Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light HD: Suppressor Review

With a wide range of possible cartridge compatibility and easy mount installation, the Sportsman Ultra Light is a hunter's easy button.

July 23, 2025 By Mark Fingar

Of the 42 states that allow suppressor ownership, 41 permit the use while hunting. Being able to stalk game without the need for ear muffs or plugs provides hunters an advantage. While the majority of sound suppressors may not be “Hollywood quiet,” most suppressors will bring a gunshot down to reasonable hearing-safe levels. This is not only good for hunters, but others around them, including landowners who may not enjoy the sounds associated with shooting sports. Sound suppressors also help minimize recoil, making larger calibers easier to shoot, translating into greater accuracy and clean, ethical shot-placement. Lastly, an effective suppressor will help prevent spooking game and spoiling the area. This gives other hunters a chance at success, too.

Griffin Armament’s Sportsman Ultra Light HD series was developed by hunters to satisfy the need for a compact, lightweight and affordable package built to last a lifetime. Based in Watertown, Wisconsin, Griffin Armament has been manufacturing suppressors for 20 years. In the last two decades, they’ve amassed more than 40 suppressor models with several mounting options for each. It would be hard to find a company with a greater variety of suppressors, firearms, optics and mounts made under one roof. Griffin Armament’s “Silencers To Your Door” program also allows delivery of suppressors to your residence, assuming it’s legal to own where you live. Ordering is as simple as visiting the website, where you’re guided through the process with ease.

gaad-griffin-sportsman-ul-02-1200x800 — There are many quick-change mounting options to accommodate various rifle and pistol platforms. These include muzzlebrakes, flash hiders and compensators, as well as thread-on and HUB adapters. (Photo by Mark Fingar)

The Sportsman Ultra Light HD is available in two models, a “.300” and “.36” caliber. These cover all of our practical needs from .223 Reminton to .338 Lapua Magnum, as well as the odd .22 LR and 9mm if needed. The Sportsman Ultra Light HD is fully constructed from 17-4 H900 heat-treated stainless steel, and it is rated for limited full-auto use. Understandably, the “HD” stands for “High Durability.” Also, there’s no barrel-length restrictions on the Sportsman Ultra Light HD, a testament to its ruggedness.

While traditional suppressors consist of a tube containing a stack of baffles, the Sportsman Ultra Light HD is a “tubeless” design, making it as lightweight as possible. The HUB-threaded blast chamber, baffles and end-cap are all assembled into a stack. Then, they are joined into a single unit with a series of circumferential laser welds. The welds are visible on the exterior as a series of rings. The .300 has seven baffles, while the .36 has eight for better sound reduction and durability with cartridges such as .338 Lapua Magnum. Several key baffles feature a series of ports along the perimeter that strategically help pressures and gasses seep towards the endcap and away from the shooter’s face, while also dampening recoil and helping gas-operated rifles cycle smoothly. Griffin Armament calls this “ECO-FLOW” patented technology.

gaad-griffin-sportsman-ul-03-1200x800 — The Griffin Armament Bushwhacker Wrench is a simple combination tool that doesn’t add much weight to a pack should you need to make adjustments in the field or at the range. (Photo by Mark Fingar)

The Ultra Light HD suppressor measures a diminutive 6.09 inches, with a 11⁄2-inch diameter. It’s finished in high-temp Cerakote, available in either black or FDE. These ship with a choice of a 1⁄2x28, 5⁄8x24 direct-thread HUB plate, or a taper-mount HUB adapter. Since the Ultra Light HDs are HUB (13⁄8x24) compatible, any number of adapters can be used. Griffin Armament offers dozens of HUB-compatible solutions to accommodate almost any configuration. (I applaud the HUB interface.) These suppressors also ship with a pouch and Griffin Bushwhacker Wrench.

A quick trip to the gun club included both suppressors, a Benelli Lupo in .300 PRC, a Terminus 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action, a LaRue Tactical AR-15 in 5.56 NATO, a Glock 19 in 9mm and, merely for fun, an HK SP5K. Griffin Armament sent Guns & Ammo samples of adapters, brakes and mounts, so I tried them on everything appropriate to each bore size.

gaad-griffin-sportsman-ul-04-1200x800 — The Sportsman Ultra Light HD series utilizes patented ECO-FLOW baffles. These help to push gas forward and out through the muzzle instead of back and into the shooter’s face. (Photo by Mark Fingar)

The .36-caliber can on the Lupo proved wonderful. It’s so light that I could barely feel it on the end of the barrel. Gone are the days of bobbing through buckbrush with a heavy, 12-inch suppressor! The .300 performed just as beautifully on the 6.5 CM and the 5.56 NATO guns. I removed my hearing protection halfway through and was quite pleased with the sound reduction. Swapping adapters took only a few seconds. I put a HUB pistol-booster on the .36 and attached it to the G19. It ran like a champ and was whisper-quiet. Then, I installed a HUB tri-lug on the .36 and attached it the SP5K. It, too, ran flawlessly with subsonic 124-grain handloads at 850 feet per second (fps). This was a great combination. It’s hard to believe that I went from using it on rifle, then a pistol, and finally a sub-gun in a matter of minutes. If you’re looking for one solution for multiple firearms, the Sportsman Ultra Light HD might be the best choice. Excellent job, Griffin Armament!