Noveske N4 basic carbine - 2000 round challenge

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

Couldn’t let the handgun forum have all the fun with their 2000 round challenge, so I decided to try it with my Noveske N4 basic carbine:

Rifle: Noveske N4 basic carbine (14.5" w/perm attached SF556-212A)
Caliber: 5.56
Ammunition:

* Federal XM193 55gr
* Prvi Partizan 55gr
* Federal bulk pack (WalMart) 55gr
* Federal XM223SP1 62gr
* Black Hills blue box 55gr

Dates of testing: 27MAR10 - 16APR10
Total rounds fired: 2,340
Range visits: 7

 * 140 rounds fired (~15 mins)
 * 300 rounds fired (~45 mins)
 * 300 rounds fired (~45 mins)
 * 400 rounds fired (~45 mins)
 * 360 rounds fired (~45 mins)
 * 240 rounds fired (~45 mins)
 * 600 rounds fired (~65 mins) details below

Magazines: mix of PMAG/Colt/Bravo Company 30-rounders

Stoppages: zero
Malfunctions: zero
Breakages: zero

Notes: All testing occurred at the NRA indoor range in Fairfax, VA. The carbine was not cleaned prior to the test (boresnake and several drops of oil [*eta lube was slip 2000] were applied several hundred rounds prior to the test starting - those rounds were not counted). Carbine has factory BCG and Bill Springfield 4.5# trigger job. Additionally, a Magpul BAD was in place during the entire test.

Today’s range visit consisted of 600 rounds of Black Hills 55gr (blue box) fired in just over an hour. I took my Fluke IR thermometer and recorded temps at the following locations: chamber, bolt face, bolt side, handguard (bottom front), and barrel (approx 2 inches ahead of the FSB). I did my best to get good temp readings; if something seemed off I ran the temp again to verify - curved surfaces can be tricky.

I took her apart for pics, but didn’t clean anything:

I’m debating on whether or not to clean her, or keep going until she chokes :cool: I wasn’t sure it would make it 2000 rounds with no cleaning/lube, but I was wrong.

2

Awesome! Shoot it until it chokes!

Spooky

3

Im pretty sure I wouldnt have ran mine dry :stuck_out_tongue:

note to self, dont buy a used N4 from lindertw anytime soon…

4

Oh… my… god… that is one dirty carbine.

5

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

6

You’ve got some gun on your carbon.

7

Well it looks like you’re just about done breaking her in :slight_smile:

8

Strong work!:cool:

9

Very nice work. Iv been curious about how warm my parts get after a few hundred continuous rounds.

10

thanks all - here’s a plot of the temps:

note: the cool down period between mags 10-11 was a solid 5 minutes; closer to 2-3 mins between mags 5-6 and 15-16.

11

Nicely done. This makes me want to get a basic N4 now lol.

12

Well worth it for a $850(as listed on rainier arms) uppers. I wonder how the double chrome line thinkness they apply to the their N4 barrels is affected by the heat. Iv notice my barrel cools a lot quicker.

13

Again, excellent work! I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to see someone capable of posting factual, first hand information.

14

Congrats!

I may do this with my KAC, 11.5’’ Suppressed.

15

barrel profile affects how fast they cool down. Thicker barrels will heat up slower but also cool down slower, thinner barrels heat up faster but cool down faster. That Noveske N4 doesnt look like a govt profile barrel, are they pencils or lightweights?

16

Barrel specs from Noveske website:

16" Cold Hammer Forged 5.56mm Barrel
–Made of Mil Spec M249 Machine Gun barrel steel, with heavy M249 Chrome Lining,
(appx. 2 times as thick as an M4 or M16)
–Extended Feed Ramps
–Same weight as M4 barrel, 1 lb, 9 oz, but improved

17

I find it really awesome how cool the bolt face, and side stayed the whole test.

I have a newfound faith in the DI system.

Piston will always be my favorite. But damn, that’s amazing.

18

N4, 6920 and 6520 barrel profiles… hope this helps:

19

Great thread, thanks for trying this out.

Makes me want to try it as well, moreso because Im lazy and dont feel like cleaning:eek:

20

Thanks for the info/temperature results.