Non-NFA (Non-suppressor) "Semi-suppressor"

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What about a device that can be made or purchased with no paperwork which screws onto the barrel, which acts as a flashhider but more importantly suppresses SOME of the blast, if not ENOUGH of the blast to make it classified as an NFA suppressor.

What's the definition of an NFA suppressor? Is there some minor level of blast suppression that can be done without paperwork, $200, etc.? Is the definition based on a decibel-reduction rating or similar? Like say, "reducing blast by 5 Db or less is not an NFA-regulated suppressor" or similar?

 

[rcmodel]

According to ATF, any reduction in sound is a sound suppressor.

About the closest thing I know of to what you are asking about is the Noveske Flash Suppressor.

It supposedly projects some of the sound away from you, but doesn't actually reduce the decibel level.

http://www.noveskerifleworks.com/

rc

 

[jmorris]

Is there some minor level of blast suppression that can be done without paperwork

No. As above "Any" is the key word. The BATFE also has quite a bit of "intent" woven into the rule book.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

rcmodel, that is indeed close to what I'm talking about; thanks and thanks for the clarifications.

Guess I will probably have to bite the bullet and get "on the grid" sooner than I wanted to. Should I use a .308 cal suppressor for a .260, or do they make .260 / .270 sized suppressers?

 

[rcmodel]

At least Surefire for one, makes a 6.8 (.277") model.

I think the closer you can get to the 260 (.264") hole would work better.

But I know next to nothing about modern suppressors nowdays.

Last one I shot was a GI Sionics in 1969.

rc

 

[Zak Smith]

Dr. THW,

We've made some "sub-caliber" versions of our 30P. Depending on how the suppressor is manufactured and in what quantities, the maker might be able to do it for you. However, I just shoot .260 through my .30 cal suppressor. It's quieter than shooting .308 through it. A smaller hole would make it slightly quieter, but even though I could easily have another one made for my 6.5mm use, I haven't bothered.

-z

 

[ACBMWM3]

Spikes makes a fake can.
so does Tactical Innovations.
If it changes the sound at all its considered a suppressor.
Could I get a loudener?

 

[ReAX222]

So does the ATF meter dB or dB and frequency?

Here's my thinking on the subject, a car muffler removes the higher frequency sounds and depending on the muffler it can attenuate the lower freqs too. There are really loud mufflers that attenuate the higher freqs and leave the lower at or near the original dB level. So if they are metering dB, probably SPL if I am think of it correctly, then as long as the dBs are constant we can remove the higher frequencies without becoming a NFA classified suppressor. The up side to this, is lower frequencies are less directional, I've been told by professionals that under say 100hz, you can't tell it's direction.

 

[Yellowfin]

YHM makes good cans for the money and their mounts are nice for putting on different kinds of rifles.

Meanwhile, the ATF needs to lighten up and/or cans need to be taken off the NFA list. Who the heck benefits from this irrational persecution of hearing safety equipment?

 

[Gordon]

There have been attempts to raise all the report sounds above 20,000 cps to make it not in human audible range. It would still peg a wide band DB meter, and freak all the dogs in the world! Actually creating an ultra sonic whistle port would be doable!

 

[ReAX222]

What would be the basic principle behind ultra sonic whistle ports. Some of the research I've done points out that most of the report is a kind of helmholtz resonance rather than a clap from the over pressure. So I guess it would be a much of really small holes, say under 0.010" and probably as many as the caliber of the barrel?

 

[Mick7.62]

Both. "Sonic Whistle" type suppressors like the Russians use are classified as silencers by the ATF.