M305 for a DMR build?

MattCica

MattCica

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Southern Ont.
Hey all,

I am waiting for my PAL to come through and am still deciding on which firearm to choose for my first, I was originally going to go with a Remington 700 but have started to think a semi would be more fun/practical to work with for shorter distance shooting. Since I am in Southern Ontario, there are very little long range opportunities over 200-300 yards (that I am aware of) and because the dream of 1000+ yard targets are our, I am starting to look at battle rifles or other black rifles to make a sort of DMR build. I think a Norinco M305 would be a good value to start off with and can work over time to make it consistently accurate at 200 yrds. I would probably drop it into a different stock like troy or blackfeather to give it a more modern look and feel. I guess my question would be, is this particular rifle a good starting point or are there other rifles (willing to go $1000-$1500 price point) that would set me up better for the long run?

Any input or suggestions would be helpful,

Thanks
 
Welcome aboard.

The Ontario Rifle Association has periodic access to the DND ranges in Winona and Borden. You can shoot up to 600 yds at one and 1000 yds at the other. I don't know if the base in Kingston is still available to the civilian rifle associations, but they have 600 yds there too.

Ref your build. There are any number of ways to buy bullseyes, some things are more effective than others. I suggest you read all the sticky notes on building Norinco rifles. You could spend that kind of money building the rifle, and the same again on optics. Beware, this is a dangerous mission!
 
If you want long range, or precision rifles you can get a really nice bolt gun for what it costs to get the m305 on the same level.

Semi's are super fun, I shoot mine out to 500 yards with irons. Its consistently accurate at 300 with only an upgraded spring guide rod (50 bucks) and a couple of sand bags.
With only the op rod upgrades 2-3 inch groups when im doing my part at 100 is consistent.
You can buy a bolt gun out of the box now a days that shoot 1 inch groups all day for same price as a norc.

Norcs can be super fun rifles, great if you EXPECT to have to tinker and spend money on to get to preform. If you want out of the box accuracy bolt guns are where it is at.
 
Buy the bolt gun, practice your shooting skills. Then buy an m305 as a fun gun and developing hobby smithing skills and as a possible candidate for a DMR build.

Coming full circle with my m14 addiction, I can't recommend the m14 platform as a "first gun", regardless of the brand stamped on the receiver.
 
x2 Sound advice.

I have an M305 that I am really struggling with in making into a decent gun as far as accuracy goes. Bolt guns win hands down, and there is the basis of the craft. Semi-auto's are the next step, and will be very hard to get up to the bolt gun level of accuracy. But they are fun!

Candocad.
 
lots of solid advice here, whats maintenance like with the norinco vs a bolt gun? I would think more moving parts would make cleaning it more work and maybe hinder reliability. Is that safe to assume? I'm pleased with the quick and helpful responses, thanks a bunch
 
Well, the m14 platform is not as foolproof as a bolt, that's for sure. There are specific things to watch for, I recommend pouring over the stickies. TONS of good info in there. Perhaps a little more research will help you in your choice. I would second the opinion that the m14 pattern rifles are not a ideal "first gun." Outside of a scattergun it was basically my first rifle. At the start it was frustrating; squeezing accuracy out of the rifle takes know how which, without this forum I didn't have.

The big thing here I would say are your expectations. Like other posters have mentioned, an accurate out of the box bolt gun is pretty tough to screw up. Chasing the same type of accuracy from the m14 takes serious know how, patience and above all else, lots of cash. If I had to do it again, I would've started with a bolt as others have recommended. Having said that, I love the m14s. Prepare to get addicted lol
 
They do very well for a DMR rifle. Which isn't meant to be a precision bolt gun. Those are two different games. They won't make tiny bolt gun groups at range, but they'll make effective hits with fast follow up shots. Which is what a DMR is meant for.

Don't ask for something it's not meant to do. You wouldn't judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree would you?
 
dahs said:
They do very well for a DMR rifle. Which isn't meant to be a precision bolt gun. Those are two different games. They won't make tiny bolt gun groups at range, but they'll make effective hits with fast follow up shots. Which is what a DMR is meant for.

Don't ask for something it's not meant to do. You wouldn't judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree would you?
Click to expand...

I realize the capabilities of a semi are less accuracy than a bolt, I hope that's not how I came across. I'd be just as happy with a 3 inch group from a m305 than a 1 inch group with a bolt. I am just in a bind of which platform I should start off with and grow over time. Sounds like a bolt action is the recommendation from the community and I think I agree now that I see the reasoning. I will definitely own an Norinco at some point, who's to say I cant have both? :)
 
45ACPKING said:
Buy the bolt gun, practice your shooting skills. Then buy an m305 as a fun gun and developing hobby smithing skills and as a possible candidate for a DMR build.

Coming full circle with my m14 addiction, I can't recommend the m14 platform as a "first gun", regardless of the brand stamped on the receiver.
Click to expand...



Canadiankeeper said:
If you want long range, or precision rifles you can get a really nice bolt gun for what it costs to get the m305 on the same level.

Norcs can be super fun rifles, great if you EXPECT to have to tinker and spend money on to get to preform. If you want out of the box accuracy bolt guns are where it is at.
Click to expand...

best advice in this thread.
 
The M14 platform is a tinker's platform. You must be willing to spend the time to learn, and the time and effort into tuning/building the rifle.
IMHO, this is not the platform for a beginner.

To turn a M14 type rifle into match quality rifle will also take $$$$$$$$. Be prepared to spend some serious cash.

As far as accuracy and reliability compared to a bolt gun, in general the bolt gun will be more accurate and reliable.

However, if you get the right parts, and have a top notch M14 smith build your gun, you can build a M14 type rifle that will shoot just as well and just as reliable as any precision bolt gun.........as long as you maintain it and take the time to reload for it.

I had just such an M1A that was built by Hungry/Tactical Teacher many years ago.Regretfully I sold that one off.That is the only rifle I regret selling.
 
To basically echo what everyone else says, Norcs/the M14 platform is/are super fun but expect to have to tinker and spend lots of cash to get them to shoot tight. I've got one that will reliably shoot sub 1.5MOA with handloads but I've been tinkering with it for years now. A bolt gun will be way more accurate out of the box. That being said, no reason not to get a Norc and start shooting it as is, read the stickies, start tinkering, go to a clinic and upgrade your gun slowly but surely. That way you also learn how the rifle functions, what certain mods do as far as accuracy, etc. I wouldn't suggest buying a rifle and a whole shwack of mods right off the bat and expecting it to shoot well though.Better to go slow and steady, learn the ins and outs of the platform, your addiction will only get more intense, haha. Shooting lots of .308 gets real expensive too so investing in reloading is a good idea, imo.
 
MattCica said:
I realize the capabilities of a semi are less accuracy than a bolt, I hope that's not how I came across. I'd be just as happy with a 3 inch group from a m305 than a 1 inch group with a bolt. I am just in a bind of which platform I should start off with and grow over time. Sounds like a bolt action is the recommendation from the community and I think I agree now that I see the reasoning. I will definitely own an Norinco at some point, who's to say I cant have both? :)
Click to expand...

A rifle that is capable of 3" groups at a hundred gets boring really fast, if the goal is DMR level of performance.
 
MattCica said:
Hey all,

I am waiting for my PAL to come through and am still deciding on which firearm to choose for my first, I was originally going to go with a Remington 700 but have started to think a semi would be more fun/practical to work with for shorter distance shooting. Since I am in Southern Ontario, there are very little long range opportunities over 200-300 yards (that I am aware of) and because the dream of 1000+ yard targets are our, I am starting to look at battle rifles or other black rifles to make a sort of DMR build. I think a Norinco M305 would be a good value to start off with and can work over time to make it consistently accurate at 200 yrds. I would probably drop it into a different stock like troy or blackfeather to give it a more modern look and feel. I guess my question would be, is this particular rifle a good starting point or are there other rifles (willing to go $1000-$1500 price point) that would set me up better for the long run?

Any input or suggestions would be helpful,

Thanks
Click to expand...

It can be done.


I used Smith Enterprise to build mine on a Poly Tech receiver.
They built a Crazy Horse M21 A5 that's capable of sub MOA accuracy.
It uses a 22" 4 groove medium heavy barrel with a 1:10 ROT.
I also had SEI incorporate all of their 'whistles & bells' into the build.
None of this was cheap.


I don't own a bolt action rifle, so this is my "precision" rifle.
I had it in a SAGE EBR, but it is now in this Blackfeather "RS".

CH.M21.A5.BF-RS.JPG
 
H2O MAN said:
It can be done.


I used Smith Enterprise to build mine on a Poly Tech receiver.
They built a Crazy Horse M21 A5 that's capable of sub MOA accuracy.
It uses a 22" 4 groove medium heavy barrel with a 1:10 ROT.
I also had SEI incorporate all of their 'whistles & bells' into the build.
None of this was cheap.


I don't own a bolt action rifle, so this is my "precision" rifle.
I had it in a SAGE EBR, but it is now in this Blackfeather "RS".
Click to expand...

Very nice rig you've go there man, that's definitively the end goal I have in mind if I pick one up. When looking for a norinco to build on, any components I should look for that indicate a "good one". I am still wading through the loads of info in the stickies lol.

BTW who did the paint job on the blackfeather stock? It looks amazing, I just wish I could get my hands on a silencer...
 
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