Texas continues to lead the way in gun silencer sales ...

[spin]

Posted Thursday, Dec. 02, 2010

Glen Furtardo knows a good buy when he sees one.

He says that's why he has several silencers in his gun collection. "They don't lose value," said Furtardo, manager at the Winchester Gallery gun store in east Fort Worth. "It's a good investment."

http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2010/12/02/23/1203_silencers_metro.ART0_G5M16GOIQ.1+silencer_jump.standalone.prod_affiliate.58.jpg

Nationwide, more than 22,000 of these noise suppressors were sold this year -- 9 percent more than last year -- and the most were sold in Texas for at least the third year in a row, according to statistics released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

In Texas, 3,621 silencers were sold in fiscal 2010, ahead of 2,053 in Florida and 1,153 in Georgia, the data show.

"People just want them," Furtardo said. "It's like tattoos. ... They have come out of the closet. Now everyone gets them."

***snip***

Some people take their silencers to shooting ranges. Others might take them to "machine gun shoots," where gun lovers gather to fire at targets. Still more might keep a silencer on their handgun or rifle at home to help with "varmint" control -- shooting coyotes, skunks or snakes.

"The only use I can think of for a silencer is if you are hunting hogs and have 15 to 20 hogs at a feeder," said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a former state senator who shepherded conceal-carry legislation in 1995. "That's a practical use if you want to shoot one without scaring others off.

"Or maybe if you're getting rid of squirrels in your back yard," said Patterson, who always carries a gun but does not have a silencer.

It's more than that, Irwin said.

"Ninety percent of the people who buy them just think they are so cool," Irwin said. "This is Texas."
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/02/2676281/texas-continues-to-lead-the-way.html

edited to fix link

[X_Digger]

1. Err.. think this is the link you meant to include..

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/12/02/2676281/texas-continues-to-lead-the-way.html

[spin]

5. Thanks, fixed it. Have to be more careful when I have a pile ...

of tabs open.

[NightWatcher]

2. and now, the rest of the story. Silencers are very closely regulated

and you have to go through a background check and obtain a federal stamp "license" in order to sell, buy or posses these which adds about $200 on average to the $500-$2000 price range of a decent suppressor. You cannot just walk in off the street and purchase one of these for a hundred bucks and start zipping people in crowded restaurants like they do in James Bond movies.

But, if you've the money and a clean background, they are awesome to shoot.

[X_Digger]

4. Not to mention, they're not really 'silencers'.

They reduce the supersonic 'crack', but unless you're talking about a 22, they're still quite loud.

[spin]

6. To me, a silencer doesn't seem to be worth the hassle ...

nor, for that matter, does a fully automatic firearm.

Still a fully auto weapon like an M16 is fun to shoot. I really don't see how much fun a silencer adds to shooting.

Note: I have no problem with owning one if you can jump through all the obstacles and pay the fee.

[Glassunion]

8. I have rented them at ranges when teaching my in-laws kids...

They are a great way to get the kids slowly used to the explosive power of a firearm.

We started them with a suppressed 22 and worked up from there. Now 2 years later they are shooting anything from my Ruger MKIII to my Dan Wesson PPC .357 without the aid of a suppressor.

Overall, I have two young shooters(ages 9 and 11) who seem to never flinch when shooting. They just let the recoil happen.

If I were to own any, I would definately use them at the range or when hunting. Too huge of a hassle to own, but easy to rent at the range.

[spin]

14. I could see advantages to that ...

When I took my grandsons shooting at an indoor range, the noise bothered them. Unfortunately the range didn't rent suppressors.

[Euromutt]

19. Oh, that was you? I do apologize!

I jest, because this happened at an indoor range in Puyallup, WA, and you live about as far away from there are as you can get within the lower 48. But I was at the range trying out some handguns, and in the lane next to me was an older gentleman who was introducing his grandson to shooting with the aid of a Ruger .22. I let off a full mag of 9mm and the noise reduced the poor boy to tears. Once I noticed, I apologized profusely and bought him a pair of disposable ear plugs so he could "double-stuff," since I didn't want to spoil his first range trip and give him the impression shooters other than his grandpa are jerks.
(I mean, I am a jerk, but I didn't want him to know that :evilgrin: )

[spin]

27. The grandkids were wearing headsets but I believe a shooter on the line ...

was firing a .44 magnum. We left until he was finished and stuck earplugs in the kids ears under the headsets. Indoor ranges are loud.

I co-worker and I would often shoot on Saturday mornings and one time we both brought .44 magnums. We decided to see how good we could do when rapid firing at a target 21 feet away. After we had both fired a couple of cylinders full, we realized that we were the only shooters on the line. Everyone had left and were patiently waiting in the lobby watching us through the window.

[PavePusher]

45. Double hearing protection (plugs AND muffs)....

is a very good idea in any high-noise environment, including both indoor AND outdoor ranges, no matter what your age.

If the loud noise doesn't bother you, that's most likely an indication that hearing damage/loss has already occured, and you need to make additional efforts to safeguard the remainder.

[PavePusher]

9. They are safety devices to help protect hearing.

And as such, should be available over-the-counter for less then $200 without any of the bureauctratic bullshit currently involved.

[spin]

13. I have to admit that my hearing suffers from shooting ...

I shot for years on an indoor range.

Unfortunately, I also worked in a area with a noise level that was very close to the maximum level allowed. I used to bitch about the noise, but the company would send in someone to measure it and they would agree that it was REAL close to the maximum but not quite over that level. The company would add more machinery and I would bitch again with the same results. Eventually I grew used to the noise level and it no longer bothered me. My ex wife would bitch at me for how loud the TV was.

There was one advantage. I could tell my ex that I probably didn't forget what she said, I probably just failed to understand what she was saying because of my hearing.

[Sonoman]

3. Public service - You don't want to wake the neighbors...

when you blow your wife away.

Sonoman

[Glassunion]

7. When I blow my wife away... We always wake the neighbors

:evilgrin:

[PavePusher]

10. Yeah, baby! n/t

[PavePusher]

11. What are you trying to insinuate? n/t

[ileus]

12. P22 kit w/suppressor is 600-700 range.

[Katya Mullethov]

15. 3 foot of balin wire is a far sight cheaper

And ya get extra extra extra points from Shares .

[spin]

34. LOL...good one! (n/t)

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. He is wrong, silencers are terrible investments.

A) They are wearable items. They can wear out with use.
B) They generally NEVER appreciate in value. Newer/better silencers are invented every year.
C) there's a $200 tax every time you buy or sell it. That's a $200 chunk out your selling price you have to eat.

TERRIBLE investment.

[Euromutt]

17. Yeah, I was wondering about that "good investment" claim

I'll admit that I'm not exactly current on suppressor technology (you can legally own one in Washington state, but it's illegal to use it, so why bother?), but I know that firing a Sten Mk. IIS on full auto would wear out the suppressor within a few dozen rounds. I'm sure technology has improved in the intervening 65 years, but I have to assume that even modern suppressors are not free from wear and tear. You are, after all, talking about a device that has bullets traveling close to or over the speed of sound through the baffles.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

20. Modern suppressors can last thousands of rounds.

It's not uncommon, especially for full/auto rated supressors to be able to take 50k-100k+ rounds before failure. However, they can fill up with lead/carbon deposits and internal erosion can be an issue too. The hot gasses and unburnt powder is basically like a supersonic sandblaster.

That's a silly statement by that guy. Silencers are such great investments... I bought my first one (best on the market at the time) lightly used @ a 25% discount.

[scrinmaster]

18. I love mine.

I got a .22lr suppressor right when I turned 21, it's great for introducing new shooters who are sensitive to noise.

[Hoopla Phil]

21. I bought one this year too. I'm now up to 4 silencers. They can be VERY addictive.

My latest one is an AR platform 300 Whisper for night hunting hogs.

[spin]

22. Hogs are TASTY!

if prepared right.

[Hoopla Phil]

23. I usually just have it processed into sausage (what I keep) and donate the rest

to a local food bank. If you haven't heard, hogs are multiplying into a real destructive problem for our farmers and just about anybody else with land.

[spin]

24. I'm well aware of it as I live in northern Florida ...

The population of feral hogs is second only to Texas. Every year hunters harvest about 100,000 hogs and their population numbers are still on the rise.

Florida has no closed season on hog hunting. You can hunt hogs all year long. As long as you have the land owner's permission you're okay. There is no hunting license required to hunt hogs in Florida either. In addition there are no size or bag limits on feral hogs in Florida.

You can also hunt hogs at night in Florida using hog lights. And you can trap hogs too. You can either buy a hog trap or build your own.

http://www.hog-hunting-guide.com/florida-hog-hunting.html

[Hoopla Phil]

25. Didn't realize it was so bad there. Check these guys out.

Hunting from a helo is not legal (yet). These guys are not technically hunting as this is an eradication program.

http://www.texashuntfish.com/app/videos/8958/Helicopter-Wild-Hog-Eradication-in-Texas

[spin]

26. That's a good way to cut down the hog population ...

the problem is that they reproduce like rabbits.

[TheWraith]

32. Can you freeze a couple hams and ship them to me?

We theoretically have hogs around here, but I've never actually seen any.

[Hoopla Phil]

33. Bookmarking for later follow up.

[DeadEyeDyck]

28. sorry, there is no silencer for .223

besides that one does not exist, you cannot silence a super-sonic shot.

[Hoopla Phil]

30. Oh jees, where to start. . .

First, there are numerous .223 silencers. Here are six models from AAC.
http://advanced-armament.com/default.aspx?pageId=23

Another six models from Gemtech
http://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/5-56-MM-c9.htm

Another one from AWC
http://www.awcsystech.com/products/suppressors/raider/

And the list goes on and on for silencers for .223.




Second, the 300 Whisper is not .223, it is .300.



And lastly you CAN suppress the SHOT of a supersonic round. You cannot suppress the sonic crack when the bullet breaks the sound barrier. You would be amazed at how much suppression you can get on supersonic rounds.

Hopefully you have gained a bit of knowledge on this subject.

[Katya Mullethov]

42. Oh yeah sure

But can it still "knocl down a wall" ?

[timo]

36. ill informed

I have an aac m4 1000 and if you usw ebr sub sonic rounds its no louder than a pellet gun!!

[DeadEyeDyck]

29. All guns should have silencers just like cares have mufflers.

I am sitting here watching TV and someone is blowing away a burgular. Why should I have my viewing pleasure disrupted by the sounds of gun-fire. Sheese, if I am watching a western, it could confuse the plot.

[spin]

31. I agree and all trash cans should be made of rubber ...

when the trash men bang those metal trash cans around it disturbs my beauty sleep.

[SteveM]

35. IIRC, silencers are required by some European nations for hunting...

in an effort not to disturb other wildlife in the vicinity of the game taken.

[timo]

37. I got 3 this year

I bought a integrally silinced 22 rifle which is awesome to shoot, I have an aac m41000 on my ar 15 and I just this very afternoon picked up my trident 9 which is an awesome can, future purchases are a swr spectre and a can for a .308 that i am building.

[cowcommander]

38. I hate California so much...

I don't mind the paperwork, but why do they have to ban it completely? What the hell is wrong with this state?! :(

[jazzhound]

39. "What the hell is wrong with this state?! :-( "

What is wrong is that we are faux-liberal, whereas Oregon (for example) is genuinely liberal.

This may interest you, cowcommander:

http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/index.php/Peruta_v._County_of_San_Diego

(But perhaps you've been following this........)

[pipoman]

40. I am admittedly ignorant on this subject

but I seem to recall people getting in trouble for having a threaded barrel? Am I thinking right? Does a threaded barrel turn a firearm NFA?

[Katya Mullethov]

41. No

[X_Digger]

43. No, but you may be recalling..

.. that during the failed 1994-2004 federal AWB, muzzle brakes on 'assault weapons' often were soldered on so as not to be an evil 'feature'.

[pipoman]

44. Oh, that could be

now that I think of it the whole threaded barrel thing may have been the AWB I am recalling...thanks

[PavePusher]

46. They may be illegal on a state-by-state basis.

I'm thinking particularly Cali, N.J., M-land and Illinois, but you'd have to check their particular laws.

[X_Digger]

47. Not illegal per se in CA..

but it does add a +1 to the 'list' of 'features'.

You end up with some odd looking rifles when you're limiting 'features'-

[Katya Mullethov]

48. Just call ATF and ask them

LOL

[X_Digger]

49. Ooh! Why I oughta.. LOL

[Katya Mullethov]

51. Yeah you oughta

you oughta do that from a payphone .

[jeepnstein]

50. You're probably thinking of the adapter....

There are some adapters that if memory serves me correctly are considered NFA even though they don't do a thing to suppress muzzle noise. You could easily get nailed for having one of them. They are designed to quickly attach a suppressor as needed. Another thing that is verboten is the adapter that has threads that will accept a two liter cola bottle.