Is a silencer worth the having?

I have two questions:

1. What kind of attitude do the CLEOs generally have when presented with suppressor applications?

2. What are the CLEOs rights, I mean on what grounds can they refuse to sign even if you have a super clean background?

This thread has caught my attention, i'm interested. I have never considered private suppressor ownership, and never considered the benefits of it until now. I always considered it a tool of the sniper or assassin.

I can see other benefits now. Great thread.
 
Carry_24/7 said:
1. What kind of attitude do the CLEOs generally have when presented with suppressor applications?

2. What are the CLEOs rights, I mean on what grounds can they refuse to sign even if you have a super clean background?

This thread has caught my attention, i'm interested. I have never considered private suppressor ownership, and never considered the benefits of it until now. I always considered it a tool of the sniper or assassin.
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CLEO attitudes vary. Mine is very accomdating. Others I hear are not so much. It will depend upon his/her personal politics. I think one could circumvent the CLEO signoff by establishing a trust and going that route. A trust is better anyway if you intend to pass the classIII items to family.

A CLEO can arbitrarily refuse to sign. Most will sign.

Many people at the range etc. approach me saying things like silencers are for assassins or that they are illegal. Doubtlessly those comment are borne of ignorance. When asked why do I need a silencer, I ask politely, why does anyone use a muffler? Same thing.

Some folks like to ride obnoxiously loud motorcycles. Some folks prefer a more subtle ride. I choose the latter. I think it's just good manners.

Edit to add: I do think it would be funny to show up at a busy public range dressed in business attire, put on some black gloves, whip out a suppressed pistol, take like four shots, check the target and then leave...:p
 
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:D
 
A trust is an easy way around the CLEO signature, but it adds $200+ to the total cost. It's a minor inconvenience at the best, however, when you consider that you'd never need another CLEO signature, it's a bargain for the frequent NFA guy.

I love my .22 suppressor. It's useful for me, as I can hunt with it, and it allows me to shoot without disturbing others or in many cases, even disturbing the game animals. It even sounds "Hollywood quiet". That said, it's a lot of money just to allow me to kill possums on the trash cans without waking the missus. :)

Hollywood totally ruins our expectations for suppressors. I expect a suppressor the size of a Thompson Machine Wasp to make supersonic .223 sound like .22lr subsonics darn it!
I'm not sure I'll spring for another suppressor at this point. Maybe a 9mm with subsonic ammo would be worth it. .45 suppressors just haven't impressed me enough to suppress my 1911.
 
Silencers/suppressors are, whether we like it or not, associated in the public and police mind with either "licensed to kill" special agents, or criminals. IMHO, as a former LEO, the presence of a suppressor on a gun used in self-defense, even in the home, will raise a lot of questions that would never be asked if the can were not there. In a traumatic time, it will not help to have to try to answer questions like, "Who do you think you are, punk, James Bond?" Or "The only reason for that thing is so you can kill quietly and get away with it."

If you want one, and can legally own one, buy it and shoot it for fun. But, again only my opinion, do not put it on a weapon you might use for SD/HD.

Jim
 
I have been making my own silencers for about ten years now. I think a muffler is the about the nicest accessory a person can attach to most firearms. I spent about $2000 in tools (lathe, welder etc) and have made 14 cans so far and two more ATF forms 1's pending. With material costing between $20 to $60 for each, my silencers are costing me less than $400 each. Not only do I make small rim fire cans, I have also made them for the 510 whisper and 338 ultra mag. I was quoted $2500 for a 50 cal SS can back in 2002, so I am way ahead on saving money and doing it myself is the greatest. My main limitation is that I an not able to make a recoil booster for use on a recoil operated pistol. But I will someday.

The recoil and noise reduction are exactly what a person needs when learning how to shoot. A silencer is far superior to ear plugs or muffs even when hearing protection is still needed when using a suppressed firearm.

That mufflers are seen as tools of the military and criminals is something we have to change. We have only ourselves to blame for this. It is time we took our rights back.

Ranb
 
Edit to add: I do think it would be funny to show up at a busy public range dressed in business attire, put on some black gloves, whip out a suppressed pistol, take like four shots, check the target and then leave...
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Hilarious! You forgot dark sunglasses and a very serious look at all times.....:D

Truely, i'm interested, especially if its within my rights; jack the stigma...

I'm going to look more into this when I get home next. I'll drop by my local Sheriffs station (Clay County Florida) and get a feel for the application signing process by the CLEO.
 
Seems like it is nice to have on a HD gun where firing the pistol indoors without ear protection is possible.
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They are rarely that effective, especially on a caliber that would be decent for self defense.

Firing in doors could cause permanent hearing damage.
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More like WILL cause permanent damage.

The question remains of your safety from whomever you are shooting.
 
To each his own and if it is cool to you go for it.....but to me it would seem the opposite.....whats cool to me is LOUD with A LOT of muzzle flash and a hard to hold on to kick.......I don't ride motorcycles but if I did I guess it would be a Harley since it is loud and rumbles a lot....you guys can have the japanese rocket bikes.
 
TennJed,

You shoot without hearing protection? Some suppressed firearms are still loud enough to require additional hearing protection. Loud firearms are less cool when the local rifle range that has been in place for over 80 years finds itself the victim of a lawsuit filed by people who recently moved in closeby

Ranb
 
Cops and their attitudes kill me (and I used to be one). Detective: "Why did you have a silencer on your pistol, Mr. Citizen, when you shot that man trying to kill you in your house?" Citizen: "Ever fire a handgun inside a house, sir? They are very loud." Police seldom are exposed to, or can accept, a logical answer to a question. Instead of being concerned with whether a shooting is righteous, they'll milk the fact that a gun was silenced to death. Now that is NOT logical. The facts, ma'am, just the facts. When did we lose that? A custom Caspian based 9mm with AAC Scorpion suppressor. Takes down the bark enough to use indoors, yet allows the sights to be seen.
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Are they worth it to me ....no, not really ...

I've fired a few ...and they were sort of fun / for a few minutes...

Could they be useful as a training item - reducing noise - maybe / but I'd say probably not. You can accomplish the same thing ...by using other calibers.....by changing the ammo selection ...and better ear protection.

We all have all kinds of "gun stuff" that isn't really practical ...so it just depends on what you want / how you want to approach the hobby .../ fun, tactical, competition, etc ...
 
The only reason to own a silencer is because you want one. Well there is the international man of mystery deal. but most people don't qualify.

Please consult the laws of your locality.
 
As much as I thing silencers are fun, and I would like to have one, I wouldn't use one for home protection and here's why:

1) One reason is that it is less practical to store a silenced handgun just due to the extra length;

2) I would be concerned about reliability issues

3) The balance of the gun (without some kind of forward grip) and the added length would bother me some.

4) If you do use one, you have to think: "am I going to remove the silencer after I shoot someone" (don't forget - the barrel is still threaded, silencer is registered to you or your trust, and if no one heard anything....you get what I'm saying) or leave it on and take your chances with the cops and prosecutor.
 
Suppressors for the HK go between $500 to $800, some more expensive, maybe some cheaper.

Unless you have a limitless budget and money is no object I think the money would be better spent on a bullet proof vest (with groin protector).
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that a suppressor also attenuates muzzle jump and recoil. I'm not bothered by either, but it is a smoother activity with markedly less of each...

another pic

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Realistically, a silencer/supressor is just an expensive toy with very limited practical real world value.
 
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