With E-filing and NFA Form 4 processes becoming more streamlined and the tax on suppressors going to $0 starting in 2026, the suppressor market is set to take off like never before. This trend of suppressors becoming common-use items also intersects another current trend in the industry, that of additive manufacturing, aka 3-D printing.
Dead Air Silencers took full advantage of additive manufacturing when it designed and launched the Lazarus 6 in 2024. To do so, Dead Air incorporated Haynes 282, a highly durable superalloy similar to Inconel with aerospace industry applications. By combining this superalloy along with its signature “Triskelion” low back-pressure pattern, Dead Air Silencers was able to produce a rugged and hard-use suppressor optimized for tactical carbines and large-format pistols chambered in 5.56- or 6 mm calibers, such as Hornady’s 6mm ARC, Federal’s .224 Valkyrie or plain ol’ 5.56 NATO.
In addition to being a “hard-use” suppressor, the Lazarus 6 has no barrel length restrictions and is also full-auto rated. In a nutshell, all of this means that it can withstand the full spectrum of pressures within the confines of the firearms and ammunition the Lazarus 6 is designed to work with.
The Lazarus 6 isn’t limited to self-loading firearms. It will also work with any other rifle or large-format pistol that has up to a 6 mm bore that can accept a suppressor. Lazarus 6 modularity is further facilitated thanks to the Lazarus 6’s HUB compatibility, which allows the attachment of different muzzle-to-suppressor adapters.
Dead Air Silencers Lazarus 6 Overview
As reviewed, my Dead Air Lazarus 6 suppressor shipped with a three-prong Xeno flash-hider, a Dead Air Xeno HUB adapter and a Dead Air R-Series vented end cap (which also happens to have somewhat of a triskelion motif). Dead Air also includes a pair of wrenches used to remove the HUB adapter from the base of the unit in addition to a shim kit for muzzle devices.
The Lazarus 6 is a stout but compact suppressor: With its Xeno mount and standard end cap installed it weighs roughly one pound and only adds approximately six inches to the overall length of the firearm. One of my favorite details about the Lazarus 6 is its series of centrally located splines. Not only do they add a degree of rugged industrial-looking flair, but they also provide some grip when screwing fastening the device to its mount. On a similar note, I also appreciate that Dead Air’s Xeno threads are not only tapered but also have a left-hand pitch. This makes it so that when fastening the device to the muzzle, it doesn’t spin in the same direction of the standard right-hand barrel threads. The tapering helps to keep the suppressor snug, stable and secure while mounted to the firearm.
HUB Compatibility
The Lazarus belongs to a modern category of HUB-compatible suppressors. “HUB” is an industry standard that consists of suppressors whose back ends are threaded to 1.375×24 (or 1⅜x24) tpi. In the past, suppressor customers were limited by specific brands and their mounting options. Purchasing from one brand also meant committing to that brand’s unique mounting systems and compatible muzzle devices.
On the other hand, the idea behind HUB compatibility is to bring a degree of modularity to suppressors. No matter what the end-user’s chosen muzzle device is, if that device can attach to a mount or adapter with 1.375×24-inch HUB threads, then the end-user has the ability to entertain any HUB-compatible suppressor. Obviously, the caliber of the suppressor still needs to match the suppressor. For example, since Lazarus 6 comes with Dead Air’s own Xeno flash-hider and suppressor mount/adapter, if I wanted to share the Lazarus 6 with say, a 6mm ARC AR, all I’d need to do is to make sure that this other rifle also had a Xeno muzzle device.
Likewise, if my fleet of rifles already had Rearden Plan-B muzzle devices (another popular choice), I’d just need to screw on a HUB-to-Plan-B adapter to the back of Lazarus 6 to use it with those rifles.
Haynes 282 Alloy And Triskelion Gas Management System
One thing that contributes to the Lazarus 6’s compact size is its low back-pressure Triskelion Gas Management System. Low back pressure suppressors (also known colloquially as “flow-through”) typically omit the traditional baffle stack found in conventional suppressors.
The traditional baffle stacks create cavities for gasses to expand into and push back up the barrel and possibly into your face. Low back-pressure units have a series of maze-like ducts and tunnels that channel gas throughout the device and expel it forward. Back pressure gas ducts and channels can be designed to not only arrest the expanding gasses but also control the tone and report of a suppressor. Due to the complexity of these internal passages, the production of low back pressure suppressors benefits greatly from additive manufacturing.
Haynes 282 is a nickel-based aerospace-grade superalloy used in jet engine turbine components that need to withstand high amounts of heat, stress and pressure. “Superalloy” isn’t a marketing term. It’s a categorial reference to alloys that are able to remain structurally sound even at a higher percentage of their melting points. Inconel, for example, is another popular nickel-based superalloy often used in suppressors. Their ability to withstand heat, hot gasses and high pressures make superalloys prime materials in hard-use heavy duty suppressor development. Thanks to Haynes 282’s other unique properties, this material lends itself well to additive manufacturing which is how Dead Air Silencers incorporates it into its Triskelion system.
Calling Up The Conroe
To date, I’ve exclusively shot Dead Air Lazarus 6 using my “Conroe” large-format 12.5 inch AR pistol that I put together in collaboration with Big Tex Ordnance last year. I’ve featured this 5.56 mm AR pistol on Shooting Illustrated in the past and will continue to use it as a workhorse and testbed into the future. To prepare for this review, I removed the standard A2 flash-hider spun on the included Xeno 3-prong flash-hider.
Additionally, I dropped in Law Tactical’s ARIC-M bolt-carrier group. The “M” version of the Law Tactical ARIC carrier is the suppressor-optimized model compared to the standard “C” variant, which I’ve previously reviewed in this journal. ARIC-M carriers have increased venting around the gas key and carrier internals to reduce pressures. Keep in mind that the addition of any suppressor, even a low back- pressure model, will still increase overall pressure as there is a “gas trap” over the firearm’s muzzle.
Shooting The Lazarus 6
I’ll state this upfront: absent sophisticated testing equipment, it’s hard to quantify suppressor decibel ratings. Moreover, because suppressor dB ratings are tied to gas flow, there are many factors that need to be considered. These include the types of ammunition being fired, the action of the firearm and further refinement over whether it cycles with a piston or direct gas impingement. Even these aren’t single variables due to the diversity of piston and direct gas impingement themselves. Long stroke pistons may differ from tappet pistons, and DGI (direct-gas-impingement) systems may function with different gas blocks and gas ports. The barrel length along with the length of their gas tubes are also crucial factors. All of these details affect the flow of gas during firing and cycling which directly affect suppressor performance.
After all, a suppressor is simply a metal tube that traps and slows down violently expanding gasses. Ultimately, I can only subjectively relay my experiences shooting 5.56 NATO ammunition through the 12.5-inch barreled Conroe pistol equipped with the ARIC-M carrier.
While I don’t have dB numbers, I can certainly testify how pleasant the Lazarus 6 makes shooting 12.5 inch AR pistols.
My review spanned two sessions at a local indoor range where I fired approximately 180 rounds. Being accustomed to shooting unsuppressed rifles of all types, the experience really makes me appreciate the miracle of sound suppression. The Lazarus 6 quells standard 5.56 NATO rounds so well that I was able to hear the bullets striking the bullet trap 100 yards down range–something that cannot easily be heard shooting unsuppressed rifles of any type in indoor ranges.
Flash And Blasts
With my “Conroe”, Lazarus and ARIC-M setup, I only experienced the first-round pop/flash during the maiden voyage. I shot rounds at various rates of fire, from slow single shots to double taps and triple taps. While shooting, I made sure to get the Lazarus 6 nice and hot. This suppressor did a wonderful job controlling both the blast and flash. In fact, I shot a few rounds without the can, and it was a night and day difference, especially with the lack of the concussive blast which is all too easy to perceive when shooting at indoor ranges. The same goes for muzzle flashes. It seems that shooting in darker indoor range, it’s always easier to notice them too.
As a left-handed shooter, getting some gas in the face when shooting an AR-pattern firearm is just a fact of life, even with low back-pressure designs. Even so, the amount of outgassing shoved back into my face wasn’t as annoying as it can be when shooting straight baffle-stack suppressors. I also made it a point to shoot off my right shoulder a few times–no complaints there either. More aggressive strings of fire do lead to bigger gas plumes, however, regardless of suppressor style.
I also observed no issues with the Xeno mount after snugly hand-tightening the suppressor. It goes without saying that I used a bore-alignment rod while first installing the Lazarus 6 as a safety precaution.
Dead Air Lazarus 6: The Takeaway
Given the diverse suppressor market we have, different brands and designs optimize for different things. Certain makes and models are “louder” while optimizing for the lowest back pressure possible. Other models are gassier while optimizing for quietness. Similarly, some models are more rugged while other models are lighter. There are always trade-offs when it comes to gear and equipment choices in firearms. Categorically, it’s evident that the Dead Air Silencers engineering team designed the Lazarus 6 to have a great overall balance between form, function, weight and overall size. Not to mention, the biggest drawback to additive manufactured suppressors is cost. With real world retail prices at around $950, the Lazarus 6 also isn’t the most expensive.
Aside from being a great general-purpose unit, the other aspect I really like about the Dead Air Lazarus 6 is the culmination of different technologies and what these offer to the shooter. The industry is doing cool things with the flexibility that additive manufacturing with superalloys permits.
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