How good are the norinco m14's

+1 on 45ACPKINGs' comments

I'll summarize for those nay-sayers or those sitting on the fence about a Norc in particular.

The Norc M305 is as Barney/Tactical Teacher says is a "diamond in the rough". It's a USGI Spring Guide & Spring from being a reliable & decently accurate bench gun for the average shooter. Those two mods are the cheapest ways (under $100) to improve an out-of-the-box Norc & have alot of fun.

Feel the need to upgrade beyond the OPs' initial requirements?

M14 Clinic hosted by various forum members here. This is where you get into shimming, unitizing & checking the headspace for even better accuracy

Next level of upgrades?

Optics & Mounts
Barrels
Op Rods
Gas System & Piston
Brakes/Comps/FH'ers
USGI Sights
USGI Stocks or complete Chassis Systems

Yes they can be expensive to feed (it is a 7.62/.308 after all). It's also a good way to start to learn the reloading process & tighten up those groups even more. SP, BTHP, A-Max, SMKs' or Cast the Norc just keeps on saying "feed me more" please.

If your expecting SA or LRB quality & accuracy from a $6-$700 Chinese knock-off, sorry to say but you will be disappointed and join the ranks of many previous M14/305 owners on the EE.

Bottom line?
Utilize the Norc for what it is. A cost effective and fun learning tool into the Battle Rifle platform.
 
Welding helmet? I kid...

My barrel is indexed properly, the sight base is actually forged crooked. I have a new Springfield - but then there's the matter of shimming.

No fix-up sessions in MB and no local smiths that know them well enough to work on.

By the time you pay for a new bolt + fitting + new rear sight you are getting close to a base Springfield M1A (perhaps even with a little warranty).
 
NaviDave said:
Welding helmet? I kid...

My barrel is indexed properly, the sight base is actually forged crooked. I have a new Springfield - but then there's the matter of shimming.

No fix-up sessions in MB and no local smiths that know them well enough to work on.

By the time you pay for a new bolt + fitting + new rear sight you are getting close to a base Springfield M1A (perhaps even with a little warranty).
Click to expand...

My point exactly
 
NaviDave said:
Welding helmet? I kid...

My barrel is indexed properly, the sight base is actually forged crooked. I have a new Springfield - but then there's the matter of shimming.

No fix-up sessions in MB and no local smiths that know them well enough to work on.

By the time you pay for a new bolt + fitting + new rear sight you are getting close to a base Springfield M1A (perhaps even with a little warranty).
Click to expand...

Contrary to what some folks will try an convince you... It is not 'necessary' to upgrade the chinese bolt.
But what do I know, I've only worked on and built several hundred of them now LOL

Once a guy weaves thru all the misinformation out there, he will find , these are a fun rifle and worth the measly 500 or so they cost.
 
I love mine!

I have an wood stocked longer version that I have put about 1000 rounds through an never had an issue. The accuracy has always been good although sometimes it seems that the sights shift while in storage. Could just be my failing eyesight as well.

It is probably my favorite rifle of my collection to shoot!
 
You have all the info you need from far more knowledgable guys here than I but I can add that I was getting 1.75 moa with a cheap scope and cheap mount only by changing the spring guide and using fed hishok 150's, on yeah and a boyds stock. Since then I bedded the rifle (and boy it needed it), changed the piston to a sadlak grooved, changed the spring and since Barney changed my brarrel, the op rod is perfectly aligned with the piston, I also got a casm scope mount and a good scope so heck...I am hoping to get 1 moa or close with all that. It a good product.

It was a headache though at first, you need to learn about the rifle, what makes it tick. It's like an old Harley, you either hate it or love it.
 
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All right, I think I'm good for a Norinco m305 shorty!
The fact it has stripper clip guide and that aia m10 10 round magazines fit them will make for a fun combo...
1000x1000.jpg

Also, what I heard from Youtube is that the recoil is very mild on this rifle for a 308. That and the fact it's semi auto (and badass) should make for a fun rifle to shoot, even if it's not the most accurate.

You guys must all know about those 10 round aia m10 (a 308 bolt action) that fit the m305/m1a/m14?
http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/details/16645/E-Lander-AIA-M10-Type-308-Magazine-10-Round.aspx
These mags makes the m305 somewhat special. The m1a/m305/m14 is as far as I know the only 308 SHTF rifle with 10 rounds mags in Canada.

Just one question for those who are more well versed in tactical shooting, what's the point of a defender shotgun when you've got a battle rifle? I tried a 12GA with birdshot and buckshot and the spread was so small that I really had to aim that thing even at close range.
 
Well, thank you all for all that great info, you've been realy helpful! I may do a review in the future on the rifle and how it performs.
 
I'm one of the dummies who paid 4 times as much for a springfield standard new and 7 times as much for an older SAI super with GI bolt,trigger,op rod, hart barrel and McMillan stock. Neither of them will shoot 1/2 MOA even with NM parts and GMM.

I recently inspected a Norc for a buddy who is too cheap to buy an SAI . Overall this late model rifle seemed pretty good although we later discovered a safety that would not engage. A bit of jewlers file action and that issue solved. Yet to see it shoot I suspect it will function fine. We'll see how massive that head space is when I mic a few cases. I think MOA accuracy with spring guide, spring and shim is pure fantasy.

As you are new to this I would suggest purchasing a decent bolt action rifle in a well established caliber, 12 gauge and a 22 before taking on a rifle that may end up being a project, a frustrating one.

300+ yard shots on game are best left to experienced shooters with accurate rifles. You owe the animal a clean kill. I suppose if you can do jumping jacks for ten minutes at -10 and hit that pie plate off hand or get a good prone position going it's not such a stretch if you can range accurately and know your trajectory.

The M14 is not too heavy for those with external plumbing. Almost every GI in WWII packed a Garand and not all of them were big guys.

If the shtf those long 5 Round magazines will be magically transformed in to something more interesting.

Getting a little tired of hearing about the cast receivers on the SAI rifles. There are more stories of Norc bolt and barrel failures than SAI receiver failures. Cast receivers are just fine. You can build race engines with cast cranks.
 
Seafury said:
I'm one of the dummies who paid 4 times as much for a springfield standard new and 7 times as much for an older SAI super with GI bolt,trigger,op rod, hart barrel and McMillan stock. Neither of them will shoot 1/2 MOA even with NM parts and GMM.

I recently inspected a Norc for a buddy who is too cheap to buy an SAI . Overall this late model rifle seemed pretty good although we later discovered a safety that would not engage. A bit of jewlers file action and that issue solved. Yet to see it shoot I suspect it will function fine. We'll see how massive that head space is when I mic a few cases. I think MOA accuracy with spring guide, spring and shim is pure fantasy.

As you are new to this I would suggest purchasing a decent bolt action rifle in a well established caliber, 12 gauge and a 22 before taking on a rifle that may end up being a project, a frustrating one.

300+ yard shots on game are best left to experienced shooters with accurate rifles. You owe the animal a clean kill. I suppose if you can do jumping jacks for ten minutes at -10 and hit that pie plate off hand or get a good prone position going it's not such a stretch if you can range accurately and know your trajectory.

The M14 is not too heavy for those with external plumbing. Almost every GI in WWII packed a Garand and not all of them were big guys.

If the shtf those long 5 Round magazines will be magically transformed in to something more interesting.

Getting a little tired of hearing about the cast receivers on the SAI rifles. There are more stories of Norc bolt and barrel failures than SAI receiver failures. Cast receivers are just fine. You can build race engines with cast cranks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, remove the damn rivet if SHTF!
I won't shoot at 300 yards on animals without beeing sure it's going to hit where I want it to. Most shot here are under 100 yards anyway.
For me 2 moa is just fine. I wan't to keep and learn to use the iron sights.
I want to have fun with the rifle and experience how it was to use it as they used to.

I will buy a 22lr and a 12GA. I know that 308 is expensive. I don't know if I will buy a bolt action 308 then the norinco. The norinco is what I want, it's gooing to be less expensive to buy it first than to buy it later after having spent a few 100's on a bolt action. I'll read as much as I can on what to look for and buy from a good dealer that will replace/repair if something is wrong. I think that way it should be fine.

I don't expect moa accuracy, 2 moa is enough for me. The range where I will shoot most of the time is 200 yard max.
 
brutus101 said:
Yeah, remove the damn rivet if SHTF!
I won't shoot at 300 yards on animals without beeing sure it's going to hit where I want it to. Most shot here are under 100 yards anyway.
For me 2 moa is just fine. I wan't to keep and learn to use the iron sights.
I want to have fun with the rifle and experience how it was to use it as they used to.

I will buy a 22lr and a 12GA. I know that 308 is expensive. I don't know if I will buy a bolt action 308 then the norinco. The norinco is what I want, it's gooing to be less expensive to buy it first than to buy it later after having spent a few 100's on a bolt action. I'll read as much as I can on what to look for and buy from a good dealer that will replace/repair if something is wrong. I think that way it should be fine.

I don't expect moa accuracy, 2 moa is enough for me. The range where I will shoot most of the time is 200 yard max.
Click to expand...

308 is no more expensive than any other big game cartridge and will work fine. Remember that everyone here including me has some bias on this subject. Try to weed out the fiction.
 
Yah man, the Norinco M305 is fun to shoot, the recoil on this rifle is like shooting .223 after the M14.ca light muzzlebrake is installed by Mr. GunBoy. ;) I also upgraded to some sadlak piston/spring and guard rod.
 
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It's a really fun gun, definitely one of my favourite rifles. The Norincos (as everyone is saying) usually come out of the box with minor factory flaws like being over-indexed (so I "gently tapped" it over with a dummy grenade acting in place of my missing hammer) and have a cheap upper hand guard that kinda rattles (so I replaced it). I've never experienced a jam or had trouble with it eating through military and commercial ammo. A gun shop associate once told me that some scope mounts designed for the Springfield M1As won't fit the Norc. I havent verified that on my own, but was told to be careful when ordering one since he'd sold out.

If you're on a budget and want an M14, the M305 is definitely a reliable and modifiable rifle you can play with until you can afford that Springfield M1A ;)
 
Thanks...I didn't paint anything, there were few batches of M305 that come with this cammo few years back, i just changed the hand guard.
 
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