I've been thinking about buying a suppressor for my .22 rifle/pistol. I'm a little hesitant as I currently have more time than money. This got me thinking that maybe I should build one. What pushed me even further is that it sounds like a Form 1 only takes a month to get version a Form 4 that takes 6 months to get. If I got a gun trust today and applied for a form 1 tomorrow, I could theoretically have a suppressor in a little over a month. That would allow me to attend the 5th Annual KRRC Silencer Shoot sans the $15 fee and use the suppressor all summer long.

Now the big problem, I don't have the machinery/knowledge to build one. Are there suppressor build parties? I see the top topic in this forum about Ranb making his own suppressors. Does anybody else? How much do the raw materials cost? How long does it take to actually build a suppressor? How hard is it? I've done woodworking and a little bit of welding before but never used a lathe.

Is this something I should pursue? Or should I just buy a Spectre 22/Sparrow and be done with it?

If I'm going to spend $200 just for the stamp, then I want a quality product that will last. Also have a warranty, so I would buy one (which I am in the process of doing as we speak).

http://www.sdtacticalarms.com/
http://www.preppersdiscount.com/store/c3/Maglite_Adapters_.html
There are more than just these suppliers out there. Several huge threads on AR15.com with folks that have built these.

Beat me to it. $100 in parts, 30 mins of your time, $200 stamp.

I just have to say WTF. That's either incredibly brilliant, or the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I can't decide.

Those look pretty large and heavy compared to a traditional .22 suppressor. Also incredibly difficult to clean....

Form 4 trusts around 3-5 months right now http://www.silencershop.com/support/atf-wait-times/

For a 22 suppressor I would just buy one. They are already cheap (~300 dollars). By the time you bought material to build one (say 100 bucks) its only 200 more for a quality, proven suppressor.

If you were going for a rifle can or pistol can id say build. But for a 22 if you don't have the equipment already I would just buy one

I am waiting, the R&D has been done, the prices will only continue to fall.

Building one is a good option, but what are the laws regarding modifications to the guts after it has been built?

Or what happens if you start building one, and you split the tube down the middle and it's now trash? Or you build one, take it out, and it explodes on the first shot? At that point you didn't actually build a suppressor, you built a pile of trash. So you still haven't "used up" your form 1 yet.

I'm not a lawyer. But this makes sense to me. It's not just "build a suppressor", it's "build a working suppressor".

If you build one, and end up with baffle strikes, then you've built a failed one. So removing and destroying the baffles, and building and installing new baffles, is still just one build?

This is generally true, but what about other types of 'costs'? It sounds like BATFE soon plans to make the NFA purchase rules for trusts the same as they are for individuals (CLEO sign-off, photographs, fingerprint cards, BGCs on all trustees, etc.). So while waiting may save you money in terms of purchase price, you might incur a lot more hassle (and perhaps monetary costs) in terms of compliance by waiting.