As a mechanical designer and mold maker, I cannot believe the cost of silencers are so expensive. If an oil filter cost $12 why can’t someone redesign an oil filter to be more towards a rifle application? The cheap suppressors seem to be simple baffles of 7075 aluminum aka a muzzle break with a cover. An oil filter is a muzzle break with filter media and a cover. Why can’t someone design some consumable components and keep the suppressor working as intended? Why can’t we have a removable housing to replace the consumable items?
I have been to the company that 3d prints suppressors for the major suppressor companies. These silencer companies are not manufacturing companies. The 3d printed designed parts will cost more because of time and handling. Let’s not discuss 3d printed designs due the this.
One of the big issues there is that the law is written such that even just a part of a suppressor is considered a suppressor. Therefore, if you have a suppressor with replaceable parts, every time you want to buy even the most simple, smallest replaceable part you’re going to have to go through the entire ATF program again, pay a new $200, Etc, wait time…
I really think the cost is being controlled by Silencer Shop and Silencer Central being the only realistic gateways to purchase.
I’ve gotta think a basic suppressor could be made for under $150. In other countries, they cost about that. Granted, we have the $200 tax stamp but it shouldn’t cost $1000
What I am getting at is “why are companies making $12 oil filter style suppressors”? Oil filter suppressors work WELL for what they are. $150 is still to high from what I am getting at.
And a lot of those companies are getting in the trouble from that. There’s been several cases brought out in the past year or so. Check out the Washington gun law Channel on YouTube and he’s got several of them posted.
In terms of selling a $150 piece of equipment for $1,000, yeah. Understand what you’re saying with that.
It’s very similar in the medical field. Take a $3 piece of square steel and slap the phrase medical grade on it and suddenly it’s worth $1,000. Same thing happens when you call something “Tactical”, furthermore add typical capitalism to it. Right now people are buying the things faster than the companies can make them even at a $1,000.
I think you are on to the answer. Why? Because people are buying them like hotcakes at that price.
I live in CA so supressors are a hard no, so not from direct experience, but I think companies like Silencer Central also help the consumer navigate the process and deal with ATF.
I’ve got no problem with the free market, but when a price is artificially inflated, it is also an opportunity for someone else to come in at a lower price and grab the business. It would help if we could change the stupid law and decategorize supressors as NFA items.
Here in New Zealand we don’t have any extra tax on suppressors like you guys do, we also don’t have a wait time or a form that needs to be filled out and processed, as long as you have a firearms license then you can go into a store that sells them and buy one no questions asked. Most of our suppressors cost between $450NZD to $650NZD ($268-$387USD), not really sure how they are charging so much more for a suppressor in the US than we pay down here.
Part of the answer is that because of the tax stamp and wait time (until recently anyway) people would go for premium products and companies with a track record of supporting their products. No-one wants to wait a year for something and then be stuck with a paperweight if some baffles need fixing.
I would also add that back in the earlier days of at least my suppressor adventures, owning a suppressor meant that one was part of a somewhat Elite club. And as with most elite clubs, people pay dearly to be in them.
When I purchased my first suppressor I think there was like two or three companies you could buy one from. Look how much that’s exploded now.
Still not a cheap as they should be, but I use Capitol Armory out of Cedar Park, TX. They run about $100 cheaper than the big boys. They are local to me but are set up just like Silencer Central for purchasing, applying, and receiving your can.
weird how not upset I was to spend $1000 on a supressor plus tax stamp. Did the ez pay plan and that made it more palatable since I paid a couple hundred a month and was paid for by the time it arrived. And not only was I happy to pay the $1K - so much so I did it 3 more times. I guess I don’t really feel ripped off - especially when I am shooting 300 BO subs from bolt rifles. I just giggle Have spent money on things not as fun such as repairing a 6 yr old heat pump not under warranty.
We can all do better but liability is a issue and the line of bottom feeders lined up to meet you when something goes wrong to no fault to you of course