1. Is it legal to own a silencer?
Under federal law, it has never been illegal to own a silenceer. If it is legal for you to by a handgun, and you live in a state that allow ownership, then it is probably legal for you to own a silencer. The basic requirements are as follows:
2. Do I need a special license to own a silencer?
No! There are some rumors that you need to have a "Class 3" license to own a silencer; but, this simply isn't true. You do have to pay for a "tax stamp" when you first buy the suppressor- but there are no ongoing fees or licenses required. This tax is similar to paying sales on a purchase, except that it goes to the federal instead of state government.
3. Do I give up any rights when I buy a silencer? (Will the AFT start showing up to search my house?)
NO! This often comes up because of the mistaken belief that a "Class 3" license is required to purchase a suppressor. A "Class 3" license is a dealer license- and the ATF absolutely can show up to search a dealer's premisis; but, silencer buyres don't give up any rights at all.
4. Can I use one silencer for multiple firearms?
Yes. As long at the firearms are threaded in a way that will accept the silencer, you shouldn't have any problems.
5. What is the difference between a suppressor and a silencer?
There is no difference; these are just different words for the same thin. The word "Silencer" is the legal term; but, either "sound suppressor, or just "suppressor", is more technically accurate since they don't actually silence the firearm.
6. How quiet is a suppressed firearm?
This depends on the firearm and the suppressor. In most cases, the suppressed firearm will be at least as quiet as wearing a good pair of muffs.
7. How will a silencer attach to my firearm(s)?
Once again, it depends on the firearm and suppressor. The most popular methods include the following:
8. How long does it take to register a suppressor?
This can vary widely depending on several factors. You can check out this page to see up-to-date statistics for length of time at the moment ; although, times definitely flucuate, so it's likely your wait won't be exactly the same.