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AR15.COM
9/23/2008 3:35:35 PM EDT
I may or may not have a friend in Ohio who may or may not have made himself a crappy can for a bb gun. I don't know if it does anything other than look like a can. He is not a gun person so he wouldn't know about laws pertaining to these things. I'm under the impression that even for a bb gun it would be a big no no. I'll reiterate, I don't know if it works or not or if it just looks like one.

What say you on legality? Is he an idiot who should destroy it asafp? I have a feeling if he did make something it was done with no bad intentions (not that it is an excuse)

Just curious, I wouldn't want his ignorance to get him in trouble.

Thanks,

9/23/2008 4:30:52 PM EDT
[#1]
well it may or may not be legal, glad I could help
9/23/2008 4:31:40 PM EDT
[#2]
There are air pellet guns available with suppressors. I believe they are legal because they cannot be used on a real firearm, either because of their threading or lack of threading, or because they are permanently attached.
9/23/2008 4:38:20 PM EDT
[#3]
I suggest reading ATF's website... I think you'll find that any suppressor is illegal unless you go through the motions.

Whether your friend has or doesn't have the suppressor...
9/23/2008 4:40:58 PM EDT
[#4]
I think it's sad that one needs to be legitimately paranoid about even discussing this.


9/23/2008 5:26:01 PM EDT
[#5]

(M30) Are Paintball and/or Airgun Sound Suppressers NFA firearms? [Back]

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

Numerous paintball and airgun silencers tested by ATF’s Firearms Technology Branch have been determined to be, by nature of their design and function, firearm silencers. Because silencers are NFA weapons, an individual wishing to manufacture or transfer such a silencer must receive prior approval from ATF and pay the required tax. See Questions M15 and 16 for application details.

If I have any further questions as to the classification of a paintball or airgun silencer, who should I contact?

Please send a written request to ATF’s Firearms Technology Branch.

[18 U.S.C. 921(a)(24), 26 U.S.C. 5845(a), 27 CFR 479.11]

www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#m30
9/23/2008 5:27:31 PM EDT
[#6]

Quoted:
I suggest reading ATF's website... I think you'll find that any suppressor is illegal unless you go through the motions.

Whether your friend has or doesn't have the suppressor...


What about this? www.gamowhisper.com/
9/23/2008 5:29:18 PM EDT
[#7]
Doesn't the Gamo Whisper come with a "noise dampener"? I wonder how they are getting away with that.
9/23/2008 5:31:09 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
well it may or may not be legal, glad I could help





9/23/2008 5:32:22 PM EDT
[#9]
since fake cans are ghey, I would say get rid of it.
9/23/2008 5:36:16 PM EDT
[#10]
go to your garage and smash it now.
9/23/2008 5:46:11 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:
Doesn't the Gamo Whisper come with a "noise dampener"? I wonder how they are getting away with that.


I'm 99% sure the silencer must be designed to suppress the report of a portable firearm.  Where people get jammed up is that they make something that shares a similar thread pattern or method of attachment to a real weapon they own.  The Gamo silencer is not designed to silence a portable firearm, as the air-gun it is attached to is not a "firearm."  The ATF approved the Gamo silencer because the method of attachment as well is its "cone-ish" design ensure that attempting to remove it would result in its destruction.

Now here is my counter question,

If I have 5 firearms threaded 1/2x28 (an no other firearms at all), and a make a silencer for my BB gun that is threaded "XYZ123" Metric, What is the legal result?

By my reading of the statute, in other words, "my defense," would be that the device was not designed to silence a firearm as demonstrated by my inability to attach it to any firearm I own.
9/23/2008 5:49:55 PM EDT
[#12]
Whether it's legal or not, the BATF doesn't care.
9/23/2008 5:52:11 PM EDT
[#13]

Quoted:
Whether it's legal or not, the BATF doesn't care.


Very true.
9/23/2008 10:35:43 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:
Doesn't the Gamo Whisper come with a "noise dampener"? I wonder how they are getting away with that.


It's permanently attached to the barrel, can't be removed without destroying it.  I'm sure they've consulted the ATF regarding it.
9/23/2008 10:43:37 PM EDT
[#15]
Your "friend" would be wise to keep his mouth shut lest the ATF consider it to be a .17 cal firearm suppressor.

But as others have pointed out, there are legit ways to make an air gun suppressor.  I think that's mainly accomplished by permanently attaching it to an air gun.
9/23/2008 11:12:33 PM EDT
[#16]
Well, if the silencer is .177" and the baffles are made of lightweight materials which would blow out with any firearm use, they would destroy it in testing.  

But if it is .22 and the ATF used it with .22 CB cap ammo, it could function.  And be illegal.