Can You Put A Silencer On A Shotgun?

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Until recently there weren’t any silencers being produced for shotguns, but Salvo 12 pioneered a perfect prototype of a practical shotgun silencer or suppressor, with some legalities depending on the area you’re using it in.

In this article, we will discuss ways in which a silencer works, the legal technicalities that you might face when using them, and recommended suppressors you can use for your shotguns.

Can You Put A Silencer On A Shotgun

Can You Put A Silencer On A Shotgun?

Yes, you can put a silencer on a shotgun. Hunters use silencers on their shotguns while hunting as to not alert the prey of their presence with the loud gunshot sounds.

Although it has been a couple of years since its production, some people still do not realize that they can actually suppress their shotgun. The SilencerCo Salvo 12, which was predominantly fashioned for slide action and semiautomatic shotguns, can be used for almost any type of shotgun projectile.

The three main reasons why people own silencers are:

  1. Noise pollution: As of recently, hunting has stopped being about shooting animals out in the wild and has started being more about the sporty aspect of it.

    Tournaments were held in parks and national forests, often near places where people live, the inhabitants of which might not appreciate what is happening near their house.

  2. Safety instructions: Firearms safety instructors often use silencers on their students to prevent them from flinching when first learning to shoot. This helps them process their form and learn from mistakes quicker without the added fear of the gunshot sound resonating in their ears.

  3. Ear protection: In the old days, people only had their poor hands as protection against the loud gunshots. Now, as people become more aware, they realize how harmful this could be to a person’s ears.

    Due to this, ear protection has become obligatory at such tournaments, but simple earplugs are just not enough, that is why silencers are also used.
How Does A Shotgun Suppressor Work

How Does A Shotgun Suppressor Work?

Traditionally manufactured from stainless steel or titanium, a suppressor is a metallic cylinder containing a 12-inch baffle which can be shortened to make 11, 9, or even 6 inches. Its hollow bore allows the bullets to fly through with minimal to no resistance.

A suppressor basically acts as a muffler for your shotgun, which lessens the sound effect and the recoil of your gunshot. It slows down the gases which are released as a result of the gun going off so that the bullet can go through the baffle before the gases collide with the cold air.

With the delay that the baffle offers, the force of the gas reduces and so does the sound of the explosion when they hit the cold air.

In other words, using a suppressor feels and sounds like you are wearing earmuffs.

Like any other part of a barrel, the suppressor can either be taken off or attached and become a fundamental part of the barrel. It all depends on your preference and how you choose to use your shotgun.

Is A Shotgun Suppressor Legal?

It is commonly thought that anything having to do with weaponry would need a warrant or some kind of permission from the law.

But despite this common misconception, the suppressor only requires a special tax to be paid in order to be owned by an individual. In fact, the NFA never made suppressors illegal, unless you live in one of the 11 states stated down below:

  • California
  • Iowa
  • Massachusetts
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Delaware
  • Minnesota
  • Rhode Island
  • New York
  • Vermont
  • New Jersey

According to American Suppression Association, in recent years the states have become lax, meaning that more and more states give permission for their citizens to own suppressors, and also to hunt.

Recommended Shotgun Silencers

Handgun suppressors have been around for way longer, but there were no shotgun suppressors until recently. SilencerCo is a company that specializes in silencers and suppressors, and they were the first company to produce a shotgun silencer, the Salvo 12.

Even after other companies started making shotgun silencers, Salvo 12 remains the best. Other suppressors that have been recently manufactured are A-TEC company’s A-12, which has good weight, comes with tools, and is easy to install but unfortunately can only be bought from the manufacturer.

XCaliber’s SS1C is also a great runner-up with its lightweight, good material and the fact that it works for 12 and 20-gauge shotguns but since the manufacturer is relatively not well known, there is a high risk to quality.

Summary

To sum it up, yes, you can definitely put a silencer on your shotgun keeping in mind your preference, the area of your dwelling, the type of suppressor to suit your firearm, and the precautionary measures.

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