Suppression

Suppression

In January 2026 the Federal government will eliminate the $200 tax stamp needed for NFA firearms.  This includers suppressors.  You are still required to fill out the ATF Form 4 paperwork and some states, like Illinois, New York, Delaware (non-inclusive list) still ban their ownership.

SilencerCo Suppressor and Baffles

This came about in 1934 with the National Firearms Act which was designed to curb mob violence.  My own personal view is criminals don't care about laws. Frankly, if you're killing people, you aren't worried about breaking firearms laws.  But we are talking about the government who would rather address symptoms then causes.

The tax stamp, $200, hasn't changed since 1934.  That amount is the equivalent of $4800 in 2025 dollars.  Today $200 is pretty cheap.  If you own a gun, if you shoot regularly, if you take a class and training, you can afford the tax stamp.

Still, it's going away.  The Feds and several suppressor companies expect a paralyzing glut of applications after Jan 1 2026.  Some companies are offering to pay the tax stamp now, to reduce the demand on their product.  If you're planning on buying one, you might consider doing it now.  You're paying for the tax transfer stamp; it's hidden in the price.  I don't suspect prices will drop come January.  There may be advantages in having the tax stamp in the future. 

Why a suppressor, anyway? 

Let's get the fiction out of the way.  A suppressed gun isn't a whisper of death in the darkness.  I'm sure special units of the world's intelligence organizations have very suppressed guns.  At this level of sophistication, the sound of the slide moving, the click of the falling hammer and cycling slide, the bullet speed and other factors come into play.

The best reason is safety.  If firearms were newly invented in the last 25 years, OSHA would require suppressors.  In 1902 Hiram Percy Maxim invented the suppressor while watching his dad, Hiram Henry Maxim go deaf from his invention, the Maxim Machine gun.

A typical suppressor reduces a gunshot by 20-40 decibels (dB).  Decibels are a measure of loudness and at some level, loud noise causes ear damage and can result in degrees of deafness.

Here's some typical numbers:

Busy office                     60 dB,

Bus passing you              70 dB,

Rock concerts                 110 dB,

Shotgun                         166 dB.

Yankee Hill Machine Modular Shotgun (12G) Suppressor  You can assemble the suppressor as 6-8-10 or 12 inch suppressor.  Is this the future of suppressors?

This seems like a simple matter, but there are complications.

Hearing damage is controlled by initial loudness and duration.  Exposed loudness is also affected by distance and to a lesser degree temperature and air density.  For example, 160 dB source becomes 120 dB at 328 feet.  Distance isn't really a useful control parameter.  The two you can control are loudness and duration.  Here a partial list from OSHA.

Below 70 dB                  Generally considered safe,

Above 80 dB                  Potential for harm, limit to 8 hours,

110 dB                           Limited to 15 minutes over 8 hours,

140 dB                           Instant harm.

Just a side note, there are some sounds so loud that no protection is adequate to protect you.  Loss of hearing is a gradual occurrence, even at the 140 dB level.  At present, there is no medical intervention to prevent, reduce or repair.

So?

I wear plugs or earmuffs even when shooting suppressed.  Damage is cumulative and I want to hear everything.

How do suppressors work?  What needs to be done is to quiet the expanding gases.  They work by slowing and cooling expanding gas by means of baffles and expansion chambers.  This can be done in a variety of ways.  The other parameters you can control is keeping your bullet under the speed of sound and making sure the chamber stays closed and slide stays stationary.  Cycling the gun adds noise to the total package.  This action is usually beyond our control.

Baffles, expansion chanbers and gradual gas release

People own suppressors to protect their hearing.  Gunshots in a closed structure like a home are deafening for you and anyone with you.

Supressors, a safety device 

Why do I think it's an advantage to buy now and have the company pay the tax stamp?  Things and conditions change.  Imagine eight years from now, BATF, in response to the Federal government and civil pressure, rule that NFA items without tax stamps are illegal and you are required to turn your paper work and item in.  Those not complying are subject…etc. etc. etc.

I remember the rhubarb over AR pistols and arm braces.

Remember that translation of 1934 dollars to December 2025 dollars?  I expect if the tax is renewed, it will be for a lot more than $200.