paintball gun silencer?

[Quiet]

BATFE FAQ

(M30) Are Paintball and/or Airgun Sound Suppressers NFA firearms?

The terms "firearm silencer" and "firearm muffler" mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.

Numerous paintball and airgun silencers tested by ATF’s Firearms Technology Branch have been determined to be, by nature of their design and function, firearm silencers. Because silencers are NFA weapons, an individual wishing to manufacture or transfer such a silencer must receive prior approval from ATF and pay the required tax. See Questions M15 and 16 for application details.


If I have any further questions as to the classification of a paintball or airgun silencer, who should I contact?

Please send a written request to ATF’s Firearms Technology Branch.

[18 U.S.C. 921(a)(24), 26 U.S.C. 5845(a), 27 CFR 479.11]

[brassburnz]

Back in the early days of paintball, Buddy Farkas from Fontana Paintball Supply built a paintball "suppressor" out of PVC and sent it off to ATF. Since the device would not significantly reduce the report from a firearm, ATF returned the device with a letter describing the materials and construction with a declaration it was not a "suppressor."

People in the industry got a hold of the letter, made copies and started making paintball "Silencers". The devices really did muffle the sound of a pump-action paintball gun, but were pretty much useless after that first shot because you would still give away your position. Unless you made a like a rabbit, you'd get shot up.

[Rust]

Personally if you own firearms I would not even mess around with paintball silencers unless permanently attached to both the barrel AND the marker. (PGP, Palmers etc.) The bore diameter of a 68cal paintball gun and a 16 gauge (.662) or 20 gauge (.615) shotgun are close enough that BATF has threatened and (hear say) tried to prosecute for the possession of paintball silencers. The BOA concealer in specific. I know the concealers show up on e-bay or on paintball forums from time to time, but knowing that history I don't think it's worth the risk myself.

[rorschach]

The paintball suppressors are fake also, the same rules and laws apply to them as well. They have no purpose other than as a barrel extension which may increase velocity a tad thus a flatter trajectory, but this has been a hotly debated argument for years in the paintball world. But all in all its just for looks just like the fake cans you see on ARs

Thought I'd throw out the Tippman flatline barrel, it looks like a suppressor but puts a backspin on the paintball. You lose range, but gain excellent accuracy.

[Hayashi Killian]

Most airsoft/paintball suppressors do that. They usually don't do much for sound, but they extend the length of the barrel and make the rounds more accurate. Which is useful considering the rounds are way, WAY less than accurate.

Wouldn't it also be impossible to qualify them as a suppressor since what they're attached to doesn't qualify as a firearm? Since they neither look like firearms (paintball guns) or have distinguishing markings (airsoft weapons with orange tips or otherwise obvious body coloring/clear casing) that identify them as non-firearms, their operation does not qualify them as a true "firearm silencer/muffler".

For this I reference the GCA:

A.) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; B.) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; C.) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or D.) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm. 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3)(c).

They also define a "firearm silencer" or "firearm muffler" as such under 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(24):

The terms “firearm silencer” and “firearm muffler” mean any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, and any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.

Edit to summarize:
Basically, if the suppressor you have for your painball/airsoft gun cannot fit or function on a regular firearm, you are fine regardless of whether it is detachable or not.

IF your suppressor will work (reduce sound report) on a firearm with modification then you are STILL FINE. Modifying a device to function as a firearm silencer/muffler is illegal under the above. That qualifies as "assembling" or "making". Likewise, if your suppressor can only be attached to a firearm where a special adapter has to be installed onto the firearm, that qualifies as the same thing. That is illegal for the modifier, NOT for the faux-suppressor holder.