Suppressed Hunting in NC Soon to be Legal?

Suppressor + Hunting: About as natural and obvious as Peanut Butter + Jelly

NEWS FLASH:

On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, NC Senate Bill 201 is scheduled to be discussed. If passed, this bill would allow the use of lawfully possessed suppressors for hunting in NC. If you know anything at all about guns and suppressors, and you have an IQ anywhere higher than your shoe size, you would automatically know that hunting with suppressors is a no brainer. There's really no reason to waste each others time preaching to the choir, as they say. What we need to do... and do it NOW, is share our knowledge and enthusiasm about this topic with the powers that be who hold the power to make this bill a reality.

I've composed a letter that you are welcome to use if you'd like. Just copy my letter below in an email, sign (type) your name, and email it to as many representatives in NC as you can. Or, write your own email. Or call. Whatever you do... just urge them to support SB 201.

This is very important! Do it now! Thank you.

Below is a list of legislators who are supposed to hear the bill on April 9. That's tomorrow, folks. Email them now. The letter for you to use is below the names:

Sen. Andrew C. Brock (Co-Chairman)
Phone: (919) 715-0690
Email: Andrew.Brock@ncleg.net

Sen. Brent Jackson (Co-Chairman)
Phone: (919) 733-5705
Email: Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net

Sen. Bill Cook (Vice Chairman)
Phone: (919) 715-8293
Email: Bill.Cook@ncleg.net

Sen. Austin M. Allran
Phone: (919) 733-5876
Email: Austin.Allran@ncleg.net

Sen. Chad Barefoot
Phone: (919) 715-3036
Email: Chad.Barefoot@ncleg.net

Sen. Stan Bingham
Phone: (919) 733-5665
Email: Stan.Bingham@ncleg.net

Sen. Angela R. Bryant
Phone: (919) 733-5878
Email: Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net

Sen. Daniel G. Clodfelter
Phone: (919) 715-8331
Email: Daniel.Clodfelter@ncleg.net

Sen. Joel D. M. Ford
Phone: (919) 733-5955
Email: Joel.Ford@ncleg.net

Sen. Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr.
Phone: (919) 733-7223
Email: Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net

Sen. Eleanor Kinnaird
Phone: (919) 733-5804
Email: Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net

Sen. Gene McLaurin
Phone: (919) 733-5953
Email: Gene.McLaurin@ncleg.net

Sen. Ronald J. Rabin
Phone: (919) 733-5748
Email: Ron.Rabin@ncleg.net

Sen. Bill Rabon
Phone: (919) 733-5963
Email: Bill.Rabon@ncleg.net

Sen. Shirley B. Randleman
Phone: (919) 733-5743
Email: Shirley.Randleman@ncleg.net

Sen. Tommy Tucker
Phone: (919) 733-7659
Email: Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net

Sen. Trudy Wade
Phone: (919) 733-5856
Email: Trudy.Wade@ncleg.net

Sen. Michael P. Walters
Phone: (919) 733-5651
Email: Michael.Walters@ncleg.net



To Whom it May Concern:

As you probably already know, on April 9, 2013, Senator Shirley Randleman's Senate Bill 201 is scheduled to be heard. If passed, this Bill would allow for the use of lawfully possessed suppressors while hunting.

I implore you to support this important piece of legislation.

There is a plethora of information freely available today which reinforces the reasons for using firearm suppressors while hunting. Books and articles have been written, studies have been done, and other state governments... and even other countries have overwhelmingly concluded, based on their findings, that hunting with a suppressor-equipped firearm makes absolute sense. No matter how you slice it,  there are practically ZERO downsides to using a suppressor while hunting. Because time is of utmost importance, I'll save you the trouble of conducting your own research, and provide a list of reasons right here.

Suppressors are regulated at the federal level, falling under the purview of the NFA Branch of the BATFE. They have always been legal for private ownership at the federal level. Individual states may or may not allow private ownership. North Carolina does allow private ownership.

Up until now, however, hunting with a suppressor has not been legally possible due to some ambiguous wording in NC General Statue 14-288.8, as well the "Manner of Take" for hunting regulations and restrictions. The wording of the law notwithstanding, the true facts of what suppressors really are and what they do, are completely contrary to the perception of the populace in general.

Here are some facts:

1. Suppressors are mufflers. They’re just like what's on your car. If your car was not equipped with "suppressors", it would sound like a lot like a machine gun.

2. Suppressors do not silence firearms. Hollywood's depiction of "silencers" is laughably incorrect. The blast is still very evident, but the sound pressure is reduced to a safer level.

3. Firearm reports (blasts) are dangerous to human hearing. Hearing loss is progressive. It never restores itself.

4. A suppressed firearm sounds roughly the same to the hunter as it would sound (and feel) if the hunter were wearing passive ear protection like earplugs or muffs. Therefore, no need for the hunter to wear hearing protection if he or she is using a suppressed firearm.

5. Suppressors also benefit those around the hunter. No need to wear ear protection, even if you're not the hunter. People living in neighborhoods close to hunting grounds will be much less annoyed/scared/upset/etc. if hunters used suppressors. They will still hear something, but it won't be a tremendous blast.

6. Suppressors were added to the NFA's list of "weapons" to be regulated in 1934 under the assumption that people would use them to poach their neighbor's livestock. There never has been any evidence to support that claim by the Congress of 1934, nor today. And there are still 100s of thousands of suppressors in use today in the USA,… most in states that DO allow suppressed hunting, yet poaching with suppressors simply does not happen.

7. Individuals who own suppressors are in the top-tier of the law-abiding class of the population. They do not commit crimes.... especially with suppressors. Yes, this statement is more subjective than fact. However, here are reasons for my claim:

a) Concealed Carry permit holders are 13% times LESS likely to commit ANY crime than the general population -- and this is not compared to stats of the "criminal class", it is compared to members of the general population like you and I, who have no interest in breaking the law.

b) 99% of suppressor owners also possess their Concealed Carry permit. Therefore, it can be said that suppressor owners are “cleaner” than your average babysitter.

c) The only study I've ever seen on the criminal use of suppressors found that between 1995 and 2005, out of 40,000 homicides which were committed in the USA, only .001% of them involved suppressors. That’s 4 out of 40,000. That is practically a non-consequential number. There are many more seemingly safe activities that we don’t ever consider regulating yet result in many more deaths. For example, many more people during that time-frame drowned in their bathtubs. In my opinion, any regulation of suppressors is unwarranted based on the available statistics.

8. England changed their laws to require that suppressors be used by hunters (in certain locales). Why? The HSE (Health Safety Executive) conducted a study of suppressors,\ and discovered that their government would spend less money for restorative hearing procedures for their citizens if sportsmen would use suppressors. A suppressor costs a lot less than years of hearing aids, funded by tax dollars.

9. Almost all branches of the US Military now use suppressors in training and combat to protect soldiers hearing. Because of many years the military gave no regard to hearing protection, the VA (Veterans Administration) spends billions of dollars every year forhearing aids for our veterans. Over time, the VA will spend less money for hearing procedures because of the recent proliferation of suppressor use in the military.

10. Firearm and suppressor owners are very politically savvy. We keep track of who votes or does not vote to protect our 2nd amendment rights. Please continue to support legislation that reinforces the attitudes of the constituents you represent.

I could go on, but hopefully, this is enough for you to get a good idea of my position on the virtues of suppressors. And I speak for thousands of other lawful American and North Carolinian hunters as well.

Please support SB 201.

Thank you,

The New SWR Octane 45 HD Suppressor

Does your .45 suppressor make your pistol float in mid-air? Don't be jealous, buy your own Octane 45 HD...

It is with great anticipation that NC SILENCER awaits an opportunity to christen SWR's new .45 ACP suppressor, the Octane 45 HD. Why are we excited? Glad you asked...

The Octane 45 HD's little brother the Octane 9 HD as already proven to be a winner... in our opinion, at least. Most manufacturers make liberal use of aluminum in their construction of 9mm and .45 ACP suppressors. While aluminum is fine for pistol-caliber suppressors, stainless steel (SS) is better. Again, this is our opinion. But allow me to qualify that claim:

Yes, aluminum is lightweight, and relatively strong. Those are desirable qualities in any suppressor. But SS is more durable and easier to clean than aluminum. SS handles harsher cleaning solvents and chemicals, and withstands ultrasonic cleaners. Dropping aluminum components (baffles, etc.) into an ultrasonic cleaner is generally discouraged by suppressor manufacturers. With the Octane 9 HD, the baffle stack is constructed of 100% 17-4 PH stainless steel. Also, the baffle design encapsulates all the crud from your ammo within the baffle chambers themselves. Nothing touches the outer tube - which by the way, is the actual silencer itself, according to the ATF because that's where the serial number is engraved.

This means that cleaning is super easy. Not only does the baffle "tube" slide right out of the outer tube slick as snot, the baffles themselves can be dropped into whatever cleaning medium you want. Cleaning by hand is often not necessary... especially with center-fire pistol-caliber ammo. 

And that brings me to another benefit of this baffle design and the SS construction; if you want to run an Octane 9 HD (or Octane 45, for that matter) on a .22LR rim-fire gun, you're golden. No need to worry about the inevitable lead build-up on the baffles.... or worse, the outer tube. Again, because the baffles are SS, they are very easy to clean. Cleaning "soldered-on" lead from aluminum baffles is possible, but not very enjoyable. Personally, I'd rather spend my time shooting than cleaning.

With the Octane 9 HD, you have all those desirable qualities with the added benefit of top-notch sound reduction performance. The 9 HD rivals what I consider to the reference standard of 9mm suppressors; the AAC Ti-RANT 9. The Ti-RANT 9 is a great suppressor... very lightweight and very quiet. But, open it up. There are a majority of aluminum baffles living in there. Lightweight? Sure. But, you won't find me shooting my Ti-RANT 9 on any of my .22LR host guns because of the lead issue.

So, that's all fine and dandy, NC SILENCER, but what about the Octane 45 HD? Well, that's a great question..

The Octane 45 HD shares the same great design features of the Octane 9 HD. So, naturally, it's a no-brainer. To my knowledge, it's the only (or at least one of the very few) .45 caliber pistol suppressors made with ALL stainless steel baffles. And yet, the Octane 45 HD is reasonably lightweight. Compare it to the Ti-RANT 45 and the 45Osprey and decide for yourself. The manufacturer-stated dB numbers for the Octane 45 HD are identical to the quietest .45 suppressors I've heard; the Ti-RANT 45 and the Silencerco 45Osprey. And yes, like the Ti-RANT 9, the Ti-RANT 45 makes use of aluminum baffles. 

I have not heard the Octane 45 HD in person yet, but I have every reason to believe the manufacturer's specs. I'm willing to bet that the Octane 45 HD will be indistinguishable from the Ti-RANT 45 in terms of sound reduction.

SWR is now owned by Silencerco and operate under the same roof. And both companies have very solid and reputable histories. Their customer service is in a class by itself. My own experience with the company and the feedback I've received from my customers reinforces my already positive opinion of SWR/Silencerco. This all adds up to a lot of compelling reasons to own an Octane 45 HD.

Bottom line: if you're thinking of a adding a .45 cal suppressor to your collection, you probably can't go wrong with the Octane 45 HD.

Coming soon to this "channel": a shooting review, with video - of the SWR Octane 45 HD. Hey SWR, are you reading this? NCS could use a demo can... (hint-hint).

Don't want to wait for NCS to do a review? Want to do your own "testing and evaluation"? Just head over to NCSILENCER and drop us a line. We'll get one on order for you ASAP.

NC SILENCER - Making guns look more scary since 2009.

A Few Words About Hearing Protection..

NC SILENCER welcomes the contribution of guest writer, John O'Connor - a fellow blogger who shares a common interest in hearing protection and the prevention of hearing loss:

Hi my name is John O'Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about

living a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years I have become more and more

interested in hearing loss. My father and grandfathers, who are and were all

hunters, are affected by hearing loss. I feel that there is a general lack of

understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can.

Check out my new blog at  bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!

Hunting and Hearing Loss

One of the most popular sports among a wide variety of individuals, hunting is a

sport in which improvements in equipment are constantly being made. Of course,

although many individuals don't think about it, protection to prevent hearing loss is

one of the most important pieces of equipment that a hunter can purchase. Without

proper hearing protection, hunting can be a potentially dangerous sport for one's

ears. Not only should the shooter wear hearing protection, but those in close range

should also protect their ears.

I grew up in a family of hunters. As a child I can remember early every Saturday

morning my father and my uncles packing up their gear and headed out into the

woods. When I was old enough I too began to head out on these trips with them.

Looking back on these excursions, not much emphasis was placed on hearing

protection. My father who is much older now, is severely affected by hearing loss.

He still gets out to the range but always has his  hearing aids in and his hearing

protection ready to go. While hearing damage can take a long time to show up,

hearing protection is one of the best investments that can be made.

The Effects of Firearms on Your Hearing:

Everyone knows that firearms are loud, but what many don't think about is how they

can affect hearing. The effects of firearms on hearing can actually be profound.
 For example, speech has a sound of about 60dB. In comparison, a typical shotgun has a

sound level of about 145-160dB. If the ears are exposed to such a loud sound for

long periods of time, hearing damage can incur.

Steps to Protect Your Hearing:

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure that your ears are well protected

when hunting.

Stay Away From Enclosed Areas: While it may be tempting to visit an indoor

shooting range, the confined space and loud sounds can potentially be very

damaging to hearing. If you do choose to go to an indoor range, make sure you

have proper hearing protection with you and that the time spent inside the range is

limited.

Wear Earplugs: One of the easiest ways to protect your hearing when hunting is to

wear earplugs. Fortunately, there are a wide array of earplugs available. In order to

find the right earplugs, simply read the package to find out the level of auditory

defense that the earplugs can offer. If you don't like earplugs, there are also a few

alternatives available.

Try Earmuffs: Earmuffs are often an excellent choice for hunters as they are

comfortable, affordable, and offer fantastic protection against loud sounds. Some

hunters even like to combine earmuffs and earplugs in order to ensure that their ears

are as well protected as possible. Depending on a hunter's budget, there are a wide

variety of earmuffs available ranging from earmuffs with foam padding to those with

liquid cushioning, or perhaps the best option, electronic earmuffs. Electronic

earmuffs are technologically advanced so that hunters can still communicate with

one another while effectively protecting their ears.

Equip your guns with suppressors: While earmuffs and earplugs are arguably the

most readily available (and cheapest) forms of heating protection, even the best

muffs and plugs can’t compete with a high performance firearm suppressor. A lot of

hunters practice with 22 caliber rimfire firearms. And unfortunately, many people

mistakingly think that a 22 rimfire gunshot is “safe” for the ears. The fact is, most

rimfire guns meter 140dB to over 150dB depending on the type of gun and ammo. A

quality 22LR suppressor will reduce the dB level by over 40 dB in some cases.

That’s a drastic change in sound pressure level and brings the damaging blast of the

gunshot to a truly safe level.

While hunting is fun and enjoyable, it's important to make sure that hearing is

protected while participating in the sport. Considered one of the most important

senses, having hearing damage can have many different effects on one's life. That

being said, following the above steps can put you on the track to successfully

protecting your hearing.

Memorial Day, 2012...

The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree. ~Thomas Campbell

Memorial Day: May 28, 2012.

It seems that over the years, American's have largely forgotten what this day is all about... a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Being aware of this day's significance is good, but knowing our country's history and the story behind the creation of this federal holiday is even better.

Perhaps it would be beneficial to spend some time researching the background of this day we call Memorial Day. There are plenty of great resources on the internet on this subject. It simply requires a few moments of your time. Google is your friend. Make use of it.

When I was reflecting on what to write about Memorial Day, 2012 for this blog post, I kept thinking of Thomas Jefferson. Yes, I realize that Jefferson was on the scene a long time before the concept of a "Memorial Day" was born in the USA, but in his day, he possessed tremendous insight in regards to the direction our country might take depending on certain choices that the country as a whole would make. You could even call him somewhat prophetic considering how accurate he was in predicting the future.

So, what does Thomas Jefferson have to do with Memorial Day? Well, as one of our Founding Fathers, Jefferson was instrumental in drafting the framework by which the country was built, specifically, the Constitution of the United States. What I consider most notable is that he recognized that to remain a free people we absolutely needed to retain the right to free speech and the right to keep and bear arms. It was Thomas Jefferson who fiercely campaigned for the 2nd amendment of our Constitution to be ratified as part of the Bill of Rights.

Thomas Jefferson was certainly no war monger. He abhorred war. Yet, he knew that the citizens of the United States would only remain a free people if they retained the liberty to keep and bear arms. So, when I think of Memorial Day and reflect on all the fallen soldiers who have given their lives so that our country can continue to enjoy our unparalleled freedoms -- such as rights afforded us in the 2nd amendment -- I cannot help but think of Thomas Jefferson who planted many of those seeds of freedom.

Below are some quotations from Thomas Jefferson that you might find interesting and enlightening as you think of the ultimate price that was paid by hundreds of thousands of American patriots throughout our country's history.

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in
the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824.

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."
--Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise
the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the Body, it gives boldness,
enterprise, and independence to the mind . . . Let your gun therefore be the
constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson, Letter to his nephew
Peter Carr, August 19, 1785.

"No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms (within his own lands or
tenements)." --Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution with (his note
added), 1776. Papers, 1:353

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for
the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than
to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence
than an armed man." --Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and
Punishment (1764).

 

"Obama Coming for Your Guns"

While I am certainly no political strategist, I think it might be safe to say that on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, America will decide between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to be our Commander-in-Chief for the next four years. For us pro-2nd Amendment types, this recent headline on the DRUDGE REPORT may be very compelling:

The LA Times article, to which that headline links to, summarizes a speech Mitt Romney gave this week. You can read the article HERE.

The article points out that while Mr. Romney doesn't exactly get an A+ grade on his historical record of legislation of gun laws, he is still a much better choice than Mr. Obama in regards to preserving, and perhaps maybe even increasing, American gun-owner's rights. And that includes silencer-owner's rights. But, as the article summarizes, it's still all up in the air.

Translation: This November, it really is a vote between the lesser of the two evils. At least, in regards to gun rights. If it happens to be Romney against Obama.... then Romney gets my vote.

Then again, if it were Bugs Bunny against Obama... Bugs would definitely get my vote.



NC SILENCER, a great place to buy silencers. Pull the trigger now, while you know you still can. Who knows what the future holds?

The XCaliber Firearms Genesis Suppressor -- A Short Review

XCaliber Firearms Genesis All Stainless Steel .22 Suppressor

There is a relatively new-to-the market .22 caliber suppressor that is worth your attention. It's called the Genesis and it's made by XCaliber Firearms, LLC in Mena, Arkansas. There are three flavors -- the All Stainless Steel model for heavy-duty rim-fire use (.22LR all the way up to 22 Hornet), the Aluminum model for .22LR, .17HMR, and .22 Mag, and the Micro model for use with only .22LR. Prices are $495 for Stainless model, $325 for Aluminum, and $320 for the Micro.

I've been playing around with this suppressor for awhile now, and I am extremely impressed. It offers top-notch sound suppression on every .22 rifle and pistol host I've tried it on. The manufacturer's advertised dB measurements claim an average of 116dB, and I believe it. This suppressor is silly quiet. First shot to last shot sounds the same... there is no noticeable first round pop.

I plan to do a more in-depth review of this suppressor in the future, but for the meantime, check out the video below. I loaned hickok45 (of YouTube fame) a Genesis Aluminum suppressor and a Ruger 22/45 pistol so he could make a video review of the combo. We used CCI MiniMag ammo exclusively.

It may be helpful to point out that .22LR CCI MiniMag ammo is one of the loudest .22 loads when shot through an unsuppressed pistol. However, this round comes out of the Ruger 22/45 at subsonic speeds, so what you hear is 100% muzzle blast, and it is surprisingly loud. With the suppressor attached though, it reduces the blast significantly... to where it's not even noticeable. Most of what you hear is the target being hit. The audio in this video doesn't do the suppressor justice. In person, shooting with the Genesis sounds similar to a pellet rifle.

Like what you hear? Head on over to the NC SILENCER website , shoot me an email and order a Genesis for yourself. I'm confident that you'll be extremely satisfied with this little gem.


This little nugget of info has been brought to you by NCSILENCER.com -- A great place to buy silencers. I make it as easy as possible for you to get them... but don't just take my word for it. Ask your friends who have already bought one or two from me and they'll confirm.

NC SILENCER at the Dixie Gun & Knife Show - Feb. 18 & 19

Come to the gun show in Charlotte this weekend at the Metrolina Expo and see lots of nice toys... specifically, silencers. You'll have to stop by the NC SILENCER table to see 'em though.  And if you've been thinking about getting the ball rolling on buying a silencer, this weekend would be a good time to do it. Come talk to me at the show and I'll show you how easy it is!

I'll be in building B...  on the left wall, almost to the very back of the building. So remember: "B" for "noseBleed section". Or better yet.. "B" for "Best Kept Secret for Buying Silencers in North Carolina".

Dixie Gun & Knife Show at the Metrolina Expo in Charlotte. Feb. 18 & 19, 2012.

See you there! 

Eric Morton, Owner
NC SILENCER