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Suppressors

ATF Releases List of the 10 States with the Most Registered Silencers

ATF Releases List of the 10 States with the Most Registered Silencers

Courtesy of Tactical Life

It’s that time of year again: the ATF has unveiled its annual Firearms Commerce report for 2017, a comprehensive overview of—you guessed it—the state of firearms commerce in the U.S.

  • RELATED STORY: It’s Time to Get Loud If You Want the Hearing Protection Act to Pass

There’s a ton of data to pore over here. For example, the Firearms Commerce report includes a section on the total number of firearms manufactured in the United States from 1986 through 2015 (the last year for which data is available); the total number of firearms exports from 1986 through 2015; firearms imports from 1986 through 2016 broken down by firearm type, importation application and country of manufacture; the total number of FFLs from 1975 through 2016; and NFA registered weapons by state and type—AOW, machine gun, destructive device, silencer, SBR, SBS—through April 2017.

For now, we’re going to focus on silencers. The report defines the term “silencer” as follows:

Any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for the use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.

  • RELATED STORY: 37 Muzzle Devices for Your AR-Pattern Rifle

According to the ATF Firearms Commerce report, these were the 10 states with the largest number of registered silencers as of April 2017:

  1. Texas—242,859
  2. Florida—85,998
  3. Georgia—63,021
  4. Ohio—52,495
  5. South Carolina—50,647
  6. Louisiana—48,903
  7. Alabama—48,118
  8. Virginia—44,014
  9. Utah—42,406
  10. Arizona—40,485

In all, there are currently 1,360,023 registered silencers in the United States. According to the ATF’s 2016 report, there were 902,805 registered silencers.

To see the complete ATF report, go to atf.gov.


Originally published on Tactical Life

Photo courtesy of Tactical Life

It’s Time to Get Loud If You Want the Hearing Protection Act to Pass

It’s Time to Get Loud If You Want the Hearing Protection Act to Pass

Courtesy of Tactical Life

Sound suppressors, or “cans,” are devices appended to a firearm to diminish its noise. We strive mightily to mitigate the racket stemming from automobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers and drunken frat parties, but with firearms, some seem hell-bent on keeping them as noisy as possible. Although sound suppressors unequivocally diminish noise pollution, preserve hearing and generally make you a more neighborly shooter, the prejudices of the uninitiated have conspired to keep these delightful devices out of the hands of most American shooters. There’s a tiny glimmer of hope that might offer some relief from the draconian legislation that governs such stuff. With a new tenant in the Oval Office, gun nerds across our great republic are holding their collective breath to see if the vaunted Hearing Protection Act of 2017 might see the light of day. For the first time in my lifetime, it looks like there might be some substantive pushback against the relentless juggernaut that has been gun-control legislation in America.

Origin Story

It’s Time to Get Loud If You Want the Hearing Protection Act to Pass

Hiram Percy Maxim, the son of famed machine gun inventor Hiram Stevens Maxim, patented the first viable sound suppressor back in 1909. This inspired device threaded onto the angry end of an otherwise conventional firearm and diminished its report upon firing. However, our tale really begins a quarter- century later with a guy named John Herbert Dillinger. Some saw Dillinger as a hero, but he was really a homicidal maniac. These days, we would likely use the word terrorist.

Dillinger and others of his ilk liked guns. At a time when the country was reeling from the Great Depression, tales of wealthy gangsters who flaunted the law were captivating to chronically poor Americans barely making ends meet. These larger-than-life ne’er-do-wells were the Kardashians of the day, drawing the gaze of the downtrodden and becoming nationwide celebrities.


Continue reading on Tactical Life

Photos courtesy of Tactical Life

3 reasons to buy a suppressor for a 5.56 rifle

3 reasons to buy a suppressor for a 5.56 rifle

I get this question quite a bit when people view my videos. Are suppressors necessary? Should they buy one? These are questions that cannot be answered by me alone but I thought we could take some time to talk about why you might buy one of these devices and how it might affect the way that you shoot.

NOISE

It goes without saying that a suppressor is going to reduce the sound output from you rifle / carbine. The level reduced in a 5.56 carbine depends on length of the barrel, and ammunition used among other things. However you on average bring the decibel level down to around 137-139 depending on a variety of factors. This is hearing safe, however with hearing protection it is much improved over a unsuppressed rifle.

Further if you shoot with buddies or indoors a suppressor does wonders in making short-barreled rifles or carbines tolerable and much more pleasant. It goes without saying that if you work on a SWAT team or some equivalent that a suppressor is much appreciated when shooting next to a buddy. Maybe not so much if the scorching suppressor touches him however.

3 reasons to buy a suppressor for a 5.56 rifle

RECOIL

Suppressors effectively reduce recoil by a variety of mechanisms. Weight and slowed exiting velocity of gasses does wonders in helping to control the recoil in any rifle for rapid follow on shots. The downside is of-course added weight and length to the end of your rifle. However depending on what you do this may be acceptable.

NIGHT SHOOTING

Whether you’re shooting at night or under night vision a suppressor is a welcome addition to your weapon. A suppressor will virtually eliminate recoil from your rifle during night shooting ensuring that you don’t blind yourself with each pull of the trigger. Further, if shooting under night vision – a suppressor helps keep the night vision from blooming with each pull of the trigger.

There are many more reasons to buy or not buy a suppressor but hopefully this short article got the gears turning in your head and worked as a simple primer on why you might want to consider a suppressor.

2017’s New Suppressor Lineup Is Insanely Versatile

2017’s New Suppressor Lineup Is Insanely Versatile

Courtesy of Tactical Life

Sound suppressors are becoming more and more popular because of all the benefits they offer shooters. They protect your hearing, won’t spook game and will certainly improve your relationships with your neighbors. Though they still fall under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and consequently are much more regulated at the federal level than most firearms (and come with a $200 transfer tax on each unit), suppressors are legal to own in most states. Moreover, there’s hope with the new Congress and Trump administration that the ultra-restrictive NFA requirements will be removed if the Hearing Protection Act becomes law. To that end, let’s look at some of the more noteworthy new suppressor models hitting the market in 2017.

  • RELATED STORY: Can Test – Liberty Leonidas Integral Upper on Seekins, Colt Lowers
  • RELATED STORY: Covert Ops – Testing the Gemtech Aurora Suppressor

For more information about the new suppressor models featured in the gallery above, visit the following sites.


Continue reading on Tactical Life

Photo courtesy of Tactical Life

MARCORSYSCOM Releases RFI for M4, M4A1, M27 Suppressors

MARCORSYSCOM Releases RFI for M4, M4A1, M27 Suppressors

Courtesy of Tactical Life

Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) has issued a request for information (RFI) for commercially available suppressors to be used on the M4, M4A1, and M27 weapon systems chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.

  • RELATED STORY: Silence Is Golden – Deployed Marine Unit Gives Thumbs Up to Rifle Suppressors

The RFI, which was released last Thursday, comes just a few months after the Corps fielded its first infantry unit—Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines—equipped with suppressors on all its service weapons, to rave reviews.

MARCORSYSCOM says the future procurement quantities of suppressors could span between 18,000 and 194,000.

In the RFI, interested vendors are encouraged to provide the following: a white paper no longer than 10 pages describing the suppressor and manufacturing capability; the total cost of the suppressor, including the unit cost and separate pricing for supporting gear; and any information a company may have “documenting your experience with this type of manufacturing effort.”

MARCORSYSCOM will use the responses it receives to determine if there should be an industry day, and “if it is advantageous for vendors to showcase their suppressor product(s) in person.”

  • RELATED STORY: VIDEO – Marine Gunner Cooks Bacon on Hot Rifle Suppressor

Vendors have until 3 p.m. EST on Sept. 6 to respond.


Continue reading on Tactical Life

Photo courtesy of Sarah N. Petrock, 2d MARDIV Combat Camera

Suppressed Armament Systems | Blast Diverter

Suppressed Armament Systems | Blast Diverter

Those of us who have had the pleasure of shooting suppressed weapons know how much more enjoyable those little cylinders can make the shooting experience.  Similarly, we who have stood next to someone on the range who was shooting with a muzzle brake on a magnum caliber or a short barreled rifle will attest that experience is about as much fun as having a kid throw gravel in your face.  Seriously, it’s like chewing on flashbangs when that giant triple chambered brake lights up.  As a response, many companies who manufacture suppressors have come out with blast diverters: essentially the rear most 2″ of a quick detach suppressor.  It’s just enough metal tube to take that concussive effect and guide it forward, away from the shooter and his range neighbors.

Suppressed Armament Systems | Blast Diverter
Diverter business end. Photo by Rex Nanorum

Suppressed Armament Systems (SAS) started out in 2001 in Evansville, Indiana.  Since that time, they have taken their business to Reno, Nevada.  Besides suppressor manufacturing, SAS also works up precision rifles and muzzle devices.  I found out about them a few years back when I was a suppressor dealer.  Having ordered one of their .30 cal Reaper titanium cans for a customer, I held on to it when the customers project changed directions.  I found their suppressor to be top notch and have closely watched their new product offerings.

Suppressed Armament Systems | Blast Diverter
Photo by Rex Nanorum

Not long ago I started building up a “Honey Badger” clone in .300 AAC Blackout.  I had a 7.5″ barrel underneath a 7.35″ rail with part of the suppressor mount/muzzle brake underneath the rail.  Normally the SAS suppressor stays attached year ’round, but when testing the short barrel for subsonic round stability, the can is taken off as a safety precaution.  With the muzzle brake exposed while partially inside the forend tube, the effect was like straddling an Abrahms tank’s main gun and insulting its mothers honor.  Knowing how expensive dental work can be, I pulled the SAS blast diverter out of my shooting bag and screwed it on.

Suppressed Armament Systems | Blast Diverter

The effect was instant relief from the jarring, flinch inducing blast; every shot was now all bark and no bite.  This is still a very loud gun but the lack of concussive force really took the discomfort out of shooting a 7.5″ barrel on a bench while under a metal roof.  The muzzle brake was still able to mitigate recoil to a degree, so the diverter doesn’t totally negate that benefit.  The blast diverter weighs in at 3.9 oz and is 2.34″ long.  All the SAS muzzle devices can be found here.  If you’re considering one of SAS’s suppressors (spoiler alert: they’re awesome) consider getting a blast diverter with your suppressor mount.  Even without a suppressor, a blast diverter can be a worthwhile addition to certain rifle setups.  If you’re tired of feeling like you’re being slapped in the face every time you shoot, sling that concussive force downrange with the Suppressed Armament Systems Blast Diverter.  At $139 this product represents a small to moderate investment in your shooting comfort (and of all those around you).

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