Frequently asked questions
Firearm Suppressors
This information page is constantly being updated to assist our customers
What is the legal status of a suppressor in NSW?
A firearm suppressor in NSW is considered a prohibited weapon under the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998.IN legal terms it is referred to as a Silencer.
What is the legal status of a firearm fitted with a suppressor in NSW?
A firearm fitted with a suppressor in NSW is considered a prohibited firearm under the Firearms Act 1996.
Is it legal to own a suppressor in NSW?
Yes. Section 11(2)(b) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 provides the ability for an applicant to obtain a permit where he/she can provide a genuine reason outlining why they require a firearm suppressor for the following prescribed activities:
- Recreational/Sporting purposes (e.g. Rec hunting or target shooting)
- Historical re-enactment purposes
- Business/Employment purposes (e.g. Primary Production, Professional contract shooter)
- Film/TV/Theatrical purposes
- Weapons Collection
- Public Museum
- Heirloom
- Animal Management (e.g. Veterinarian)
- Scientific purposes
Can a person without a permit own and use a firearm suppressor?
NO. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd cannot and will not sell or engage in the sale of a suppressor without firstly confirming the potential customer holds a current permit to own and use a firearm suppressor.
Is the NSW Firearm Registry currently approving permits for professional shooters in the public and private sectors?
Where the applicant can provide a genuine reason outlining why they require a prohibited weapons and prohibited firearms permit the NSW Firearms Registry has been approving permits.
Is the NSW Firearm Registry currently approving permits for primary producers?
Where a primary producer is able to demonstrate a genuine reason outlining why they require a prohibited weapons and prohibited firearms permit the NSW Firearms Registry has been approving permits
Is the NSW Firearms Registry currently approving permits for recreational hunters?
At this time the NSW Firearm Registry is sadly maintaining a position that recreational hunter applications will not be processed. The feedback from the NSW Firearm Registry is that where an applicant has failed to demonstrate a genuine reason they will reject the application, where an applicant has demonstrated a genuine reason they are at this time not further progressing the application.
What is the position of Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd for firearm suppressors?
The business motivations for Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd have been clearly communicated to NSW Police as being:
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd is not a legislator and is in no position to instruct the NSW Firearm Registry. We are required to work with the NSW Firearms Registry and are continually attempting on behalf of our customers to encourage that an objective assessment is made of all applicants, including recreational hunters. Our Company is also working with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to assist their efforts in ensuring recreational hunter applications are considered in the same manner as other applicants who have been able to obtain their permits.
Shawmac Indsutries Australia Pty Ltd maintains respect for the current legal status of firearm suppressors, Recognising that the current laws enable recreational hunters who can demonstrate a genuine reason should be able to obtain a permit to own and use a firearm suppressor.
I am a recreational hunter, should I submit an application or is it a waste of my time and money at the moment?
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd sells an application package and support to assist customers compile their application to the NSW Firearm Registry. As such our Company recognises it has a potential conflicting interest in answering this question.
The above said the current legislation does enable recreational hunters who can demonstrate a genuine reason that they require to own and use a firearm suppressor to obtain the relevant permits. There is a lot of work currently happening behind the scenes, all aimed at ensuring applications from recreational hunters are assessed objectively in line with the current legislation.
Recreational hunter applicants are permitted under the current legislation to own and use a firearm suppressor. Submitting your application now may avoid ongoing delay once the current position of the NSW Firearm Registry is resolved.
If you are a recreational hunter and feel you are being unfairly treated with your application you reserve the right to speak with your local member or contact supporting organisations such as the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party or similar organisations.
Does a firearm suppressor remove all the gun shot noise?
NO. It is impossible to remove all noise associated with a discharged firearm.
There are two causes for the noise emissions of a discharged firearm, these are 1. The muzzle blast and 2. The sonic noise of the projectile once it breaks the sound barrier.
A quality suppressor can assist in greatly reducing the muzzle blast of a discharged firearm but it will not have any effect on the noise created by the bullet breaking the sound barrier.
How quiet can a suppressor make a firearm shooting normal ammunition?
A suppressed firearm shooting normal ammunition is comparable to the noise emitted by an idling chainsaw which is around 125db
How quiet can a suppressor make a firearm shooting sub-sonic ammunition?
A suppressed firearm shooting sub-sonic ammunition is comparable to a noisy residential air conditioner unit which is around 95-110db. Note: For humane purposes Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd does not promote the use of sub-sonic ammunition for pest control as the low speed of the projectile prevents it from performing thus reduces the ability to ensure control practices are humane.
What are the designs of suppressors made by Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd?
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd produce suppressors which have been designed by a team of engineers and professional shooters with more than 100 years combined experience.
Our suppressors are designed to be functional, high performing and practical to Farmers, Professional and Recreational Shooters, they are not designed or marketed to be concealable or tactically orientated.
We will not produce or market our suppressors in a manner which can be portrayed as a product that can be perceived as a public risk. Our suppressors and marketing is designed to address the adverse risks of using a firearm without a suppressor.
DISCLAIMER
All information is provided by Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd in good faith only. The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd does not accept any liability for the information provided . It is an end users responsibility to ensure their actions are legitimate.
What is the legal status of a suppressor in NSW?
A firearm suppressor in NSW is considered a prohibited weapon under the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998.IN legal terms it is referred to as a Silencer.
What is the legal status of a firearm fitted with a suppressor in NSW?
A firearm fitted with a suppressor in NSW is considered a prohibited firearm under the Firearms Act 1996.
Is it legal to own a suppressor in NSW?
Yes. Section 11(2)(b) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 provides the ability for an applicant to obtain a permit where he/she can provide a genuine reason outlining why they require a firearm suppressor for the following prescribed activities:
- Recreational/Sporting purposes (e.g. Rec hunting or target shooting)
- Historical re-enactment purposes
- Business/Employment purposes (e.g. Primary Production, Professional contract shooter)
- Film/TV/Theatrical purposes
- Weapons Collection
- Public Museum
- Heirloom
- Animal Management (e.g. Veterinarian)
- Scientific purposes
Can a person without a permit own and use a firearm suppressor?
NO. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd cannot and will not sell or engage in the sale of a suppressor without firstly confirming the potential customer holds a current permit to own and use a firearm suppressor.
Is the NSW Firearm Registry currently approving permits for professional shooters in the public and private sectors?
Where the applicant can provide a genuine reason outlining why they require a prohibited weapons and prohibited firearms permit the NSW Firearms Registry has been approving permits.
Is the NSW Firearm Registry currently approving permits for primary producers?
Where a primary producer is able to demonstrate a genuine reason outlining why they require a prohibited weapons and prohibited firearms permit the NSW Firearms Registry has been approving permits
Is the NSW Firearms Registry currently approving permits for recreational hunters?
At this time the NSW Firearm Registry is sadly maintaining a position that recreational hunter applications will not be processed. The feedback from the NSW Firearm Registry is that where an applicant has failed to demonstrate a genuine reason they will reject the application, where an applicant has demonstrated a genuine reason they are at this time not further progressing the application.
What is the position of Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd for firearm suppressors?
The business motivations for Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd have been clearly communicated to NSW Police as being:
- Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd is a small family owned Australian Company.
- The founders of Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd have a public and private sector career background in vertebrate pest animal management which has seen and relied upon the improved outcomes from using a firearm suppressor. These include:
- The Companies Managing Director suffered irreparable hearing loss from exposure to firearm discharge, this occurred whilst using hearing protection. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd recognises the significant benefits of a suppressor and is passionate about how they can contribute to mitigating the industries Work, Health and Safety impacts to hearing loss, situational awareness, pressure exposure, eye injuries and other associated problems. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd does not believe any firearm user should be exposed to the risk of personal injury when this can be mitigated through engineering controls such as fitting a Suppressor to a firearm.
- Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd recognises that invasive species management is moving away from the use of pesticides and less target specific control methods and that shooting is quickly becoming considered a primary control method as it is humane and target specific. Shooting invasive species can be labor expensive and ineffective because of the noise of a firearm which often causes dispersal . Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd has seen first hand and promotes the use of suppressors to significantly improve shooting as an effective primary control method in the ongoing effort to mitigate a growing invasive species problem in NSW.
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd is not a legislator and is in no position to instruct the NSW Firearm Registry. We are required to work with the NSW Firearms Registry and are continually attempting on behalf of our customers to encourage that an objective assessment is made of all applicants, including recreational hunters. Our Company is also working with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party to assist their efforts in ensuring recreational hunter applications are considered in the same manner as other applicants who have been able to obtain their permits.
Shawmac Indsutries Australia Pty Ltd maintains respect for the current legal status of firearm suppressors, Recognising that the current laws enable recreational hunters who can demonstrate a genuine reason should be able to obtain a permit to own and use a firearm suppressor.
I am a recreational hunter, should I submit an application or is it a waste of my time and money at the moment?
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd sells an application package and support to assist customers compile their application to the NSW Firearm Registry. As such our Company recognises it has a potential conflicting interest in answering this question.
The above said the current legislation does enable recreational hunters who can demonstrate a genuine reason that they require to own and use a firearm suppressor to obtain the relevant permits. There is a lot of work currently happening behind the scenes, all aimed at ensuring applications from recreational hunters are assessed objectively in line with the current legislation.
Recreational hunter applicants are permitted under the current legislation to own and use a firearm suppressor. Submitting your application now may avoid ongoing delay once the current position of the NSW Firearm Registry is resolved.
If you are a recreational hunter and feel you are being unfairly treated with your application you reserve the right to speak with your local member or contact supporting organisations such as the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party or similar organisations.
Does a firearm suppressor remove all the gun shot noise?
NO. It is impossible to remove all noise associated with a discharged firearm.
There are two causes for the noise emissions of a discharged firearm, these are 1. The muzzle blast and 2. The sonic noise of the projectile once it breaks the sound barrier.
A quality suppressor can assist in greatly reducing the muzzle blast of a discharged firearm but it will not have any effect on the noise created by the bullet breaking the sound barrier.
How quiet can a suppressor make a firearm shooting normal ammunition?
A suppressed firearm shooting normal ammunition is comparable to the noise emitted by an idling chainsaw which is around 125db
How quiet can a suppressor make a firearm shooting sub-sonic ammunition?
A suppressed firearm shooting sub-sonic ammunition is comparable to a noisy residential air conditioner unit which is around 95-110db. Note: For humane purposes Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd does not promote the use of sub-sonic ammunition for pest control as the low speed of the projectile prevents it from performing thus reduces the ability to ensure control practices are humane.
What are the designs of suppressors made by Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd?
Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd produce suppressors which have been designed by a team of engineers and professional shooters with more than 100 years combined experience.
Our suppressors are designed to be functional, high performing and practical to Farmers, Professional and Recreational Shooters, they are not designed or marketed to be concealable or tactically orientated.
We will not produce or market our suppressors in a manner which can be portrayed as a product that can be perceived as a public risk. Our suppressors and marketing is designed to address the adverse risks of using a firearm without a suppressor.
DISCLAIMER
All information is provided by Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd in good faith only. The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Shawmac Industries Australia Pty Ltd does not accept any liability for the information provided . It is an end users responsibility to ensure their actions are legitimate.
