The title explains it all, looking for feedback on Noveske KX3 owners and if you like them or not…Thanks in advance…
I had one on my 10.5 LMT for a few hours. I thought it was heavy and couldn’t really find any benefits. I sold it after my first range session.
Some people claim it helps ensure reliability of SBR’s, but a properly built SBR shouldn’t need one.
YMMV, of course.
I see them as having extremely limited use and heavy. Most things they do would be better accomplished with a suppressor, proper gas port dimensions, or ear protection.
Functions:
- Increase back pressure on SBRs.
- “Soften” the concussion on SBRs.
I have seen LMT 10.5’s that wouldn’t run with under powered ammo and then put a KX3 on and they ran. LMT uses small gas ports as they build their 10.5’s for FA use.
Any other 10.5 shouldn’t need the KX3.
Another nice thing about the KX3 is that it makes the weapon much quieter. The down side to it, is that it is heavy and expensive and doesn’t kill any flash.
C4
Just to clarify this statement, the KX3 doesn’t offer any sound suppression. It simply redirects much of the muzzle blast away from the shooter. As a result, the rifle seems a bit “quieter” to anyone behind the rifle.
Yes, that is correct.
C4
I really like my KX3. Until I can afford to get a suppressor (sometime next year) I will continue to run a KX3 on my LMT 10.5" upper. I don’t mind the weight, and the way the KX3 redirects the blast forward is something I very much appreciate. I find short barrelled ARs with “regular” flash suppressors to be unpleasant and obnoxious due to the noise and concussive blast, but obviously every individual shooter has their own threshold for that sort of thing. To me, a 10.5" with a KX3 sounds and feels like a 16" barrel with an A2 on it. In my case, my budget limits me to shooting mostly commercial-spec ammo, so I like the fact that the KX3 helps (as Grant pointed out) with reliability as well.
Derek
I have a little over 35,000 rounds fired through 4 different guns using the Noveske Krink since April of 2005.
I wrote a story that talked about this in the Sept 2005 issue of SWAT.
What it isn’t. A suppressor
What it is. A FS that directs the noise appx 12-18" in front of the muzzle.
That may not be much on a square range, but it is substantial indoors. We noticed that we didn’t have the major headaches indoors when using them/ teams using them.
While it would be nice for all guns to be perfect, it ain’t gonna’ happen. The KX3 offers a tad more back pressure or other voodoo component that keeps guns functioning when they might otherwise be prone to sluggish.
Bottom line here is this. What you like or don’t is useful only within the context of you- especially if your total time with it is minimal.
Others have a different view, based on what they do and how they use the gun. Things like weight may or may not be an issue when compared to reliability.
As an example, i have no use for a 7.62x51 caliber M700 with a Redfield optic- but others might. I have a few thosand rounds downrange in such a platform, but i am way out of my lane to talk about its usefulness for anothers mission requirement.
See “The Perfect Carbine” in an older SWAT magazine to have it explained better.
Madcop 94, hope this helps.
If you had a good scope on it, you might like it more. 
Oh, i agree completely, but that was in the day…
The optic wasn’t the issue of course, just that i didn’t do that anymore.
Ergo, my skill sets with that platform diminished.
But you knew that.
I dig the hell out of my ‘PIG’ even on a 14.5 Noveske in a rifle length VIS I think the weight issue is negligable. Although I benefit from years of lifting weights am I still chisled ? Do you care ? No - good, I am nearly at the half century mark or over the hill and read guys who have to be half my age and in better shape saying the KX3 is too heavy … sure if its not for you for whatever reason your call but its not too heavy. ‘madcop94’ you can handle it !
my .2 cents
wilco roger over and out !
Michael
I ran one on a 11.5" upper for 7K rounds or so. It worked well. I shot about 4K rounds or so through the gun at the Blackwater Carbine Operators course last year (5days). The rifle ran 100%.
It doesn’t add that much length to a barrel over an A2. Only about an inch or so. Here’s a pic of the 11.5" AR with another 11.5" above it to show the respective differences.
Words to live by, but sadly some people just can’t grasp this concept for some reason.
I had a KX3 on my SBR (10.5" LMT upper) and loved it. But I had to replace it with a regular A2 FH because I could not take it apart to clean it. I even put anti-sieze compound on the threads before I put it on.
If I can figure out to prevent it from freezzing up, I’d put i back on. FWIW, I have had 100% reliability with both the KX3 and the A2 FH.
Seems like everyone here has an SBR but me…
Seriously though, these are beautiful. I will say that even if I could get one, I might rather forsake the shorter barrel for the extra velocity of the 14.5". I know these are close quarters weapons, though. Probably pass on the KX3 for my AR’s, but I have never seen them on 14.5"s and longer anyway. I suppose that is because the concussion and noise are worse with the SBR being closer to the shooter. That and the shorted barrel itself has a louder report, I believe.