Airgun silencers
- Thread starter LAR-15
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A sound suppressor for an airgun or a paintball gun is legally the same as on for a sound suppressor for any other firearm. It must be on the appropriate federal form, and be tax paid.
There have been several attempts by various manufacturers to design sound suppressing devices for air and paintball guns that are exempted from the National Firearms Act, yet this has none have been approved to date. Another individual decided to build an airgun supressor that he believed would not be an NFA item since it would be destroyed and be rendered inoperable if used on a conventional firearm, but his device too got him into serious legal trouble, and he has since met the heavy hand of the BATFE and Federal Courts.
There have been several attempts by various manufacturers to design sound suppressing devices for air and paintball guns that are exempted from the National Firearms Act, yet this has none have been approved to date. Another individual decided to build an airgun supressor that he believed would not be an NFA item since it would be destroyed and be rendered inoperable if used on a conventional firearm, but his device too got him into serious legal trouble, and he has since met the heavy hand of the BATFE and Federal Courts.
Zundfolge
Member
Thats just crazy... the BATFE doesn't regulate "airguns" so why should they regulate accessories for airguns (not saying I don't think its true, but its just crazy)?
Hell, why can't they ban mufflers on cars then?
:banghead:
Hell, why can't they ban mufflers on cars then?
:banghead:
Keith Wheeler
Member
Because there is no difference between the design of a silencer for an airgun and a silencer for a firearm. What is legislated (which is of course and entirely different debate) is the sale of suppresors "designed or redesigned to function as a firearms muffler" or something like that. The design is the same, even though the end use is not.
Keith Wheeler
Member
The problem is some of the suppressor regs/laws are so poorly written that if they wanted to the B of A,T,F and E could come knocking on your door if you owned a plastic coke bottle and duct tape.
Anything designed or redesigned to function as a firearms muffler.
Doesn't say it has to function very well, or even survive functioning. Another case where "we're just sportsmen and don't need that evil NFA stuff" has led to some really stupid situations.
Anything designed or redesigned to function as a firearms muffler.
Doesn't say it has to function very well, or even survive functioning. Another case where "we're just sportsmen and don't need that evil NFA stuff" has led to some really stupid situations.
Keith Wheeler
Member
Two most critical parts of hso's link:
Any combination of parts. Coke bottle. Duct tape. I hate stuff like that.
Yep, ok, so there's a little common sense there....but then under the above quotation, does having one of these paintball guns and a hacksaw give you a "combination of parts"?
Any combination of parts. Coke bottle. Duct tape. I hate stuff like that.
Yep, ok, so there's a little common sense there....but then under the above quotation, does having one of these paintball guns and a hacksaw give you a "combination of parts"?
The key-word is "ready convertability" for the ATF, that any design could be mounted onto a real firearm.
It's not so much that the ATF actualy is worried about people doing that, but that they don't want the headache of having to determine who has a "non NFA suppressor" and an "NFA suppressor. And in this instance, I see their point of trying to keep it simple.
I blame the unconstitutional NFA '34 for it instead.
There are a few airguns that have barrel designs that have some sound moderating ability, while not crossing the ATF line of "ready convertability".
The Talon SS from AirForce fits the bill. It has an expansion chamber on the end of the barrel shroud. While it has no baffles or wipes, it does have a single expansion chamber between the barrel and it's false muzzle. Turned down to sub-sonic, it's very quiet.
It's not so much that the ATF actualy is worried about people doing that, but that they don't want the headache of having to determine who has a "non NFA suppressor" and an "NFA suppressor. And in this instance, I see their point of trying to keep it simple.
I blame the unconstitutional NFA '34 for it instead.
There are a few airguns that have barrel designs that have some sound moderating ability, while not crossing the ATF line of "ready convertability".
The Talon SS from AirForce fits the bill. It has an expansion chamber on the end of the barrel shroud. While it has no baffles or wipes, it does have a single expansion chamber between the barrel and it's false muzzle. Turned down to sub-sonic, it's very quiet.
Small Arms Review had an article on whether a paintball silencer would constitute a NFA device. The author actually went and got a BATF opinion on whether it was or not.
The ATF concluded since the device was designed for a paintball gun that was not a firearm and it could not be easily modified for use on a real firearm that it did not constitute a NFA device.
Some of those airsoft silencers I'd be very wary of buying. Some have the proper threads and fit on real firearms and if you take the insides out a bullet could pass through them.
The ATF concluded since the device was designed for a paintball gun that was not a firearm and it could not be easily modified for use on a real firearm that it did not constitute a NFA device.
Some of those airsoft silencers I'd be very wary of buying. Some have the proper threads and fit on real firearms and if you take the insides out a bullet could pass through them.
they pretty clearly said that as long as it was integral to the non-firearm it wasn't a violation, but the moment you cut it off you were in trouble
I don't think I'd be very interested anyway considering they only supposedly get a 7-8 dB reduction from these things when they do get chopped off and applied
HankB
Member
Some airguns have integral mufflers - for example, the BSA 240 air pistol has a barrel that stops short of the end of the pistol, and discharges through what amounts to an expansion chamber that serves to muffle the report a bit. Since there's no way this could be adapted to a firearm, it's OK . . . the BATmen don't regulate non-firearms or accessories which are unique to non-firearms.
If you have an air rifle and machine the muzzle in such a way as to make an integral, completely non-removable muffler, that would be OK too; I understand some high-end airguns from the U.K. have this feature.
Now, if you have a muffler on a BB gun which can be removed and attached to a firearm, even if it takes four C-clamps, half a roll of duct tape, two rivets and a tube of epoxy, the BATmen will get you.
If you have an air rifle and machine the muzzle in such a way as to make an integral, completely non-removable muffler, that would be OK too; I understand some high-end airguns from the U.K. have this feature.
Now, if you have a muffler on a BB gun which can be removed and attached to a firearm, even if it takes four C-clamps, half a roll of duct tape, two rivets and a tube of epoxy, the BATmen will get you.
Zundfolge
Member
Are they real "sound suppressing" devices, or are they tubes screwed on the front of the airguns so they look all "tactical"?
Lot of CounterStrike playing kids dig the "tacticool" look .
solareclipse
Member
they don't regulate airgun silencers per say, they regulate silencers period. what you put them on or what it was built for don't make a difference.
as long as it is a silencer and works, that's all they are concerned with.
as long as it is a silencer and works, that's all they are concerned with.
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