Where can you buy a silenced shotgun like the one on No Country For Old Men?

Answer 1

If there is one thing I have come to despise, it is the magical connotation that Silencers have been granted by Hollywood.

You can buy a silencer for a shotgun, but not in the USA (Reflex Arms in Finland makes them). You can also make one, but don't expect too much from it, and here is why.

1. It is illegal in the USA unless the appropriate permit is purchased. Without the permit possession of a silencer or suppressor will get you 10 years in Federal prison. If you get the permit you surrender some of your rights to the BATF. They can make entry into your house at any time, and request to see your silencer. If they don't like something they can also cancel your permit on the spot.

2. A silencer will not be the quiet pfft that the movies portray. You are causing the propelling of an object with violent force. The primer is an explosive device, the powder burns, causing pressure. You've basically got a controlled explosion in your hand each time to drop the firing pin. The silencer will reduce the noise signature, but not eliminate it. Also there are two forms of ammo; sonic and subsonic: Sonic rounds break the speed of sound and cannot be silenced because of the sonic boom associated with the round; Subsonic rounds through a shotgun silencer / suppressor only lower the 'noise' by around 6db.

3. Make your own. Of course you'll need some machine shop tools and lathe experience, or you can try one of those Duct Tape and soda bottle types (Please make sure your life insurance is up to date, if you do).

4. Don't do it. A silenced weapon exists for only one reason, to kill without attracting unnecessary attention. It has it's place, and hanging on your wall to impress your friends is not it.

Jan, 27th 2011,

You can also purchase from Red Jacket Fire Arms..

http://www.redjacketfirearms.com/suppressors/suppressors.html

Some of the first answer is outright incorrect, and some of it is misleading.

You do not purchase a permit. You register the item on a form 4 and pay a $200 fee. There is nothing in any of the paperwork you sign that allows the ATF to show up any time they want and demand to see your items, nor can they "cancel your permit on the spot" because it isn't a permit. This is a common myth, but fully untrue.

Also, the comment about killing without attracting unwanted attention is misleading, in my opinion. People can use silencers for hunting and for in-home self defense in order to avoid hearing damage. People also use them because they reduce some felt recoil and muzzle blast, and you can shoot on your own property without disturbing your neighbors.