Senior ATF official proposes loosening gun regulations

[PegLeg45]

I read several articles saying this is killing the silencer industry. Sales are plummeting to the point many silencer companies are laying off people. The reason is many people who want them are waiting for this to pass so they won't have to eat the $200.00 tax to buy one. Many also believe they will drop in price, because the only thing holding the price up is because it's a NFA item.

Regardless if it's true or not, people are holding off on buying these things. In a way I can't blame them. In a lot of locations the paperwork for these things takes forever to clear. So a lot of people figure they have to wait anyway, so why not hold off until they can simply walk in and buy one without having their names and address on file with the ATF? And end up $200.00 richer too boot.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2017/02/foghorn/layoffs-reported-silencerco-citing-lagging-sales-due-hearing-protection-act/

http://modernrifleman.net/2017/02/02/mass-layoffs-at-silencerco/

http://www.recoilweb.com/whats-quieting-the-silencer-industry-126010.html

Such is the danger of serving a niche market.
In a way, the company leaders did it to themselves, and I hate that folks are losing jobs because of it.

Suppressors are cost prohibitive in nature because of both the $200 tax and the actual cost of the can. I mean let's be realistic, by the time you pay the tax and then buy the can, you'll end up with (in many instances of the average Joe) a device that cost more than the rifle or pistol it's going on. I just built a $450 AR pistol and I'm not going to spend $400 to $800 (depending on brand + the stamp) for a can for the thing.

And let's also be honest about the cost..... they could sell them cheaper and sell more volume, but they have viewed it from the point that if someone can afford the stamp, then they can pay up for the can.

I have a friend who filed his own paperwork and got his stamp and then built his own suppressor for less than $50 and engraved the number on the parts. And for $250, his works as good as another friend's expensive store-bought unit.

So, I'm one of the guys who decided to wait until after the election (a gamble) to see what would happen.
Best case scenario for me is a deregulation of suppressors and I'll buy or build one (neighbor has a machine shop (    ). Worst case, the bill don't pass, then I'll file the paperwork and get the stamp and build one anyway (yes, this was always an option before now, but I haven't been as interested in a can as I am now since using a couple on other people's guns at the range).

[billt]

....And let's also be honest about the cost..... they could sell them cheaper and sell more volume, but they have viewed it from the point that if someone can afford the stamp, then they can pay up for the can.

I have a friend who filed his own paperwork and got his stamp and then built his own suppressor for less than $50 and engraved the number on the parts. And for $250, his works as good as another friend's expensive store-bought unit.

I couldn't agree more Peg. These things have been a rip off for years. There is nothing to them to justify the ridiculous price they charge for them. They're a glorified muffler, nothing more. Most of these things can be produced for the cost of one progressive stamping die. For what they're charging, they can pay off the die in the first 100 units they sell. The material cost, (even if they use Titanium), isn't that much based on weight. For Stainless Steel it's even cheaper. And as you mentioned, there is no way these things are worth as much, or more than the gun they're going to be screwed on to. You watch how cheap they get when this law passes.

[TAB]

any decent machinist can build a can.  the thing is they are expensive because of limited supply.   if any one could make them, the price would cut in half.  simply do too the fact that small shops have to spend big bucks on machines that don't run enough to be practical.   a small job shop could make them very quick and cheap.

[tombogan03884]

Some one was selling a fitting that screwed onto a threaded barrel and was threaded for an oil filter..
 The onlything that really needs any thought or research is baffle placement for best performance.

[billt]

Some one was selling a fitting that screwed onto a threaded barrel and was threaded for an oil filter..
 The onlything that really needs any thought or research is baffle placement for best performance.

The only problem is the iron sights are completely useless.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t_pcWPdSDs

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Same is true wit most cans unless you get raised sights.

[Big Frank]

If you use a fuel filter instead of an oil filter the sights don't have to be raised as high to see over it. http://www.2acheck.com/wix-fuel-filter-suppressor-wix-fuel-filter-solvent-trap/