I know that to have a silencer or a supressor you need to have a special permit. My question is how can GAMO offer it's whisper model with a sound supressor that reduces the sound by 52%?

I think it's because it is a permanent type thing. I'm iffy on the laws, but something about a permanent fixture to the barrel might make it legal, not sure though.

Checking the GAMO US site .....

"Barrel: Fluted Polymer Bull barrel"

PLASTIC ?

"BULL BARREL" the new catchword. It MUST BE COOL it's got a BULL BARREL.

GAMO ... Spanish for CRAP.

That silencer will just let you hear the garbage inside rattling around.

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
----a permanent fixture to the barrel might make it legal, not sure though.

And it is attached permanently to a non- firearm

They are for non-firearms like DuggaBoye says.

I am not sure they must be permenantly attached. My friend's 25 cal is a shroud over the whole barrel that can be used on other barrels (many pressure tank models are switch-barrel guns).

Funny thing about what is a suppressor by BATF .

Colt made a flash hider that is on a friends prototype AR short barrel-- 3 twisted blades at the end and cross-drilled like a modern muzzle-break behind--
no baffles, no internal bore steps--BATF ruling--Suppressor. --That'll be another 200 bucks since it can be removed.

This piece of metal suppresses nothing, really doesn't even hide the flash all that well.

Does the Gamo have a suppressor or a weighted barrel shroud? Are there other air guns sold in the USA that have a suppressor attached permenantly? Has anyone asked the ATF the legality of a permanant barrel mounted suppressor on an air gun? Is it legal??
Thanks!!

Haven't seen one in the flesh, I discourage anyone buying a GAMO, if they want to waste money I have much better ways.
But that looks like one piece molded plastic. Possibly has a baffle tube in it, more likely a spring or washers and some foam.
Not one airgun silencer I've ever taken to bits was made with any sort of proper engineering or correct physics involved. But that is usually reflected in the cost.
The real thing is £250 over here, something for airguns will be £30 to £80.
But being used on non firearms they do the job fairly well.

One of the main problems with airgunning is that you get those with little knowledge leading the totally ignorant.
And the more ignorant they are, the more they tend to argue that this "new invention" will make all the difference.
You all should see some of the junk that my club members show up with, designed by some "expert" who wouldn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.
My currant problem is the rotten plastic CO2 pistols that are just a disaster waiting to happen. I've never had anyone hurt on a range I was looking after and I'm determined to keep it that way, in spite of tossers who think they can show up with one of these pieces of crap, usually "tuned" by some other tosser that hasn't got a clue, fumble around with it trying to get it working, sweep everyone in sight, loose track of whether it's loaded or not, or run out of gas with a pellet or six half way down the barrel and not have me go absolutely NUTS on them.

Thanks for listening, I needed to get that off my chest.

Here's what is in a average airgun silencer, there is also a bit of foam round the tube.

It is completley legal in the US (check state law) to own and use a supressor (detachable or not)on any air rifle. The trick is making sure it can only be used on an air rifle. Some guys are using weird threads that match none of their firearms, some are welding them on. If the ATF can prove you CAN use it on any other firearm you own or it has a normal thread size for typical barrel ornaments you will be in trouble! Most suppressor manufacturers will not make you one or sell you one for an airgun due to the liability of being accused of illegally transfering a type II NFA device, but some will. The Gamo suppressor will only work on their gun and will break if removed hence why there is no issue.

Matthew

quote:

Originally posted by Matthewx:
It is completley legal in the US (check state law) to own and use a supressor (detachable or not)on any air rifle. The trick is making sure it can only be used on an air rifle.

It is legal to make or own a silencer in the USA, as long as you obtain ATF approval and pay the $200 tax first. Most states allow them too. The trick is to obtain the routine ATF approval first, OR, make the silencer an integral (permanent and non-removable) part of the barrel. Take a look at this link on suppressed paint ball guns. http://www.atf.gov/alcohol/inf...atf_ruling2005-4.pdf

A silencer that was permanently attached to a paint ball gun is legal without paying the tax, as long as it is a permanent part of the gun. It is legal because a paint ball gun is not a firearm. If you were to cut the paint ball silencer off of the barrel, you have just made a silencer. It will work on a 22lr firearm (the ATF only got a 7 decibel reduction) well enough to suppress some of the noise.

While a detachable silencer can be made legally in the USA, the $200 tax is just not worth it.

Ranb

If it's a one time payment and you want it, it's worth it.
I sure wouldn't want to be paying $200 per year.

But a good silenced air rifle can really turn the tables on a pest your trying to keep down.
I've shot a rat and had the next one walk right over his buddy, not realizing anybody was shooting them till it was too late.
Or you can sometimes get 2 or 3 Rabbits in a row if you can get them perfect so they don't jump and give the game away.

Some of the silencers are now just glued on airguns. The barrels not going to get hot so it works fine.

quote:

Originally posted by The Specialist:
If it's a one time payment and you want it, it's worth it.
I sure wouldn't want to be paying $200 per year.

The $200 tax for making or buying a silencer is a one time tax, not yearly. But it is paid each time it is transferred to another unlicensed person. I think it is well worth it for firearms.

Ranb

Yes -

If we could only get the old Parker-Hale .22 sound moderators here in the U.S., I'd pay the $200 tax.

I have had several of them when living outside the U.S. Despite what some folks say, they reduce sound enough you can hear the firing pin fall in a Remington bolt action .22 rifle. I know that from actual experience.

The reasons I prefer the Parker-Hale to what is more commonly seen here are:

- No "wipes" to wear out

- No "packing" to replace

- Dead simple to clean (unscrew front end of "can", pour steel Belleville washers and spacers out into dishwasher, run dishwasher, re-place washers and spacers into "can", screw front end back on, go shooting.)

BTW, they make .22 rifles into great duck/geese/rat guns if you are a grain farmer.



-

Check out the Yamkee Hill "mite" suppressor. They unscrew and clean up easily. I just spray and wipe mine, but you could easily dishwash it if you wanted. Check out jmwguns.com in Oregon.

Matthew

quote:

Originally posted by The Specialist:
Checking the GAMO US site .....

"Barrel: Fluted Polymer Bull barrel"

PLASTIC ?

"BULL BARREL" the new catchword. It MUST BE COOL it's got a BULL BARREL.

GAMO ... Spanish for CRAP.

That silencer will just let you hear the garbage inside rattling around.

I own one of the Gamo "plastic bulls" and the only "possible" function of what I would call a barrel shroud, would be to carry some of the pressure that would otherwise be 100% placed upon the barrel itself when cocking allowing for the use of heavier cocking pressure springs, but would not be surprised if the polymer "covering" was purely consmetic.

F. Prefect

I have not seen the Gamo silencer internals either, but if it has more than 1 or 2 baffles with springs and washers with a felt/foam covering then it should do a very good job, but the more complicated it becomes, the more the price will increase too (although so will efficiency). I would expect the Gamo silencer to be relatively simple and un-complicated to be honest.

I am not sure what volume, length or construction of silencer is best, but the larger, longer and more baffles it contains, the quieter it should theoretically be. However, sometimes some seem to be lighter and quieter than others that are heavier and or larger so design is probably quite important too. I have an old second hand AA silencer on my air rifle (a pcp), which looks like it only has 1 baffle/washer with springs, etc inside it and is not the best on the market, but it certainly makes a huge difference to noise reduction. I think that the synthetic stock or bedding probably has a larger noise reduction with the Whisper than the silencer, by reducing the 'twang' of the springer, but the combination of the two is probably much better than a wood-stocked un-silenced version of the same rifle.