Introducing a suppressor to any host firearm will generally change the performance of the firearm by introducing more gas into the system than would normally be available without the use of a silencer. Silencers are designed to capture escaping gas and allow it to expand and cool before being released into the environment. A common gripe among suppressor users (also often pushed by those opposed to them) is the increase in toxic gases introduced to the vicinity of the shooter’s face. This is called back pressure, or gas blowback, and is most noticeable on suppressors with more traditional baffle stacks affixed to firearms with shorter gas systems.
Not only does this increase the user’s exposure to toxic gas, it can also interfere with the user’s ability to maintain clear sight of their target, as these gases can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory system. This issue is mitigated in a lot of different ways by different suppressor manufacturers in modern design and manufacturing of baffle technology. One of the first of these such technologies available to the consumer market was Griffin Armament’s ECO-FLOW™ baffle technology.
ECO-FLOW™ is a very simple concept on paper, but introduces new challenges in the design process in order to keep the silencer functional on a sound reduction level, and durable enough for aggressive fire schedules. Baffles built using ECO-FLOW™ technology are ported radially around the exterior of each individual baffle, which allows expanding gases to be fluidically injected from one chamber to the next, rather than flowing directly through the bore of the suppressor, wherein the opening action creates a pathway for gas to flow back through the system and into the shooter’s face. This forward and stream-wise injection of gas allows extra pressure to be moved forward rather than back at you while improving suppressor performance.
A considerable amount of R&D yielded this technology. This technology considerably increased the vorticity of gases inside the suppressor, enhancing sound reduction characteristics. Often low backpressure attempts by other companies result in silencers that are quite loud, and that’s the inverse of what the customers of these products are seeking.
This is why all Griffin suppressors of the modern day feature some variation of ECO-FLOW™ technology. ECO-FLOW™ is a very effective solution for lower system back pressure without sacrificing sound performance. Normally seen as a trade-off, these two aspects have been perfectly married in Griffin suppressors to yield cans that are lower back pressure than previous generations, but have higher levels of sound reduction.
A side effect to this technology is an increase in suppressor durability and lifespan. Extra porting means less erosive particulates are forced through the central bore where temperatures are the highest and where erosion is the most destructive. This allows the suppressor bore to experience less erosion of the important bullet bore apertures, yielding a longer service life.
The low back pressure craze has been going on for a few years now, and while reducing exposure to toxic gas is beneficial, the average gun owner is not shooting as much as enlisted servicemen, who are often requesting lower backpressure options. Griffin’s ECO-FLOW™ tech is a great compromise between a full “high flow” suppressor and a traditional one. As mentioned above, oftentimes sound reduction and back pressure are trade-offs, and to achieve a really low back pressure suppressor, the outcome is often a loud suppressor.
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Feeling left out with your old MOD 2 Recce 5?
The good news is that Griffin Armament offers an ECO-FLOW™ baffle upgrade program for older generation suppressors that do not feature the ECO-FLOW™ baffle system. By purchasing an ECO-FLOW™ baffle upgrade to an applicable Griffin suppressor, the end user receives upgraded baffles, rewelding of the baffle stack and front cap, refinishing of the suppressor, and test fire to ensure your upgrade has been successfully refitted, followed by return shipping after the upgrade service has been completed. This brings your outdated suppressor technology up to the forefront of performance, without the need to purchase a whole new suppressor and restart the generally un-enjoyable NFA process.
Griffin Armament has been an industry leader, pioneering new suppressor technologies, and ECO-FLOW™ is no different. As technology continues to advance, Griffin is looking into the future and exploring new manufacturing techniques to raise the bar. 3D-printing is one of such technologies that is already opening up new pathways to create highly complex baffle stacks that can assist in production of higher performance low backpressure suppressors.
Griffin Armament has been designing and prototyping 3D-printed (Additive- manufactured) suppressors for close to twenty years, but felt the technology was not quite developed enough for competitive production and market sale of suppressors capable of high end user satisfaction. Recently, technology has come a long way, although improvements are still being made. Griffin is in the process of introducing its first line of 3D-printed suppressors: the Optimus 6. The Optimus 6 takes low backpressure to another level utilizing the advanced geometries that additive manufacturing is capable of. Months of R&D has gone into these suppressors to ensure they are not only low back pressure, but also quiet enough to ensure high user satisfaction, as well as industry leading in muzzle flash suppression. A good sound suppressor has to deliver in multiple categories, not just sound, and not just reduction of backpressure.
Additive manufacturing technology has come a long way in recent years, and will continue to get better with time.
Stay tuned for the next generation of low backpressure suppressor options from Griffin!
Written By: Brendan Kushman
Gun & Suppressor Nut & Avid Fisherman