We’re really dwelling within the “salad days” of suppressor possession, with competitors holding costs comparatively low and the (immoral, unconstitutional) NFA approval course of transferring as quick as ever. In truth the topic of at this time’s evaluation, the Griffin Armament M4SD-L, was accepted in about 18 hours as soon as the f’ing ATF had their fingers on the paperwork. Governmental gripes apart, let’s have a look at the M4SD-L, the way it performs and what makes it price a advice.
Griffin Armament M4SD-L Tech Specs and Options
Laser-welded, tubeless design
Speedy and versatile GATE-LOK mounting system
Appropriate with GATE-LOK or A2 Nato Spec Compensators
17-4 H900 heat-treated chrome steel
Patent-pending flash decreasing and move optimized finish cap
ECO-FLOW baffle system for improved efficiency and taking pictures expertise
GATE-LOK Hammer Comp 1/2×28 5.56mm (.22 cal) muzzle machine included
¾-in. wrench flats on muzzle gadgets
Suppressor physique H900 warmth handled and Cerakoted
Perpetual Lifetime Guarantee
Size: 6.5 in.
Weight: 14.5 oz.
Diameter: 1.5 in.
Caliber .22 (5.56mm)
Attachment System: GATE-LOK
dB Score: (133.7DB) 11.5-in. Griffin MK1, (131.7DB) 16-in. Griffin MK1
Materials: Excessive-strength, high-temp, corrosion-resistant 17-4PH chrome steel
End: Excessive-temp Cerakote
Full Auto Rated: Sure
Person Serviceable: No
I’d argue that there’s 4 predominant issues after we’re taking a look at a contemporary suppressor buy. Bodily kind (which incorporates each dimension and supplies used), backpressure, mounting system and total suppression efficiency. Let’s deal with these as they relate to the Griffin Armament M4SD-L one by one. Value is so depending on every buyer’s state of affairs that I depart whether or not or not a can is price it to you, the reader. I’m protecting the way it works, you resolve what you’re prepared to spend.
Bodily Type
It’s 6.5 inches lengthy and 14.5 ounces of metal. The M4SD-L isn’t a micro can, neither is it an overkill can for max suppression. I’d say the M4SD-L falls within the “mid-size” class, and towards the smaller finish of that style besides. This can be a pretty brief suppressor, however this can be very stable, which is par for the “tubeless, laser-welded” crowd. Not as mild as a titanium can, however lighter than many different suppressors on this size, diameter and worth vary. Going tubeless helps save weight, at the price of elevated welding time/expense.
Backpressure
That is considerably of a subjective class, however comparability helps us out right here. Griffin Armament makes use of Eco-Circulate baffles on the M4SD-L, that are designed to provide higher suppression than complete “move via” suppressors, but higher backpressure discount than conventional baffles. Right here’s a short and casual description by Austin, proprietor of Griffin Armament, that befell in a dialogue on AR15.com concerning Eco-Circulate baffles:
We now have a pair of patents in course of on the cans. They use basal ports on the periphery of the baffles to create streamwise vorticity, sending a plurality of excessive velocity streams of fuel into contact with different move streams. The turbulence created by the additional move via fuel reduces the rate of fuel and diminishes power, decreasing sound, whereas enhancing move via the system.
So how properly does it work? Properly, just about precisely as I’d anticipated from the design assertion. Whereas the Griffin Armament M4SD-L has extra backpressure than the Huxwrx Circulate 5.56 Ti I shot alongside it, the M4SD-L is a particular enchancment over older designs with conventional baffles, like AAC’s M42000, Suppressed Armament System’s Reaper Ti and even the Griffin Armament M4SDII. There’s not quite a lot of fuel coming again to the shooter, having examined this will on a few completely different hosts.
It’s price noting that Griffin Armament additionally designs their MKII AR-15 sequence to additional mitigate fuel to the shooter as properly.
Mounting System:
Griffin Armament is utilizing their Gate-Lok mounting system, which might be instantly acquainted to anybody who used KAC’s M110 or QDSS NT4 suppressors with their Gate Latch mount, which fairly clearly influenced the Gate-Lok design.
The suppressor aspect of the mounting system has the gate, which lifts out of the suppressor to launch it, or depresses to interact the mount. The gate is held in place by a spring plate, which must be pushed out of the way in which (rearwards) to launch the gate.
On the rifle aspect, the Gate-Lok interfaces with Griffin Armament’s Gate-Lok sequence of flash hiders and compensators, in addition to commonplace USGI A2 flash hiders. That final merchandise wants slightly extra clarification although. Not all A2 flash hiders a constructed completely to spec, since some producers appear to determine they’re solely used as flash hiders. Because of this a few of these A2s received’t correctly mount a clean firing adaptor both.
When you’re free to take a look at which varied A2s different M4SD-L homeowners have had success with (Del-Ton, in accordance to a couple Reddit customers), Griffin Armament additionally features a Hammer Comp with the suppressor to be used in your 1/2×28 threaded barrel.
My first couple vary days with the M4SD-L and the Gate-Lok mount had been a contact irritating. The tolerances had been fairly tight between the can and mount, so there was some wiggling and twisting to be accomplished. As soon as I’d mounted and eliminated the can about 25 to 30 instances, the entire system eased up significantly.
There was additionally a small studying curve on how precisely to rearrange your hand when eradicating the can to maintain it a one-handed activity. I began out sure I used to be screwing one thing up, and now the whole lot’s operating easily. This has became the quick, simple mounting system that’s marketed, with much less put on/failure factors than a latch system (AAC 51-, 90-tooth), and no probability of carbon lock twisting off your mount inside your can (SAS TOMB). That’s particularly useful when as a reviewer, I’ve to swap mounts onto varied rifles typically and don’t use threadlocker on a mount that’s solely occurring the rifle for just a few hours.
Griffin Armament additionally gives the Gate-Lok mounting system for Hub interfaces, in case your bought or constructed suppressor permits for hub suitable modular mounting methods.
Suppression
Lastly, we get to the massive one. Total suppression efficiency is the largest issue most individuals will think about when purchasing round for a can. Missing extraordinarily costly testing machines, I’ll depend on some professionals for the target portion, and my very own ears for the subjective aspect.
First, you will have seen that within the Tech Specs part, Griffin Armament has listed the next: “dB Score: “(133.7DB) 11.5-in. Griffin MK1, (131.7DB) 16-in. Griffin MK1”. Right here’s a producer offered video of testing and comparability to 2 different cans.
Getting a .223/5.56 below 135dB is a extremely good begin, however I perceive some folks received’t be satisfied by producer offered knowledge. So, we proceed.
For these within the know, the Silencer Summit is a giant trade occasion, the place a pretty big variety of trade professionals get collectively to check their cans in a standardized surroundings. An attention-grabbing dialogue concerning the Silencer Summit is positioned right here.
The testing outcomes for the M4SD-L are discovered right here within the outcomes of the 2024 Silencer Summit, together with dozens of different cans. I’ll allow you to parse via the info to no matter diploma you’d like, however right here’s just a few notable cans the M4SD-L beat out in Mil dBa Avg (common decibel stage utilizing mil-std-1474d testing):
HuxWrx Circulate Ti (2.3 dB louder)
Surefire SOCOM RC3 556 (4.8 dB louder)
Otter Creek Labs Polonium Okay 556 (4.8 dB louder)
Silencerco Velos LBP 5.56 (2.9 dB louder)
Whereas not practically an exhaustive checklist, this reveals that the M4SD-L can positively compete with another widespread cans in the marketplace.
Not solely does the Griffin Armament M4SD-L suppress fairly properly, and have a tolerable quantity of backpressure, however the tone is there. That is positively an unscientific measurement, however one of many first issues a buyer will discover when taking pictures a can. Some suppressors have a decrease pitched, extra relaxed ffWoomph, whereas others could have the next pitched and extra pressurized PfffT. If I’m to proceed my comical sound results, the M4SD-L has a mid-toned, high-pressure noise, one thing of a brief and candy ffUH. Okay, I’m accomplished.
Backside Line on the Griffin Armament M4SD-L
To recap, the Griffin Armament M4SD-L, now we have a reasonably brief tubeless suppressor that doesn’t weigh a ton. This can be a fairly quiet can that doesn’t fuel you out a ton. The mounting system is efficient, locks up tight, and makes use of dust low-cost A2 flash hiders. The can runs $994.95 from Griffin Armament or $896 from Capitol Armory, the place you should utilize the Silencers To Your Door program for many of the U.S.
So is it price it? That’s for every buyer to resolve primarily based by yourself price range, however that is positively a can I think about a robust performer concerning suppression ranges, acceptable backpressure, excellent when contemplating the mounting platform and glorious for dimension/weight of a metal can. I don’t actually see a motive to ever take this will off my rifle, so it’s secure to say I actually just like the Griffin Armament M4SD-L, and I believe you’ll too.
Try extra articles from Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer or go to him on Instagram @Rexnanorum.
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