Are suppressors over priced?

Shadowrider · May 13, 2016

Okie1907 said:
I think if the government got out of the way there would be a huge explosion in sales but after a while people would figure out they can make their own for pretty cheap. It may not last as long but if you managed to make one for less than a 100 bucks it still would be cheaper than buying a manufactured one.

The explosion in sales was my main point, there just isn't a market to speak of and you are correct, that would change.

As for building your own it isn't really easy at all if you want efficient sound suppression AND accuracy AND reliability all at the same time. Some folks are fine with a threaded adapter and just screwing an oil filter on, but most of us aren't.

Okie1907 · May 13, 2016

Shadowrider said:
The explosion in sales was my main point, there just isn't a market to speak of and you are correct, that would change.

As for building your own it isn't really easy at all if you want efficient sound suppression AND accuracy AND reliability all at the same time. Some folks are fine with a threaded adapter and just screwing an oil filter on, but most of us aren't.

I'm mainly talking handguns. Rifles would be tough. I have a buddy who has several form ones and bought nearly everything to make them at a homedepot. He estimates he will be able to get around 4000 rounds before they are worthless. He has money to burn though so it doesn't really matter to him that they won't last forever. Several manufactured ones that will last forever also. He's made one in 22, 9, and 45. They are pretty accurate as well. He is a tinkerer so it was more of the process and seeing if he could.

120 Acres · May 13, 2016

Okie1907 said:
I'm mainly talking handguns. Rifles would be tough. I have a buddy who has several form ones and bought nearly everything to make them at a homedepot. He estimates he will be able to get around 4000 rounds before they are worthless. He has money to burn though so it doesn't really matter to him that they won't last forever. Several manufactured ones that will last forever also. He's made one in 22, 9, and 45. They are pretty accurate as well. He is a tinkerer so it was more of the process and seeing if he could.

A tinkerer with money to burn.

Good guy to be friends with...

jc5420 · May 13, 2016

I don't see tham as being expensive at all. I have 3 cans, one custom made competition can, one SAS Arbiter for ultra decibel reduction, and one for my .22lr because my daughter doesn't like loud noises. All together these cans ran me $1300... I could drink beer, smoke cigarettes, and gamble, but I choose not to so I can buy nice things. I do buy nice beer to enjoy during the summer though so that hurts my funds a bit. Some guys like to buy the ultra expensive silencers at $1200 or more, but there are others that work perfectly well for less than half the price.

POKE1911 · May 17, 2016

Its all about the ROI. At what point does it become "worth it" to invest in research and development, get patents, develop manufacturing processes, invest in equipment, purchase raw goods, market the product, sell to the dealer, pay the mortgage and light bill, pay for all of the fixed overhead. Sure you can use economy of scale and find ways to make a good product cheaper but why? Decreasing your net profit margin only makes sense if you are increasing your net profit dollars. To that end you have to look at the customer. They are selling at that price so why would you move the price down? If someone is unwilling to pay $1000 for a suppressor then they will probably be unwilling to pay $800. That is a 20% reduction in net revenue, probably with a very small increase in market share. Sure there are manufacturers like Thompson that come in with a great product at half the price and sell a lot of product. They found a niche of people willing to spend less but do not necessarily care about the brand, high-end performance etc. That's the other twist to the gun world, many people are brand loyal and/or brand snobs. A perfect example of this is the stripped lower world (and I am as guilty as anyone) paying 2x-5x the price of one forged lower just because it has a cooler roll mark or the brand is associated with excellence. People will be willing to spend the extra money to be associated with the brand. So why cut your profits without increasing sales? Also, if you cut your price to match the low price competitors , then you are saying that you are equal and you lose some of that brand prestige (making us snobs and brand whores lose interest). Its a sad truth but its a reality.

Fredkrueger100 · Jun 13, 2016

If they weren't so darn expensive I would have bought one long ago. I have been looking at getting the griffin armament Optimus one though. Multiple calibers out of the same can. But it is over a grand too. But at least with it you can have one for many different firearms.

Are suppressors over priced?

Shadowrider

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Okie1907

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120 Acres

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jc5420

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POKE1911

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