Interesting silencer/suppressor question

[Jackal]

Hi. I understand most of the laws pertaining to purchase and ownership of muzzle mounted silencers. However, what if someone made a non-muzzle mounted suppressor? For instance, I have a Bushmaster with a railed forearm. If I had someone make a mount that would attach to the forearm, stretch from the forearm to the muzzle, index the silencer correctly in front of the muzzle, but not contact it, would it be legal? The tolerances between the muzzle and the silencer would need to be very tight. So my basic question: If the silencer isnt mounted to the muzzle and is attached elseware, is it still illegal without the tax stamp?

 

[cslinger]

Has nothing to do with the way it is mounted. If the device is used to suppress a firearm sound signature and is portable by nature it falls under the law.

For example a 2 liter bottle could be considered a suppressor, as could an integrally attached suppressor(which is really sort of a whole barrel and technically attached to the receiver).

Now if the sound is limited via a fixed position such as those sound boxes at a range with sound deadening material then that is ok.

As always write the tech branch of the BATFE before doing any "experiments" as you do not want to do anything illegal.

Chris

 

[Curly]

It is my understanding that the possession of the suppressor is THE issue, not where or how it is mounted. If you possess a suppressor it must be according to NFA regulations.

 

[Eyesac]

Just carry a pillow around with you...

 

[Jim Watson]

The Feds consider a threaded muzzle adapter to hold drink bottles, which was once available from Cobray, as equivalent to a silencer. They do not have a sense of humor on that stuff. One decibel reduction in muzzle blast and it is legally a silencer.

I understand that it IS legal to have a muffler on a bench in front of a fixed firing position. I have seen rows of old tires for the purpose.

 

[orangelo]

If it is attached in any way to the weapon it is a suppressor.

Shooting in a sound proof room is not a suppressor because it doesn't attach to the weapon.

A shooting bench with a 55 gallon drum bolted to the top that you shoot through is not a suppressor because it is not mounted to the weapon.

 

[ndh87]

Just carry a pillow around with you...

even works on a 12 guage...once...

 

[crunker]

If it is a portable device designed to suppress the sound of a firearm it is a sound suppressor.

I wonder what would happen if someone made an engine muffler with threads that necked down to say 9mm?

 

[smince]

Even the long flash suppressors for the old shorty M16's are considered a suppressor because they moderated the sound 1 or 2 decibels.

 

[MountainBear]

as much as I hate to bend over for the Washington beaurocrats, I think I would (and someday will) pay the $200 and get the tax stamp for a propper can silencer. I wish they were legal as they are elsewhere in the world, my hearing is already on its way out the door...

 

[Sunray]

"...made a non-muzzle mounted suppressor..." Forget it. You still have to comply with U.S. Federal law.

 

[Pilgrim]

Just carry a pillow around with you...

As in Mel Gibson in "Payback"? Did you ever notice he cranks off two rounds in an apartment building and no one notices, but he takes the time to use a pillow to finish off his antagonist?

Pilgrim

 

[Phil DeGraves]

How about a device that just disguises the sound? You put it on your handgun and shoot and it sounds like a dog barking or a foghorn. Same decibel level, just masks it to something commonplace that people won't think is unusual. I wrote a short story once about a hitman that used one. and it ended with the cop who was tracking the murders hearing a dog barking in the distance.

 

[Justin]