Silencers cost from about $150 to $3500. The cheapest are those for 22lr made from aluminum and not suitable for machine guns. The most expensive are those for 50 bmg rifles. A silencer for a 223 Remington or 308 Winchester will be from 800 to 1200 bucks.
While some states require that a silencer be registered, this is required for all silencers in the USA even those owned by the police and military. WA State law makes it a gross misdemeanor to use a silencer on a firearm unless is it registered. Bill 1016 was passed in 2011 and went into effect in July allowing use of registered silencers.
There are no WA state registration forms required other than the usual form to fill out as with any firearm you buy from a dealer. You are not required to buy your silencer from a dealer unless it is being purchased across state lines.
Federal forms/laws. The ATF is required to approve the transfer of any silencer as long as the forms are filled out correctly and you live in a state that allows them. You use the ATF form 4 to buy and the ATF form 1 to make. Assuming you buy from a dealer, he or she will ensure the ATF form 4 is filled out correctly. You must have the form signed by your local sheriff,; this signature is just to indicate that the sheriff knows of no reason why you are not allowed to own a silencer. Is it something left over from the 1930's when there were no instant background checks. The ATF form 4 is sent in along with two passport sized photos, form 5330.20 (certify yourself as legal resident or citizen) two finger print cards and a check for $200. Approval takes about 4 months now. If you use a trust to own the silencer for you, the sheriff's signature, mug shots and fingerprints are not required. A trust allows multiple owners, even across state lines, like husband wife or friends that can all possess the silencer.
The feds only care that you pay the tax and do not use the silencer to commit a crime. The ATF will never ever pay you a visit just because you own a silencer. You only pay the $200 tax once for each silencer. You can put it on any firearm you want. Just ensure the bullet is smaller than the bore and it will handle the pressure. Many people buy a 308 silencer to use on anything 308 winchester and smaller, like 5.56. Some pistol silencers will work well on low pressure subsonic rifle loads also. One 22lr silencer will work on every 22 lr pistol and rifle you own as long as they are threaded the same (usually 1/2-28). If the silencer needs repairs, you can not make replacement parts yourself, it has to be sent to a licensed manufacturer for repair or you pay another $200 tax to make the part yourself.
Silencers are legal for civilians in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MD, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY. Unlike SBR, SBR, DD and machine guns, you do not have to tell the ATF prior to taking them across state lines. Taking them in your checked luggage on the airlines is just as easy and routine as with other guns; just declare them and put them unloaded in a locked gun case or suitcase. If you have a permanent change of address in another state, the ATF wants to know (I think).
Guns are still loud even with a good silencer on them. Only a suppressed rifle with subsonic ammo is going to be quiet. Silencers only reduce muzzle blast noise and do nothing for action noise or bullet flight noise. But I make silencers for my high powered rifles as they can make my 338 ultra magnum safe to shoot without ear plugs. Check out
http://silencertests.com/results.htm for noise levels. Check out
http://www.silencertests.com/links.htm for silencer manufacturers.
Some people disagree, but I think silencers are awesome mufflers that greatly enhance the shooting experience. I just do not want to shoot unsuppressed anymore.
Http://www.subguns.com and
http://www.silencertalk.com are the two best resources I know of on the internet for silencers. Please post any other questions you might have.
Ranb
