Extruded metal honeycombs are produced by the direct extrusion of a softened bulk metal feedstock through a honey-comb extrusion die comprising a feedhole array for delivering softened metal through a supporting die baseplate to a honeycomb die discharge section, the discharge section comprising an array of intersecting discharge slots that form the walls of an extruded metal honeycomb structure. This process can be optimized by employing a proper pressure gradient for a particular extrudate flow rate, extrudate composition, and wall-drag condition arising from the particular composition of the feedhole wall, as illustrated graphically in FIG. 4.