP said so much of the public has negative connotations attached to suppressors I do not see it happening any time soon. Can you imagine the resulting hysteria after the media announced how "silencers could now be bought at every gas station" or "criminals could now use weapons completely silent and undetected"? :rolleyes:

I would be happy with settling on just streamlining the tax stamp process. The $200 tax isn't really that much today in the firearms industry but the real killer is the extended wait. Give the ATF a week or two--maybe even a month--and it becomes more reasonable. I mean come on, a NICS check takes minutes and would you rather have a prohibited person with a (useless without a gun) suppressor or a firearm? The 6+month wait has been the primary factor deterring me from starting the process and I would imagine it's the same for lots of others. Of course if I had just started when I first became interested a yr ago I would already have one (or more) :cuss:

The current suppressor dealers would not be too happy if NFA restrictions were lifted, suppressor prices come down (to something realistic) and every gun shop sold them over the counter just like ammo.

Of course the suppressor mfgr's would be thrilled to have the increased customer base and sales would go thru the roof!

I understand your question to mean will we be able to get a suppressor off the shelf like we do other gun products or accessories? I believe yes. The more the public can be educated on the issue the quicker legislation will be passed or repealed making it possible. One look at England is a good case in point. To hunt the estates there, it is expected of you to use a suppressor to not disturb or annoy the neighbors and game. It is civilized. Also, it is error to believe suppressors arent used in hunting. In many instances they have been proven to increase bullet performance even. Lets do this. Save our hearing, make follow up shots a possibility, hear the report of the bullet, and not scare off the game << all benefits to me a hunter. without having to pay a tax and get a stamp on it - I'm for it.

One only need remember that criminals do not follow the laws of society and get silencers any time they choose.

I guess you got the answer, and once you have one you'll not want to shoot without it ever.

There are currently 23 states that have no restrictions on hunting with suppressors. Georgia will become the 24th it seems. There are many who are working on adding Michigan to that list as well.

This is a link to a PDF (http://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/pdf/HUNTING%20WITH%20SUPPRESSORS-STATE%20LAW%20COMPILATION.pdf) that Gemtech put together as far as hunting with suppressors are concerned.

Silencers are gaining popularity if you look at the raw numbers. www.nfatracker.com

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I meant without the stamp. Basically so you can just buy one and put it on like a scope and so they would be popular and common. And so you could use it for it for hunting too.

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They're about to become legal for hunting here in Georgia.


There has been a proposal to change the law to make them legal. We will have to wait and see if this actually comes about.

Hypothetically speaking, does the BATF need an act of congress to drop the cost for a silencer to a $5.00 stamp, same as AOW and fast track the applications to a waiting time much like that of an C & R ?

I'm in favor of lifting the restrictions entirely, but until then would could be done in the meantime to ease the restrictions like I suggested above?

I mean these things are common in Europe, seems strange that the our country restricts them. They don't shoot anything, it just a muffler for a gun it is not firearm by itself.

Seems like OSHA or the EPA (via noise polution) would demand them.

How many of us here would have better hearing if suppressors were $35 and over the counter like a can of pepsi.

I see it as a hearing safety device and nothing more.

I have shot many .45s with suppressors (legal) and it is a real joy not to have to wear "ears".

Suppressor Shoot ( Woods Walk )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncR3QmxPUk0

Hypothetically speaking, does the BATF need an act of congress to drop the cost for a silencer to a $5.00 stamp, same as AOW and fast track the applications to a waiting time much like that of an C & R ?

Yes, the cost was part of the law. AOWs were originally $200 also but was changed to $5 by congress in 1960. There was one firearm that was specifically changed to $1 as well.

I would love to see silencers, full autos, SBRs sold as regular firearms however my fear is that a few bad incidents and they then become completely unatainable. One idiot uses one to take out a McDonalds, a bunch of "i told you so's" and then nobody gets one.

They are already legal (I know a few folks who have gone the Form 4 route).

They just are not popular due to the $200 tax and "gangster weapon" stigma in the USA, which is seen as a joke in UK, France and Finland where silencers (mufflers or suppressors) are seen a legitimate accessories for legal firearms.

With suppressors now being bought in record numbers, and more and more companies jumping into the game with new products, it is my hope that the industry hits a critical mass point where they are able to engage in effective lobbying on capital hill.

While I doubt we'll ever be able to buy a suppressor cash and carry, I would be pleased if they were only subject to the same restrictions as handguns, plus the $200 stamp.



Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk

"I would love to see silencers, full autos, SBRs sold as regular firearms however my fear is that a few bad incidents and they then become completely unatainable. One idiot uses one to take out a McDonalds, a bunch of "i told you so's" and then nobody gets one."
end quote..


This is a very sad statement!
Not because you presented that logic but because Citizens and politicians would see this as a valid arguement!

This is my thinking and to me seems very logical and lawful. The Second amendment should be the law of the land and every Federal gun law slapped down. The decision (if any) should be at the state level. Shall Not Be Infringed should be the order of the day in Wash D.C.

I am not saying this to start trouble but I really do wonder where the fed gov thinks they get the right to even think about passing any gun laws they have since 1900. I am not a legal historian but sometimes when I sit on my porch with a dram of sipping whiskey I think of things like this and wish I knew more.

Ignorance is not bliss, it is disconcerting!

Seems the more I learn, the more I realize I do not know.

I guess you got the answer, and once you have one you'll not want to shoot without it ever.

+1..

I need a decent can for 5.56 and 7.62..

I love my .22 can..

MO is a good state for shooting sports enthusiasts. Now to get the $1000+ together to get a can or two...

Stupid prices. I wonder how much aggrivation I can handle, becoming a manufacturer looks better and better....

I have shot many .45s with suppressors (legal) and it is a real joy not to have to wear "ears".
Are they really that quiet? I looked up a suppressor noise reduction sight. various calibers various bullets. A 150db open shot would be reduced to 115db ish range. 115 db says to me.. I'd still be wearing ears.

While I doubt we'll ever be able to buy a suppressor cash and carry, I would be pleased if they were only subject to the same restrictions as handguns, plus the $200 stamp.

This.

While I'd rather not spend an extra $200 per NFA item, I really don't mind the tax; if you wanna play you have to pay. That being said, sure would be nice if you only had to undergo one full background check on your first NFA items, then with subsequent items a basic NICS check (or similar) could be done at the dealer.

Purchase the item, pay the tax, have the check run then carry it away in a single transaction at the point of sale.

In 2012, there's no reason this can't happen...except for politics.

I'd be happy if I could have one on my home defense gun, and if I ever needed to use it, it wouldn't be frowned upon by the lawyers, judge or jury. Public perception upsets me more than the tax.

It seems the only way you can healthily justify self-defense without prejudice is with a frying pan. :cuss:

Relative to two decades ago I'd say the ARE popular. All of the NFA toys are more popular now that inflation has eclipsed the cost of the stamp.

Well, lets just hope the .gov hasn't noticed that the tax stamp hasn't been adjusted for inflation.

...inflation has eclipsed the cost of the stamp.
I agree. A $200 stamp is not what it used to be. There are a handful of .22 suppressors that cost less than the stamp, which means gun enthusiasts can jump into the NFA pool for the price of a LOW COST firearm.

When a decent rifle, shotgun, or even a quality handgun goes for six/seven/eight hundred dollars, there are piles of suppressors that can be had for the same cost INCLUDING THE COST OF THE TAX STAMP.

If anyone claims the process (hoop jumping) is too complex or difficult to be practical, now that the internet has a gazillion sites with step-by-step instructions to do whatever you want, they're out of their mind. People who say that submitting a F4 for a suppressor is too complicated, have their heads in the sand.

And even the major gun manufacturers have recently begun making models with threaded barrels.

This is no longer prohibitively expensive nor difficult.

I'd also be happy if they moved up the "antique" date a few years.

They are currently legal in 39 states. Checkout www.silencersarelegal.com

I currently own 9 and rarely shoot without one. It makes shooting much more enjoyable.

And to answer Greg528it, yes the new current 45 silencers are very quiet and have a deep mellow pleasant tone. I have plenty of videos on my youtube channel of current suppressors in use if your interested.

Goto www.YouTube.com/fireman1291

Are they really that quiet? I looked up a suppressor noise reduction sight. various calibers various bullets. A 150db open shot would be reduced to 115db ish range. 115 db says to me.. I'd still be wearing ears.

As long as the ammunition is sub-sonic, most handgun suppressors can be shot without hearing protection.

Popular? The suppressor industry has grown 35 percent in the past 3 years alone, the reason form 1's and form 4's are taking so long is they are receiving more applications for NFA items every month than they received 5 years ago in a entire year.

Yeah some day it will become popular...

I do not mind the idea of filling out a form and waiting. What I object to is having to pay a non-trivial amount of money for permission.

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I guess someone said in Europe the majority of people at gun ranges use suppressors and that it's almost rude to not use a suppressor at the range because of the noise.

I know that for hunting animals like deer, bear, or moose (big game), suppressors might not be useful, but for animals like prairie dogs and ground squirrels where there are many targets and you don't want to alarm the others it could be very useful.

Will Suppressors ever become legal and popular in the US?
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I don't see suppressors at the range very often, but I don't agree that they're not useful for deer or moose hunting. When hunting moose it's common in Europe to shoot the moose at close range while it is startled by a dog that barks at the moose. If the rifle used is equipped with a suppressor the hearing of the dog is spared.

And when it comes to deer hunting, a suppressor is nice to protect your own and your buddies' hearing. I don't have a suppressor, but eventually I think most of my rifles will have one. (I use electronic hearing protection at the moment, costs about as much as half a suppressor and is compatible with all my rifles immedeatly, not requiring threading).

/European hunter

I consulted my ouija board and the spirits say it will happen at 1422 hours on April 3rd, 2014.

Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
"Many things are half the battle. Losing is half the battle. Let's think about what's the whole battle." - Kevin Costner as Elliot Ness, in The Untouchables. Always loved that movie...

Anyway. I can see suppressors continuing to grow in popularity, but I can't see them ever being "popular" in the sense that a majority of firearm enthusiasts own/use a suppressor.

The idea of owning and shooting with a suppressor is pretty awesome to me - I can't deny that. But when I start thinking about the cost, the process, the wait, and the registration (and honestly, registration is my biggest problem with it), my enthusiasm for a suppressor fades very quickly.

Some of the pain of the "process" fades after the first time. The cost is less than many of my firearms. The registration...well, I'm already on every gub'ment list there is except the no fly list so I don't get worked up about it anymore. I do get detained when I come back into the country though (dumb NCIC stuff). The wait always sucks.

It's not for everybody.

What gets me is I can't sit at home and experiment with suppressing my 22 without the fear of ten years fed time!

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In the most recent Outdoor Life magazine they talk about what will happen in the future. One of the things was that suppressors would become legal and popular in the US for hunting.


I guess someone said in Europe the majority of people at gun ranges use suppressors and that it's almost rude to not use a suppressor at the range because of the noise.


I know that for hunting animals like deer, bear, or moose (big game), suppressors might not be useful, but for animals like prairie dogs and ground squirrels where there are many targets and you don't want to alarm the others it could be very useful.


They said that suppressor use around the world is very popular and only in the United States are suppressors really frowned upon. Apparently in the US when people hear suppressors it conjures images of hitmen and assassins wherein outside the US suppressors are common and not thought of in a negative light.






Will Suppressors ever become legal and popular in the US?



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Supressors already are legal if you buy the 200.00 tax stamp



Sent from Droid Incredible on Verizon Wireless

Are they really that quiet? I looked up a suppressor noise reduction sight. various calibers various bullets. A 150db open shot would be reduced to 115db ish range. 115 db says to me.. I'd still be wearing ears.
I don't have a decibel meter but I do have a supressor on my .308 cal AR and I can shoot it without ear plugs.

The overall cost of a can really isn't that high. People think nothing of paying $1500 for a tricked out AR and then complain about paying $500-700 for a can. You can get in the suppressor game for under $500 with a .22 can; under $800 for a .223 and 9mm. You just have to shop around.

I predict the long wait time is going to go away.

It might have been said already, but Texas is fixin to allow cans for hunting game animals. I use suppressors almost exclusively.

Here's a video I made last year. UZI with supersonic ammo at first, followed by subsonic out of a SWR Trident 9. It makes a difference.

View My Video (http://tinypic.com/r/iw3f34/5)

I'll get a can when there's no paperwork. Until then it's just a dream, and one I wish would come true.

I would not count on the law to change. Logic has little to do with the rules; otherwise SBRs, AOWs, and SBS would not require paperwork either...

I do not mind the idea of filling out a form and waiting. What I object to is having to pay a non-trivial amount of money for permission.

If I could have the option of paying the $200 tax and walking out of the store with a new can on the same day, I'd take that over the long wait any day.

As things are, my paperwork was received back in October, and the ATF told me that I can expect to receive my approval in APRIL.

In the meantime, my suppressor must sit on a shelf at my NFA dealer until then, taking up shelf space.

I just wish they would get with it and allow us to buy them in MN!
My 10/22 and AR15 could share one right?
I would also get one for my glock 34. Do they make any that will not interfere with handgun sights?

The .22 and .223 should really have different suppressors. The demands on the suppressors are vastly different between these two rounds. K baffles do a fantastic job with the relatively low pressure .22LR but fir the .223 you would require something that can handle the much higher pressure of .223. The fact that .22 is infinitely more dirty than .223 means you will want a suppressor that you can take apart and clean for that round. The .223 burns much better and sealed cans are the norm for that application.

The Asymmetric Osprey suppressors keep out of the sight picture for the most part on pistol hosts. With that said, "Sighting THROUGH" a suppressor isn't hard to do once you get the hang of it.

If I could have the option of paying the $200 tax and walking out of the store with a new can on the same day, I'd take that over the long wait any day.

As things are, my paperwork was received back in October, and the ATF told me that I can expect to receive my approval in APRIL.

In the meantime, my suppressor must sit on a shelf at my NFA dealer until then, taking up shelf space.

Agreed, I'm not thrilled mine will be ready to pick up in July (6 month wait) :eek: And frankly the paper work involved was annoying based on the proper people only being available during 1st shift working hours.

If they were able to do an instant background check, even with the $200 tax stamp that would be much improved over the current system.