rxer311
29 December 2016, 18:23
I have built 2 rifles here that seem very similar on the surface, but have completely different personalities. Both were built with the same goals in mind. That goal is to be a general purpose rifle that can be pushed into home defense or SHTF if the need would arise. In this post I will try to explain some of the reasoning of why I have 2 similar rifles set up the way I do.
First, here are the 2 rifles in question. Rifle 1 on top is a Noveske Gen 3 receiver set with an NSR keymod rail. Rifle 2 on the bottom was built off of an SMOS GFY receiver set with M-LOK rail.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1519_zps8jj3rq4l.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1519_zps8jj3rq4l.jpg.html)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1518_zpspimi3wvv.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1518_zpspimi3wvv.jpg.html)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1517_zpsyrtkkueo.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1517_zpsyrtkkueo.jpg.html)
M-LOK vs Keymod
As you can see the Noveske Gen 3 and SMOS GFY receivers are virtually identical and the rails are also very similar except for M-LOK vs Keymod. The Noveske set was built before the NSR was offered as M-LOK so that determined the decision to go Keymod...that and the fact that I have other rifles that I have invested in keymod. The M-LOK on the SMOS set was chosen because SMOS does not yet offer keymod, so I took it as an opportunity to experiment with the M-LOK system. I have always liked keymod but have yet to use an M-LOK rail. I have some M-LOK attachments on the way, so I will soon get to play with those and determine if I prefer one over the other in practice.
Barrel Choice
Both barrels are of the Noveske 14.5" flavor. The Noveske set uses a CHF Noveske barrel while the SMOS set uses the stainless steel variety. The Noveske rifle has a pinned and welded Silencerco Trifecta FH while the SMOS rifle has a more traditional YHM Phantom FH permanently attached via silver solder. I plan on running the Noveske suppressed in the future, but not the SMOS. I chose the CHF barrel on the Noveske barrel for ultimate longevity and service life while I went with the SS barrel on the SMOS set to see if I can find any difference in practical accuracy between the 2 variations. I am not a crack shot, so while I don't think the SS barrel will be more practically accurate for my uses, I have just had the itch to try a Noveske stainless barrel for myself.
Ergonomics
The Noveske runs a Magpul STR stock because I like the enhanced cheek weld and built in QD socket. The SMOS has a Magpul fixed Carbine stock for the combination of weight savings, the accuracy benefits of a fixed stock, and the simplicity of removing a moving part. Both rifles have a Magpul SL grip because I like the grip angle and the texture. They also both have Odin Works mag releases as I have found that it is easier to manipulate with my smaller hands.
Sighting Equipment
Both rifles utilize the Magpul MBUS back up sights. They have proven themselves reliable and easy to use. I have not found any reasons to change. The Noveske rifle is topped with an Aimpoint PRO due to its proven reliability and battery life. The EOTech 518 on the SMOS was chosen for its reticle design and field of view advantages, along with the fact that the reticle does not distort as much with my astigmatism. For whatever reason, the EOTech circle dot looks better to my eyes with severe astigmatism than the traditional red dot of the Aimpoint. For all of the flaws with EOTech, I still feel as though it is a solid optic choice.
So in closing, both of these "twin rifles" were built with similar goals, but different parts were chosen on each build that change the character and the handling of each. This was a fun (yet expensive) exercise. The best part is that I now have 2 awesome rifles that make me smile every time I open the safe. It'll be hard to choose which one to take on my next trip to the range.
Which one would you choose?
First, here are the 2 rifles in question. Rifle 1 on top is a Noveske Gen 3 receiver set with an NSR keymod rail. Rifle 2 on the bottom was built off of an SMOS GFY receiver set with M-LOK rail.
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1519_zps8jj3rq4l.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1519_zps8jj3rq4l.jpg.html)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1518_zpspimi3wvv.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1518_zpspimi3wvv.jpg.html)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n164/rxer311/IMG_1517_zpsyrtkkueo.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/rxer311/media/IMG_1517_zpsyrtkkueo.jpg.html)
M-LOK vs Keymod
As you can see the Noveske Gen 3 and SMOS GFY receivers are virtually identical and the rails are also very similar except for M-LOK vs Keymod. The Noveske set was built before the NSR was offered as M-LOK so that determined the decision to go Keymod...that and the fact that I have other rifles that I have invested in keymod. The M-LOK on the SMOS set was chosen because SMOS does not yet offer keymod, so I took it as an opportunity to experiment with the M-LOK system. I have always liked keymod but have yet to use an M-LOK rail. I have some M-LOK attachments on the way, so I will soon get to play with those and determine if I prefer one over the other in practice.
Barrel Choice
Both barrels are of the Noveske 14.5" flavor. The Noveske set uses a CHF Noveske barrel while the SMOS set uses the stainless steel variety. The Noveske rifle has a pinned and welded Silencerco Trifecta FH while the SMOS rifle has a more traditional YHM Phantom FH permanently attached via silver solder. I plan on running the Noveske suppressed in the future, but not the SMOS. I chose the CHF barrel on the Noveske barrel for ultimate longevity and service life while I went with the SS barrel on the SMOS set to see if I can find any difference in practical accuracy between the 2 variations. I am not a crack shot, so while I don't think the SS barrel will be more practically accurate for my uses, I have just had the itch to try a Noveske stainless barrel for myself.
Ergonomics
The Noveske runs a Magpul STR stock because I like the enhanced cheek weld and built in QD socket. The SMOS has a Magpul fixed Carbine stock for the combination of weight savings, the accuracy benefits of a fixed stock, and the simplicity of removing a moving part. Both rifles have a Magpul SL grip because I like the grip angle and the texture. They also both have Odin Works mag releases as I have found that it is easier to manipulate with my smaller hands.
Sighting Equipment
Both rifles utilize the Magpul MBUS back up sights. They have proven themselves reliable and easy to use. I have not found any reasons to change. The Noveske rifle is topped with an Aimpoint PRO due to its proven reliability and battery life. The EOTech 518 on the SMOS was chosen for its reticle design and field of view advantages, along with the fact that the reticle does not distort as much with my astigmatism. For whatever reason, the EOTech circle dot looks better to my eyes with severe astigmatism than the traditional red dot of the Aimpoint. For all of the flaws with EOTech, I still feel as though it is a solid optic choice.
So in closing, both of these "twin rifles" were built with similar goals, but different parts were chosen on each build that change the character and the handling of each. This was a fun (yet expensive) exercise. The best part is that I now have 2 awesome rifles that make me smile every time I open the safe. It'll be hard to choose which one to take on my next trip to the range.
Which one would you choose?