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”.
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