on the range with

Alot of people’s reaction to seeing a silencer in a dealer’s case is usually pure amazement. “ Is that a silencer!!?? I didn’t know that was legal. Can someone actually buy that?” Well, the answer to those questions is usually, yes. In some states you can’t own or purchase one, but in many you can, and Florida is one of those states.

The owning of a silencer or suppressor is controlled by the ATF under the NFA act. Under the NFA act, silencers, machine guns, and short barreled firearms fall under this policy. There are other weapons too, but the majority of ones purchased are the 3 types which have been mentioned.

Why would someone want a silencer? Or machine gun? Or short barreled rifle or shotgun? The silencer has gotten a very bad reputation thanks to Hollywood. It’s the “tool” of hitmen. The only purpose in one is to kill! Well, not really. The main use for a silencer is to bring the noise of a firearm down to safe levels for your ears. If you were to use your firearm inside your house for your protection it will be loud, really loud. Having a silencer on it will save your hearing after using it.

As far as using one in the field for hunting, it saves the report of the rifle from the hunter, it also doesn’t spook your next target nearly as much after the shot has been taken. In most countries where the use and ownership of firearms is legal, having a silencer for your firearm is almost mandatory. In fact, in the hunting spectrum it is considered noise pollution in those countries if not used. It’s only in the US that they are looked down upon.

Now getting one is a time-consuming process, unlike firearms, they are registered through the ATF. There is a tax stamp of $200 which needs to be paid for each one you purchase. Some companies that produce silencers have multi-use/multi-caliber models that can be swapped back and forth between firearms. The biggest drawback is the time the ATF takes to process your paperwork. It can take anywhere on average from 9 to 14 months to obtain your tax stamp to be able to take your silencer from the dealer home.

Silencers do have a place. They reduce the decibel level of shooting down to a safe range for your ears. On rifles, they tend to make them more accurate because they are controlling the pressure level of the round leaving the barrel better.