BANISH 9K on a Fostech pistol
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Silencers 101

How Much Does a Suppressor Cost?

There seems to be two main factors in a decision to buy a suppressor. The first is deciding that you want one and why you want it. That should be pretty easy. The sound reduction dn hearing protection alone makes it a worthwhile investment, and when you add in the increases in accuracy and recoil reduction, it makes it even clearer that you want one. Then there is the cost factor. That is where we want things to be crystal clear to you. If you start with a quality suppressor, you should never need to replace it, so that makes the initial purchase easier. Want me to break down what a suppressor costs? It'd be my pleasure.

Generally speaking, here’s how much you can expect to pay for a suppressor:

  • The suppressor itself: $350 - $1,500+
    • The depends on the model and materials it is made from
    • The engineering time also factors into cost
  • A suppressor tax stamp: $200, no matter what kind of suppressor you buy
    • You need a separate tax stamp for every suppressor you own
  • An NFA gun trust: free - $500+
    • Silencer Central provides you with a free NFA trust with every suppressor purchase
  • Barrel threading: $50 - $150
  • Accessories: The sky's the limit
Baffle Removal Tool

Costs Associated with Buying a Suppressor

When it comes to purchasing your suppressor, it’s important to remember that there’s more to factor into the total cost than just the suppressor itself. You’ll also need to consider the cost of the tax stamp, gun trust, barrel threading, shipping, and accessories into your final price.

This might seem like a lot to process, but don’t let it discourage you from making your purchase. I'll walk you through everything you need to know and give you ballpark figures for everything. Plus, Silencer Central offers an eZ Pay Plan that allows you to bundle all of your costs together and pay 25% down and then the balance in installments over the following three months.

1. The Suppressor Itself

The 9K at the range
The BANISH 9K is a feat of engineering and manufacturing technology.

Generally speaking, the bigger the caliber suppressor you buy, the more it will cost. This also applies to what materials it is made from. Stainless steel and aluminum tend to be lower cost materials for construction, and this lets most manufacturers to sell them at lower price points. Titanium and Inconel are more expensive materials that are harder to work with, but they are more durable and weigh less, too. Materials like Inconel are harder to work with, but the end result is extremely durable, making it worth the time and energy that goes into making the suppressor, like the BANISH®Speed K.

There is also the matter of engineering that affects cost. I know the BANISH engineers work many hours to design every part of every BANISH® suppressor. Countless hours over months and years go into each design and then the development work continues to improve. A suppressor like the BANISH 9K or the MeatEater by BANISH have many days spent designing and testing to make a product that is unlike anything else on the market.

2. Suppressor Tax Stamp

Tax stamps cost $200 each, no matter what kind of suppressor you buy or how much it costs. The price of the stamp was set by the Federal government under the National Firearms Act of 1934 and it hasn’t changed since it was introduced back when Franklin D. Roosevelt was President. You have to have one for each suppressor you own.

3. NFA Gun Trust

Because legal documents can be complicated, some places charge up to $500 depending on the kind of trust you set up. At Silencer Central, we don’t want things to be any more complicated or costly than they already can be. That’s why we provide you with a free NFA Gun Trust with any suppressor you buy from us. We’ve done more than 15,000 of them!

4. Barrel Threading

barrel threading

Unless you buy a firearm that already has a threaded barrel, you’re going to need to have this done on your chosen gun before you can attach your suppressor. Generally speaking, gunsmiths charge anywhere from $50 to $100 to perform this service. Of course, the cost - and quality - can vary from place to place.

That’s why Silencer Central offers barrel threading as one of our many services. We use a single point threading on a HAAS II commercial lathe (CNC), concentric to the bore.

The 360 Mailing Program is our easiest and most popular option for sending us your barrel(s). 360 mailing makes it simple to get your barrels threaded and shipped back to you. We ship a 4″x 8″x 48″ box and soft case(s) for your barrels along with a prepaid return shipping label directly to your front door. One box can hold up to two barrels.

The mailing program costs $39.99 and barrel threading starts at just $99.99, and each one comes with a free thread protector (a $20 value).

5. Shipping

Generally speaking, most companies will ship your suppressor to the approved local dealer of your choice free of charge. Of course, not everyone lives close to their dealer. For some, heading into town just to pick up their suppressor could be a several-hour journey roundtrip. To save you the time and hassle of having to do that, we can mail your suppressor directly to your door in any of the 42 states where it’s legal to own a suppressor. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

6. Accessories

The only thing gun owners like more than their guns are their accessories! While optional, there are a few that we’d recommend to any suppressor owner. The first are the proper tools to service your suppressor. These are necessary for the long life and proper performance of your can.

The next accessory we’d recommend is a suppressor pouch for transport, storage, or both. It’ll help keep your suppressor safe and secure, just like a gun case or sleeve. Pouches range anywhere from $20 to $50, depending on the size, material, etc.

The final accessory is one you might not think of - a suppressor cover. This is different from a pouch, which is designed for off-the-range use. A cover is designed for on-the-range use. Because your suppressor is coming into contact with all the hot gases that come out of the barrel, it’s going to heat up with use. The heat coming off of it can cause a mirage right in your line of sight, preventing you from getting a good sight picture. The cover mitigates the heat and prevents you from seeing the mirage. Plus, it allows you to both install and remove your suppressor even when it’s hot, preventing you from getting burned. Our covers cost $45 each and are available in different lengths and colors.

It’s Worth the Investment

FN Catch 22 Ti FDE

Yes, the costs add up - but they’re “one-and-done” costs for almost every suppressor owner. You’ve probably heard the phrase “buy once, cry once.” If you buy quality products, you won’t need to replace them. The amount of enjoyment you’ll get out of shooting with your new suppressor will almost surely outweigh any of the costs associated with owning it.

The main reason why I wanted to get this Shoot On Mute blog post up was to give you all the tools to consider before you make your purchase. If you're like me at all, you really sweat the details about big purchases. I do it for two reasons. One, I want to make sure I am getting the best product for my money and to ensure that that product fits my needs and budget. Secondly, and I admit this freely, I don't hide anything from my wife. We share expenses and the budget, so when I am making a purchase, I let her know everything before I do to make sure we are on the same page and that doing so won't screw up the finances. It doesn't matter if you're single, married, etc - you should always see the full picture before making a big purchase. And yes, I understand that there are those that wouldn't see dropping over $1,000 on a suppressor as a big purchase. I love that. It's part of the American Dream to be that successful. And if one of those folks wanted to take me moose hunting with them...

Plus, Silencer Central is here to make your buying process as easy and cost-effective as possible. It’s hard to go wrong with free gun trusts, free thread protectors with barrel threading, and an e-Z Pay Plan.

With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, we’re the nation’s largest silencer dealer. We’re also the only one licensed in all 42 suppressor-legal states that can sell, process, and ship your new suppressor directly to your door. Our experts are ready to help you by phone or email, Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 5pm, and Saturday from 12pm - 3pm (CT).