Help needed .re suppressor laws in Australia.

Hi all!

One of the reasons why I joined this forum was to be able to talk to people who are able to use suppressors legally and by all accounts are encouraged to use them.

As you know, across the ditch, Hollywood has taken its toll and turned the suppressor into some amazing device that not only enables a shot to be fired in absolute silence, but also turns the shooter into some killing machine, seemingly unable to miss his target and all sorts of other amazing capabilities. I am trying to get some reality back into the laws by going down the workplace safety laws. This seems to have worked to an extent in the UK so I reckon that this would be the best way to go.

Our Govts both left and right are seemingly have both fell into this anti gun side that takes Hollywood for truth and completely sets aside evidence based laws that reality and actual threats are where the laws restrict.

Anyhow I was asked by a state based minister to get some facts about suppressors and their benefits. I gathered info from European trials on suppressors that were used in the UK to bring in the use of suppressors into the workplace for those using firearms while at work. Of course after this was allowed, the UK govt allowed the more widespread use on safety grounds.

So what I am asking from you guys is your experience with suppressors and if there are any police officers on this forum, please include any stuff from an aurthority and their view toward them( PM me if you want to remain anomynous) . I want to get as many "first hand" experience stories as I can to take to the minister.

The conservative Govt in Victoria is probably the best chance we have had in a long time to get anything through as they are a little more relaxed on gun laws and have been more shooter friendly.

Anyway if you could help me and hopefully thousands of fellow Aussie shooters if we are successful that would be great.

suppressors are good. hop on a plane and come try them out


they just stop your ears from getting fucked, reduce recoil.
Suppressors
Gunworks - Home
All Products : , DPT Machinists

I admire your efforts..Good luck.. I hope you are successful..Shame they wont let you import a couple and give a practical display in the workplace or make a vid of it.
Visit NZ and I m sure heaps of folks would help you make heaps of videos and record sound levels with Db meters etc.
I love to hand one of those hippys the 300 Win Mag and say lie down and pull the trigger with the suppressor and then without.
Mind you they d want to pre book an ear specialist for when they got home. .270 WSM with hot loads and muzzle brake as well.
That made it hard to stand up and balance with no ear protection if you fired it. (Head would ring for ages, only did that the once )
Trouble is try walkin round the bush with ear plugs I find that kinda impossible and uncomfortable as well.

I see them simply as a safety device. Why must a vehicle have a muffler? - Because without one they are loud as hell and piss people off. That's all a suppressor is , a muffler. I can't ever recall the use of a sound suppressor to aid somebody in committing a homicide. Look how many people over here have them. How many misuse them? It's almost considered the norm over here, you buy a rifle and get it suppressed.

Just be prepared for disappointment. Past experience shows that facts and reality don't fly with brain dead people.

As its in Aussie , easiest way to sell them to the govt as needing to be Legal , is as a Health & Saftey device , as you guys have gone over board on THAT , sell it to them as NEEDED to be medically safe .
Also Finland look on them as a BIG part of being friendly to health of shooters & non-shooters etc ,
The Finns use suppressors & rnage design together to minimise the noise polution .
Later Chris

My thoughts are, we need to beat the greenies at their own game seeing that they have so much political clout.

I believe that destruction caused by feral animals and the impact on our native species is a extremely strong argument.

Facts from the CSIRO relating to the impact of feral animals on natives as they have been collecting data for this and the issue behind baiting and natives.

The green groups and what they say they stand for is directly related to native Australia so why not put that stance to THE CREDIBILITY TEST.

Cheers Rob

The biggest single misconception is 2 fold , that they 1 ) make the firearm totally silent & 2 ) That all crims use them 100% of the time .
Both are incorrect .
In both Finland & NZ they are un-restricted & un-licenced

I'm a manufacturing engineer, so I have to wear hearing protection in our factory. I have Occupational 20% hearing reduction in one ear from shooting as a youth and adult with my father both in hunting and clay pigeon shooting. My left side is worse. I took up using suppressors on my 22 as I shoot areas where there horses so it doesn't disturb them. However I use a suppressor on my centrefire for the purposes of noise reduction for my hearing and the improvement in accuracy as the Gunworks models have an effective muzzle break. I wear electronic ear muffs for shotgun shooting now and at the range.

Is there not an opening for a "dust reducing muzzle brake" in oz?

Ie a small muzzle brake( like some suppressors here) enclosed in a tube of some sort(similar to a suppressor) to contain the blast wave and associated dust and debris, and to contain and direct the blast it would obliviously need a couple of baffles and end cap just over caliber(like a suppressor )

These "dust reducing muzzle brakes" could be pitched to the gov as reducing erosion:D and enabling the shooter to see the target ensuring a follow up shot if necessary to evade any undue suffering.

Just dont use the word "silencer"

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Is there not an opening for a "dust reducing muzzle brake" in oz?

Ie a small muzzle brake( like some suppressors here) enclosed in a tube of some sort(similar to a suppressor) to contain the blast wave and associated dust and debris, and to contain and direct the blast it would obliviously need a couple of baffles and end cap just over caliber(like a suppressor )

These "dust reducing muzzle brakes" could be pitched to the gov as reducing erosion:D and enabling the shooter to see the target ensuring a follow up shot if necessary to evade any undue suffering.

Just dont use the word "silencer"

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Damn VC you just came up with a business opportunity

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Originally Posted by Rushy

Damn VC you just came up with a business opportunity

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I come up with plenty Rushy, dont have time or money to act on any of em.

Then you need a venture capital investor to help you get off the ground. Gareth Morgan does that sort of thing when he is not too busy chasing cats and sacking soccer coach's

You have to come up with a suppressor that clamps on the barrel , that way there would be no givaway threads on the muzzle for the Police to worry about , then just take it out and use it when you are 30mins past the road end . or have a muzzle break and screw that off and the suppressor on when needed , I know 2 guys in Canada who do that :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Is there not an opening for a "dust reducing muzzle brake" in oz?

Ie a small muzzle brake( like some suppressors here) enclosed in a tube of some sort(similar to a suppressor) to contain the blast wave and associated dust and debris, and to contain and direct the blast it would obliviously need a couple of baffles and end cap just over caliber(like a suppressor )

These "dust reducing muzzle brakes" could be pitched to the gov as reducing erosion:D and enabling the shooter to see the target ensuring a follow up shot if necessary to evade any undue suffering.

Just dont use the word "silencer"

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And mention Bushfire safety ie no muzzle flash = no ignition source.safety,safety,safety.

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Originally Posted by madjon_

And mention Bushfire safety ie no muzzle flash = no ignition source.safety,safety,safety.

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Actually that's a bloody good idea! Fire is a huge threat here and that would help. But greenies would then ask for restrictions on hunter in fire season

When I heard that from a friend re supressors in OZ I couldn't believe it, they are cheap and chups here and common as mud...
I couldnt image a life without one...

Malleeshooter

If you havnt already, the first person you need to talk to is Robert Borsak, who is an MP for the Ausi Shooters Party (wish we had one!) and heavily involved in the NSW Game Council?

On the NZ side, I suggest you contact Joe Green in the Police Headquarters who is the main liason person between NZ Police and NZ gun owners.

The other person who will have good knowledge on suppressors is Mike Spray, who was until recently the head of Firearms Safety with the NZ Mountain Safety Council (who are subcontracted to the NZ Police to provide firearms safety training for the licencing programme). I believe Mike has now taken up a similar position on the NSW Game Council...our loss and your gain!

Good luck

Grant

dosent forum member Homer live in camberra and make suppressors?

Saves your hearing (and the cost to the healthcare system around hearing loss), stops pissing off local land owners, no muzzle flash (so no fire).

It just makes it a lot easier to enjoy shooting without being concerned that your pissing the neighbours off... even if they're a K away.

Good luck mate, it's a good cause. Some of the US is making slow progress towards allowing them for hunting. We're quite lucky over here.

Be careful how you present your argument. You don't wan't them to turn around and say that you must wear a specified standard of hearing protection all the time.

How many firearm crimes have been committed using a suppressor in NZ or other countries where they are legal ?


Ken

One that I can think of. Anthony Dixon (?).

I thought he was sword and shotgun?

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Originally Posted by NZVarminter

Malleeshooter

If you havnt already, the first person you need to talk to is Robert Borsak, who is an MP for the Ausi Shooters Party (wish we had one!) and heavily involved in the NSW Game Council?

On the NZ side, I suggest you contact Joe Green in the Police Headquarters who is the main liason person between NZ Police and NZ gun owners.

The other person who will have good knowledge on suppressors is Mike Spray, who was until recently the head of Firearms Safety with the NZ Mountain Safety Council (who are subcontracted to the NZ Police to provide firearms safety training for the licencing programme). I believe Mike has now taken up a similar position on the NSW Game Council...our loss and your gain!

Good luck

Grant

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Hi would be kind enough to get me the details of Mr Green? I have had my local MP trying to get some changes through but the police commissioner is apparently dead against it. I am wondering whether a letter from a fellow police officer may be able to help IR cause.

You're up against this: https://www.pansw.org.au/public/late...es-gun-imports

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Originally Posted by Ground Control

How many firearm crimes have been committed using a suppressor in NZ or other countries where they are legal ?


Ken

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Very few I would think, but maybe David Bain? They proberly are too bulky for most crims needs.

You have a two fold attack when it comes to suppressors for professional use and (sorry, can't bring myself to type those three letters).
1) Of course the sound thing, and not just the shooter who becomes a deaf bastard so the government picks the bill up for that, but others in the general area. And that can include houses etc as people can get a lot cranky when there is loud shooting going on in their area.
2) Remembering this is targeting professional use, follow up shots are available when using one that are not possible without. Namely if your state/federal government is paying for that work to be done it's more economical for them. (They just LOVE that shit) but it's true.

If you want send a couple of reps over and I'll take them out for two nights. One with the can the other without, once they hear that .223 go off a few hundred times in the night they may have a very different view on it all.
By the way, seems most 'gun crime' involves sawn off shotguns.....

Footnote: I do this for a job and have bad hearing after years of no suppressor.

I have a contact over here that is permitted to use, own and make suppressors and he is willing to help in any way. He is in pest control so that's how he got it. From what I have read, for the average farmer, shooter etc the hassle is just not worth it. But may give it a crack to see. Anyway does anyone have this email? I have one ready to fire off to him. He is a police officer yeah?

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Originally Posted by Beavis

One that I can think of. Anthony Dixon (?).

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Nah, it was John Barlow using a suppressed pistol to shoot Gene and Eugene Thomas in Wellywood.