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Message: <blockquote data-quote="luvcatchingbass" data-source="post: 495186" data-attributes="member: 1979">Sorry this us long, I got 1 main question and 1 revision.Take it step further and consider equipment maintenance, fluctuations in material cost ad availability, etc etc. Took me about 3min to get thisHow much should a titanium over the barrel suppressor that is 8in long (4in in front of barrel and 4in over the barrel) be. 30 caliber, weight 12oz or less, safe for large magnum rifles, 3D printed titanium, 133 db at the shooters earIf you're asking what a suppressor with those specifications should retail for, I'd put it roughly in the $900–$1,200 range, assuming the claims are backed by credible testing and the manufacturer has a solid warranty.Your proposed specs are quite aggressive:<table style='width: 100%'><tr><th>Specification</th><th>Assessment</th></tr><tr><td>30 caliber</td><td>Standard/versatile</td></tr><tr><td>8" overall</td><td>Very compact</td></tr><tr><td>4" over-barrel</td><td>Excellent for keeping overall rifle length down</td></tr><tr><td>Titanium</td><td>Premium/lightweight</td></tr><tr><td>≤12 oz</td><td>Very lightweight</td></tr><tr><td>3D printed titanium</td><td>Modern/premium manufacturing</td></tr><tr><td>Large-magnum rated</td><td>Major value point</td></tr><tr><td>133 dB at shooter's ear</td><td>Good, but testing methodology matters</td></tr></table>For comparison, an 8" titanium .30-cal suppressor was advertised at $749 MSRP several years ago, while current lightweight hunting suppressors commonly occupy the roughly $650–$1,000+ territory.<h3>What I'd price yours at</h3>If you're developing this as a product:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">$799–$899: Very competitive / aggressive introductory price</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">$949–$1,049: Sweet spot</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">$1,099–$1,249: Premium positioning</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">$1,299+: You'll need exceptional sound numbers, warranty, durability, and/or mounting system to justify it.</li> </ul>I'd personally target $999 MSRP, with an expected street price around $899–$949.The 3D-printed titanium construction + 12 oz or less + over-barrel design gives you a legitimate premium story. Add the ability to handle cartridges such as .300 Win Mag and other large .30-cal magnums, and you're competing more with premium lightweight hunting cans rather than inexpensive conventional suppressors.One important caveat: 133 dB at the shooter's ear isn't enough by itself to establish how quiet the suppressor is. Suppressor dB numbers depend heavily on the cartridge, barrel length, ammunition, measurement position, and test protocol. I'd want standardized independent testing before using 133 dB as the primary marketing number.Also, if this is a suppressor you're considering manufacturing, I'd treat the "large magnum rated" claim very seriously. A 12-oz titanium can that is genuinely designed for repeated magnum use is a substantially more impressive product than a lightweight hunting can intended for occasional shots. There are already additively manufactured titanium suppressors on the market, including very lightweight designs.If you give me the expected retail price you're considering, I can tell you whether I think it's a $799, $999, $1,199, or $1,499 product based on those specifications.I this price taking into account a nw company and needing to buy all the equipment, compter software, research and development and the cost of prototype's that don't work. Plan to also pay 4 employees for 10hr days over  1yr periodYes. If you're talking about starting a new suppressor company from scratch, my previous $900–$1,200 estimate was too low. That was closer to the value of the finished product in an established manufacturing operation, not the price needed to recover startup/R&D costs for a new company.For the concept you're describing—3D-printed titanium, approximately 8", ≤12 oz, .30 caliber, over-the-barrel, and intended for large magnums—I would build the business model around a $1,200–$1,500 retail price, at least initially.<h3>Your first-year investment could be substantial</h3>A reasonable planning model might look something like this:<table style='width: 100%'><tr><th>First-year expense</th><th>Rough budget</th></tr><tr><td>4 employees × 10 hr/day × 5 days/week × 52 weeks</td><td>$250k–$350k+</td></tr><tr><td>Industrial titanium 3D-printing capability</td><td>$185k–$400k+</td></tr><tr><td>CNC/finishing equipment</td><td>$100k–$300k+</td></tr><tr><td>CAD/CAM/software</td><td>$20k–$60k</td></tr><tr><td>Metrology/testing equipment</td><td>$30k–$100k</td></tr><tr><td>Titanium powder/material</td><td>$20k–$50k</td></tr><tr><td>Tooling, fixtures, consumables</td><td>$30k–$75k</td></tr><tr><td>Facility, electrical, ventilation, setup</td><td>$50k–$150k</td></tr><tr><td>Prototypes/R&D/testing that don't become products</td><td>$50k–$150k+</td></tr><tr><td>Engineering, legal, insurance, compliance</td><td>$50k–$150k+</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing, packaging, website, etc.</td><td>$25k–$75k</td></tr><tr><td>Working-capital reserve</td><td>$100k+</td></tr></table>An industrial LPBF titanium printer alone can easily be a major investment; for example, one manufacturer announced a $185,000 LPBF machine in 2026. A properly equipped 5-axis machining operation can add substantially more; current estimates put new 5-axis machines roughly in the $250k–$900k range, before all the surrounding tooling and infrastructure.And because you're talking about manufacturing suppressors commercially, there are federal licensing, registration/marking and NFA requirements to account for as well. ATF currently lists a Type 07 FFL at $150 for three years, and manufacturers of NFA firearms have additional SOT requirements.<h3>The employee cost is particularly important</h3>If you pay four people $25/hour:4 × 10 hours × 5 days × 52 weeks = 10,400 labor hours/yearAt $25/hour:$260,000/year in direct wagesOnce you add payroll taxes, workers' compensation, benefits, vacation/holiday time, etc., I'd budget closer to $325,000–$375,000 for four employees.If they're skilled engineering/manufacturing people making $30–$40/hour, the number becomes considerably higher.<h3>Here's the part that changes the selling price</h3>Suppose you invest $1.5 million getting the company to the point where you have a finished, tested product.If you sell only 500 suppressors in your first year, you have effectively put:$1,500,000 ÷ 500 = $3,000 of startup cost per suppressorEven 1,000 units means:$1,500 per unitAt 2,000 units:$750 per unitThat's before normal production costs, dealer margin, warranty reserve, shipping, credit-card fees, overhead, etc.So you shouldn't try to recover the entire startup investment from the first few hundred suppressors. You need to establish a multi-year amortization model.<h3>What I'd target</h3>For the product you're describing, I'd consider something like:MSRP: $1,399–$1,499Dealer price might be around:$850–$1,000Manufacturer's actual production cost would ideally get down into the $400–$600 range once you're producing efficiently.That gives you room for:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dealer margin</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Warranty/returns</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">R&D</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Future product development</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Marketing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Employee costs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Equipment depreciation</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Compliance/testing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Company profit</li> </ul>And I'd probably introduce the first production run at something like $1,299–$1,349, rather than immediately trying to compete at $799–$999.<h3>But there's another important consideration</h3>Your 12 oz / 8" / 133 dB / magnum-rated combination is what could make this commercially interesting.If independent testing genuinely demonstrates something close to the claimed 133 dB at the shooter's ear under a clearly defined test protocol, while maintaining the ≤12 oz weight and magnum durability, then you're not really selling a commodity $700–$900 suppressor.You're selling a premium lightweight hunting suppressor.I could see a market position along the lines of:That is much more compatible with a $1,299–$1,499 MSRP.One caution: I wouldn't advertise the 133 dB figure until you've established exactly how it was measured and independently validated. Suppressor sound numbers can vary substantially with ammunition, barrel length, measurement position and testing protocol.If you're seriously considering developing this as a company, I can also build you a 5-year business model showing approximately how much startup capital you'd need, cost per suppressor, dealer vs. direct sales, break-even units, and what MSRP you'd need at 500 / 1,000 / 2,500 / 5,000 units per year. That would give you a much better idea whether $1,299, $1,399, or $1,499 is the right price point.</blockquote>

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