Without defacing a revolver barrel by threading the barrel, what commercial noise suppressors are available? Would the revolver front sight have to be removed in order for the suppressor to fit on the barrel? Are suppressors now legal and commercially available without Federal permission? Is S&W going to make any suppressor products? To accomplish noise reduction with out a suppressor, won't the use of sub-sonic ammo make a difference?

It's been my understanding that unless you can find a way to close off the cylinder/barrel gap, a suppressor won't work very well....

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Supressors are legal but require Federal Government permission and tax: a fairly lengthy process.

They don't work on revolvers. I'm unaware of any manufactured for revolver installation.

There are three ways of effectively suppressing a revolver. One is to use a revolver that has no barrel-cylinder gap. There are such things but they are low power and obsolescent or obsolete. (i.e. Russian Nagant.) You can hang a can on the end of one of those and it does work. Two is to build a silencer around the whole weapon. It has been done once that I am aware of. It is very large and awkward, sort of like an oatmeal canister with a handle. The third is to use silenced ammunition. Such things do exist and are not addressed by current U. S. law. During Vietnam the army developed a special weapon-ammo combination for tunnel rats. The barrel was cut off right at the end of the frame. The ammo (reduced power .44 mag) had a buckshot loaded over what amounted to a miniature condom. The condom expands and contains the flash and sound signature of the weapon. This ammo was called .44 QSP (quiet special purpose.) A Russian outfit, UDAT, currently makes an interesting revolver which fires 32 gauge ammunition which includes, among other things, silenced rounds like this. I have only seen photos, never an actual weapon. They are not approved for import into the U. S. I have heard they are popular with armored car drivers in the old USSR as they have a wide variety of ammunition easily available, including gas, A.P., etc.

Essentially silenced revolvers are Hollywood B.S.

While I can't say with any certainty, there may be some states that prohibit or restrict suppressors even though federal law allows them. It's always best to check local, state, and federal laws.

Thank you all for your responses. I had read about our Viet Nam tunnel rats and their use of silencers. For rimfire, will stick with the primer-only stuff, dirty but it does work well in revolvers.

S&W did purchase Gemtech earlier this year. I have no idea if they plan to market suppressor under the S&W name but I wouldn't be surprised to see them sold as a package deal with their pistols in the future.

I wouldn't expect them to sell suppressed revolvers any time in the foreseeable future do to the inherent problems listed by others.

As robertwalsh so succinctly put it: "Essentially silenced revolvers are Hollywood B.S." It doesn't work except with a Russian Model 1891 Nagant revolver! Forget it.

This is totally aside from the legal issues which are significant!

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Sub sonic ammo will help. You still need a federal stamp($200? if your local government allows them) to own or make one.
Steve