Gear SHOT16: Griffin Armament’s Alpha – a Serviceable Rifle Suppressor Mike Searson January 22, 2016 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More One of the complaints common to rifle silencer owners is that the cans are not user serviceable. Most pistol and rimfire cans can be broken down for cleaning on a regular basis; rifle cans have traditionally always been sealed units. Recently however Griffin Armament decided to throw their hat in the ring and try something new by introducing the Alpha. It's the world’s first fully shielded, serviceable centerfire silencer. Our good friends at Silencershop.com told us that Griffin Armament hd a few pieces in the works that were radically different from anything else on the market and we hope to have test samples in hand ASAP. The Alpha Silencer is a hybrid, lightweight, centerfire suppressor with a Patent Pending Ratchet lock baffle system. The Baffles are fully shielded and can be removed for cleaning and maintenance. Beyond that, through a system of interchangeable end caps, the shooter can run any caliber from rimfire up to and including 300 Winchester Magnum. Most rifle silencers will handle rimfire ammunition with no problem, the issue is that the ammunition is typically very dirty. When you have a can that cannot be taken apart this can be problematic, so the advice on sealed unit suppressors is to not shoot rimfire. We like options with our NFA items, modular versatile silencers that can handle a wide range of calibers make the most sense for a shooter who is looking to get the most out of their purchase. Granted, that suppressed shooting can be addictive and some of us end up with a dedicated can for each pistol or rifle, but having something like the Alpha allows you to enjoy more quiet time with your firearms while waiting for your other silencers to get out of NFA jail. The Alpha will include the takedown tool, and will retail for around $1050. ##### We have a steady stream of images from SHOT this year appearing in this article if you're interested. Follow us on Instagram, @RECOILmagazine and keep an eye out for these hashtags: #recoilmagazine, #recoil, #shotshow2015, #mediadayattherange and especially #recoilSHOT2016. What is the NSSF SHOT Show? The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services. Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. Interestingly (perhaps fortuitously, for some) SHOT 2016 overlaps the 2016 AVN Awards, which would provide us with article fodder of an entirely different nature if we thought anyone there might have good trigger awareness and muzzle discipline… You can see imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show right here. 2016 SHOT Show January 18 — Media on the Range (numerous shooting facilities in and around Las Vegas) January 19–22, 2016 Sands Expo and Convention Center Las Vegas, Nevada Hours Tuesday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday, January 22 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Explore RECOILweb:The FERFRANS CRD Muzzle Device SystemLiberty Suppressors’ Mystic XThe Nomad 9 G19 LowerTactical Professor - "Sight misalignment, speed, and accuracy" NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
