Have you been thinking about getting a silencer? Or maybe you have one and wonder if they are beneficial for home defense. They look cool and they can save your ears a lot of pain when you’re blasting a thousand rounds down range. But are they necessary in emergencies? There can be some benefits to having a silencer on a home defense weapon. There are some negative aspects as well, but in my opinion, the positives of silencers for home defense outweigh the negatives.
Before we get into the benefits of a silencer for home defense, let’s take a quick look at how silencers are made. We will also discuss if it is worth getting the green stamp from the men in black suits. That can be a lot of trouble and a long wait.
Silencers, suppressors: what are they?
A silencer and suppressor are two different words for the same thing. They function somewhat like car mufflers and were designed to make shooting more pleasant. A silencer is a metal tube with several baffles and chambers that trap hot gas, slowing its expansion before entering the atmosphere. These baffles can be constructed out of various materials like 7075 aluminum, titanium, or 17-4 stainless steel. A primary function of a suppressor is to reduce noise, but they also work with other things like increasing muzzle velocity and improving accuracy.
Contrary to many movies, they are not primarily used by hitmen who carry one in their suit pocket and screw it on just before entering their victim’s home. They were made to reduce the decibel of the gunshot, making it easier on your hearing. After their invention, they started being used by the military to help conceal their location during operations. For most people, however, they simply make the gun quieter.
Why use a silencer for home defense?
Because they look cool, why else? But aside from that, silencers are most important because of the effects a gun blast can have on a person inside an enclosed area. The smaller the area, the more defining the sound. At these levels, it is not about damaging your hearing (which it will do), but self-defense. My agency’s tactical team uses flash bangs when breaching a home that has known armed criminals inside. A flash-bang does have a flash that helps limit their vision for a few seconds, but the sound is what does the most good. It disorientates anyone close to it because of the percussion.
A gun that is not suppressed is extremely loud inside the home and has somewhat of the same effect. Even if you shoot only pistols or small-bore handguns, the sound of the propellant exploding could possibly cause you to become disoriented during the encounter.
For shooters who do not shoot often, a silencer can help them feel more comfortable. This is because the loud “bang” can cause new shooters to flinch. If the body is not used to the sound, it anticipates the noise and reacts. Because of this, flinching can sometimes be caused by the sound of the gun itself. Those who do not shoot regularly can be affected greatly by the fear of the loud noise and recoil they know are coming. A silencer helps with this problem.
What guns and ammunition work best with silencers?
There is a wide range of suppressor models to choose from, each tailored for a different purpose. Some are specifically designed for handguns while others work with fixed-barrel rifles and shotguns. Most silencers are made for a specific caliber or a range of calibers and barrel lengths. Other guns have built-in (integrated) silencers that are part of the barrel by a process called pinned and welded. For home defense, shorter barrels are preferred because they are more maneuverable and compact. PCCs and handguns in the 9mm-45 caliber are also good options to pair with suppressors.
Again, this is not the movies, so the correct ammunition is needed to maximize the effectiveness of the suppressor. People tend to think a suppressor will make a quiet laser sound that no one could hear from the next room. But this is not the case. Most suppressors can lower the sound of a gun blast by up to 40 decibels, but that is not “silent.” With the right ammo, a silencer can help protect your hearing and keep you from getting disoriented after the shot.
For suppressors, you want slower, heavier ammo. The heavier the bullet, the slower it will travel and the quieter it will be as it leaves the suppressor. If you are using a 300 Blackout, a subsonic round (a bullet that is slower than the speed of sound) will be much quieter. Most companies will give recommendations for the best type of ammo to use with their silencer.
How hard is it to buy a silencer?
The reason most gun owners do not have a silencer is not that they are ineffective. It is because the government has made them hard to buy. This has always puzzled me because a silencer is safer for everyone because it reduces the sound enough to not cause damage to your ear. They are not actually silent, and anyone around will still hear the gunshot. I’m not sure who decided it was safer to try and keep guns so loud that they blow out your eardrums but they did. Because of this, silencers fall under the NFA (National Firearms Act) and must be registered before you can own one.
To buy a silencer, the first step is to find the one that works for the gun you intend to use it with. Once you have selected the right one, you will have to purchase it and then fill out the proper ATF form. The silencer will remain with the gun dealer until your registration is approved. You will need to submit a photo and fingerprints along with the form and don’t forget, $200 to Uncle Sam. The $200 is non-refundable and the approval process could take anywhere from a few months to a year. Once you receive the tax stamp, you can pick up your silencer and head to the range.
Summary
If an intruder breaks into your home and you need to defend yourself, it is good to have a gun ready. A silencer will not make or break your ability to defend yourself, but it sure can help you keep your hearing, balance, and orientation. Even more so if you begin blasting away in a small, confined area. The advantages of having a silencer by far out way the disadvantages. Like many things gun related, if you are on the fence about buying one… well, I would just go ahead and pull the trigger.
