Why are Sound suppressors so Expensive?

[carnaby]

What gives? The $200 tax is bad enough, but why $800 for a threaded tube? Shouldn't the suppressor cost less than the gun?

Would the price go down if the $200 tax and paperwork was gone, given that demand would go up?

 

[Geronimo45]

Maybe. Some of those suppressors are for full-auto weapons - some of the really pricey 5.56 NATO cans.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Close tolerances are needed to prevent baffle strikes. The device has to be resistant to extreme heat and pressure. And...the regulations add overhead and make it a boutique item instead of a mass-produced commodity.

 

[Badbunny]

As an example, in Finland they are not regulated in any way and cost around 200$.
They used to be illegal while hunting to prevent poaching. Then someone had a bright moment and figured that if you're going to hunt illegally, you might as well mount an illegal suppressor on your rifle anyway.

 

[Kenneth Lew]

Remember there is also a:

$200 tax on the registration of the suppressor, plus the usual overhead, blah, blah, blah.

Plus profit.

 

[taliv]

there's only two basic reasons, and they're the same reasons i can get an 80 gb hard drive for $40, but a simple hunk of iron BUIS costs twice as much.

1. volume
2. because they know you will pay it

 

[Baba Louie]

For the same reason full auto firearms are so expensive. NFA 34. Government regulated marketing.

 

[ScottsGT]

For the same reason full auto firearms are so expensive. NFA 34. Government regulated marketing.

Wrong....on one part, You can no longer manufacture full auto's for the little guys like us. You can still make silencers. With the machine guns, it is a supply and demand thing. There is no more being supplied, but demand is rising.
The $200 tax is not included with the purchase price of $800. I have to agree though, why does it cost so much with todays CNC machining processes? Your not hand fitting any working parts, the computer does all the hard work, and your not buying an expensive CNC machine to just make silencers (at least you shouldn't be!) Any machine shop could probably make the parts for someone, but to assemble the parts and to market them I'm sure the expensive license part come into play. Maybe even to keep the machine shop in compliance, contract out just one type of part to one shop, another part to a different shop. If they were $200, and the stamp was $200, I'd jump on one quick. But $1000+, forget about it. I'll wear ear plugs and let the neighbors complain

 

[carnaby]

Right. If they were $200 with no stupid $200 "tax", I'd have a couple. :banghead:

 

[BlackManWithAGun]

saving money

I have a new protege, that I am sure can provide you a "can" at a great price. He just hung his shingle and is the best unknown talent I know. check out Special Projects Unlimited at www.spuweapons.com and tell him I sent you. He is out of VA but can ship anywhere to your approved FFL person.

Kenn

 

[Telperion]

ScottsGT, due to a provision of the 1986 FOPA, "silencer" was redefined to include all silencer parts. The internal parts can only be made by someone with a manufacturer's license. This is also why you can't buy replacement baffles and have to send the whole thing back to the factory for repair.

 

[ScottsGT]

ScottsGT, due to a provision of the 1986 FOPA, "silencer" was redefined to include all silencer parts. The internal parts can only be made by someone with a manufacturer's license. This is also why you can't buy replacement baffles and have to send the whole thing back to the factory for repair

Well, that 'splains a lot! So I guess a silencer mfgr would have to make other items to keep his CNC equipment payments up. So much for outsourcing!