Griffin Armament has a long history with metal-printed suppressors that dates back to 2008 when they explored prototype applications. During that time, they found the technology was neither developed nor cost-effective enough to gain public acceptance. They anticipated that advancements in other industries would support improvements in manufacturing applications, reduce equipment costs, and enhance capabilities and technology, prompting them to wait for the technology to mature. Their first printed production suppressor, the Optimus 6, marks a significant breakthrough.

3D Printed Stainless Steel – Optimus 6 Suppressors

The Optimus 6 is a powder metal additive manufactured suppressor designed for 6mm and optimized for the 5.56mm AR-15 platform. Griffin meticulously prototyped and tested complex internal baffle geometries to create a suppressor that minimizes system backpressure while delivering exceptional flash reduction.

Constructed entirely from 17-4 H900 heat-treated stainless steel, the Optimus 6 comes in three mounting variations: DUAL-LOK, Griffin Taper Mount, and an industry-standard hub (1.375 × 24 TPI) interface for compatibility with hub mount adapters. The printed baffle stack is welded to a machined rear housing that retains the serial number, allowing for warranty and repair without requiring the lengthy Form 4 process for a new serial number—an issue that other fully printed suppressors have yet to resolve adequately. With a 1.73” outer diameter, the design increases internal volume, contributing to a sub-140 dB SPL.

Flash Suppression

In military and law enforcement contexts, flash reduction often takes precedence over sound reduction. However, achieving both can be challenging with low-restrictive baffling. To tackle the potential increase in flash signature associated with LBP suppressors, Griffin developed the Optimus 6’s unique quad-prong end cap, featuring complex internal and external flash-hiding geometries that offer competitive flash suppression in the LBP suppressor market.

By thoughtfully combining traditional methods with new technologies, Griffin designed the Optimus 6 as a low-backpressure suppressor that is easy to repair, highly durable, and reasonably lightweight. It delivers top-tier sound and flash reduction at a more affordable price than many other printed suppressors.

“Creating suppressors that deliver strong acoustic performance while maintaining a high quality-to-cost ratio has been crucial for us over our 20 years in the industry,” said Griffin. “Demand for suppressors that operate more seamlessly with their host firearms has increased, with minimizing backpressure as an ideal solution. Additive manufacturing offers both advantages and disadvantages depending on the process. It simplifies some geometric creations but also presents limitations, such as low overhang angles that can’t be achieved based on the method used. We are excited to introduce the Optimus 6 and begin incorporating additive manufacturing into our suppressor designs.”

Optimus 6 Suppressors

Austin, the Lead Design Engineer at Griffin Armament, shared, “The Optimus 6 is one of the most effective 5.56mm suppressors I’ve used. One of the first customers to see it was a law enforcement department that appreciated its performance enough to place a large pre-order. Many people I work with at Griffin were impressed with the suppressor, and several decided to choose it as their free suppressor for 2025. Each year, our employees have the option to receive a free suppressor as a benefit for completing a year with the company.”

For more information, visit:https://www.griffinarmament.com/optimus-6-suppressor-all-mounts/

Key Features

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