Hey guys, I really want a 14.5 inch mid-length AR with a front sight base. I would love to get one made by Noveske, but they only have a 16 inch mid-length. Would it hurt to buy the 16 inch, shoot it while the NFA paperwork is in, and then have it cut down when I get the paperwork back? The only things I’m worried about are the chrome lining in the barrel, and the gas port size. Will these cause any issues? Thanks for your time.
PS: I know its only 1.5 inches and all, I’m just asking if it will hurt anything?
Hurt the barrel:
Yes if you cut it in your garage with a hack saw.
No if someone who knows what their doing like ADCO, WAR Rifles or AR15barrels.com
Why do NFA paperwork on it when you only require a 14.5" barrel…once you add a standard a2 f/h and pin it, it’s o/l is a shade of 16".
Like Robb stated, doing this yourself will most likely result is murdering a noveske barrel, sending it to a compentent smith like ADCO to have the work performed will not hurt the barrel at all. ADCO can cut and then pin the f/h for you at the same time.
I would never attempt to cut the barrel myself, I was referring to having a Professional do the job. I don’t want to pin the barrel because I want to use a KAC Triple Tap brake, and it wont bring the barrel to 16 inches, and I plan on buying a 11.5 inch upper in the future. Will the gas port be the correct size after having the barrel cut?
16" to 14.5" use the same size gas port. Personally I’d just leave it at 16" myself. I own several SBRs but don’t see the need to just be 1.5" shorter for the hell of it.
I’d agree with Robb that the 1.5 shortening won’t really buy you much at all. If anything, I’d consider sending it to ADCO, but instead of shortening it, get it golf ball milled.
If you do want a 14.5" rifle, I’d go pinned as well. A light, handy 16" or 14.5" pinned can do a lot of things people assume only SBRs can do as long as you don’t lard it up with unnecessary accessories.
I agree that the 1.5 inches isn’t that big of a deal, but like I said, I plan on buying a 11.5 inch upper in the future, and I want the lower to be SBR’d for it.
After building a very lightweight pinned 14.5" upper, I really had to evaluate what an SBR could do that that rifle couldn’t. The only answer was function out of vehicles, so I had to figure out an SBR/Suppressor configuration that was short enough and quiet enough to justify the cost and pair of tax stamps.
I don’t want to discourage you from making an 11.5" - they’re brilliant guns, and that’s a great length, but if your plans involve making an 11.5" SBR that to me would indicate you should keep all the long range potential you currently have in your 16" setup in order to better complement your future SBR.
I’d keep your current lower a Title1 lower (or SBR your current one and pick up a second complete lower) and your upper as-is so that you end up with a solid Recce rifle and a top notch SBR when you’re done.
Why can’t you have it cut to 15" and have the Triple Tap pinned?
Personally, I would not do it.
Why? Because it would damage/reduce the functionality of the barrel? Does John use some special crowning procedure? Why?
Hey everybody, The longest range I have access to is 100 yards. Would I be better off just building the 11.5 inch? I like the look and feel of the SBR’s I’m just afraid I would loose to much accuracy. Will I notice the difference inside 100-200 yards? BTW I would be using an Aimpoint micro T1.
Here is the 11.5 inch I’m looking at.
My Noveske 11.5 can easily shoot out to 300, and it is even set up on a pistol lower for “work related” reasons. Don’t worry about loosing accuracy. The round can hit far, it just might not do much once it gets there…
It might not do much at what range? I’m ok with it not being effective at 500 yards, but not 200. What would you say the maximum effective range is?
If you’re talking about effectiveness as in against the two-legged variety you’ll be okay if you stick with the 75-77gr ammo. The less than adequate performance of lighter grain 5.56 ammo in short barrel ARs was one of the things that led to the 6.8 SPC getting developed General consensus seems to be that with the shorter barrel rifles, 75 and 77 grain 5.56 ammo seems to perform very similar to 6.8 SPC in the same barrel lengths. IOW, if yo go with a 11.5" barrel and you’re concerned about terminal performance, you had better stick with the heavier ammo.
I wouldn’t cut a Noveske 16" to 14.5" it is not worth the hassle or expense.
Simply shoot and enjoy the Noveske 16" and when you get the tax stamp back buy another shorter upper.
Cameron
Ok thanks for the info, I planned on using 75 grain tap ammo for home defense / tactical use anyway.
That’s probably what I’ll do, I’ll get a 11.5 and then a 16 as I can afford them.
Both of those statements sounds like a fantastic strategy - the 11.5" is plenty accurate, and the 16" will extend your terminally effective range.
I really like my pairing of the PRVI PPU 75gr HPBT as semi-precision stuff and the TAP 75gr as the go-to load.
Next summer I’ll start looking at pairing the PPU 69gr and the TSX 70gr Bonded load, or the IMI or PPU 62gr with Speer 64gr.
A nice, simple 11.5" Upper with T1 and a compact weaponlight (X300 or M300) and you should be set. A 16" with a variable power optic and you’ve got an amazingly flexible collection.
Thanks for the reply, Lol now all I need is the money.
That’s my goal, I started some years ago with a 16", went with a 14.5" and a permed Phantom, and am now running a Noveske 16" Light Recce/VTAC upper. I LOVE That setup. It runs great for me with a Trijicon 1-4X accupoint from 0-100 (longest range I’ve tested it so far). I forsee this setup being the trick out to 500 easy ammo dependant. Then I’m planning a pistol/SBR (Prob pistol due to ease of travel with it), and it’ll be the SHORT light setup you mention. I wouldn’t go and butcher the Noveske at this point to gain that extra 1.5". It’s just not enough of a gain to be worried with.
I vote Recce gun, and CQB/MK18 style build!