Question for those of you with supressors

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Sniper X

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OK, I am about to go thru the process of getting a suppressor for a handgun of mine. I was wondering if any of you had to answer questions from LEO when you go thru the process like "what are you planning to use the suppression for" or "Why do you want a suppressor?" Are the LEO's allowed to ask you why or for what? Or are they just supposed to check your background, and hold out their hand for the money you have to pay for them to do the check?

Just wondering what I am up against!


Thanks!


SX
 
i've been lucky. on the last couple of form 4's for cans, my chief didn't bother asking me anything. and i've been through two different chiefs.

all you really have to say is, "i'm a collector."

that's the stock reason you or your SOT will put on the form anyways ("for my firearms collection.")
 
I put "All lawful purposes" on my NFA paperwork. If the sheriff asked me why I wanted a suppressor, I would tell him I wanted to minimize hearing loss.
 
You seek a revocable living trust. It is fairly simple, any of the NFA sites can point you in the right direction. http://www.silencertalk.com is one of the larger silencer focused forums.

You don't need Miss CLEO and you don't need prints. You just send in a copy of the trust with the Form 4/Form 1 and then fill out a 4473 when you get the approved form back. You can do it all yourself once you have the serial numbered item transferred to the local SOT who is transferring to you.
 
Since this thread is fresh, I'd like to expand if I may?

Where do I get silencer barrels for my pistols?
Who makes the best suppressors?

1500th post, woohoo
 
Where do I get silencer barrels for my pistols?
Who makes the best suppressors?
Click to expand...

Lonewolf, Jarvis, EFK all make extended + threaded barrels. Google them for specifics. Jarvis and EFK could possibly take months if the barrel you're looking for is not in stock. I wont even consider BarSto, as they will take months and lie to you along the way saying "2 more weeks" ad nauseum.

Your second question is like asking "who makes the best car", or "who makes the best hard drive", its a loaded question and will net you all manner of answers. Even companies I think of as "good" tend to have a crappy can or two in their line up.

Then there's the question of what caliber/gun to silence? 22 and 9mm work great, 45 sounds terrible (in my not so humble opinion).

If I was buying now, I'd go with SWR for 9 and 22 pistol cans, AAC for 223 and 308 rifle cans.

There a few well-known manufacturers that have huge reputations built on glossy advertising, fluff and past performance but now have poor designs or made demonstratively false claims about their products. I'd avoid those.

If at all possible, go hear as many different silencers as possible before buying. There's a decent size community of oregon silencer owners that congregate on ar15.com's home town forum.

-T
 
Sorry folks, I did not intend to make the "best silencer" a loaded question.

But your opinions are welcome and well received. As I age and now approach my 40's, homework means more and more to me than ever. I only want to spend my money once is all. I appreciate the candor and tips on where to look such that I can make my own decisions. Many thanks and gratitude for taking the time to point me in the right direction in hopes of doing so.

ciao, jeepmor
 
Definitely gather as much info as you can, and try to hear the cans outdoors as first hand experience trumps just about everything (except first hand experience and a calibrated meter!).

If you're interested, I can forward you the name and contact info for my favorite class-II/III dealer in the Portland area. He is a trusted friend and coworker -- and gives good discounts to folks who work at the local processor manufacturer :evil: He has some neat stuff and has a handful of demo silencers.

-T
 
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Ownership for All lawful purposes, and so my ears will not bleed and so I will not piss off my neighbors, works for me.

Funny how most of the euro countries require a suppressor to shoot on the ranges and it is considered rude not to.

The USA on the other hand makes them seem to be an assassin tool only used to kill or poach game.

Most complaints about ranges or shooting is because of the noise. What’s wrong with this picture?

I am an owner of several cans.
 
I'd also stronly recommend looking into forming a trust. In essence, a trust is a single-page letter, in a specific format with some specific details... and that's it. I bought a copy of WillMaker 'cause I'm lazy, but you don't even have to do that.
 
If you can go the individual route, I would do that first. Trusts and corporations have advantages (no fingerprints, no CLEO sign off) but they also have disadvantages as well.
 
What are the disadvantages of the trust route?
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Forming a trust, you cannot be the grantor, trustee and beneficiary. This means there is some party that you owe a duty to as grantor or trustee, though in the case of a revocable living trust you can change that easily enough.

Another issue is that ATF has some difficulty issuing pronouncements on firearms law and that is their specialty. If you use a form trust and establish a trust that violates the laws of your state; but ATF approves the Form 4 - then what happens to the NFA item when it is discovered that the trust you formed is invalid? Are you an automatic felon? Do you have to surrender the property?

Now neither of those are insurmountable issues or issues that can't be dealt with by any lawyer; but they are issues that don't crop up when you go the individual route.
 
What are the disadvantages of the trust route?
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Due to a quirk in Missouri law, the owner of modern NFA firearms needs to hold an FFL of some kind, such as a C&R.

However, a trust can't hold an FFL, so a trust is a poor choice for someone planning on living in or visiting Missouri.
 
I live in WA where it is legal to own silencers, but a gross misdemeanor to use them. When I went in for a form 1 signature, the sheriff told me he thought they were illegal in the USA. I explained that the US government only required a tax stamp. When he asked why I wanted one even when I could not use it in WA, I told him (the truth at the time) that I was planning on retiring in Idaho. His attitude was that if the BATFE did not want me having one, then they would not approve it.

Just explain why you want it; enhance gun collection, reduce noise pollution, conserve hearing, learn to make, etc. As far as I know the only state that requires a sheriff to sign is TN. The sheriff can refuse to sign for any reason. Federal law does not require the local police to do a background check, but most will if they do not know you. Mine did after I dropped off a batch of three form 1’s.

Ranb
 
Are there any good links to online sites for guidelines for the specific language of the trust?
 
Depends on what state you form the trust in. Trust law is determined by state law. Many people use Quicken Willmaker for this purpose.
 
Due to a quirk in Missouri law, the owner of modern NFA firearms needs to hold an FFL of some kind, such as a C&R.

However, a trust can't hold an FFL, so a trust is a poor choice for someone planning on living in or visiting Missouri.
Click to expand...
Can't non-FFL holders in MO possess C&R machine guns, short barreled rifles & short shotguns?

Source:

What are the disadvantages of the trust route?
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They are very few and far. One disadvantage is it will cost you an extra $400 to do it the "right way" with a trust, but there are advantages as well. One advantage is that your wife can be a trustee. That means she is able to legally have access, possession and can legally use the firearm. If you purchase it as an individual she would not be allowed to do so unless in your presence. Another advantage is the transaction will be more private, as it should be.

What did I mean by saying the "right way?" Since the BATFE takes the view that owning an illegal weapon is such an unspeakable atrocious crime against humanity, you should check with an attorney to make sure the trust route will work in your state. Wereas the individual route would not require this step. The hard part will be finding an attorney that is versed in this area of law. Contact www.gunowners.org for suggested attorneys. The NRA won’t provide an attorneys name unless you are a member. It cost me ~$400 in attorney fees to have one review the trust and to make sure it was kosher in my state.

Visit www.AR15.com for detailed information pertaining to NFA weapons and trust. Go to the Armory -> General Class 3 forum.
 
Can't non-FFL holders in MO possess C&R machine guns, short barreled rifles & short shotguns?
Click to expand...
That is correct. FFL holders can possess modern machineguns and short-barreled rifles / shotguns in MO.
 
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