I think most suppressors will be at or under 300$ in 6 months
Most is a stretch especially in such a short time span, some is probably more accurate depending on what happens at SHOT.
not sure how much scale can lower the cost there
While Printing allows the manufacture of the best performing cans, it is also an inherently slower process than subtractive manufacturing or stamping and welding. Printed cans will always remain more expensive at their cheapest compared to theoretical stamped and welded cans.
It is also my understanding that Most 3dp metal cans are actually made on rented out machines too?
I don't know about rented out but a LOT of suppressors are contracted out to companies like Radical Defense and B&T and professional print shops most people have never heard of that deal with a lot of high end industries like Aerospace. I read once that the reason why this is, is because 1. Even cheap printers are still expensive 2. Nobody wants to spend $1.5M+ on a small Printer that can makes a few dozen cans a week, when next year one will come out for $1.25M that does the same thing. Then there's the whole dollar per unit of print time. The Aerospace places print suppressors to eat up excess capacity/because the companies contracting them make it worth their while on a per unit basis (why make suppressors when you could make Aerospace parts?)
With $0 tax stamps driving demand this might all change though. I mostly laid this all out back in I want to say November but here's the logic. $0 Tax stamps come into play -> Demand surges for suppressors due to each one of them getting a $200 discount -> E-forms makes the process easy, people aren't intimidated -> Sales surge, profits increase, companies recognize market demand, scale manufacturing -> Due to high demand it makes sense to offer cheaper suppressors, but printing is slow and will always be more expensive, the answer potentially lays in Stamping -> Manufacturers start acquiring small stamping setups for baffles and start offering more lower performing but cheaper tubeless designs, or welded baffle designs with additional outer sleeves
Historical Maxim silencers would be extremely cheap today, back in the day they cost the modern equivalent of less than $200 and would be cheaper now with increased manufacturing efficiency in addition to having economies of scale on their side as they were niche products back in the day due to most guns not being set up for them. This isn't even getting into new companies entering the space and increasing competition, such as Ambient Arms on which has an interesting if unproven product. We very well could see a price war and race to the bottom. There's no reason a .22 Suppressor should have to cost $400 ($600 with a tax stamp). You should be able to buy a stamped baffle stainless steel model for $99.99. But Compliance costs, Low production volumes and the previous obscurity of NFA items pervents that, production volumes can be fixed, Silencer culture will explode now that Companies (and the Advocacy groups they pay to represent their interests) will have w much easier time of making sales and Compliance costs are easied by digitalization.
