M305 Deluxe vs Synthetic?

dak47

dak47

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This site is ruining my bank account... Gradually talked myself into a M305 in the last 6 months, something I wouldn't have even considered a year ago. ;)
I only have one synthetic hunting rifle and prefer the look of wood, but I see the Deluxe is $200 more than the plastic version! Anybody here spring for the Deluxe and do they consider it worth the extra $$ ? Is there anything else upgraded besides the stock? Sorry M305 newbie....

D.K.
 
84wh1 said:
If you want wood, don't go the norc route. Buy a basic m305 is the plastic stock and then spend the extra 200$ for a boyds stock. Way better option than mystery China wood.
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The ones he's talking about aren't Chu wood, they're Italian walnut made by Minelli S.P.A. and they're VERY nice. Definitely a better deal than a basic model + Boyds.
 
Oh, but to fully answer the OP's question, there's no other difference between the models, just the stock.
 
Thanks for all the input! The more I research, the more one uncovers how fiddly plus hit and miss these units can be... Is this info coming from a vocal few and/or older production years?

I come from all bolt rifles in the safe except for my Dads Gevarm. I'm a handy farm boy who understands how things function but when I want to go shooting, I want to shoot not fuss... So a little torn at the moment. One internet acquaintance said his barrel was the consistency of wood?!? Reciever good, barrel and all the bits, he called paperweights.. Here is the rifle I found, home on Friday - I have to get this sorted by then!

D.K.

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dak47 said:
Thanks for all the input! The more I research, the more one uncovers how fiddly plus hit and miss these units can be... Is this info coming from a vocal few and/or older production years?

I come from all bolt rifles in the safe except for my Dads Gevarm. I'm a handy farm boy who understands how things function but when I want to go shooting, I want to shoot not fuss... So a little torn at the moment. One internet acquaintance said his barrel was the consistency of wood?!? Reciever good, barrel and all the bits, he called paperweights.. Here is the rifle I found, home on Friday - I have to get this sorted by then!

D.K.

View attachment 26022
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They are indeed fiddly, to varying degrees. Basically, your odds of getting one that doesn't have to be tweaked in at least some small way are slim, but your odds of getting one that's a total lemon are low too (sounds like your internet acquaintance was on the very unlucky end of the bell curve). Once they're sorted out they tend to run like champs, but if you want an out-of-the-box-ready experience your best bet would be to buy a used one that's already been sorted out, or save your money for a Springfield, JRA, or LRB.

Beautiful wood on that one btw. An example of fiddlyness is that if you were to take that rifle home you'd likely need to grind off the long ends of the bolts holding the front sling swivel on (they may be touching the gas cylinder), and you'll need to glue a small bit of wood to fill the space between the inside edge of the stock and the op-rod spring guide retaining pin (google "popsicle stick trick M305"). There may be other things you'll need to tweak, but it's impossible to say yet. They tend to be best looked at as project guns, but the end result of that project is a great rifle :cool:
 
The Minnelli walnut stocks are gorgeous, but the rest of the rifle is pure Norc.

I love the way my deluxe stock looks but the fit was slightly loose. The fit of the Boyd's walnut stock was superior
 
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Mine. This is the Minelli S.P.A. Italian wood stock that I stripped and refinished with Birchwood Casey Tru Oil

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Nice... mine is a work in progress... that one has yet to be fired I want to knock the flash suppressor off and put a muzzle brake on and I am going to paint the stock...
 
As Barney/Tactical Teacher/Hungry says.. "Norcs are a diamond in the rough".

There's enough members here that can guide you through or solve a problem should you need help, so don't be overly skeptical about them. As mentioned if you understand going in there's minor tinkering to be done, then all is good. If you expecting Sub-Moa accuracy/quality/finish from the "which highschool shop class put my gun together today" mentality you might be disappointed. They are a project gun no doubts there.

Cruise the EE for a sorted one or buy new and make the journey like most of us have and join the fun of the M14/305 platform.

Again as Barney says.... "Don't buy one, buy two before you d*ck falls off"...

**Edit**

Italian Wood

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In between keeping everything spinning in the right direction at work, i have never watched so many You Tube clips on a single model of a firearm, some total crap and some very informative!

I have a much better understanding of the engineering now, what looked rather complex translated into a fairly simple design after a little classroom time ;)

My current war in my head is save some money on a plastic scout model or the 22" barrelled wood stock version I found.... I can see it will be kind of like keeping my old Shovelhead on the road! A few simple tools, a couple spares of this and that coupled with some knowledge and all should be good!

Thanks to all for the sage advice! I will post my choice next Friday when I hit the homestead.....

D.K.
 
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