What's more fun than .300 AAC Blackout full automatic? suppressed? Not much.

What’s more fun than .300 AAC Blackout full automatic with a suppressor? Not much.

On Day -1 of the annual NRA Meeting, I had the opportunity to attend a media event sponsored by  the American Suppressor Association. If you’re not already familiar, the group is a consortium of companies in the sound suppression business that aim to reduce the noise level of gunfire everywhere.

This event was held at the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area range – an absolutely fantastic outdoor facility complete with full-time range safety officers, baffles to prevent stray shots from escaping and a Pro Shop that was well stocked with… powder. If you’re a reloader, you know what I’m talking about. No one has powder these days! Except Atterbury.

SilencerCo Osprey (top) and SilencerCo / SWR Octane (bottom)

SilencerCo Osprey (top) and SilencerCo / SWR Octane (bottom)

The American Suppressor Association is a great example of companies working together to achieve a common goal. In this case it’s the growth and acceptance of silencers as a normal part of shooting. Who would think of buying a simple lawn mower without a muffler? It’s the same idea with silencers. Shooting suppressed guns is safe and polite to the neighbors. In their words…

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COMMERCIAL SILENCER INDUSTRY’S 103 YEAR HISTORY, INDIVIDUAL MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND DEALERS ARE FORMALLY BANDING TOGETHER TO COLLECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR THE SILENCER INDUSTRY.

Most states have some provision for citizens to legally acquire silencers for their firearms. At last count, it was 39 out of 50, although that number may increase any day thanks to the efforts of of American Silencer Association activists. Hunting with silencers is a different matter. Regulations are all over the map. These types of inconsistencies are exactly what the American silencer association is trying to fix. One example of a recent when is the passage of legislation in Georgia that allows hunting with silencers. Yay! Another win!

In attendance at today’s event were member companies SilencerCo, Advanced Armament Corporation, GemTech and Daniel Defense. All had a wide variety of products to test. Everything from .22 pistols to H&K full-auto 300 Blackout rifles.

Yeah, it was fun. And quiet.