A bargain or a $100.00 toilet seat? Military getting new sniper rifles at a cost of

[Hotler]

$16,000.00-$18,600.00 each. "But it's an awesome gun"
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/its-an-awesome-gun-us-snipers-are-pumped-to-get-the-new-rifle-soldiers-marines-and-special-operators-all-want/ar-BB14O7AH

[Happy Hoosier]

1. Looks like a high end rifle.

Cost is about double a high end competition shooter, but this rifle converts between three calibers. So not outrageous considering probably a relatively small production run. I work in avionics and constantly get sticker shock from the cost of aviation grade electronics.

[Newest Reality]

2. Money?

Money is no object unless it is for the people's benefit directly. Then, it is an object that you may have little or no access to.

Money is a symbolic, two-edged sword now at the end of capitalism. It is unheard of freedom and power for the wealthy and a control mechanism or valve for the rest of us. As they economy gushes up, the spigot gets slowly turned down for us from here on in.

Example: Many billionaires have doubled their holdings during the COVID-19 crises. Disaster Capitalism at is very best and more to come, (no, not for you silly, them, you get less). Think: breakaway civilization as a potential future.

[Dial H For Hero]

3. That cost includes the ability to switch between various calibers, and the scope as well.

High-end rifle scopes cost thousands of dollars.

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[sop]

4. This exact same Barrett MRAD rifle is available to any civilian for one third the cost ($4999), the

additional barrels in each of the other two chamberings run about $1200 each, and a Nightforce benchrest scope lists for about $2K. Someone's making out on this military contract.

[Abnredleg]

5. Military budgeting can be tricky

Often time the cost of an item also includes support and training for the life of the item. It would be like pricing a car and including ten years of gas, tires and maintenance.

[sop]

6. This isn't the F-35, it's a bolt action precision rifle any competent military armorer could service

and every military sniper could sight in. Unless the contract includes a lifetime supply of additional barrels, for when the round count exceeds the life expectancy for each chambering, the $16K-$18K price is inflated.

[Abnredleg]

7. We don't know what indirect costs

are included in the contract. Not arguing that the DOD procurement process is not gold plated, only that the price often includes years of indirect costs that we would not normally think of.

[DVRacer]

8. That includes support costs

That price includes much more than just a rifle. It includes the ability to switch between 3 calibers from anti personal to anti material more effectively than the .50BMG it is replacing. It comes with a deployment box designed for shipping to forward bases without damage. A carry bag for field use, a special scope designed to not require needing to be rezeroed between calibers. The big advantage is the box has 2 barrels for each caliber so that when a barrel is shot out with the features the rifle stays in service instead of being shipped back to the States. This saves a lot of money and the initial purchase price includes service for 10 years.

So to sum up we buy one instead of multiple rifles and pay nothing for service for 10 years. You have the flexibility of three rifles. I am biased about this system some friends helped develop it oh and it is being fielded by SOCOM, Big Army and the Marines.

[sarisataka]

9. Something in between an bargain and a ripoff

since it includes a support package, it is a fair price