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Suppressor cost?

I am happy to see that the govt has one less tax that they can collect! It also pleases me that the NFA may very well be brought to an end through a lawsuit. Maybe? I've always said if the tax stamp weren't there I would consider buying one, but the registration aspect is still in place, but I have been looking.
So I would like someone to explain to me why suppressors carry the cost that they do? It appears to me nothing more than a hollow tube with baffles, in the simplest of terms. It doesn't appear that there is a ton of complicated machine work that goes into them, threading for the barrel or QD attachment at the muzzle, threaded tube / end cap, center line with the axis. Which I realize if any of these components are off it will screw the entire apparatus. Materials are another concern, I realize there are all sorts of materials and the associated cost commensurate with the end price. It amazes me that they cost as much as they do! As far as comparing them to the complexity of machining a firearm they are relatively simple.
Is it a supply and demand consequence ? A result of the difficulty of obtaining for all these years? Is there an anticipated lowering of the price with the deregulation? Demand from being the cool kid on the block artificially inflate the cost?
What are your thoughts on this ? Don't be to harsh on me , I have never had an interest in a suppressor until Trumps BBB passed the other day. Deer don't shoot back.
 
In a word, overhead. Price out a single CNC lathe, a single cnc laser welding machine, a single employee, a single facility…. Then realize you need at least half a dozen of each of those, except the facility.

Then…. You need about a million dollars in giveaways and promotion to break into a very competitive market.
 
Considering the price of a "solvent trap", officially named "suppressors" are priced 3 to 4 times what they should be. I think the ATF shutdown solvent traps in some fashion though.

To be fair, most of those "solvent traps" are fine for .22LR but will come apart pretty quick with a few rounds of a 6.5PRC or 300WM.

As Clancy pointed out overhead is one aspect, but there is quite a bit of R&D that goes into getting your baffle designs down to maximize your suppression without having a can that is going to come apart with repeated use. And a lot of the higher priced ones are using pretty expensive metals to be able to shave as much weight from them as they can.
 
To be fair, most of those "solvent traps" are fine for .22LR but will come apart pretty quick with a few rounds of a 6.5PRC or 300WM.

As Clancy pointed out overhead is one aspect, but there is quite a bit of R&D that goes into getting your baffle designs down to maximize your suppression without having a can that is going to come apart with repeated use. And a lot of the higher priced ones are using pretty expensive metals to be able to shave as much weight from them as they can.

One of my favorite suppressors required 37 prototypes to get it right. It’s very very close to the quietest ever tested by PEW, and I’ve shot a pile of .1 groups with it.

So while I don’t know what the manufacturing cost is and can only imagine the man hours in designing and testing, I’d assume you’re correct about the R&D.
 
One thing to keep in mind. The US market for suppressors treats them as a lifetime investment since they are so troublesome to acquire. The materials that are used are often more precious and many times more durable. Europeans enjoy the lower cost of their "cans" because they are somewhat considered consumable and can be made of much lower quality materials. If and when they wear out they just buy a new one.
Dan
 
Id say a lot has to do with mfg process, tooling, equipment, labor etc.
When inside TBAC looking at the machines there's sevearl millions tied up in them.
 
To be fair, most of those "solvent traps" are fine for .22LR but will come apart pretty quick with a few rounds of a 6.5PRC or 300WM.

As Clancy pointed out overhead is one aspect, but there is quite a bit of R&D that goes into getting your baffle designs down to maximize your suppression without having a can that is going to come apart with repeated use. And a lot of the higher priced ones are using pretty expensive metals to be able to shave as much weight from them as they can.

Perhaps. But I'd be interested in knowing what the average markup is. For firearms manufacturers to be getting in on the act, there must be a pretty significant profit margin at the current price points.
 
The milling on a scope tube is much more complex and needs to be more precise, yet you can buy scopes for under $100. Scopes are not regulated and they sell like hotcakes so they make money on volume. When all regs are done away with on suppressors they still will never be as cheap but way closer. When you can buy a suppressor over the counter with no form to fill out and all handguns and rifles come threaded muzzles. Then they will get cheap, the gun makers themselves will start making them and they won't be made in small shops where they will not ever sell in volume. For this to happen anytime soon a whole lot of planets will have to align, like a well placed senator or some one who donates to a well placed senator wanting to own a suppressor shop.
 
I am happy to see that the govt has one less tax that they can collect! It also pleases me that the NFA may very well be brought to an end through a lawsuit. Maybe? I've always said if the tax stamp weren't there I would consider buying one, but the registration aspect is still in place, but I have been looking.
So I would like someone to explain to me why suppressors carry the cost that they do? It appears to me nothing more than a hollow tube with baffles, in the simplest of terms. It doesn't appear that there is a ton of complicated machine work that goes into them, threading for the barrel or QD attachment at the muzzle, threaded tube / end cap, center line with the axis. Which I realize if any of these components are off it will screw the entire apparatus. Materials are another concern, I realize there are all sorts of materials and the associated cost commensurate with the end price. It amazes me that they cost as much as they do! As far as comparing them to the complexity of machining a firearm they are relatively simple.
Is it a supply and demand consequence ? A result of the difficulty of obtaining for all these years? Is there an anticipated lowering of the price with the deregulation? Demand from being the cool kid on the block artificially inflate the cost?
What are your thoughts on this ? Don't be to harsh on me , I have never had an interest in a suppressor until Trumps BBB passed the other day. Deer don't shoot back.
The ATF has a Form 1, which allows you to build your own silencer. If you're handy and want to save some money.
 
Suppressors weren't so popular over here 30+years ago.and there wasn't so many to choose from.Reflex were the main ones available.when the suppressor bug bit different designs and manufacturers got on the band wagon.i was threading lots of barrels for them and still am.not as many as back then though.i made a few stainless ones for myself and friends.but didn't go into it on a production basis.there are lots to choose from over here nowadays.the world of cnc makes life easier.Suppressors we're classed as a firearm until recently.the government has lifted that order now(about time they did something useful)and it makes life easier to obtain and exchange them.
 
The Silencer Central Banish 9K is a 3-D printed Titanium can is very small and weighs in at an astonishing 2.7 ounces. Virtually impossible to detect much difference when mounted on a host. Very quiet and certainly not cheap to buy the tech to make them.
As for the cost to make them and the profit margin on sales, we already know comparable margins from the Auto industries.
Even with deep “discounts”, end of model years “sales”, etc, there is still profit to be made.
I will say that with more companies entering the market to capitalize on the very likely increasing demand, that competition will benefit consumers. I also think, as mentioned above, firearms mfg’s may indeed cut out the aftermarket segment and offer their guns with an in-house made suppressor in a package deal.
 

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