“The cost is expected to be $700,000 for an infantry battalion. A fully staffed infantry battalion is close to 1,000 people.”
“700 bucks a pop. Uncle Sammy should be able to swing a better deal than that.”
That was my first thought as well, especially since the actual material cost of a silencer, even titanium, doesn’t come close to $700. However, after putting a bit more thought into it, there’s ways the price could go up depending on a number of variables, which I’m sure you’re familiar with. There’s the cost of quick release mounts, if they decide to go that route. There’s the troops that carry more than one firearm, making the number of firearms in the battalion higher than the troop number. Then the cans for larger calibers obviously come with a higher price. Add the additional cost of keeping some extras on hand and that $700 per unit estimate doesn’t seem all that bad. I’m not sure how they’ll go about awarding the contract, but I certainly hope ALL current U.S. manufacturers can compete for it, including the small time start ups. IF the “experiment” is successful, and more/all battalions are to be equipped with suppressors, suppliers will set up more efficient production lines which will hopefully have the effect of becoming much more competitive in their pricing across the board, translating to lower prices for the public consumer retail market. It really sucks right now to pay more for a simple tubular muffler than for the much more complex and costly firearm it attaches to.
Agree.
I have done some testing of my own swapping 30 caliber cans onto 556s. Measured sound difference, velocity and accuracy. Sound was negligible, +5db. Velocity, no difference up close. Accuracy was maintained well withing kill zone out to 300 yards. Accuracy started to slip at about 400 yards.
If the military does its testing like I did it would just by bulk 30 caliber cans for long guns.
Forget cans for its 50s and 338 long range. When you are reaching out over a half a mile or better it is hard to trace where the round is coming from.
Sidearms? Who knows. They have such a hodge podge of sidearms out there and until they get the branches to agree on ONE fits all caliber and make they will keep having it. But I can see the squabble. I would not go into any fray packing a 9mm and would only carry something with a 4 and a 5 in it.