Paintball Suppressors

The ATF has shut down companies before(the last one was in the early 90's I believe) for manufacturing paintball silencers. It is illegal, but as long as there is no discussion on how to make them, or talk of making them you won't get a strike.


Edited by Snake6 - 08 June 2006 at 7:15pm

Actually, in the late 80s and early 90s, companies that were making paintball silencers were not making a ported barrel/shroud design.  They were making the type that attach to the end of a paintball barrel.   I used to own one back then (before discussion about their legality came about).  The ATF did not shut them down, they were advised by the ATF, that if they continued to make them, they could face charges.  Bowing to the pressure, they stopped.  This is understandable since this design was fabricated as a complete silencer.

Bill Mills approached the ATF about this and they advised him that they could be affixed to a firearm and result in sound suppression, therefore they were illegal.  Bill even went back to them with a design based on a ported barrel with a shroud, and they again said that this combo could be affixed to a firearm barrel and work.  Therefore, they too were illegal.

There is one thing about the ATF that a lot of people seem to forget (I'm not pointing this out for you Snake6 but for anybody else who may not be too aware of this).  They are a part of the Executive branch of government.  The Legislative branch made the laws about silencers.  The ATF, under the Executive Branch, is responsible for enforcing them (enforcement means bringing the accused to court).  The Judicial Branch, is responsible for deciding who is guilty (and who is not), and delivering justice.

Now, Smart Parts is a decent sized company, they probably have worked with local, state, and federal governments at one point or another on a variety of issues.   I would even be willing to bet that they have lawyers in their service (on a contractual basis, if not fully employed by Smart Parts).  That being said, do you think they would unknowingly or, willingly open themselves up to being found guilty of making and selling firearm silencers, where the charges are fairly substantial?

Time will tell but, I'm betting on the fact that Smart Parts has a pretty sound case for what they are doing (a ported barrel with a shroud design).

Smart parts definatly has lawyers. Theres no questioning that.

It's fake, it's made for people(noobs) who think it's real.

UV Halo wrote: the_blade wrote: once agian its just an item marketed to new players to think they have a "sniper barrel" Nope, no reference at all to snipers.  But, since you make the reference, silencers get bigger application in other warfare disciplines since in firearms silencers measurably effect long range accuracy.  They are obviously pushing this as a quieter barrel, with no promises of long range accuracy.

Actually it is not the Silencer that effects the accuracy or the round, it is the powder charge itself that does. A silencer on standard rifle ammunition some of the sound, but it cannot eliminate the distictive "Crack" as the round goes super sonic. Therefore Subsonic Ammunition was developed to eliminate this distinctive noise. However because Subsonic ammo does not have the muzzle velocity of supersonic rounds, you lsacrifice accuracry and range.

Because porting can't be modified for use on firearms.

I would think it'd be the shroud that would make it illegal (if it was, the more i look at it and read about it the less i think it is).



Edited by You Wont See Me - 08 June 2006 at 8:40pm

As Hairball said, It's just a barrel with holes drilled in it. No differen't than any other barrel...

Snake6 wrote: UV Halo wrote: the_blade wrote: once agian its just an item marketed to new players to think they have a "sniper barrel" Nope, no reference at all to snipers.  But, since you make the reference, silencers get bigger application in other warfare disciplines since in firearms silencers measurably effect long range accuracy.  They are obviously pushing this as a quieter barrel, with no promises of long range accuracy. Actually it is not the Silencer that effects the accuracy or the round, it is the powder charge itself that does. A silencer on standard rifle ammunition some of the sound, but it cannot eliminate the distictive "Crack" as the round goes super sonic. Therefore Subsonic Ammunition was developed to eliminate this distinctive noise. However because Subsonic ammo does not have the muzzle velocity of supersonic rounds, you lsacrifice accuracry and range.

We are in agreement Snake6, I made a misrepresentation, and thanks for not going into how silencers are made on this topic.  It's clearly not the point.

Yes, in compairson to a firearm, but they are still quite loud.  Espically when one is trying to be a "sniper".

wrong forum.