These are called compensators, is that a code for suppressor? I am in Illinois and trying to decide if it is legal. Help please — 1 Answer

They are not the same legally & don't do the same function. Compensators typically direct gases upeard to combat muzzle rise but the KAW Valley linear compensators direct gases down range so the perception can be less noise to you & bystanders, but it's not suppressed. That said, Illinois is tricky. You don't say if you're planning to use on a pistol or rifle. If you need to screw on the compensator then you need a threaded barrel, which for a pistol automatically makes it an assault weapon in Illinois. Illinois allows compensators on rifles, unlike suppressors, but its tricky & really beyond what can be covered here. Illinois doesn't ban compensators for rifles like it does suppressors but the rules are so complicated you'd have to assess how your rifle is defined now & how it would be defined with a compensator. The addition of a compensator alone...if that was the only modification..would not kick a rifle into assault weapon category...but...if the compensator has or advertises as having any flash hiding capabilities then it would, as flash hiders on detachable magazine rifles triggers the assault weapon classification. If your rifle is already registered as an assault weapon, you should be able to screw on a pure compensator (not flash hider too) no problem. If it's not classified as an assault weapon, adding a pure compensator won't make it one. Now, I'm not a lawyer & I checked some of this info with AI, so this isnt legal advice & you should check with people who know the law better than I (i had done some research because I might be moving to Illinois & i have a folding FPC & an M&P-15 that i apparently can't bring & a S&W Equalizer i can bring & a S&W M&P9 2.0 that i have to downsize mags to 15 rounds).