How do I legally obtain a supressor?

yuuts · November 10, 2005, 03:13 PM

This is my first post on this forum. I have been reading several on this site and figured this would be a good place to ask this type of class 3 question.

I guess the title says it all. But more to the point....

I would like to get a supressor for an H&K Tactical USP. Just another toy in the bottomless box. I have heard so many conflicting stories ranging from "just go and get it and pay the $200" to "you can get one but can't posess it on your person". Also I have heard it must be registered with the pistol and the two are then mated for life, can't sell one without the other and can't use it on another .45.

What's the REAL answer?

MeekAndMild · November 10, 2005, 06:00 PM

Here is the Federal site to get you started. http://www.atf.gov/index.htm

Remmy · November 10, 2005, 09:04 PM

Check these out...

http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/pages/legal.htm

http://www.silencertests.com/

Just got mine after waiting 2 months and 2 days on the paperwork...not bad.

MGRacer · November 11, 2005, 12:59 AM

Here are a couple of sites that will answer most of your questions regarding purchasing and using a suppressor: http://www.advanced-armament.com/owners.asp
or
http://www.srtarms.com/legalities.htm
Just so you are aware, suppressed 45 ACP pistols are not Hollywood quiet -- if you have not actually heard a 45 ACP suppressed pistol, do youself a favor and ask your dealer for a demo. All of the 45 ACP pistol suppressors that I am aware of are "wet" suppressors and use coolants (grease usually) to achieve their rated suppression. With the coolant, they are reasonably quiet, but still a lot louder sounding than a suppressed .22lr.
A muzzle (threaded) suppressor is not married to the gun -- you can use it on any appropriate gun that is threaded to match the suppressor. The tax stamp (Form 4 with stamp) is for the suppressor only unless you are talking about an integral suppressor. I am not aware of any integral 45 ACP pistol suppressors, although there are integral 45 ACP rifle suppressors like my Camp45 that was suppressed by Doug Melton of SRT Arms http://www.srtarms.com/. Integral rifle suppressors like the Camp45 are dry suppressors and are actually reasonably quiet. Let us know how your search and selection work out.

Zak Smith · November 11, 2005, 12:12 PM

Make sure they are legal in your state.

They are NOT mated to a specific firearm unless they are permanently part of the firearm (eg, integrally suppressed 10/22). I recommend AGAINST this method for that reason.

Fill out a Form 4, which includes getting either a CLEO signature or going the corporate route, send it in with $200 and then wait.

-z

James K · November 12, 2005, 06:58 PM

Reportedly the old Maxim silencer (that was the term used) reduced the sound of even a Model 1903 rifle to the noise of the firing pin, but none of the suppressors I have used lately are anywhere near that effective. At the most, they reduce the sound enough that it does not sound like a shot, but that is a long way from the Hollywood movie version (which is a fake anyway).

Jim

Zak Smith · November 12, 2005, 07:01 PM

I don't think that's possible without subsonic ammo.

The best analogy I've come up with to describe the sound of a supersonic, suppressed, report is to imagine the sound of plunging a knife into a car tire.

CERBERUS · November 25, 2005, 10:01 PM

is there any legal way to produce your own silencers for personal use, and not sale?

i have been looking at prices of them, and it is something that i can really afford, but it is something that i am capablel of building on my own.

i have a pretty good feeling something like this is highly illeagle due to the fact that it can't be tracked as easily.

November 10, 2005, 03:13 PM	#1
yuuts Junior Member Join Date: November 5, 2005 Posts: 1	How do I legally obtain a supressor? This is my first post on this forum. I have been reading several on this site and figured this would be a good place to ask this type of class 3 question. I guess the title says it all. But more to the point.... I would like to get a supressor for an H&K Tactical USP. Just another toy in the bottomless box. I have heard so many conflicting stories ranging from "just go and get it and pay the $200" to "you can get one but can't posess it on your person". Also I have heard it must be registered with the pistol and the two are then mated for life, can't sell one without the other and can't use it on another .45. What's the REAL answer?

November 10, 2005, 06:00 PM	#2
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	Here is the Federal site to get you started. http://www.atf.gov/index.htm __________________ In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL.

November 11, 2005, 12:12 PM	#5
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Make sure they are legal in your state. They are NOT mated to a specific firearm unless they are permanently part of the firearm (eg, integrally suppressed 10/22). I recommend AGAINST this method for that reason. Fill out a Form 4, which includes getting either a CLEO signature or going the corporate route, send it in with $200 and then wait. -z __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

November 12, 2005, 07:01 PM	#7
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	I don't think that's possible without subsonic ammo. The best analogy I've come up with to describe the sound of a supersonic, suppressed, report is to imagine the sound of plunging a knife into a car tire. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

November 10, 2005, 09:04 PM	#3
Remmy Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2001 Location: SC Posts: 188	Check these out... http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/pages/legal.htm http://www.silencertests.com/ Just got mine after waiting 2 months and 2 days on the paperwork...not bad.

November 11, 2005, 12:59 AM	#4
MGRacer Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2005 Posts: 130	Here are a couple of sites that will answer most of your questions regarding purchasing and using a suppressor: http://www.advanced-armament.com/owners.asp or http://www.srtarms.com/legalities.htm Just so you are aware, suppressed 45 ACP pistols are not Hollywood quiet -- if you have not actually heard a 45 ACP suppressed pistol, do youself a favor and ask your dealer for a demo. All of the 45 ACP pistol suppressors that I am aware of are "wet" suppressors and use coolants (grease usually) to achieve their rated suppression. With the coolant, they are reasonably quiet, but still a lot louder sounding than a suppressed .22lr. A muzzle (threaded) suppressor is not married to the gun -- you can use it on any appropriate gun that is threaded to match the suppressor. The tax stamp (Form 4 with stamp) is for the suppressor only unless you are talking about an integral suppressor. I am not aware of any integral 45 ACP pistol suppressors, although there are integral 45 ACP rifle suppressors like my Camp45 that was suppressed by Doug Melton of SRT Arms http://www.srtarms.com/. Integral rifle suppressors like the Camp45 are dry suppressors and are actually reasonably quiet. Let us know how your search and selection work out.

November 12, 2005, 06:58 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Reportedly the old Maxim silencer (that was the term used) reduced the sound of even a Model 1903 rifle to the noise of the firing pin, but none of the suppressors I have used lately are anywhere near that effective. At the most, they reduce the sound enough that it does not sound like a shot, but that is a long way from the Hollywood movie version (which is a fake anyway). Jim

November 25, 2005, 10:01 PM	#8
CERBERUS Member Join Date: November 4, 2004 Posts: 50	is there any legal way to produce your own silencers for personal use, and not sale? i have been looking at prices of them, and it is something that i can really afford, but it is something that i am capablel of building on my own. i have a pretty good feeling something like this is highly illeagle due to the fact that it can't be tracked as easily.