Well, I had a few firearms I didn't really shoot or care about. Some that had been shot once.... a couple time eight years ago. So I sold a few, still looking for a buyer for an AR-15, going to purchase some free float tubes, 9mm barrel for my M&P40, some mags, etc. However, that will still leave me with just over a $1,000 of "gun money". Sooooooo, I am finally going to do it, I am going to get a sound suppressor. I am looking at this one: http://yhm.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_18&products_id=303 http://yhm.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_7&products_id=111 Has anyone played with them? Or other suppressors that may be recommendable?
I've gotten to play with a few in different calibers and speaking generically a suppressor will make a noticeable difference on any gun capable of using one, regardless of what suppression characteristics of the caliber are. I've shot a few suppressed 5.56 ARs and they're a bunch of fun - don't let the paper statistics fool you. I will also go on to say that the overall best "bang for your buck" in terms of all-around-fun, noise reduction and utility is probably suppressing a .22 LR (especially if you do varmint hunting at all; but even just for target its great). See if you can find someone with a suppressed .22 LR and give it a shot - you'll probably get hooked on that combo alone.
True, if I do get one, it will probably be a .22 can. I decided to put the money towards more usefull things, free floats, CMMG 20" .22lr upper, etc.
Well right now we have (heavier) restrictions on obtaining a suppressor (+$200 and roughly 6 month wait). They're also generally not that common, hardly ever used in crimes, and don't make a firearm any more deadly. I don't think a ban is really an issue here. Personally I think its foolish to want to ban a safety device, which is really what a suppressor is. Don't fall into the media myths around suppressors; they do add length and weight, they don't make a shot completely silent nor do they make it sound like that common 'whisper' sound you hear in movies. They do reduce the noise, much of the time below (or close to below) ear-damaging levels, and unless you're firing sub-sonic loads, you'll still get the super-sonic crack of the bullet down range. There are even a bunch of states that allow hunting with a suppressor which makes a ton of sense for hunters. They also make great accessories for your home defense weapon (discharge a firearm in an indoor room without hearing protection and tell me how that feels...).
I have shot a .45 without hearing protection, outside, once. Never again. I can't imagine indoor intensity.
Read an article in American Rifleman a few months back about suppressors. They ARE legal in the USA but permitting is a serious pain. Bullets with speeds over the speed of sound will not be effectively suppressed due to the "sonic boom". I would focus on a 9 mm or 22 LR with a bullet velocity of 1100 fps or less
there is no permitt required, just a one time payment of $200 and you need to fill out whats called a form four, which is basically the same thing as a 4473. If you are legally able to own a handgun, you will have no problem getting any class III item. The wait time is the pain. They're currently running between 150 and 180 days.
