Noveske DDF Barrels

[kthomas]

Looks like Noveske just dropped their DDF barrel line:

DDF | Noveske Rifleworks

noveske.com

These look pretty interesting. I'm curious to hear people's reports on them when they start to get in the hands of some SH'ers.

Maybe @padom or @Bigjake83 can test some for us...

 

[Cascade Hemi]

$750? Ummm....

 

[kthomas]

$750? Ummm....

That's an 18" with a headspaced bolt. It's $660 without. Also includes gas block and intermediate gas tube, and of course the fluting.

But yeah, not cheap.

 

[Tx_Aggie]

$750? Ummm....

They got that Noveske drip tho….

 

[kthomas]

These cost the same as Proof's AR15 barrels, but come with a few extras. More than Geissele's SPR barrels or Craddock RTR. Less than a Bartlein Craddock.

Not overly expensive if they are shooters.

 

[Tx_Aggie]

The barrels do look sick.

I wish they’d take a page out of Proof’s book when setting the gas system lengths for the 6 ARC barrels.

And it’s interesting that they’re claiming the deep fluting provides all of the same benefits as TACOM’s structuring process.

I’m not quite sure how to take that.

 

[kthomas]

The barrels do look sick.

I wish they’d take a page out of Proof’s book when setting the gas system lengths for the 6 ARC barrels.

And it’s interesting that they’re claiming the deep fluting provides all of the same benefits as TACOM’s structuring process.

I’m not quite sure how to take that.

I do feel like they are overselling the flute features for sure.

But I like that they are only 1 oz heavier than Proof's carbon fiber barrels. For my uses, I like my precision AR-15 to still be somewhat handi and well balanced.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

Are the cut rifled or buttoned? It doesn't say.

 

[call_me_ski]

I will probably be in for a 11.5 5.56 when uppers are in stock.

 

[kthomas]

Are the cut rifled or buttoned? It doesn't say.

I've been searching the internet to try and find out. So far I haven't been able to come up with anything in regards to that specific question.

 

[kthomas]

The Noveske rep on this 100 Concepts video is claiming they are regularly seeing 1/2 MOA results:

 

[hlee]

The Noveske rep on this 100 Concepts video is claiming they are regularly seeing 1/2 MOA results:

As a customer facing employee, take anything that the corporate lawyers haven’t put in writing with a shovel of salt.

 

[kthomas]

As a customer facing employee, take anything that the corporate lawyers haven’t put in writing with a shovel of salt.

100%

 

[pangris]

The look great, if they made them in Grendel I'd be tempted - cut, button, chiseled - what ever they are, all the Noveske bbls I'v bought in the past few years have looked like they used a laser to finish them when put under a scope. Also remarkably consistent .6ish MOA. If I needed a barrel I'd be on it.

 

[Bigjake83]

Have you read the discretion?

Basically, we're making a heavy contour barrel with deep flutes to lower the weight but keep the rigidity to mitigate Barrel Whip.

Then we'll use a Thesaurus to write the product description to make it sound like we've discovered a new advanced method of manufacturing.

 

[Bigjake83]

I'm sure they are fine barrels, I use Noveske barrels all the time and I can't really recall having one that couldn't hold .75 MOA

 

[kthomas]

Have you read the discretion?

Basically, we're making a heavy contour barrel with deep flutes to lower the weight but keep the rigidity to mitigate Barrel Whip.

Then we'll use a Thesaurus to write the product description to make it sound like we've discovered a new advanced method of manufacturing.

Its definitely amusing to see how deep they are reaching to hype up what amounts to just be deep barrel flutes

 

[Bigjake83]

Noveske usually makes quality barrels, and normally priced around $275-350 which is great for somebody who wants a fairly priced quality Barrel.

I just finished a Custom SBR Upper with a Leonidas 12.5" and got .5 MOA with the first two 5rd Proof groups.

 

[Bigjake83]

Looks like Noveske just dropped their DDF barrel line:

DDF | Noveske Rifleworks

noveske.com

These look pretty interesting. I'm curious to hear people's reports on them when they start to get in the hands of some SH'ers.

Maybe @padom or @Bigjake83 can test some for us...

I'll make you a deal brother, you buy the barrel and I'll build you a Custom Upper and I'll use it to conduct a in depth review for the Hide.

I'll even find it's preferred Factory Ammo choice and develop a match handload with 77 SMKs

 

[kthomas]

I'll make you a deal brother, you buy the barrel and I'll build you a Custom Upper and I'll use it to conduct a in depth review for the Hide.

I'll even find it's preferred Factory Ammo choice and develop a match handload with 77 SMKs

If I was ready for that step, I would totally take you up on that

 

[hlee]

Have you read the discretion?

Basically, we're making a heavy contour barrel with deep flutes to lower the weight but keep the rigidity to mitigate Barrel Whip.

Then we'll use a Thesaurus to write the product description to make it sound like we've discovered a new advanced method of manufacturing.

Welcome to Mareketing 518L. It’s a lab class and we’re all part of the experiments. The class is a lower division course, so pretty basic concepts, but it meets every day.

 

[Leicafan1990]

That price is absurd. No one should be charging that amount for button rifled barrels.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

18" intermediate gas? We are going backwards now?

 

[kthomas]

18" intermediate gas? We are going backwards now?

I immediately thought of you when I saw that

 

[TonyTheTiger]

I immediately thought of you when I saw that

I hesitated to even mention it, just because its seems like such a predictable thing for me to complain about..

 

[Cascade Hemi]

18" intermediate gas? We are going backwards now?

The picture shows a rifle length gas system. Which is incorrect, the picture or the description?

 

[dms416]

So, this just a regular Noveske with deeper flutes???

Do I still have their cavernously large gas ports to enjoy as well?

 

[kthomas]

The picture shows a rifle length gas system. Which is incorrect, the picture or the description?

Their website specifies intermediate gas tube for the 18" barrel.

Which one is correct

 

[kthomas]

So, this just a regular Noveske with deeper flutes???

Do I still have their cavernously large gas ports to enjoy as well?

They are awfully vague about the actual specs of the barrel, which is quite annoying.

 

[dms416]

They are awfully vague about the actual specs of the barrel, which is quite annoying.

Yeah, if you're going to try and get me to pay 2x and look past an RTR or Proof off of Expert voice, I'd better have a surplus of details/specs.

 

[Docsherm]

18" intermediate gas? We are going backwards now?

John hated the Rifle lenght gas systems because he liked the carbine buffer system with his 18" SPRs.

 

[hlee]

John hated the Rifle lenght gas systems because he liked the carbine buffer system with his 18" SPRs.

Did he not know that you can run a rifle gas length with a carbine buffer?

 

[Docsherm]

Did he not know that you can run a rifle gas length with a carbine buffer?

He did, he liked the combo of the intermediate gas system and Carbine buffer system.

 

[call_me_ski]

They have a pretty slick reflex can that is designed to be used with the 14.5 6arc barrel. That is a reason for them, offering the shorter handguard configuration with it. That may be the reason they went with the mid length gas system as a longer one would interfere with the can.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

He did, he liked the combo of the intermediate gas system and Carbine buffer system.

I do too, on <16" barrels.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

No one's perfect

 

[dms416]

Noveske usually makes quality barrels, and normally priced around $275-350 which is great for somebody who wants a fairly priced quality Barrel.

I just finished a Custom SBR Upper with a Leonidas 12.5" and got .5 MOA with the first two 5rd Proof groups.

View attachment 8643897View attachment 8643898View attachment 8643899​

Don't take this the wrong way man, but this has eaten at me and I gotta I gotta say/ask this:

Do you ever have pics of groups that are complete shit? Like this isn't a call-out. I have supreme confidence in your ability as:
- you buy and build with very nice parts and with frequency
- you can reload for a specific gun/barrel efficiently
- play with this stuff frequently
And these factors SHOULD lead to success, but the AR accuracy gods are sometimes unfair and unkind.

I'm sure you do, but I gotta know...do you ever have the "What in the Cinnamon Toast FUCK is going on here?" moments that most of us struggle with?

Like here's one of mine:

 

[Bigjake83]

Don't take this the wrong way man, but this has eaten at me and I gotta I gotta say/ask this:

Do you ever have pics of groups that are complete shit? Like this isn't a call-out. I have supreme confidence in your ability as:
- you buy and build with very nice parts and with frequency
- you can reload for a specific gun/barrel efficiently
- play with this stuff frequently
And these factors SHOULD lead to success, but the AR accuracy gods are sometimes unfair and unkind.

I'm sure you do, but I gotta know...do you ever have the "What in the Cinnamon Toast FUCK is going on here?" moments that most of us struggle with?

Like here's one of mine:

...

No worries, very fair questions.

Yes absolutely Sir, In fact I'm leaving soon to hit the range and I'll be happy to post all the dog shit groups as it happens.

I'll give it all to you (No Homo)..the good, the bad and the really ugly.

 

[Bigjake83]

I'm not going to bomb the OP's thread with my range session so please go to this link to see results.

Geissele Cut Rifled SPR Build and Barrel Evaluation. (Part 3 Updated 15MAR25)

Hello Snipershide! Geissele Automatics has been offering Single Point Cut Rifled Barrels for close to two years now but they've been restricted to the 6 ARC Stratomatch or blanks that the end customer could have custom turned from barrel manufacturers like White Oak Armory. Two weeks ago...

www.snipershide.com

 

[pangris]

No one's perfect

If you're talking about John Noveske, go wash out your mouth with Lava Soap

 

[J Max]

I snagged a complete 14.5 Afghan Rfx from Murf’s guns in Oklahoma. Should be at my FFL this weekend and I’ll take it out to my property next week and report back. This will be my first Noveske and first 6ARC so high hopes especially for the price.

Bummed that there’s no reflex can for it, think they bungled that completely. Further there’s no ETA on the Noveske can so might be waiting for CGS or CAT to release their reflex cans. No ETA’s on those either. The barrel profile is a whopping .980 so whatever can has to be big enough to slip over that. Guess I’ll have to use one of my others in the meantime. Also I was told it would come with a Noveske arca rail adapter but it doesn’t.

 

[higginsworksforme]

They have a pretty slick reflex can that is designed to be used with the 14.5 6arc barrel. That is a reason for them, offering the shorter handguard configuration with it. That may be the reason they went with the mid length gas system as a longer one would interfere with the can.

Have they posted it? I can't find it on their site.

 

[J Max]

Just picked it up today. This is the 14.5 RFX 6ARC.

 

[call_me_ski]

Have they posted it? I can't find it on their site.

I don’t believe they have launched it yet. It is in a couple videos if you search Noveske DDF on YouTube.

 

[Obi-WanKannoli]

All my Noveske barrels have shot lights out and i am sure these will too, but Jesus christ it's a fluted barrel with a whole lot of ridiculous romance copy below the fold.

 

[J Max]

I don’t believe they have launched it yet. It is in a couple videos if you search Noveske DDF on YouTube.

The gossip on Instagram goes something like, radical defense (rdusa.com) is now going to be manufacturing or collaborating on the Noveske cans. There was some kinda of parting of ways with CAT and or CGS on this project at some point and to me it would have to be a fairly big issue considering they now have a line of reflex rifles without reflex suppressors. Yet online there’s plenty of pics of their cans that they haven’t taken them down.

 

[pangris]

Just picked it up today. This is the 14.5 RFX 6ARC. View attachment 8646883

 

[J Max]

Just got back from running some rounds through the Noveske DDF 14.5 6ARC. Pretty good overall. It shoots…mostly.

Only had two types of ammo. Hornady 108 Eldm’s and Phantom Defense “Aunt Mary” 90gr tipped game kings. The 108’s were mostly at MOA or sub MOA…mostly, average speed was 2471fps. The Phantom’s were also at or below MOA with an average speed of 2620fps.

Shooting prone in the grass off the Q bipod. First up was the Hornady’s, shot 3 and all 3 rounds touched each other on paper, then stopped because ants. Sorted out the ants then shot a proper 5 rounder, sub moa or right at with the Hornady 108’s.

From there went to shoot steel for 40 rounds to heat up the barrel and then came back for groups and they seemed to open up quite a bit, 2.5moa. Let the rifle rest for a bit and then ripped off another solid moa group with a cooled off barrel. Repeated this process again, same result. The Hornady 108’s speed ranged from 2503fps to 2438fps.

Left the 108’s for a bit and switched to the Phantom 90gr TGK’s, these produced groups at or under moa. Speeds ranged from 2642fps to 2600fps.

Double checked the torque specs on my optics and all was good. Checked the turrets on the Leupold mk5 and they were also locked in properly. So not sure what to say really. Suppose this could hint that the warmer the DDF barrel the worse the groups but it’s a brand new barrel so maybe just needs some sort of a break in period.

Anyways shot 120 rounds with it today and was pretty happy overall. It’s well balanced. The barrel doesn’t make it “end heavy” at all like a SOCOM barrel tends to. Maybe that will change with the addition of Noveske’s reflex can or whoever decides to come to aid them in their reflex can idea. The hand guard is the 10.75 nsr rail and leaves me enough space for the Leupold Mk5 and my PVS30.

 

[JWG]

Are the cut rifled or buttoned? It doesn't say.

Shhh...sinus wave. SO flute. Look at flute.

 

[JWG]

Just got back from running some rounds through the Noveske DDF 14.5 6ARC. Pretty good overall. It shoots…mostly.

Only had two types of ammo. Hornady 108 Eldm’s and Phantom Defense “Aunt Mary” 90gr tipped game kings. The 108’s were mostly at MOA or sub MOA…mostly, average speed was 2471fps. The Phantom’s were also at or below MOA with an average speed of 2620fps.

Shooting prone in the grass off the Q bipod. First up was the Hornady’s, shot 3 and all 3 rounds touched each other on paper, then stopped because ants. Sorted out the ants then shot a proper 5 rounder, sub moa or right at with the Hornady 108’s.

From there went to shoot steel for 40 rounds to heat up the barrel and then came back for groups and they seemed to open up quite a bit, 2.5moa. Let the rifle rest for a bit and then ripped off another solid moa group with a cooled off barrel. Repeated this process again, same result. The Hornady 108’s speed ranged from 2503fps to 2438fps.

Left the 108’s for a bit and switched to the Phantom 90gr TGK’s, these produced groups at or under moa. Speeds ranged from 2642fps to 2600fps.

Double checked the torque specs on my optics and all was good. Checked the turrets on the Leupold mk5 and they were also locked in properly. So not sure what to say really. Suppose this could hint that the warmer the DDF barrel the worse the groups but it’s a brand new barrel so maybe just needs some sort of a break in period.

Anyways shot 120 rounds with it today and was pretty happy overall. It’s well balanced. The barrel doesn’t make it “end heavy” at all like a SOCOM barrel tends to. Maybe that will change with the addition of Noveske’s reflex can or whoever decides to come to aid them in their reflex can idea. The hand guard is the 10.75 nsr rail and leaves me enough space for the Leupold Mk5 and my PVS30. View attachment 8649857View attachment 8649858View attachment 8649859View attachment 8649860View attachment 8649861

So basically, it shoots like a CHF chrome lined LW profile barrel, except it opens up more/faster. Cool.