SpudFiles

Hi, im making a pnuematic rifle and i need help i can't figure out an effective way to make a silencer.... any plans or help or even ideas are greatly appreciated! THX

Not a good idea, if you cant shoot somewhere where noise is not going to bother someone then you shouldnt shoot at all. Besides, a silencer makes your potentially illegal potato cannon very illegal.

i made a .75" pneuamtic, and i decided to drill holes in the front of the barrel for looks; but it seemed to make it a tad quieter. then i saw one of those pad-things from a weightlifting set, the foam ones, and slid that over the barrel; helped a little. i stopped using it when i realized it was illegal

Porting isn't illegal itself, and that can help - it makes it quieter and more accurate.

Anyway - help me with this. The US law defines a silencer as:

"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."

As a spudgun is not defined as a firearm, why would a silencer be illegal?

I can't see it. At the very worst, the point could be argued as such.

It's not supposed to be illegal, and probably wouldn't be a concern (although some airgun suppressors have landed people in trouble here. [airguns arn't firearms in the US]) - but the BATFE is known for oversteping it's bondries.

As such, it might not be a good idea to supress a spudgun.

Anyway, as to design - I'd look into something a bit like the hushpower shotgun supressors; an intregal tube that covers the entire length of the barrel, including some porting near one end. There are some baffles, but we can probably skip them and just leave it hollow.
Just keep the B:C ratio lower than you would otherwise, and use heavy ammo for best results.

An another advantage, an intregal tube covering the entire length would probably be more resistant to the BATFE's arguments.

If they are challenging someone on the silencer, I would have personally assumed that the spudgun itself was a bigger problem.

Odd.

Anyway, as I get it: Silencers aren't illegal as it's often said, but they are to be recommended against in case of trouble.

Correct?

On the subject of "silencers", my twin created a twist lock fitting for a porting attachment for his latest launcher. It's not hugely effective at deadening sound, but it does make it sound less aggressive.

I suppose that the twist lock system could be a problem over in the US. It is cool though.

EDIT: Why does it say spud-bux twice when I post? It says "You earned 5 spud bux Spud Bux for that post". This forum must have an echo.

wow people who said anything about silencers, lets just call it a barrel extension, nothing wrong with barrel extenders...

joannaardway wrote:Porting isn't illegal itself, and that can help - it makes it quieter and more accurate.

Anyway - help me with this. The US law defines a silencer as:

"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."

As a spudgun is not defined as a firearm, why would a silencer be illegal?

I can't see it. At the very worst, the point could be argued as such.

In some states, I'm pretty sure interal combustion ones may be considered firearms.

Sound reduction bits reduce the firing noise from the muzzle by stopping the compressed air from bursting out in one loud go.

Drill holes in your barrel end to help lower the air pressure before the main body of air comes out of the muzzle.

You could also muffle the outside of those holes with fibrous/foamy material to reduce the sound of the air escaping from them.

That muffling can be hidden under a shroud of some sort, possibly a section of larger pipe than the barrel to keep it in position or protect it.

Its possible to have the barrel section with the holes in it and the muffling detachable for whatever reason. Maybe it saves space, maybe you want to be able to hear the difference sometimes.


Anyways thats a potted guide to a possibly illegal silencer/suppressor/barrel extension.


I wonder if a permanently attached sound reduction system physically built into the cannon would be classed as a silencing device...

everything that reduces the sound is considered a silencer according to Belgian law. Also, a combustion is a firearm, illegal to build and own without a permit. As if you would get a permit for a combustion
That's why I have pneumatics only.

NZ law on airguns: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/librarie ... 3-044/s.21

In New Zealand, pneumatic cannons are considered airguns, so you must be over 18 or have a firearms license (you can get that at 16).

Combustion cannons are _always_ classed as firearms, so you must have a license.

The only mention of a silencer in the Arms Act 1993 is this:

"In relation to a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm, includes any thing, such as a butt, stock, magazine, silencer, or sight, which, while not essential for the discharge by a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm of any shot, bullet, missile, or other projectile, is designed or intended to be an integral part of a pistol, restricted weapon, or military style semi-automatic firearm; and"

Used when defining what a 'part' is.

automatic fire arms or any militairy arms are prohibited in Belgium.

I think he is from the US Combustions aren't illegal in the US and I agree you don't have to call it a silencer just say it looks cool. As for how to build one I have no idea.....

To build a silencer you drill holes at the end of the barrel (about 6 inches long). then wrap it in cotton and fit another pvc tube over the top, drill a couple of holes in the second pvc layer so the air can disipate through. You could also add baffles if you want.

The basic idea is like uncorking a bottle. When the object youre shooting comes out of the barrel the sound blastes out all at once. If you drill holes and put muffleing over the top it disipates the air and when the bullet comes out it doesnt release all the pressure at once.

I made one for my gun today.