Is there a difference between a suppressor and a silencer? If so, what?

Question

Is there any cleaning or maintenance involved in having a silencer? Does the state of Wisconsin require a gun owner to own a safe in order to keep a handgun suited for a silencer and the silencer itself?

Answer 1

a suppresor makes the muzzle flash less visible, a silencer makes it less noisy.

Answer 2

Silencer Vs Suppressor

Answer 3

Suppressor Vs Silencer

Answer 4

The federal government defines a silencer (sound suppressor) as any device that attaches to a firearm intended to reduce it’s report. A flash suppressor is a small device that attaches to the muzzle and reduces the size of the flame that comes out of the muzzle when the gun powder does not burn completely in the barrel.

I have not read any state laws that require a silencer to be kept locked up in WI, but the feds require that the owner be the one who controls access to it. So this means if anyone else lives where the silencer is kept, then it needs to be locked up with a lock only you have access to.

A sealed (welded) can be filled and soaked with solvent, then blown out with air. Some cans have screw on end caps and can be taken part for wiping down with a cloth or brush. Any silencer except those made from aluminum or plastic can be cleaned in an ultrasonic sink. Unless a poorly ported barrel or cast bullets are used, a silencer will not be filled with gunk or lead until it has been used several thousands rounds.

As far as some of the other answers here, some of them (especially the ones who says they are illegal) are very stupid. It is legal to own suppressors in 36 states. Subsonic ammo is common, for example, 45ACP, 22lr std vel, 45 colt, 38 special.

Intergal suppressors with ported barrels reduce the velocity and power of a bullet sometimes to the point that they are not lethal, except maybe to a squirrel.

If you are interested in buying a silencer, check out the subguns webpage to find good dealers to buy from. If you want to make one, check out the silencer tests webpage. Either way a $200 tax is paid and the local sheriff has to sign the ATF form 1 or 4 to make or buy. Silencer tests website also has data on how loud some suppressors are.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is there a difference between a suppressor and a silencer? If so, what?
Is there any cleaning or maintenance involved in having a silencer? Does the state of Wisconsin require a gun owner to own a safe in order to keep a handgun suited for a silencer and the silencer itself?

Answer 6

As far as silencers and the law I don't know. As for the difference between a suppressor and a silencer , A silencer is to lower the sound of a shot. A suppressors job is to reduce the flash of firing a gun. My thoughts on the legal side is that silencers are I think Illegal. Suppressors are cleaned like any other part of the gun. Silencers are cleaned the same as your barrel but the stuffing in the silencer has to be replaced after so many rounds.

Answer 7

A sound suppressor is what they are called, and they are totally legal unless your state prohibits them. There are two different styles, sealed and the other that un-threads. You can clean the baffles of the the threaded, but most mfgr's don't recommend cleaning the sealed as it may cause corrosion. AS always, check with the BATF on the legality of owning a suppressor in your state. Make sure you pay your $200 tax. But no, you don't have to lock it up per se, but no one may have access to your suppressor nevertheless, since the BATF considers it a controlled item/firearm, and it is serialized as such. Contact one of the many suppressor manufacturers and they will be happy to work with you through the process. They are alot of fun to play with!

BTW, Geneva convention does not ban the use of suppressors, they are currently issued to quite a few squad leaders..

edit: There are two types of suppressors, flash suppressors and sound suppressors. The flash is reduced in the flash suppressor but not the sound. The flash is eliminated in a sound suppressor and the sound dampened from anywhere from 25db-35db dependant on the maker of the suppressor. They are not silent, that is a hollywood myth. It is true however in rimfire calibers to reduce the noice to the where you only here the action cycling when using sub sonic loads. Here is a page of one of the cheaper manufacturers, and you can hear what 5.56mm sounds like when being fired. Its still makes your ears ring a bit, but much more comfortable to fire. http://yhm.net/store/sound.html

The term "silencer" is completely an incorrect one. It is legal to own in a majority of states. A background check is not needed if you incorporate, or it is part of a revocable trust.

Answer 8

A suppressor is what you see on the end of an M-16 or M-4, the rifle the US Army uses. It's the thing on the very end that is solid on the bottom and has slots on top. The idea is to let the exhaust gases escape from the top, reducing the upwards jerk inherit in a rifle. This is especially useful for automatic machine guns. The AK-47 takes it a step further and slants the solid part to one side since it will jerk upwards and to the non-firing side of your body. By putting it on the side, it lessens both axises of movement. Suppressors also have an added benefit of not setting the grass under the barrel on fire.

A silencer is what you see in assassin movies that reduces the noise of a being fired. And I have no idea what the laws are, but I'm leaning towards illegal.

Answer 9

A suppressor is the correct term, it will not "silence" the gun, but only "suppress" the noise of it being fired. Depending on the gun, caliber, and quality of the silencer it may not make your gun as quite as it could be. It all has to do with the design of the firearm and the type. You need to go through background checks and fill out allot of forms and pay the $200 (?) to get your license to buy one.

Cleaning, yes you will need to clean it. It is not terribly difficult.

Answer 10

Same thing. Question of semantics, nomenclature. It is illegal to own a suppressor. I don't know that the law makes any special provision by region.

Originally, they were for farmers to shoot rats and not scare the henhouse out of productivity. I believe the Geneva convention bans the use of silencers in combat along with other equipment.

You should really visit a website pertinent to gun laws in your state. I see your point insofare as a gun safe as, unlike the movies, you don't screw on a silencer. It has to be dismantled and secured in place. It can't just be taken apart conveniently.

There is/was a gun supplier in Florida that could answer this question better than I could but that was some time ago and I really can't remember the name. Hope this helps to whatever degree.

Answer 11

A supressor reduces the sound of a round fired.Supressors are used on pistols, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and high-powered rifles.They are used on weapons that fire standard ammunition (full powder load).Allows the user to maintain the impact of regular ammunition while preventing the enemy from determining the exact location of where the round(s) are being fired from.
A silencer (virtually) eliminates the sound of the round being fired.This is due to the weapons firing sub-sonic ammunition.The sound you hear when a weapons fired is the round going supersonic when it leaves the barrel.
Because the ammo is subsonic (reduced powder), this type of ammo is usually fired from pistol and sub-machine guns.The bolts being small enough for the cartridges(brass) to eject themselves.