silencer legal in all 50 states?

[MachIVshooter]

No, all that rhetoric applies to cartridge guns, not muzzleloaders.

I don't think "rhetoric" is the word you were looking for, but that's inconsequential.

If there weren't confusion surrounding what qualifies as antique and what is regulated by '34 NFA and '68 GCA, ATF wouldn't have an illustrated FAQ partially explaining the difference. What SiCo has done, while 100% legal and a good thing, does create additional perplexity surrounding the application of suppressors to guns that do not qualify as firearms under the antique exemption. Specifically, there is not to my knowledge any ruling regarding the permanent attachment of suppressors to pre-1899 antique firearms which do fire available modern cartridges. My own interpretation is that it would be treated the same way as other modification that would render an antique NFA, but not everyone shares that interpretation, and it's certainly worthy of discussion. If you don't wish to participate in that tangent, then don't. But it is wholly appropriate in the context of this thread, and I promise we have plenty of members on this board who do not understand even what is meant by exempt antique by production date vs. exempt by primitive ignition. Many (most) people think muzzle loading is the exempting criteria, don't realize that you could have an exempt breech loader and a non-exempt muzzle loader..

 

[Elkins45]

Non-exempt muzzle loader? I know something like the T/C Encore fits this category because the frame will work with centerfire barrels. What else?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Non-exempt muzzle loader? I know something like the T/C Encore fits this category because the frame will work with centerfire barrels. What else?

The hypothetical muzzle loader that is able to somehow use fixed ammunition would be non-exempt because it does not utilize antique ignition. Conversely, a new production gun along the lines of the Ferguson rifle, though a breech loader, would be exempt because of the antique ignition.

 

[CraigC]

Rhetoric is the word. Nonsense might be better. It's a muzzleloader, the NFA does not apply. No different from short barrelled rifles or shotguns.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Rhetoric is the word. Nonsense might be better. It's a muzzleloader, the NFA does not apply. No different from short barrelled rifles or shotguns.

Except for the fact that the ATF considers parts like baffles (and recently wipes) to be silencers in and of themselves. It needs to be constructed in a way that it can't be mounted on a Title I firearm or even dissasembled. Although they have changed their mind, the ATF had a history off going after airgun silencers.

Mike

 

[Arizona_Mike]

While some states care about black powder ignition systems, ir does not matter under Federal law.

Mike