Although suppressors are effective at protecting shooters' hearing and those nearby, the process of selling and purchasing them has always been complicated. Since these devices are regulated under the National Firearms Act, buyers have had to navigate extensive paperwork, bear long wait times and pay a $200 tax, above the cost of the suppressor.
But the situation has changed greatly in just the past few months, with Congress removing the tax on suppressors. Consequently, demand is likely to grow very quickly as gun owners who have never owned a suppressor start taking a more serious look.
That doesn’t mean, however, that suppressors will be an easy sell to any gun owner. The thing is, all gun owners should have a suppressor or two in their collection. Many who have never even considered owning one, just don’t realize it yet.
Getting Off the Fence
That makes it your job to help prospective suppressor buyers understand exactly what suppressors do, the protection they provide and why they need one. To do so, it’s important to understand and be able to explain why suppressor use is critical to hearing protection and range fun.
For those selling points, look no further than the American Suppressor Association (ASA), an advocacy group born out of the idea that all law-abiding citizens should be able to use suppressors to help protect their hearing. To make more suppressor sales during the coming increase in demand, share these four ASA “reasons for using a suppressor” with your customers.
Hearing Protection
Of course, hearing protection is first and foremost, and if you wonder why just ask avid shooters from my Baby Boomer generation. You won’t get an answer, though, because most have damaged hearing to the point you’ll have to repeat the question a time or two.
According to the ASA, suppressors reduce the noise of a gunshot by an average of 20 to 35 dB, which is roughly the same as earplugs or earmuffs. By decreasing the overall sound signature, suppressors help to preserve the hearing of recreational shooters, hunters and even hunting dogs that are often shot over. That’s why many countries, instead of tightly regulating suppressors, require them to be used.
Even the most effective suppressors, on the smallest and quietest calibers (.22 LR) reduce the peak sound level of a gunshot to between 110 and 120 dB. To put that in perspective, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), that is as loud as a jackhammer (110 dB) or an ambulance siren (120 dB). For normal caliber handguns and rifles, suppressed sound levels routinely exceed 130 dB, just shy of OSHA’s “hearing safe” threshold of 140 dB.
Safer Hunting
Hunters are likely to be a large portion of the increased demand, thanks to the $200 tax break recently afforded by Congress. Many are unaware that exposure to even a single unsuppressed gunshot can, and often does, lead to permanent hearing damage. Studies show that between 70 and 80% of hunters never wear earplugs or earmuffs for a variety of reasons. In fact, for every five years of hunting, hunters become 7% more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss.
Traditional hearing protection devices (HPDs) like passive earplugs and earmuffs tremendously hinder users’ ability to hear their surroundings and localize sounds. Electronic hearing protection devices can help users detect sounds, but are limited in their ability to accurately localize noise sources. Consequently, a suppressor, either by itself or used with other hearing protection, can be a life changer.
Accuracy Considerations
Decreased accuracy caused by flinching in anticipation of the firearm discharge and recoil is one of the greatest killers of accurate shooting. Due to the way suppressors work — by containing the explosion of the gunpowder at the muzzle — suppressors reduce recoil. This helps decrease flinch and leads to improved accuracy, better shot placement and more humane hunts.
This also makes them great for introducing kids and new shooters to the shooting sports. A suppressor-equipped firearm is much easier to learn on without picking up any bad habits due to muzzle blast and recoil.
Noise Complaints
Last but not least, as urban development advances into rural areas, preexisting shooting ranges and hunting properties across the country are being threatened by noise complaints. State and local noise ordinances are also a tremendous hindrance to the development of new shooting facilities.
Ranges can reduce noise pollution by encouraging patrons to use suppressors in the 42 states where they are legal to own. Hunters in 40 states can do their part to moderate their sound footprint by suppressing their host firearm. The remaining states should enact pro-suppressor reforms to give hunters and recreational shooters the opportunity to become better neighbors and better stewards of the environment by giving them the right to use suppressors.
