Class III suppressor for HD?

Its hard to say if it would hurt your case. Not being a lawyer, I would think that it wouldn't matter if LE "looked down on you". The biggest concern to me would be if the prosecutor used it to try to convince the jury that you are some type of Walter Mitty wannabe assassin, and a suppressor would/could be something a prosecutor may use to try to prove this point. Also, if you were to use it, it would be confiscated as evidence at least until the trial was over. And as a home defense item, it implies that it would have to be kept accessible, which could make it potentially a great score for a thief unless you secured it every time you left the house. I don't have anything for self defense that can't be replaced for less than $500 and a quick trip to the LGS. Its not good for your hearing, true, but the police don't normally use suppressors, and to the best of my knowledge they don't normally don ear pro every time they answer a call, stop a suspicious vehicle, etc. YMMV

If you are going to be doing enough "home defense" to permanently damage your hearing I might suggest you consider moving to a more secure area.

but it would be nice to have an NFA item.

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Sure, why not sign up and get on the ATF radar screen for only a $200 tax stamp, and a $500 suppressor.

Cheep at any price!!

I prefer they don't even know I exist, any more then they already do.

rc

In the extremely unlikely circumstance that you might need to discharge a firearm in your home I will offer this advice. I have half a dozen silencers and I wouldnt use any of them for home defense because I don't want them confiscate during the "investigation" . I have discharged quite a few unsuppressed pistols and rifle indoors and outdoors during my younger years and despite a momentary discomfort its not as bad as it seems like it would be. A few times won't kill you and it might keep you out of jail and keep your prized possessions out of the police pokie. Until this stuff become 100% mainstream don't try to be smarter than the man.

If you are going to be doing enough "home defense" to permanently damage your hearing I might suggest you consider moving to a more secure area.

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I discharged a .38 in a car one time two years ago or so, and I get a thin ringing in my ears when it's quiet. It only takes one.

Enough to worry about all the waiting and paperwork and money for a suppressor, solely for HD? Probably not. Just don't opt for the .308 or 10mm.

1) If the shooting is truly self defense, using a suppressor will not hurt your case. If the shooting is questionable, EVERYTHING will be scrutinized.

2) Don't buy a suppressor, or any other NFA item or any firearm based on need. Buy it because you want it.

3) Suppressors are longer, heavier and more expensive than any other muzzle device. But they cannot be beat for their performance in flash suppression, recoil reduction, reduction of muzzle blast and sound suppression.

A suppressor used on a pistol or SBR or maybe a carbine length rifle is a good choice, but only you can decide for yourself if it's the right choice for your situation

A threaded barrel, suppressor, tax stamp, and transfer is going to run what, $800-1000? Plus all that waiting time, and maybe forming a corporation or trust to own it. And you might not get it back if you have to use it for self defense.

The fanciest electronic earmuffs are only a few hundred dollars, have no waiting time, and are readily replaceable.

It's nice to read some priority matters discussed first. Home Defense is, first and foremost, where it's located and what you do to the PROPERTY to prevent an intrusion. Second, how YOU discipline yourself - most just open the door to anyone who knocks.

Guns and accessories are the last ditch answers when "Fail" was all that happened up front.

A silencer is a nice to have item, based on it's cost and the hoops you jump thru to get one, there are more cost effective items like muffs that actually do more. Muffs suppress the other guys gun when he fires - a silencer on your gun only quiets your gun. You still get 100% of the blast effect from their muzzle, and it's in your face at the short ranges involved.

Second, even if it's just 6", it makes your gun 6" longer. A 10.5" AR pistol becomes as long as the average 16" carbine. Working close quarters with 36" residential hallways means the average long gun is already too big, entirely the point the military has been using SBR's since 1965 with the XM177. They are short for a reason, and the teams that do use them today all wear muffs with communications and noise cancelling circuits. The silencer is primarily to keep muzzle blast out of each other face working stacked closely together - the noise reduction angle is already fixed.

For the money, a course on how to handle close quarters combat would be significantly superior than acquiring expensive gear. Tactics are priority, not accessories. Better to put driveway alerts or beef up the door framing if needed, which does give you a return on your home investment. Stick built framed homes are notoriously poor in security or even against the effects of weather. Americans are on the virtual doorstep of disposable housing, quite the opposite of what we see happening in the rest of the world.

Don't forget that the suppressed firearm you invested a lot of money is, in and of itself, an attractant to thieves for it's own sake. It elevates your risk and you will find you would prefer it under lock and key rather than loose about the house. Most then revert to just carrying a pistol on them in the home as part of their EDC - it's on you whether mowing the grass or taking a moment on the deck to grill. A tricked out carbine or SBR with silencer, no, and it's not a good idea to have it out where anyone would become aware of it. It would be like leaving Rolexes lying around or any other expensive pilferables. Kind of the reason jewelry and stereo stores keep stuff in locked cases. Shielding your possessions from public knowledge is a far more important step than creating motivation.

Does anyone know if law enforcement will look down on me for using a silencer in the act of self defense? Will it hurt my cause?

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Does anyone "know"? No, but opinions are free...

Here's mine.. There's more variables to consider before deciding on a can for HD. As mentioned, beef up doors/locks, make yourself a harder target with a security system/cameras/lighting/etc.. In other words, don't invite the gun fight, prevent it.

Next, are you in a NFA friendly area? Of course, it might be legal to own, but the DA or CLEO might not like them. I suppose that could bring you into more scrutiny, but heavy on the " suppose ".

As far as the "cost of the can and tax stamp " and being confiscated goes after a HD shooting goes, well, what does that really matter in the grand scheme? Unless your HD rig is a NFA MG, rare antique or priceless family heirloom, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to everything else in that situation. Besides that, you can find deals now and then. So, IMO, it takes a while before cost is a real factor.

Now, all that said... I'm a suppressor owner, and I love using them. So much.... Seriously, they make shooting that much more entertaining for me, but I don't keep them handy just for HD. If I had a suppressed firearm closest to me, and I was forced into a HD situation, you bet your butt that's what I'm using. However, if an unsuppressed weapon was closest to me, you bet your butt I'm using the unsuppressed one. True emergencies don't necessarily have time for putting on armor, ear pro, cans, selecting gear, etc.. I can't imagine having the time to secure ear plugs, let alone a can. So, buying a can strictly for HD is kinda odd to me.. Not out of the question, but just odd.
Also, in spite of my love of cans, the best money I've spent has been on training. Not paper targets at the local range. Training at a training facility with a trainer. I know most people already know all they need and don't have time/money, but I had that same excuse. A friend talked me into going by explaining it like a vacation.. Sort of a "traincation". Best. Money. Spent... Training.

Bottom line, if you want a suppressor, you should have one, but realize that it may not be handy for HD. Training though.. That's always handy, and cheaper than NFA stuff.

I have a bunch of them but dont use them for HD but I have also never fired a single shot in HD either.

If you are going to be doing enough "home defense" to permanently damage your hearing I might suggest you consider moving to a more secure area.

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Bull hockey!

I can think of no practical reason to buy one, but it would be nice to have an NFA item. If on anything, it would be my HD gun for practice.

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You already gave the most practical reason. I think saving your hearing is very practical.

If you have not done so getting suppressors is expensive. In order to pass your suppressor to your children, relatives or friends you need to set up a Trust. For a out-of state trust (my kids all live out-of-state) the lawyer charges $800.00. He charges less if everyone lives in the same state. The application fee for the Tax Stamp is $200.00 so I have spent $1,000. Then add the suppressor of your choice. So $2,000 by the time everything including sales tax is paid is not unreasonable.

If you are going to be doing enough "home defense" to permanently damage your hearing I might suggest you consider moving to a more secure area.

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This is sort of along the lines of "If you need a gun to protect yourself, I might suggest you consider moving to a more secure area."

It is silly logic. People is "more secure areas" always seem to be the ones who say, "I didn't think it could happen to me, not in this neighborhood. We have a nice neighborhood..."

A lot of home invasions happen in nice neighborhoods. You know why? People have nice stuff in nice neighborhoods. Thieves like nice stuff.

After all, one shot is all that it takes to damage your hearing.

1) If the shooting is truly self defense, using a suppressor will not hurt your case. If the shooting is questionable, EVERYTHING will be scrutinized.

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Everything will be scrutinized in a good shoot or questionable shoot. The funny thing is that many questionable shoots are plenty good, but that determination is initially murky.

BSA1 said:

In order to pass your suppressor to your children, relatives or friends you need to set up a Trust.

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In general, this is not true. I suppose there may be some states where this is the case, I don't know, but NFA items can be transferred from individual owners to legal heirs tax free on a form 5. A Trust can be a good thing, but is not a requirement to pass items down when you die.

1) If the shooting is truly self defense, using a suppressor will not hurt your case. If the shooting is questionable, EVERYTHING will be scrutinized.

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More and more people are choosing a suppressed firearm for HD. I'm sure there will be cases of overzealous prosecutors in liberal areas that will try to make it an issue.

m0par said:

In general, this is not true. I suppose there may be some states where this is the case, I don't know, but NFA items can be transferred from individual owners to legal heirs tax free on a form 5. A Trust can be a good thing, but is not a requirement to pass items down when you die.

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He's not talking about a permanent transfer of ownership. With a trust the trust owns the property and the trust can be configured to let others , who are also trustees, use the silencer without the first trustee present.

You don't need $800 to do it either. I paid $10 for the notary and used a copy of quicken willmaker. If you can do your own moderately complicated taxes with off the shelf software you draft your own trust with off the shelf software.

MistWolf said:

1) If the shooting is truly self defense, using a suppressor will not hurt your case. If the shooting is questionable, EVERYTHING will be scrutinized.

2) Don't buy a suppressor, or any other NFA item or any firearm based on need. Buy it because you want it.

3) Suppressors are longer, heavier and more expensive than any other muzzle device. But they cannot be beat for their performance in flash suppression, recoil reduction, reduction of muzzle blast and sound suppression.

A suppressor used on a pistol or SBR or maybe a carbine length rifle is a good choice, but only you can decide for yourself if it's the right choice for your situation

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Exactly how I feel.

FAS1 said:

More and more people are choosing a suppressed firearm for HD. I'm sure there will be cases of overzealous prosecutors in liberal areas that will try to make it an issue.

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Just wanted to chime in that I have a FAS1 safe and it is amazingly fast and simple to get a pistol into action, yet keep it secure when you don't need it. If you get a suppressor for home defense the model that FAS1 shows above would be an awesome choice.

valnar said:

All good info. Thanks.

I did come across this link earlier.
http://www.silencershop.com/how-to-buy-a-silencer

Since there is no pressing need to buy one today, I may take the time and do it right. My parents have a Trust in their name...I'm starting to understand why they did that now. Is there a difference between a generic Trust and one just for guns? I'd rather have an all encompassing one for future needs.

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The way the the trust rules have changed recently with the ATF it would be good in the future to have a separate trust for each firearm to make adding trustees easier. If you want to pay someone to draft a complete trust each time well, thats your call. Most people like to keep the firearms stuff in its own trust. I don't need the ATF knowing my full list of possessions and my finances. Remember you are sending complete copies f the trust to the ATF every time you buy or build something.

Keep in mind you only have a few months before the new trust rules kick in. The is not the time to procrastinate if you have a silencer in mind.

Good grief can we just call the silencers and have a noun that does not need any adjectives? That's what the law calls them and what's on Maxim's patent.

Temporary loss of hearing in a home defense situation esp. when you may need to rescue, locate, or gather family member could be a problem in a real life situation. Why not use a silencer?

Mike