Silencers for firearms
Silencers for firearms, more accurately termed "sound suppressors," are devices designed to reduce the peak sound pressure levels associated with gunshots. While they do not completely eliminate gun noise, they can significantly diminish it, making gunshots quieter and less detectable. The concept of sound suppression has gained traction in various countries, including Finland, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, where they are often used to minimize noise pollution at shooting ranges and in areas where firearms are commonly discharged.
In the United States, the usage of sound suppressors is more regulated due to historical legislation, specifically the National Firearms Act of 1934, which requires registration and a tax for ownership. This regulation stemmed from concerns about their potential use in criminal activities, such as poaching. Despite these regulations, many states permit civilians to own silencers, with a few exceptions, and they are notably less commonly misused for criminal purposes.
Sound suppressors can be attached externally to a firearm's barrel or integrated within it, employing methods such as baffles or liquid cooling to achieve sound reduction. They generally lower gunshot noise by about 15 to 20 decibels. However, it's important to note that the sound produced can still be significantly loud—often louder than a chainsaw—especially in quieter environments. Silencers can also assist individuals like snipers by reducing noise and visible muzzle flash, aiding in stealth operations.
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Subject Terms
Silencers for firearms
DEFINITION: Devices that reduce the peak sound pressure levels of gunshots.
SIGNIFICANCE: By using silencers on firearms, criminals can substantially reduce the sounds of gunfire and thus reduce the likelihood that those sounds will reveal their locations or the types of guns being fired.
The term “silencer” is something of a misnomer, as many silencers reduce but hardly eliminate the sound of gunshots. “Sound suppressor” is a more accurate term. First developed during the twentieth century, sound suppressors are widely used by firearms owners in a number of nations, including Finland, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. They are often used to protect neighbors from unnecessary noise in locations where guns are fired on a regular basis (such as target ranges).
Sound suppressors are less commonly used in the United States, in part because the federal National Firearms Act of 1934 required owners to register the devices with the federal government and to pay a hefty tax. The for stringent regulation of sound suppressors at that time may have been fear that sound suppressors could facilitate the poaching of animals during a period when hunger and malnutrition were widespread in the nation. According to US law, any device that reduces the sound of a firearm by at least three decibels is considered a “silencer.” Most US states allow their residents to possess silencers in accordance with federal law, and the criminal use of lawfully owned silencers by ordinary citizens in the United States is essentially nil.
A silencer may be attached to a gun’s barrel (muzzle silencer) or may be built into the barrel itself (integral silencer). Silencers achieve sound suppression in a variety of ways. “Wet” suppressors contain grease or other liquid coolants; “dry” suppressors may use baffles to contain sound energy.
Sound suppressors typically reduce gunshot sounds by about fifteen to twenty decibels. Contrary to many media portrayals, the suppressed sound can still be more than four times louder than a chainsaw. When used in conjunction with simultaneous sounds in the surrounding area (such as traffic noise), however, silencers can be effective in masking the sound of gunshots.
In a heavily silenced firearm, the sound of the bullet flight may be louder than the sound of the gunshot, thereby making it more difficult for a to identify the origin of the gunshot. Snipers find silencers useful in that they help to maintain the snipers’ concealed positions by reducing the visible muzzle flash of gunshots and by reducing recoil.
As of 2024, forty-two states allow civilians to buy silencers, as long as they meet the state’s requirements for gun ownership. Of those forty-two states, all but two, Connecticut and Vermont, allowed silencers to be used in hunting. Civilian ownership of silencers was illegal in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
Bibliography
Paulson, Alan C. Sporting and Tactical Silencers. Vol. 1 in Silencer: History and Performance. Boulder, Colo: Paladin Press, 1996.
Paulson, Alan C., N. R. Parker, and Peter G. Kokalis. CQB, Assault Rifle, and Sniper Technology. Vol. 2 in Silencer: History and Performance. Boulder, Colo: Paladin Press, 2002.
"Suppressor Laws by State 2024." World Population Review, 2024, worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/suppressor-laws-by-state. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.