Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Questions about New South Wales gun and ammunition laws. NSW Firearms Act 1996.

Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by feedr » 08 Oct 2013, 6:35 pm

Howdy,

So, I shoot .308 which is pretty loud.

I'm sure that there are plenty of calibres that are louder, but having forgotten to slide my earmuffs down a few times after ceasefires the .308 is more than loud enough IMO...

Obviously the movie thing where you screw a suppressor onto some cannon and it becomes whisper quiet is rubbish. Watching a few videos of guys in the US with them on large cal stuff it looks like it takes the noise down to a pretty reasonable level for your ears, while still being plenty audible for the sake of over people hearing it and knowing it's a gun shot.

Suppressors are illegal illegal in Aus as we know, but are there any moves in progress to legalise them?

I'm sure they could put some sensible limit in place, like it has to be over X db or something if they felt the need, and it would still be doing everyone's ears a favour.

Anything?
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by sarki » 08 Oct 2013, 7:02 pm

The issues been raised, but I think gun parties are busy fending off further restrictions on us before they start working on legalising more equipment for us.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Matt1 » 08 Oct 2013, 7:17 pm

Gotta move to New Zealand if you want one at this stage I think.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Blackened » 08 Oct 2013, 9:45 pm

Matt1 wrote:Gotta move to New Zealand if you want one at this stage I think.


Yes they're legal in NZ.

I can't recall exactly, but I believe there is an OH&S regulation at ranges in NZ that if you're shooting a rifle over a certain calibre/noise level, that a suppressor is required for you to be allowed to shoot there.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by RealNick » 08 Oct 2013, 9:47 pm

We need to get a few New Zealand politicians to emigrate to Aus and bring their laws with them :D
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Herdsman » 08 Oct 2013, 10:01 pm

Lots of idle chatter only I'm afraid.

I don't see us getting them in the foreseeable future.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by oohsam » 09 Oct 2013, 3:37 pm

If you're going to move to NZ, surley an AR15 would be on the top of the list! waaaaaaaaaaaaaay above a suppressed 308! lol
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Yelp » 09 Oct 2013, 5:04 pm

oohsam wrote:If you're going to move to NZ, surley an AR15 would be on the top of the list! waaaaaaaaaaaaaay above a suppressed 308! lol


Need your ears first so you can talk to the guy shop guy about buying one :lol:
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by feedr » 25 Jan 2014, 5:12 pm

oohsam wrote:If you're going to move to NZ, surley an AR15 would be on the top of the list! waaaaaaaaaaaaaay above a suppressed 308! lol


Shooters in NZ definitely have a few perks :D
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Chronos » 25 Jan 2014, 7:56 pm

the reality is that hearing protection is a flawed argument simply because suppressors do not reduce centerfire rifle noise to safe levels. 20-27db is all that's achievable from a unit small enough to fit on a carry rifle

your neighbors may appreciate the reduction though ;)

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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Warrigul » 26 Jan 2014, 2:18 pm

Chronos wrote:the reality is that hearing protection is a flawed argument simply because suppressors do not reduce centerfire rifle noise to safe levels. 20-27db is all that's achievable from a unit small enough to fit on a carry rifle

your neighbors may appreciate the reduction though ;)

Chronos


It is enough to make a hornet, .223 etc safe for short term exposure and reduce the amount of protection needed for larger calibres.

Better from a bystanders point of view too.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by on_one_wheel » 26 Jan 2014, 4:22 pm

Ok then..... how many db. do they have to reduce noise levels before they become a silencer ? surely we can use noise reducers ?... I might chase that one up.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Chronos » 26 Jan 2014, 5:25 pm

technically moderators or silencers and not illegal, they are however prohibited under the weapons act. you can apply for a permit to own one however you had better have all your ducks in a row concerning your genuine reason, professional pest eradication in urban environments is the only reason i've heard from an owner of one

you'll notice the wording of the act is such that any device suspected of reducing noise could be considered a supressor, "any device designed to reduce the noise of a firearm" (paraphrasing of course)

recently there was a crack down on shrouded air rifles :facepalm:

i don't pretend to know all the answers on this topic but I don't believe anyone in the police of government can see any reason why we should have one, if you genuinely believe you should then it's probably something you can write on your application for a permit

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WEAPONS PROHIBITION ACT 1998 - SCHEDULE 1
SCHEDULE 1 – Prohibited weapons
4 Miscellaneous articles

(3) Silencers or any other device designed for attachment to a firearm for the purpose of muffling, reducing or stopping the noise created by firing the firearm.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Dirtdart89 » 26 Jan 2014, 6:17 pm

I have personally witnessed the use of military suppressors and to be honest they didn't do much. I'm sure that on the receiving end about 900m away it would have been difficult to place the shots but they would have heard them. I think they should be legalised for sure. If someone wants to use them for criminal reasons a plastic bottle some foam and tape would easily suffice. So it makes the law kind of pointless.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by on_one_wheel » 27 Jan 2014, 6:27 am

It's great that the goverment hob knobs thint it's acceptable for a rifle to make defening noise but your car MUST have a mufler. Take a look what is attached to the muzzle of a weihrauch 97k...... hmmm just a bit louder without that big hollow chamber on the end.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Zilla » 27 Jan 2014, 12:59 pm

Blackened wrote:Yes they're legal in NZ.

I can't recall exactly, but I believe there is an OH&S regulation at ranges in NZ that if you're shooting a rifle over a certain calibre/noise level, that a suppressor is required for you to be allowed to shoot there.


OH&S is the angle to approach it from I reckon.

We need to get a few legislators down to an outdoor range and sit them their for 5 minutes with no ear muffs on ;)
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Blackened » 27 Jan 2014, 1:15 pm

I reckon they can have the ear muffs, but we sit them next to someone with a 300 win mag and a muzzle brake so they can see how much still gets through.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Kaine » 06 Feb 2014, 9:59 am

Zilla wrote:We need to get a few legislators down to an outdoor range and sit them their for 5 minutes with no ear muffs on ;)


I don't know about that, legislators at a shooting range, might be too tempting to 'misfire'. :lol:
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by crys » 06 Feb 2014, 10:11 am

Kaine wrote:I don't know about that, legislators at a shooting range, might be too tempting to 'misfire'. :lol:


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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Dirtdart89 » 16 Feb 2014, 1:19 pm

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/leg ... earms.html

Speaking of legalising suppressors... Suppose it's worth a shot if we pass it around every forum on the net.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Seconds » 16 Feb 2014, 2:05 pm

Trying to sign petition at the moment, the form doesn't seem to want to submit, grrr.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Dirtdart89 » 16 Feb 2014, 2:42 pm

Unsure why it won't work for you. Perhaps the website needs to review it?
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Seconds » 16 Feb 2014, 2:46 pm

Could just as easily be me at the moment actually, having some computer problems today...

Will try again later.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Dirtdart89 » 16 Feb 2014, 5:37 pm

Yeah hopefully it gets a a lot of support.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Grrzrr » 16 Feb 2014, 6:30 pm

I notice it publically shows your name and suburb after you sign the petition. I reckon that's putting people off.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Dirtdart89 » 16 Feb 2014, 6:50 pm

Yeah, you can sign anonymously.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by on_one_wheel » 19 Mar 2014, 11:56 pm

Moves to legalise suppressors has taken a big hit this year, I went into my lgs to put a deposit on another Weihrauch 97K and they told me that they are no longer importing them as they are clasified as a prescribed firearm now. That lump of metal on the end of the barrel cuts the noise level down.... same applys to other air guns with those things attached to the end of thier barrels. So what will happen If I go to sell the 97K I currantly own ? Is there going to be a recall of air rifles that have been sold with suppressors attached ?
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Manimal » 20 Mar 2014, 8:32 am

QLD did the same thing a year or something ago too didn't they?

I think a bunch of people had their air rifles and 22's confiscated for the same reason.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Baronvonrort » 20 Mar 2014, 11:09 am

Dirtdart89 wrote:Yeah, you can sign anonymously.


Silencers are allowed in NSW for contract shooters and those employed by the government.
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/262009/PW_GR_Silencer_-_2013.pdf

According to Gemtech they reduce the noise by about 30Db, if you are using subsonic ammo they can be very quiet, you cannot silence the sound of a projectile breaking the sound barrier.
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I think people should sign the petition even if they do not want a sound moderator, you would be lucky to get 1 in 10 with what you ask for and it is better to have the government on the back foot with applications than have them on the front foot with prohibitions.

There is a good study on sound moderators in my petition thread, it is worth reading.
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Re: Moves to legalise suppressors in Aus?

Post by Blackened » 21 Mar 2014, 9:13 am

Baronvonrort wrote:There is a good study on sound moderators in my petition thread, it is worth reading.


For those who missed the thread.

Care of the Shooters and Fishers Party - An investigation into the use of sound moderators on firearms for game and feral management in New South Wales.
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