If you live in the USA, then you first need to reside in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO (with C&R), MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI or WY to own one without a license. WA bans use. A few others states allow licensed dealers to own them also.
Then you need to obtain the ATF form 1 (application to make and register a firearm), form 5330.20 (certify citizenship), two finger print cards, two passport sized photos of yourself and a check for $200. You can download the forms from here;
http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5320-1.pdf (duplicate 2-sided) and
http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-5330-20.pdf and finger print cards (and other forms) from here;
http://www.atf.gov/forms/dcof/ .
You are required to obtain the local sheriff's signature on the back of the ATF form 1 before sending it in to the ATF. If the sheriff will not sign, then you can ask a judge or DA to sign. Most people who have problems obtaining the signature create a trust or corporation to own the silencer for them. All qualified corp officers or trustees can possess the silencer, this is an advantage over over personal ownership.
You then need access to a lathe. It does not have to be a large or good one. I use a cheap chinese hobby lathe that barely holds .001" consistantly. A band saw, drill/bits, and a welder will come in handy also. I ordered one from Grizzly. I use a cheap MIG welder for the high powered rifle silencers. A hand engraver does a good enough job for engraving the silencer. Two of the best forums for silencer hobbists are
http://www.subguns.com and
http://www.silencertalk.com .
A sielncer will reduce noise by anywhere from 20-30 decibels which is 100 to 1000 times less intensity and 4 to 8 times less loudness. But doe not expect to have anything that is quiet unless the rifle is already not that loud when not suppressed. Some suppressed rifles and pistols will still be too noisy to safely shoot without ear plugs.
Ranb
