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Shot a few rounds through a Noveske Afghan

3K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  Big Bird 
#1 ·
Disclaimer: This gun didn't come directly from Noveske. It was assembled with parts from Noveske. A kid that works with me put it all together. From what I can tell, the difference between this Noveske and a real Noveske Afghan are the muzzle device and the buttstock. This kid's gun has some sort of sniper-type heavy buttstock and a muzzle brake/compensator that worked quite well. The heavy buttstock gives it a slightly back heaviness that seems to anchor the rifle to the shoulder.

The gun has a Geissele trigger of some sort.

My impression is that the parts are superbly made. The rail on the handguard isn't monolithic but it's also solid as a rock. Smooth shooting, that's for sure and the muzzle compensator was every bit as good as the PWS one on the SCAR16 - might be even slightly better.

I only shot about 20-rounds through it with some Mozambique and double tap drills out to 25-yds.

Not too crazy about the Vortex - don't know what the model is. The glass isn't very clear at all, especially for indoors shooting ranges. We were trying to zero the gun in at 50-yds but had a heck of a time finding the crosshair because the light gathering capability isn't too impressive. And I really, really, really detest these multi-tasks/multi-this-multi-that reticles. Call me a Luddite or a dinosaur but give me a nice, clean damned crosshair. Please!!!

When put on 1X and turn on the red dot, the scope worked pretty well. I like the circular red ring reticle that helps focuses the eye on target ala Eotech circle.

I'm definitely impressed with the gun even though it wasn't put together by Noveske. All the parts came from the Big N. Though I'm not enough of a Mattel Toy fan to buy one, I can definitely see why Noveske guns command the prices they command.


 
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#2 ·
I've got a bunch of Noveske stuff and the NSR rail is one of the best low profile rails on the market now. I have guns with the BCM KMR and like it too. But I think I like the NSR is better even though its a little more of a PITA to align the barrel nut than the BCM rail.

My understanding is Aero Precision makes Noveske's receivers. So if you want to dip your toe in the low end of that pool consider am Aero build. Or buy Mega for top quality billet receivers...

Noveske makes two (or used to) different barrels. A 4150 Machine Gun Barrel steel barrel and a Stainless barrel supposedly made to Noveske's specs by Pac Nor barrels. I owned 2 of their barrels and personally found most Noveske Stainless barrels just OK...nothing to get excited about. I had a 6.8 SPC build that once had a Noveske barrel and I found it just mediocre in terms of accuracy and way too heavy. Bought a PSA FN made lightweight barrel in 6.8 on sale for about $165 and it shot circles around the Noveske barrel which cost twice as much. Anecdotal...but nonetheless.

The truth is Noveske doesn't make anything they sell...its all outsourced and re-branded.

So troy sights with Noveske logo etc. And I kind of go ehhhh to that stuff unless I can get it cheaper than the OEM label.

It all top shelf stuff...don't get me wrong. Back in the day when John was alive it was cutting edge stuff for an AR...
 
#4 ·
Still looks like a nice piece of pipe.
 
#5 ·
From my understanding John Noveske used to work for Pac nor, hence he builds his barrels to their spec (if not pac nor themselves making his barrels). I have one of their machine gun steel barrels, and it's definitely an impressive shooter I also have a few of their stainless barrels, and they shoot well also, but the machine gun steel is just outstanding.

It is also my understanding that SMOS mills their billet receivers and when John was still alive it was VLTOR supplying their uppers. I have no idea who makes their BCG, but one my my noveske uppers came with a syrac gas block and VDI BCG.

I will admit things have changed a lot after John's death, but if you have a noveske rifle built while he was still alive, it's a keeper. I run a 10.5, 12.5, 8.2 and 18 inch noveske rifle currently.

Also in the picture, it looks like it's a silencerco trifecta brake (to attach suppressor) and Magpul PRS stock.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Back before he had a Gen II receiver Vltor was the upper they used on a lot of their builds. Here's my self built 6.8 SPC build with the Forged Gen I receiver and Vltor upper. Some of the VLTOR receivers Noveke used were marked Noveske and some VLTOR. I thin they stopped using/offering the VLTOR receivers as an option when they came out with their Gen II lower...and Gen II Upper from Aero.

 
#7 ·
Fn does the hammer forged barrels and as stated pac nor gives them blanks and I believe they are finished in house(I saw a video on it awhile back).As stated smos does the nsr rails and the receivers and you can buy them under their name if you needed to.The bcg is rca and the charging handles are either bcm or the raptor(rifle dependent).They pretty much all come with the alg act trigger and now some flavor of silencerco muzzle device.

Personally I think noveske makes the nicest looking rifles on the market ,but they come extremely overpriced.The quality is good but if given the choice to buy a novekse at $2450-2600 ill buy an sr15 and an aimpoint every time over them.I'm a big proponent of buying quality items ,but you'll eventually reach the point of diminishing returns for a 556 AR.

take money out of the equation and they make good to go stuff
 
#8 ·
That's weird about the Vortex. I have four and find them all clear to very clear and seemingly one of the better values IMHO to be found these days. But, to each their own.

Wonder if there was something on the lenses maybe that was unseen to the naked eye, but causing visibility issues.
 
#9 ·
That's weird about the Vortex. I have four and find them all clear to very clear and seemingly one of the better values IMHO to be found these days. But, to each their own.

Wonder if there was something on the lenses maybe that was unseen to the naked eye, but causing visibility issues.
Vortex is cheap optic. I don't expect it to perform like a Swarvoski.
 
#10 ·
They're not top of market, but nor do I consider them 'cheap'. To me they are a mid-tier that seems to drive a good value/spend ratio. They work well for my budget and uses.
In the several years I've shot Vortex I've never heard anyone describe them as 'not clear', but hell my vision ain't that great to begin with in the first place.

I guess if your eyes are spoiled and that good, then yeah, you can probably tell a huge difference between Vortex/Swarovski/Zeiss/NightForce etc. Even IF I could tell a difference, for my purposes those would be wasted dollars.
But, again, different markets, different budgets, different needs. Something for everyone in the market.
 
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