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Molon
10-20-22, 14:34
Hodge Defense 14.5” Barrel Accuracy: A Quick Look

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hodge_barrel_02_resized_b-1334087.jpg


For decades after the AR-15 was first introduced to the “civilian” market, shooters basically had three choices for barrel contours/profiles in factory-built AR-15s: government profile, HBAR (heavy barrel) and the original “pencil” profile. (Not even John Wick slayed as many bad guys “with a pencil” as our soldiers did with the pencil profile Colt AR-15 barrel).


government profile
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/20_inch_government_profile_barrel_22-1334094.jpg



HBAR
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/colt_20_inch_hbar_31_resized-1334095.jpg



John Wick profile
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/colt_a1_barrel_02-1334096.jpg


In the early 2000s, innovators such as John Noveske began offering alternative contours/profiles for their AR-15 barrels. These new contours were designed to offer improved weight distribution, with the attendant benefits, compared to the previously mentioned three profiles. For example, the Noveske medium-contour stainless-steel barrels offer reduced weight compared to an HBAR profile, while maintaining much of the accuracy of the HBAR profile.


Noveske 16” medium contour
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/noveske_medium_contour_01-1334105.jpg



Noveske’s N4 “light” contour barrels maintain the same weight as a government profile barrel of equal length, but with an improved contour. As an example, the 16” Noveske N4 light barrel has a stripped weight of 1 pound 12 ounces, the same weight as a stripped 16” Colt government profile barrel (6920).


Noveske 16” N4 light profile
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/noveske_n4_16_inch_barrel_23-1334108.jpg



Colt 16” government profile
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/Colt_16_inch_government_m4_profile_6920_-1334123.jpg


In keeping with the approach to barrel contours of maintaining the same weight as a government profile barrel, while improving the weight distribution and in conjunction with additional improvements, Hodge Defense markets their own vision of such barrels and is now offering these barrels for sale to the general public. The stripped weight of the 14.5” Hodge Defense barrel is 1 pound, 8.5 ounces. For comparison, the stripped weight of a standard Colt 14.5” M4 barrel is 1 pound, 9 ounces.


14.5” Hodge defense
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hodge_barrel_02_resized_b-1334087.jpg


Colt M4 barrel (not stripped)
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/colt_m4_barrel_01_resized-1298030-1334501.jpg


The 14.5” Hodge Defense barrel is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale, to secret-squirrel specifications, for Hodge Defense. This barrel is cold-hammer-forged and has a 1:7” twist. The barrel employs a mid-length gas system and has a 0.75“ gas block journal. The gas port on my barrel gauged at 0.075”.


https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hodge_defense_barrel_stamp-1334088.jpg


A rather unique aspect of this barrel is found in the chamber. Located in the neck section of the chamber, is a ring of six triangular shaped “flutes“. The base of the triangle faces towards the breech end of the barrel.


https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hodge_barrel_borescope_02_cropped_resize-1334815.jpg


I assembled the Hodge Defense barrel in a Bravo Company upper receiver and BCM MCMR 13” free-float hand-guard that has nearly perfect anodizing. I rounded-out this build with a JP Enterprises bolt, a Young Manufacturing bolt carrier and a BCM charging handle.


https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/young_bolt_carrier_and_jp_bolt_02-1334556.jpg



https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hidge_defense_assembled_04-1334469.jpg


Shooting off of sandbags at a distance of 100 yards using match-grade hand-loads and a high-magnification scope, the Hodge Defense barrel produced a 10-shot group that had an extreme spread of 1.24”.


https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/hodge_defense_10_shot_group_at_100_yards-1334324.jpg





https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/28568/signature_003-2570072.jpg

...
themonk
10-20-22, 14:45
As always, thanks for the post.
opngrnd
10-20-22, 18:04
Thanks for the write up! The "flutes" are interesting.
georgeib
10-20-22, 18:22
Thanks for the write up! The "flutes" are interesting.

Yes, indeed. Presumably there to aid in extraction? If they're intentional, it's curious that they aren't advertised.
HoodBoogie
10-29-22, 00:01
Thanks for this. Just got my 14.5 Hodge together to shoot this weekend.
TMS951
10-29-22, 07:18
Thanks for the write up. Interesting to see what a hodge barrel can do considering all the hype. For all the magic sauce in those barrels I guess I was expecting moa, so this performance is a tad underwhelming.

It would have been nice to have accuracy numbers for the other mentioned barrels as a comparison.
Furbyballer
11-07-22, 21:23
You’re data matches my experience. I found it to be a sub moa barrel sometimes in 5 round tests, but when I shot 10 round groups it was almost always 1.2 moa.
markm
11-08-22, 08:48
You’re data matches my experience. I found it to be a sub moa barrel sometimes in 5 round tests, but when I shot 10 round groups it was almost always 1.2 moa.

I don't know a thing about Hodge Defense, but I'll take a barrel that can hold 1.2 for 10 rounds all day long. It's not world class, but pretty damned good.
themonk
11-08-22, 08:54
I don't know a thing about Hodge Defense, but I'll take a barrel that can hold 1.2 for 10 rounds all day long. It's not world class, but pretty damned good.

Its pretty awesome for a chrome lined barrel of that weight.
pointblank4445
11-08-22, 12:24
Of the 6 I've had of the 14.5" Hodge barrels.

2x will print sub 1.5 MOA no matter what
1x would print sub MOA for 10 rounds and go to hell
2x were "meh" 3 MOA guns no matter what they got fed
1x was sub-MOA if it was clean but got super touchy like an worn out stainless.

Ultimately, they have great POTENTIAL...for what they are.
markm
11-08-22, 12:49
Of the 6 I've had of the 14.5" Hodge barrels.

Damn. That's a lot of barrels from the same manufacturer. Good sized sample though.
vicious_cb
11-08-22, 16:00
Of the 6 I've had of the 14.5" Hodge barrels.

2x will print sub 1.5 MOA no matter what
1x would print sub MOA for 10 rounds and go to hell
2x were "meh" 3 MOA guns no matter what they got fed
1x was sub-MOA if it was clean but got super touchy like an worn out stainless.

Ultimately, they have great POTENTIAL...for what they are.

Since the marketing of these barrels are for durability under hard use conditions using military ammo, the real question is did you manage to kill a Hodge barrel?
pointblank4445
11-09-22, 16:24
Since the marketing of these barrels are for durability under hard use conditions using military ammo, the real question is did you manage to kill a Hodge barrel?

I've killed a real HK 416 barrel, a few Colts and several stainless; I don't think the Hodge would be a problem...If that's what I was going for.
pointblank4445
11-09-22, 16:36
Damn. That's a lot of barrels from the same manufacturer. Good sized sample though.

While I respect Molon and his OCD, this is the flaw in the review design. It's been the same story with FN's, DD's and other barrels. The Hodges though are some of the most temperamental in respect to accuracy, ammo preferences, response to heat/abuse.
markm
11-10-22, 07:45
The Hodges though are some of the most temperamental in respect to accuracy, ammo preferences, response to heat/abuse.

Do you know if they're button rifled or hammer forged?
themonk
11-10-22, 08:18
FN cold-hammer-forged
markm
11-10-22, 08:26
FN cold-hammer-forged

And Colt's button barrels enjoy a pretty good reputation? Better Q.C. maybe?
opngrnd
11-10-22, 09:12
Isn't it a $425 barrel? Crazy if QC is the issue.
markm
11-10-22, 09:58
Isn't it a $425 barrel? Crazy if QC is the issue.

They get $425 for a CL barrel?? That Minnies Machine contract barrel I have will shot under 2 MOA for $220.
themonk
11-10-22, 10:11
They get $425 for a CL barrel?? That Minnies Machine contract barrel I have will shot under 2 MOA for $220.

I think you are paying for a couple things that were not really available when these barrels came out.

Your paying for:
Durability - Hodge mystery steel has been shown in testing be extremely durable in high round count guns including the use of M855A1
Weight and contour
Smaller gas port for shooting suppressed
Accuracy - it's a fairly accurate barrel for chrome lined. My 12.5 is sub moa with black hills, pmc 855, pmc match 77, and gmm.

I think now there is far more competition in this space than there was in 2018 but if you need a seriously durable, accurate, and lightweight barrel for a fighting gun it's hard to do better.
markm
11-10-22, 10:24
I think now there is far more competition in this space than there was in 2018 but if you need a seriously durable, accurate, and lightweight barrel for a fighting gun it's hard to do better.

Yeah. But the accuracy is hit and miss, so to speak, according to the replies. And I've never had a durability issue with any barrel... even my old mediocre Bushmaster went well past 25k rounds.

Even as Lysander posted about other FN "double chrome lined" barrels.... there's really not much difference due to the min/max thickness in chrome. I've never tried a HD barrel, but I'd have a hard time believing it would be any better than my Sionics RGP.

Honestly I'd probably be perfectly happy with a 2 MOA Hodge barrel, but not at over $400. It strikes me that there's at least $150 in marketing BS built into the price.
Pappabear
11-10-22, 11:04
I had to do a quick search to confirm and yes they still demand a very steep price for their barrels. They must be getting it or you wouldn’t see $400 price tags. I find that surprising but good for them if they can get it. Not getting into my corn pile though.

I find it a little surprising that people are still building AR’s after our 14 hundredth panic buying spree. It’s just proof positive that I still have much to learn about this insatiable market.

PB
BufordTJustice
11-10-22, 11:52
I think you are paying for a couple things that were not really available when these barrels came out.

Your paying for:
Durability - Hodge mystery steel has been shown in testing be extremely durable in high round count guns including the use of M855A1
Weight and contour
Smaller gas port for shooting suppressed
Accuracy - it's a fairly accurate barrel for chrome lined. My 12.5 is sub moa with black hills, pmc 855, pmc match 77, and gmm.

I think now there is far more competition in this space than there was in 2018 but if you need a seriously durable, accurate, and lightweight barrel for a fighting gun it's hard to do better.

Has anybody ever figured out what the exact steel is?


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Defaultmp3
11-10-22, 12:06
Has anybody ever figured out what the exact steel is?Some variant of 9310H, as stated by Hodge himself.
BufordTJustice
11-10-22, 12:19
Some variant of 9310H, as stated by Hodge himself.

Thanks.

If so, it makes sense why they are all hammer forged.


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AAMP84
11-10-22, 22:58
Here's a quote from Roy at Weapon Outfitters about the Hodge barrel steel:


Anyway, the steel used in Hodge Defense barrels is high grade stuff that’s basically trying to mimic or exceed the HK416 barrel in all aspects of performance. I have a 7 page NDA from FN so I can’t spill the beans on the Hodge Defense barrels specifically, but if you dive deep into the HK416 barrel (20 year old technology about 1 generation behind) you will see why it can still extract amazing performance despite having the piston in the wrong spot lol

Also, the price on Hodge barrels recently dropped to $390. Still pricey, but at least they aren't over 4 bills any more.