anybody here install a noveske barrel on an AR?  I got a noveske barrel for a new build  - it has a pinned gas block  I am really having trouble getting the large solid pin in the gas block hole - it actually is about a thousandth larger on the OD than the hole.
any advise?

Which side are you installing the taper pin from, the pin is tapered right? Should go from right to left on install.

Grab a punch which is the same size as the hole and align the gas block and then tighten the setscrew.

Cradle the gas block in a jig such as this.

See which side mics smaller and insert that into the gas block.

Took alot of banging with a hammer on mine. I even tried freezing the pin.

Yeah, if you search you will see lots of threads dating back many years on the joys of removing and re-installing Noveske gas block pins.

In one of those threads someone mentioned the idea of using a roll pin instead of the solid pin.  I decided to adopt this practice.

Pins go in tight, but are not impossible to remove.  That roll pin and the setscrew will hold that gas block, protected by a free float rail, to the barrel adequately IMO.

i think Noveske drills them but doesn't ream them. i bought a reamer and now don't have any issues.

not a taper pin.

I made a block on the mill to hold that gasblock so i could punch that pin in.

I know I'm late to the party but here's my experience. My friend and I both have Noveske CQB 10.5" barrels with the pinned low pro gas blocks. I was helping him with his upper build starting with his first. The pin is not tapered and it took a lot of pounding to get it in. Ruined my brass punch and roll pin holder and also boogered his gas block a little. When it was my turn to install my glass block, I used a little oil in the pin groove and pin and it was a lot easier to install plus I didn't marr up my Gass block lol. I needed a second hand (thanks to my nephew) to hold the barrel while resting the gass block on a piece of wood to keep it still. So in my experience, a little oil helps.

Don't know if this helps or works. My buddy who helped install my Noveske barrel said that he put the pin in the freezer for a day or so and they helped install the pin. Again not sure if this works or not but possibly worth a try.