Noveske 16.1 Recon 5.56mm Barrel (includes gas block) $480.00
1:7 Twist improved polygonal rifling
5.56 Noveske Match Mod 0 chamber
Mid length gas system
M4 feedramps
1⁄2 X 28 TPI
Bead blasted finish
1″ long gas block seat
Pinned low profile gas block
Medium Contour
BCM SS410™ Barrel $339.95
M4 Feed Ramp Barrel Extension
Mid Length Gas System
1/8 Twist Rate
5.56 NATO Match Chambers (USMC SAM-R Chamber)
410 Stainless Steel
Mid Weight Contour Profile Barrels
Button Rifled
Hand Lapped Rifling
HPT (High Pressure Test) Barrels
MPI (Magnetic Particle Inspected) Barrels
WOA 16 Stainless Steel Match Grade Barrel $273.00
16″ Stainless Steel Match Grade Barrel
1:7 Twist
Midlength Gas System
.223 Wylde Chamber
Bead Blasted Finish
Centurion Arms Recce Barrel $425
Material: Blackened 416R Stainless
Barrel extension: M4 feed ramps
Chamber: optimized for use with MK262 (Black Hills 77gr equivalent)
Twist: 1 in 7 right hand
Contour: Mid length compatible with SPR/M4 AAC suppressors (.750 .748)
Length: 16 in and threaded 1/2x28 for use with most common muzzle devices
I’d like to hear some opinions from experienced individuals on some of the pros/cons of these offerings, and also if there are any other similar options not on this list.
Just to help some of us out. Can you put prices next to them?
I don’t have any 1st hand experience. But will convey a 2nd hand opinion. A friend has a gun built by Rainier with a similar bbl. It is very very accurate. The Noveske speaks for itself.
I started down that path actually but I discovered a couple of things. One is that I don’t shoot well enough for barrels of this quality to matter, and two is that since I don’t shoot well enough I don’t know shit about the subject!
Looking foward to this thread though, since it’s a subject I’m interested in seeing replies to.
I went with CLE (Compass Lake Engineering) Used a Douglas SS blank and had it profiled, chambered and cut/finished to length.
They did m4 ramps, I had 5.56 chambered (they will do whatever you want)(I wanted it chambered that way so I could shoot anything) Mid length gas, bead blasted. Full diameter from gas block to extension and .750 out to muzzle.
So far my loads (22.6 of Benchmark w/77 SMK) does an average of .5 (5 five shot groups so far at 100) Nothing special done to brass other than small based sized and trimmed. (once fired LC) I got my velocity to average 2650 from the 16.5" tube, 22.8 is max with Benchmark.
The price was 475 which included a matched bolt, a carrier, a gas tube and the bead blast.
Of course you have to wait for them to make it vs. buying the one of choice elsewhere.
Since you seem to be heading down the path of a recce build, what’s on your list of things put on it? Will you be doing just the upper to go on an existing lower or tweaking a lower with a match trigger, spr stock, scope, etc…
I’d be curious to know the differences between Wylde, Nato Match and Noveske Match Mod 0 chambers.
BCM uses 410 SS IIRC and they have some info either on their website or here about their rationale for using it vs 416. IIRC 410 is a bit more durable.
The 16” Noveske RECON barrel is a medium contour barrel that weighs 1.8 ounces less than a 16” Colt HBAR. It uses the proprietary Noveske Match Mod 0 chamber which was developed “to fire MK262 Mod 1 on AUTO in hot environments." Besides being able to safely shoot NATO pressure ammunition, this chamber is also capable of producing sub-MOA accuracy when using match grade ammunition.
10-shot group at 100 yards from 16” Noveske RECON barrel.
The Noveske RECON barrel utilizes polygonal rifling, which contrary to the nonsense you may have read on the error-net, does not produce hundreds of feet per second more velocity than conventional rifling.
The Noveske RECON barrel comes with a Noveske gas block (which many people fail to mention when comparing prices) which uses the Noveske originated set-up of one set-screw and one taper-pin to secure the gas block to the barrel.
I have not. Looks like “The List” just got a little longer. Here’s a tid-bit of comparative information obtained using a Stoney Point overall length gauge.
Randall’s list of reamer specs shows the delta in freebore length between a .223 reamers and a NATO reamers is aprox .031". That’s comparing Clymer and Pacific Tool .223 reamers (.0250" freebore length) with JGS and Pacific Tool NATO reamers (.0566" freebore length).
Your data suggests the delta between the Noveske and NATO is on the order of .070", or more than twice the difference between .223 and 5.56 reamer freebore dimensions. I realize that you have to take into account leade angle as well, and the NATO angles are shallower than .223, but this is interesting.
Are your Colt and Noveske chambers relatively new or does the Colt have a lot of rounds through it?
Not sure if weight is a factor in the build you’re considering, but the Noveske Recon barrel weighs 2lb 3oz including the gas block (just another stat to throw in the mix; not sure of the weights of the other barrels).
I’m very pleased with the accuracy of my Noveske Recon rifle (it has motivated me to get a more powerful optic to wring the tightest groups out of it), but a friend of mine is also getting impressive groups out of a 16" Larue Stealth upper. The LaRue barrels are Wylde chambered, polygonal rifled, with 1-8 twist, mid-length gas system and an Ion Bond coating. Might want to consider one of those as well.
Dennysguns/Global Tactical has one also
16" Recon Barrel
16" Midlength gas system
1:7 twist
Wylde Chamber
M4 Barrel Extensions
Barrels are SHILEN Match Grade Stainless Steel and made for us by John at WOA, custom chambered… Guranteed sub MOA with Match Ammo
$325.00 each.
Standard or Bead blasted matte at no additional charge
I can’t geek out with the rest of you, but my WOA 18" barrel as well as my 10.5" Noveske barrels shoot very well. I just use Black Hills 77gr SMK, 75gr TAP, or Mk262. I’m usually never all set-up for wringing the maximum accuracy out of a given setup, but with a front rest or bipod @ 100yds using a KAC or WOA trigger, I could get sub-1" 5 shot groups without much hassle. Typically using 10x or 14x Leupold Mk4’s.
