Just ordered a Noveske 16 inch CHF Barrel. Set my expectations.

[js8588]

With parts of the country literally on fire & DJT's re-election prospects looking inauspicious, I decided to finally get to work building a go-to carbine. I'm sparing no expense (I ordered a freaking $88 after shipping forged rifle receiver extension from Speciaized Armament for it). It will be topped with an Aimpoint CompM5 & cowitness fixed irons (LMT rear sight & probably a Midwest Industries HK style front).

Conventional wisdom dictates the barrel, bolt carrier, and trigger are the heart of a solid build. I decided to finally pull the proverbial trigger & order a Noveske 16 inch CHF/CL barrel. I had some credit with OpticsPlanet & a 10% off coupon. Came to like $420 shipped. They ain't gonna get any cheaper over the coming months.

Supposedly these are the best $$ can buy, save Hodge.

Temper my expectations. What has been your experience with this barrel?

At the moment my expectations are reliable, if overgassed (which I'm okay with. I want it to run any ammo in any conditions & I don't own or intend to own a suppressor...otherwise I'd have hunted down a Hodge). Accuracy expectations are 1.5-2 MOA 5 shot groups @ 100 yards with quality ammo. >2 moa with cheap stuff.

I haven't seen too many reports on a Noveske CHF barrel since Molon's evaluation circa 2009.

[ndmiller]

Ordering a Noveske Barrel isn't apples to apples most times with other barrels in terms of cost. Whenever I've ordered a Noveske barrel it comes with gas block, pin and gas tube included. Most other barrel makers sell the barrel on it's own.

I would expect performance to be similar to all their CL barrels (a bit better than your expectations with a decent shooter), my N4 14.5 is 1 MOA with good ammo (62-77gr) all day and probably shoots better than I can shoot. Their SS 10.5 I have is .5-1 moa same ammo and probably shoots better than I can shoot as well. I run both suppressed without issue with their recommended buffer (what they list on their rifles)

The only other thing I'll leave you with is throw the gas block pin in the freezer the day before the install. Makes all the difference on a clean error and gouge fee install experience.

[Jsp10477]

They’re fn hammerforged barrels to noveske specs. The profile makes sense. The one I had was gassed a little heavy but it was an accurate chromelined barrel.

[n4p226r]

The only other thing I'll leave you with is throw the gas block pin in the freezer the day before the install. Makes all the difference on a clean error and gouge fee install experience.

I wish I read that before I installed one a few years ago.

[ndmiller]

I wish I read that before I installed one a few years ago.

That's what I said after someone told me about the freezer trick. Same thing to install wheel bearings in a car or any press fit part into another.

If I had a video of my first install posted on YouTube, I would win the internet hands down.

[kirkland]

With parts of the country literally on fire & DJT's re-election prospects looking inauspicious, I decided to finally get to work building a go-to carbine. I'm sparing no expense (I ordered a freaking $88 after shipping forged rifle receiver extension from Speciaized Armament for it). It will be topped with an Aimpoint CompM5 & cowitness fixed irons (LMT rear sight & probably a Midwest Industries HK style front).

Conventional wisdom dictates the barrel, bolt carrier, and trigger are the heart of a solid build. I decided to finally pull the proverbial trigger & order a Noveske 16 inch CHF/CL barrel. I had some credit with OpticsPlanet & a 10% off coupon. Came to like $420 shipped. They ain't gonna get any cheaper over the coming months.

Supposedly these are the best $$ can buy, save Hodge.

Temper my expectations. What has been your experience with this barrel?

At the moment my expectations are reliable, if overgassed (which I'm okay with. I want it to run any ammo in any conditions & I don't own or intend to own a suppressor...otherwise I'd have hunted down a Hodge). Accuracy expectations are 1.5-2 MOA 5 shot groups @ 100 yards with quality ammo. >2 moa with cheap stuff.

I haven't seen too many reports on a Noveske CHF barrel since Molon's evaluation circa 2009.

In my opinion the barrel is the true heart of the AR. Milspec BCG's are a dime a dozen. But if you've got a really nice barrel with a true chamber, you can build yourself a really nice AR. The only Noveske barrel I own is a 10.5 6.8 SPC barrel. It's stainless, tapered profile, medium weight, gassed perfectly, and very accurate. I doubt you'll be disappointed with any Noveske barrel.

[RHINOWSO]

Reason being is Noveske barrels are typically $100-150 more than a comparable DD, Criterion, etc.

12 months ago I got a 14.5 DD LW with gas block for $190 shipped.

They are nice barrels (I have a 2010 14.5" CL SW with pinned 51T Blackout), but they aren't cheap.

[ScottsBad]

They are easily better than DD barrels.

I have two 16" Noveske CHF barrels. The first one I bought had a standard A sight/GB. I decided to shave the GB down and put a rail on it. The second one came with a pinned GB. Both are very good barrels about 1 MOA - 1.5 depending on your ammo.

The thing I love about the Noveske barrels is the excellent medium profile, pinned GB, double thick chrome, and good accuracy. I just wish they were less expensive.

You chose wisely.

I prefer the Vltor MUR uppers for my go to rifles. And I'm using a LMT Enhanced BCG for one of the builds, with Vltor A5 Sprinco Green A5H3 buffer (I recommend starting with the A5H2). The A5 is not necessary, you could just as well go with a carbine RE, Sprinco Blue, and H2 or H3 buffer. The Geissele super 42 is another option I have not tried yet.

What ever you do, you know the BCG is critical. I like BCM, LMT enhanced, DD, Colt. I've not tried the Geissele Super Duty, but I saw an evaluation of it and it looks excellent.

I've not had a lot of time with the LMT Enhanced, but it seems to work very well. But I have had a LOT of time on the BCM BCGs and they have been excellent. I would say the BCM BCG is just as good as the Colt. I've not had too much time on the DD yet.

[justin_247]

They are easily better than DD barrels.

Why do you say this? It's been known for a long time that DD builds exceptional barrels. For example, here's a thread from 2012 discussing a 14.5" DD LW-profile barrel, which performed extremely well:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...LW-5-56-barrel

[seagiant]

Hi,
Jeez, give me a break, DD have their own Hammer Forge machines.

I mean they MAKE their own barrels, they don't take someone else's blank, machine it and then put their name on it?

I would use DD for all my builds if I could afford it!