Suppressing the Beast

[CZooter42]

Does anybody know, can you silence a 52? Could you put a small .30 cal rifle suppressor on a reccessed barrel threading, bore out the slide hole, and go secret agent? I know that when I plink with mine, people think bombs are dropping. Not to mention I like to hear cars and people approaching when I'm holding a pistol that is a bunker ventilator. There have been tests done that say suppressors help a lot with pistol practice, so I think that's a valid enough reason to do it. The suppressor would probably cost about 2 or 3 CZ52s, but what the heck? What else are you gonna spend your money on besides CZs?

[skucera]

Well... there are two aspects to silencing the CZ 52. First, there is physics. Supersonic bullets make a sonic boom as they pass through the air. Even if you silence the expansion of hot gasses leaving the muzzle of the gun firing a supersonic bullet, it will still make a "crack" sound as it passes through the air. The 7.62 x 25 Tokarev is supersonic (1480 fps = 1009 mph, and the speed of sound is 761 mph at sea level at 59F). The most effective silenced weapons fired subsonic rounds, like .45 ACP and .32 ACP pistols and submachine guns in WW2. They weren't silent, by the way, but they are a lot quieter than normal gunshots. The only silenced gun I've ever seen fired was a Walther PPK with a screw-on silencer. It still popped like someone popping a paper bag between their hands, and the click-clack of the slide was audible. It was quiet enough to shoot without hearing protection, and that was novel.

Second, if you are in the U.S., is Federal law. The Gun Control Act of 1968 (and 1935 before it) require citizens to have special licenses to possess machine guns, silencers, sawed-off shotguns, and other "dangerous" devices. Get yourself a license and this isn't a problem. Overlook the license, and Federal law may become as unforgiving as the laws of physics, and much more expensive.

Scott

[CZooter42]

Here in Florida, the home of the red mafia, it's as legal as a C&R but pricier. A suppressor can be made for less than $6, if you have machinery and knowledge. Of course, low velocity handloads would be ideal, but the idea here is to reduce initial noise signature, so supersonic rounds would be good enough. Seeing as the 52 is really such a gonzo truck gun, keeping one with silencer attached under the seat would be great to keep from busting  your own eardrums. I like to stick .38 specials in my ears when I've got to shoot quick, instead of slow head sponges, but a silencer would be best.

[wolfshell]

The gun control act with reguards to class three weapons and accessories (full auto's. suppressors, short shotguns, etc..) do not require the buyer to have a license.  There is a one time $200 tax stamp per item when you buy, and you have to pass the ATF in depth backround check that can take a couple of months.  Also, some localitys may make you get a local permit or file what you are buying with a local office (I bielve my home state of PA makes you list class 3 with your sheriffs office)  The only people who need a license for those things are those people who are dealing in them as a part of doing buisness.
Back the the supressor, yes you can get a suppressor for your pistol.  The only thing is that you may have to have a adapter made to fit it to a threaded 52 barrel, and, as skucera said, it will still be loud, just not as loud.  Find a class three dealer, you may be able to go online for this, and tell them what you want.  They should be able to recommend something.  You will be spending 400 to 700 dollars though, for both the item and the tax stamp.

[CZooter42]

If I was to get a suppressor, I'd start collecting pistols and rifles in .30 primarily and just buy one good silencer for all of them.
SKS, M44, CZ52, M1 carbine, Rem.700 etc...

[wolfshell]

Just remember that a silencer for a rifle (like the sks or rem 700) will probably be to heavy for a pistol.  The weight would keep the barrel from moving backwards enough when fired.  Though one for the 52 would probably be Ok for a 30 cal. carbine.  I will admit its been a while since i looked at suppressors, so there may be one that would work for all.  But the ones I saw for AK/SKS and 308 rifles were a foot long. 3 inches round and 3 to 5 pounds.  Pistol supressors are generaly shorter and/or thinner, and definitly lighter.

[CZooter42]

The CZ52 barrel doesn't move much, does it? Besides, an extra 3-5 pounds would be great to keep down muzzle flip. You know, I started this thread because I had a dream about a silenced CZ52. I figure it's a sign.

[texdoug1]

I think it sounds like a great idea.  I've got a suppressor for a .22, and love it.  I think a .30 suppressor would be nice, but big.  I'd really like to know where one could get a threaded barrel, or even just ported.  That would be my first hurdle.

[CZooter42]

With the 52 you would probably have to enlarge the hole in front and have the outer bbl surface threaded. Since the guide spring is wrapped around the barrel as well, you would especially need some kind of nut to put in in the absence of a silencer, and you could have that cut to make a muzzle brake. Any good machinist could do this stuff. I'd also think that you could maybe have one do the silencer for you too to skip out on $400-$700 commercial cans.

[texdoug1]

The machinest would have to be a licensed ClassIII manufacturer, or both of you would face serious jail time if caught.

[skucera]

With the 52 you would probably have to enlarge the hole in front and have the outer bbl surface threaded.

 

Up until a few months ago you could still get threaded barrels. I don't see any listed for sale at the couple of web sites I checked. You don't need to enlarge any holed in the slide, especially the hole the barrel itself slides through. The CZ 52 is a bushingless slide... the slide itself is the barrel bushing, so enlarging it would only serve to make the pistol less accurate because the barrel can wiggle away from the axis of aim. Scott

[CZooter42]

The bigger hole would be to accomodate the silencer, and you'd need a (I forget what these are called) little thread covering thingy to fill the space w/out the silencer in place.

[armoredman]

Suppressors, (not silencers, that's a Hollywoodism), are a controlled item. Specialty manufacturers are available, threaded barrels are available, but the primaryuse for asuppressed firearm is comfort during shooting, such as in Europe. Hollywood has managed to demonize the suppressor into an assassins' tool or psycho's plaything.
Texdoug, I believe a suppressor manufacturer is a Class 7 NFA. Class three NFA refers to full auto/Destructive Devices, and the Gun Control Act of 1968 modified the origial National Firearms Act of 1934 to add Destructive Devices and suppressors - prior to that you could order surplus mortars and bombs through the mail.  
  Because the manufacture and use of suppressors is controlled through NFA/GCA, I suggest you contact a lawful manufacturer of such items, before ATFE decides your conduct is conspiracy to violate. Yes, they CAN be that way. If you do find a lawful manufacturer, and get one legally mounted, please, show pics!