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Posted: 1/9/2016 1:23:52 AM EDT
Accuracy Evaluation of a Noveske 16” N4 Light Barrel
I’ve posted short reviews of Noveske N4 Light barrels in the past, so for this article we’re going to take a more in-depth look at the Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel. For starters, Noveske’s nomenclature of “Light” for this barrel is somewhat misleading/confusing. When most shooters hear the term “light- weight” in regard to AR-15 barrels, they think of the “pencil” barrel profile of the original Colt M16/M16A1 and also the same light-weight profile of the Colt 16” carbine barrel found on the Colt 6520 and 6720. However, this is not the profile of the Noveske N4 Light barrel. Colt M16/M16A1 barrel . . . 
Colt 6520 16” light-weight barrel . . . 
The stripped-weight (no flash hider, no front sight base/gas block, just the barrel and barrel extension) of the Colt 16” light-weight barrel is 1 pound, 6 ounces. The stripped-weight of the Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel is 1 pound, 12 ounces; which is the same stripped-weight of the Colt 16” government profile barrel found on the ubiquitous Colt 6920. Colt 6920 government profile barrel . . . 
Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel . . . 
As you can see in the pics above, for the N4 Light barrel, Noveske has done away with the next-to-useless M203 (grenade launcher) cut-out found on the Colt government profile barrel. The N4 profile also has a more evenly distributed barrel diameter (and thus weight) fore and aft of the gas block journal, which moves the center of gravity of the barrel farther aft compared to a government profile barrel. This all makes for a superbly handling 16” barrel. The reason that Noveske uses the “Light” nomenclature for their N4 barrels is simply because the N4 barrels are lighter than Noveske’s original medium contour stainless steel barrels. For comparison, the Noveske 16” medium contour Recon barrel has a stripped-weight of 2 pounds, 2 ounces and as mentioned above, the 16” N4 Light barrel has a stripped-weight of 1 pound, 12 ounces. The Noveske 16” Recon barrel . . . 
The Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel is a cold hammer forged barrel. It has a mid-length gas system, “M4” feed-ramps and a chrome-lined chamber and bore. The barrel has a 5.56mm NATO chamber and a 1:7” twist and has been high-pressure/magnetic particle tested; as the barrel stamp indicates. Contrary to erroneous Internet reports, the N4 barrel does not have polygonal rifling. The barrel stamp . . . 
The mid-length gas system . . . 
I conducted an accuracy (technically, precision) evaluation of the Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel following my usual protocol. This accuracy evaluation used statistically significant shot-group sizes and every single shot in a fired group was included in the measurements. There was absolutely no use of any group reduction techniques (e.g. fliers, target movement, Butterfly Shots). The shooting set-up will be described in detail below. As many of the significant variables as was practicable were controlled for. Pictures of shot-groups are posted for documentation. All shooting was conducted from a concrete bench-rest from a distance of 100 yards (confirmed with a laser rangefinder.) The Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel used in this evaluation was free-floated during testing using a Larue Tactical free-float railed handguard. The free-float handguard of the rifle rested in a Sinclair Windage Benchrest, while the stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear rear bag. Sighting was accomplished via a Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax-free at 100 yards. A mirage shade was attached to the objective-bell of the scope. Wind conditions on the shooting range were continuously monitored using a Wind Probe. The set-up was very similar to that pictured below. 
For this evaluation, I used one of my standard match-grade hand-loads topped with Sierra 55 grain BlitzKings. When fired from my Krieger barreled AR-15s, this load has produced ½ MOA 10-shot groups at 100 yards. 
Three, 10-shot groups were fired in a row from the Noveske 16” N4 Light barrel from a distance of 100 yards with the resulting extreme spreads: 1.29” 1.18” 1.31” for a 10-shot group average extreme spread of 1.26”. The three, 10-shot groups were over-layed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius of the 30-shot composite group was 0.37”. After firing the above three groups, I fired an additional five, 10-shot groups in a row for a total of eight, 10-shot groups fired in a row. The average extreme spread for all eight of the 10-shot groups was 1.24”. I over-layed all eight of the 10-shot groups on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form an 80-shot composite group. The mean radius for the 80-shot composite group was 0.39”. The smallest 10-shot group . . . 
The 80-shot composite group . . . 
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Quoted: Interesting to see yet again the vast accuracy differences between BCM and Noveske CHF barrels even though they're both supposed to be from the same source, FN. This. I wonder how the Noveske barrel perform compare to the Larue Stealth/Predator barrel, for my next build. |
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Quoted:
This. I wonder how the Noveske barrel perform compare to the Larue Stealth/Predator barrel, for my next build. Quoted:
Quoted:
Interesting to see yet again the vast accuracy differences between BCM and Noveske CHF barrels even though they're both supposed to be from the same source, FN. This. I wonder how the Noveske barrel perform compare to the Larue Stealth/Predator barrel, for my next build. chf has no bearing on this each company has them cut to their own specs BCM likens itself to 'colt like' and I guess they took it to accuracy as well...lol |
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Quoted:
This. I wonder how the Noveske barrel perform compare to the Larue Stealth/Predator barrel, for my next build. Quoted:
Quoted:
Interesting to see yet again the vast accuracy differences between BCM and Noveske CHF barrels even though they're both supposed to be from the same source, FN. This. I wonder how the Noveske barrel perform compare to the Larue Stealth/Predator barrel, for my next build. I have a noveske and it's on par with this write up. I think they are accurate well made barrels but not as accurate as people like to believe. In my stable, I have a few that are more accurate for less. One is an old bushy that is lights out accurate as is a rainier select barrel on a frankengun that prints .4. that said, noveske is consistent in the .65-.8 for me with the 2 I owned/own |
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(Granddaughter thinks your "Range Dog" is cute.) https://app.box.com/shared/static/01k7id8pr0wbbpcd3pkxtcv0d18vlqs2.jpg ... As usual, this thread is informative. I too like the "Range Dog." Look forward to seeing it in the threads. Reminds me of my old dog. He was a poodle/schnauzer mix. Thanks Molon. |
| Love to see this and especially with the light bullets. My 11.5" Noveske stainless (polygonal rifling and proprietary chamber) has been the most accurate barrel I have ever purchased. I appreciate seeing that that level of performance translates over to their CHF barrels. |
Another great evaluation....thanks Molon!
I just got a chance to put some rounds through my 16" N4 barrel last week. My accuracy was nowhere near as good as you showed here due to a 1-6X optic, factory loaded ammo and of course lack of equivalent shooting talent, but I was still very impressed with my results. I replaced my 16" SS Recon for the N4 and was expecting to see accuracy take a noticeable dive but to my surprise I didn't see any significant difference. As I said earlier I'm sure if I had a high powered optic and was shooting higher quality ammo the difference may have been more noticeable but still I was very happy with the results....it's a killer barrel IMO 
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Interesting. I appreciate the information. I know the stainless barrels have it, and just assumed they would keep that feature on the chrome lined. Always informative, I'll have to look through the sticky and see if you've evaluated some of their stainless. Noveske 18" SPR Barrel ... |
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