Have a suppressor? And use for self/home defense?

[Scott in Houston]

Ok. I'm very close to buying a suppressor or multiple suppressors.
My hang up is this:
One of the main reasons that I want one is for self defense in the home and not losing all hearing ability after using a fire arm in my home (God forbid).

My concern is regarding the perception of these tools. Even after going through all the proper channels, (taxes, fees, stamps, trusts, etc). I could see this being used against you if you had to utilize one in defense. It would not surprise me to see a district attorney utilize the negative perception of "silencers" in order to make a case against you.

My question is, "Am I over analyzing this?"
If all the proper channels are followed, it should be no different than any other firearm, however logic and the law do not always intersect.

What do you think?

[C-dub]

I think that if it is only on the gun at home and if you had to use it at home that you would be just fine with the reasons you have given for using one in the first place. I've considered it myself. However, just remember it will only make it quieter, not actually silent. It will still be loud, but many people that have been in this situation that during a defensive shooting your hearing kind of "shuts off" anyway.

[Scott in Houston]

I'm familiar with the "audio exclusion". I've even experienced it. However, it doesn't mean that your ears don't take a beating. It's just that the adrenaline makes is so that you don't hear any ringing, and basically "don't hear" the shots.

Suppressors don't sound at all like the movies, but they do make it completely tolerable to shoot most handguns indoors with almost no affects to your hearing. The sound is comparable to someone clapping their hands. It's wonderful compared to the normal sound.

I'd hate to have to use my .357 SIG or even a 9mm indoors. It would be unbelievably loud and could easily, permanently damage my or my family's hearing.

I would hope that one would "be fine" if using a can for defense, but I'm curious if anyone has any real data or experience to back it up.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Shoot BG, call 911, remove suppressor from firearm, place suppressor in safe, done deal.

Edit: IANAL and all that jazz.

[RHenriksen]

I've been sorely tempted to buy a suppressor for exactly the same reason. The paperwork, federal involvement, and extra$$$ all combine to put me off (for now). Perhaps in the next 5-10 years the federal restrictions will unclench? I can dream...

[Thomas]

Shoot BG, call 911, remove suppressor from firearm, place suppressor in safe, done deal.

If it isn't a straight-forward case (and you won't know until the police figure out what's going on), then removing the suppressor after the fact is going to look a lot worse than using the suppressor and leaving it on.

(In my layman opinion, I'm no cop or lawyer.)

[Syntax360]

I've got one and used it on my nightstand gun for awhile, but the biggest issue I have with suppressors on pistols for home defense is that they GREATLY increase the likelihood of a malfunction. I've never had a malfunction from the pistol I have setup for my suppressor when it wasn't wearing the can, but there will occasionally be cycling issues when shooting suppressed (my Evo-9 has a booster). It's not a chronic problem, but it has happened enough to make me take the can off for HD duty.

Also, the handgun does become seriously more cumbersome with all that weight up front. It's probably less of an issue when playing high-speed at the range, but waking up groggy in the middle of the night and potentially firing from a weird and less than ideal shooting position - no thanks. If you ever got into a confrontation with someone in your home - if they caught you by surprise or whatever - the can will give them much more leverage on working to disarm you, and any outside force disturbing the can will almost certainly induce a malfunction.

It's cool and everything, but I don't think cans belong on home defense handguns. Short-barrel or bullpup rifles, on the other hand...

[PappaGun]

Shoot BG, call 911, remove suppressor from firearm, place suppressor in safe, done deal.

If it isn't a straight-forward case (and you won't know until the police figure out what's going on), then removing the suppressor after the fact is going to look a lot worse than using the suppressor and leaving it on.

(In my layman opinion, I'm no cop or lawyer.)

That's my thought too.
Seems like it could be considered tampering with evidence especially if any witness mentions it was there or the guns looks different than the one used etc.

[rm9792]

There is no law against using a suppressor for home defense. There is no law against your CCW having a suppressor. Not practical to carry but it is legal. You can CCW a suppressed F/Auto MP5 if you want in Texas, long as you got the stamps for it.

[Scott in Houston]

I've got one and used it on my nightstand gun for awhile, but the biggest issue I have with suppressors on pistols for home defense is that they GREATLY increase the likelihood of a malfunction. I've never had a malfunction from the pistol I have setup for my suppressor when it wasn't wearing the can, but there will occasionally be cycling issues when shooting suppressed (my Evo-9 has a booster). It's not a chronic problem, but it has happened enough to make me take the can off for HD duty.

Also, the handgun does become seriously more cumbersome with all that weight up front. It's probably less of an issue when playing high-speed at the range, but waking up groggy in the middle of the night and potentially firing from a weird and less than ideal shooting position - no thanks. If you ever got into a confrontation with someone in your home - if they caught you by surprise or whatever - the can will give them much more leverage on working to disarm you, and any outside force disturbing the can will almost certainly induce a malfunction.

It's cool and everything, but I don't think cans belong on home defense handguns. Short-barrel or bullpup rifles, on the other hand...

Interesting. I didn't know that it could cause issues. That changes everything IMO. I can deal with hearing loss, yet surviving, vs. protecting my hearing, yet not surviving!

I'm still interested in one for my rifles though. And like you said, that's a different story. Does it affect the reliability of an AR cycling?

[Scott in Houston]

There is no law against using a suppressor for home defense. There is no law against your CCW having a suppressor. Not practical to carry but it is legal. You can CCW a suppressed F/Auto MP5 if you want in Texas, long as you got the stamps for it.

I hear ya. I know there's no law, but sadly, law isn't the only factor when things go to trial. Emotion is a HUGE factor and prosecutors will leverage it to the hilt. My concern was the perception that cans have in the average Joe's mind.

[RECIT]

I would also be concerned with the liability of leaving the can unsecured at any time. It would have to be locked away when you are not home and installed on the gun or at least the gun w/suppressor gotten out of the safe every night when you come home.

I personally leave my night stand gun on the night stand when I am not home. That would not be an option with a class 3 item attached.

[Grog]

I personally leave my night stand gun on the night stand when I am not home.

[jeeperbryan]

I think the expense and hassle of getting a suppressor to save your ears in a HD situation is a waste. Unless you live in the ghetto and shoot at BGs on a regular basis in your house, i dont really see the point. I gotta say, after buying my first suppressor Im just not that impressed. Sure theyre cool, but in most situations theyre not that quiet unless your shooting subsonic rounds.

[Syntax360]

I personally leave my night stand gun on the night stand when I am not home. That would not be an option with a class 3 item attached.

It is if you live alone.

Regarding reliability and ARs, my friend has a M4-2000 on his 12" SBR and it functions 100%. I have heard of some guys having to tune their rifles to run right with a can, but that's usually when you go smaller than 12" or if you frankenbuilt the rifle and used the wrong buffer, etc.