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Posted: 10/3/2009 6:55:59 PM EDT
| What kind of accuracy is everyone getting from these barrels? They're chrome lined, so I'll be happy with sub-moa at 100. I'm thinking of doing one with an Omega rail, so any data from a free-floated rifle would be appreciated. |
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Accuracy Evaluation of 16” and 14.5” Novekse N4 Barrels
The Noveske N4 barrels are some of the most consistently accurate chrome lined, NATO chambered AR-15 barrels (of the same weight as equivalent length government profile barrels) currently on the market. However, they are not match-grade barrels by any stretch of the imagination (nor are they intended to be.) The following data shows the results of formal accuracy testing of both a 16” and a 14.5” Noveske N4 barrel from a distance of 100 yards. Both barrels were free-floated and the same lower was used for testing both uppers. The same match-grade, hand-loaded ammunition was used for each barrel and the testing was performed under as close to the same conditions as was reasonably possible. Noveske 16" N4 light Recce 
I performed an accuracy evaluation of my Noveske 16” N4 Light Recce upper following my usual protocol. Testing was performed from a distance of 100 yards. Firing was conducted from a concrete bench with the free-float handguard resting in a Sinclair Bench Rest. The rear stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear bag. Wind conditions were monitored using a Wind Probe. A Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax free at 100 yards was used for sighting. Using hand-loaded, match grade ammunition I fired three, 10-shot groups in a row. The extreme spreads of those groups measured: 1.29” 1.18” 1.31” for a 10-shot average extreme spread of 1.26”. I over-layed those three groups on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 0.37”. After firing the above three groups, I fired an additional five, 10-shot groups in a row using the same set-up for a total of eight, 10-shot groups. The average extreme spread for all eight groups was 1.24”. I over-layed all eight groups on each using RSI Shooting Lab to form an 80-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.39”. 
Noveske 14.5” N4 light carbine 
The 14.5” N4 barrel was tested in the same manner as described above. Three 10-shot groups fired from 100 yards using match grade hand-loads had extreme spreads of: 1.029” 1.360” 1.275” for a 10-shot group average of 1.22”. As above, I over-layed the three 10-shot groups on each other using RSI Shooting lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.37”. |
| Great reply, I am not that technical with my AR. My F-TR gun gets most of the handloading, accuracy testing, and so on. But with the handloads I made it did have some great groups. Overall in my experience I would call it a sub-moa barrel if I do my part with my mk4 or sightron on it in a rest, but I know how hard 10-shot groups are to get to stay tight. Any called flyers, crazy wind changes or anything else that could have caused those to open up? I will try some 10-shots with my Noveske upper sometimes this week and post back. Thanks again for the great accuracy report. |
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Quoted:
Accuracy Evaluation of 16” and 14.5” Novekse N4 Barrels The Noveske N4 barrels are some of the most consistently accurate chrome lined, NATO chambered AR-15 barrels (of the same weight as equivalent length government profile barrels) currently on the market. However, they are not match-grade barrels by any stretch of the imagination (nor are they intended to be.) The following data shows the results of formal accuracy testing of both a 16” and a 14.5” Noveske N4 barrel from a distance of 100 yards. Both barrels were free-floated and the same lower was used for testing both uppers. The same match-grade, hand-loaded ammunition was used for each barrel and the testing was performed under as close to the same conditions as was reasonably possible. Noveske 16" N4 light Recce http://www.box.net/shared/static/ktr45e1z2v.jpg http://www.box.net/shared/static/od2lkjgq1f.jpg I performed an accuracy evaluation of my Noveske 16” N4 Light Recce upper following my usual protocol. Testing was performed from a distance of 100 yards. Firing was conducted from a concrete bench with the free-float handguard resting in a Sinclair Bench Rest. The rear stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear bag. Wind conditions were monitored using a Wind Probe. A Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax free at 100 yards was used for sighting. Using hand-loaded, match grade ammunition I fired three, 10-shot groups in a row. The extreme spreads of those groups measured: 1.29” 1.18” 1.31” for a 10-shot average extreme spread of 1.26”. I over-layed those three groups on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 0.37”. After firing the above three groups, I fired an additional five, 10-shot groups in a row using the same set-up for a total of eight, 10-shot groups. The average extreme spread for all eight groups was 1.24”. I over-layed all eight groups on each using RSI Shooting Lab to form an 80-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.39”. http://www.box.net/shared/static/ubsv4o9vzk.jpg Noveske 14.5” N4 light carbine http://www.box.net/shared/static/if9xfp9b6u.jpg The 14.5” N4 barrel was tested in the same manner as described above. Three 10-shot groups fired from 100 yards using match grade hand-loads had extreme spreads of: 1.029” 1.360” 1.275” for a 10-shot group average of 1.22”. As above, I over-layed the three 10-shot groups on each other using RSI Shooting lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.37”. What bullet/ load did you use? Has this combination been shown to be the most accurate out of your rifles? Mine has consistanly shot 5 shot 1 MOA groups with a 4x12 Leupokd and Blackhill Match ammo. However, it shoots PMC Bronze at 1.75-2 MOA. So, does it shoot MOA or not? I think the better question is, "CAN it shoot MOA?" |
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Quoted:
Accuracy Evaluation of 16” and 14.5” Novekse N4 Barrels The Noveske N4 barrels are some of the most consistently accurate chrome lined, NATO chambered AR-15 barrels (of the same weight as equivalent length government profile barrels) currently on the market. However, they are not match-grade barrels by any stretch of the imagination (nor are they intended to be.) The following data shows the results of formal accuracy testing of both a 16” and a 14.5” Noveske N4 barrel from a distance of 100 yards. Both barrels were free-floated and the same lower was used for testing both uppers. The same match-grade, hand-loaded ammunition was used for each barrel and the testing was performed under as close to the same conditions as was reasonably possible. Noveske 16" N4 light Recce http://www.box.net/shared/static/ktr45e1z2v.jpg http://www.box.net/shared/static/od2lkjgq1f.jpg I performed an accuracy evaluation of my Noveske 16” N4 Light Recce upper following my usual protocol. Testing was performed from a distance of 100 yards. Firing was conducted from a concrete bench with the free-float handguard resting in a Sinclair Bench Rest. The rear stock of the rifle rested in a Protektor bunny-ear bag. Wind conditions were monitored using a Wind Probe. A Leupold VARI-X III set at 25X magnification and adjusted to be parallax free at 100 yards was used for sighting. Using hand-loaded, match grade ammunition I fired three, 10-shot groups in a row. The extreme spreads of those groups measured: 1.29” 1.18” 1.31” for a 10-shot average extreme spread of 1.26”. I over-layed those three groups on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for the composite group was 0.37”. After firing the above three groups, I fired an additional five, 10-shot groups in a row using the same set-up for a total of eight, 10-shot groups. The average extreme spread for all eight groups was 1.24”. I over-layed all eight groups on each using RSI Shooting Lab to form an 80-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.39”. http://www.box.net/shared/static/ubsv4o9vzk.jpg Noveske 14.5” N4 light carbine http://www.box.net/shared/static/if9xfp9b6u.jpg The 14.5” N4 barrel was tested in the same manner as described above. Three 10-shot groups fired from 100 yards using match grade hand-loads had extreme spreads of: 1.029” 1.360” 1.275” for a 10-shot group average of 1.22”. As above, I over-layed the three 10-shot groups on each other using RSI Shooting lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for that composite group was 0.37”. Good info. Most people are used to doing 3 or 5 shot groups (myself included) which will often put one under 1 moa with a Noveske barrel but a 10 shot group is obviously a more accurate judgment of a rifles accuracy. Perhaps at some point I will do the same but I love pretending I'm more accurate than I really am  Those are some impressive groups!
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Now, Molon–– I LOVE your assessments. From my experience, I have had 2 noveske CL barrels (still have 1) and even the 11.5" could get sub MOA(0.88 and0.91 is the best) 10shot groups. Yes, it took about 20different combo's of bullet/powder/primers to find the right one, but it is possible––- it just really hated 69gr SMK's over varget???... and worked better with the Hornady 68hpbt's w/ reloader.... But i will agree that 'easy' is an overstatement... the barrels are great... but there will be more variance coming from the shooter and ammo choice than the barrel––> if you plan on using high quality match or HL ammo... then u might squeak out the sub moa's... but if you're after THAT kind of accuracy, why not go Stainless~~ |
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Lets think about it––- $0.60-$1.00 per shot of accurate ammo... A SS barrel, shot slow will last a lot longer than they give it credit for (ADCO proved that one...) so... even if it only last 10,000 rounds before it drifts over MOA... we're looking at 6k-10k in ammo alone... I think a new $400 barrel is negligible if you're shooting that much~~ not to mention, that 'used up' barrel can then be deligated back to being a 'fighting rifle' barrel~~ But i agree––- I only own CL barrels, only 2 of which will hold a true sub-moa 10 shot group with my mass-produced handloaded (100/wk) match ammo (69grSMK Rem primer and Varget) (my sabre and the noveske)... though, when that BCM SPR upper comes out.... i'll own a stainless ;) |
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I agree with Molon. While I appreciate the quality of Noveske/FN barrels, my 14.5" did not dazzle me with any more accuracy than I was used to with standard colt M4, Colt SOCOM M4, and lightweight 6520 barrels. In my personal testing, What I shoot the most (52gr BH MHP & M193) seemed to group tighter with the colt barrels. Again, these are lighter bullets, but all 1-7 chrome lined barrels. I appreciate the durability factor of the N4 light barrel, mainly. |
| A 1.1" group of 10 shots at 100 is great for a CL barrel .If I remember correctly, most of Molons tests with his precision barrels hovers around .6-.8. So I don't consider those bad groups for 10 shots at all. For the purpose of the rifle, it's way more then necessary. |
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Quoted:
So by the data the 14.5 was a little more accurate at 100yrds. Cool. Still just a tad over MOA for a chromed lined fighting barrel is more than amazing. Take that for what it's worth. Good info for sure, but that was one barrel of each size shooting one type of ammo. Two different barrels of the exact same type can certainly shoot differently, especially when you mix in different ammo. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
So by the data the 14.5 was a little more accurate at 100yrds. Cool. Still just a tad over MOA for a chromed lined fighting barrel is more than amazing. Take that for what it's worth. Good info for sure, but that was one barrel of each size shooting one type of ammo. Two different barrels of the exact same type can certainly shoot differently, especially when you mix in different ammo. Very good point. |
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