Should I buy a Norc M305?
- Thread starter Stripes
- Start date
Your doing it wrong. Have yet to buy any specialized tools. Have had an M305 down to its individual pieces.
Joe, have you looked over these two vids?
https://youtu.be/FWhvvTm1cLk
https://youtu.be/MzPw9BD56hU
(In the second vid, view from 8:05 mark for diassembly and 33:47 mark for assembly)
https://youtu.be/FWhvvTm1cLk
https://youtu.be/MzPw9BD56hU
(In the second vid, view from 8:05 mark for diassembly and 33:47 mark for assembly)
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If I were you, I would only rely on feedback from people that actually own one. I have owned 4 or 5 Norc guns (no 305's though), and all have been very serviceable firearms. The best was a 322 which could easily shoot on par with CZ's and my Savage's all day long. The worst is a muzzle-loader based on a 98 action - I had to replace the main spring on it, and it is rifled for round ball, but it is a reliable gun that shoots minute of deer with round ball and granular powder - but not something you would expect to have to do with an in-line bolt ML. SO if I were looking for a semi in 308, I would not be afraid of buying one.
From what I've read, most of the "issues" seem to involve tinkering in order to tweak performance. As far as reliability goes, I had an HK G3 - probably one of the world's best semi's, and it was very finnicky about ammo.
From what I've read, most of the "issues" seem to involve tinkering in order to tweak performance. As far as reliability goes, I had an HK G3 - probably one of the world's best semi's, and it was very finnicky about ammo.
Red neck ingenuity. $5 pair of CTC vice grips for the castle nut pliers. Piece of scrap Delrin, tape measure and a couple of drill bits and I made a gas lock wrench. Free 30-06 case for taking apart the bolt.
Back onto the topic:
Stripes: pick one up and have fun with it. It will likely need some tinkering, in all probability, and you may have to buy a couple tools, but that's part of the fun.
Just don't expect a precision, well oiled machine (well...it's soaked and covered in packaging oil when brand new, but that's a different gripe). Honestly, I was quite shocked at how rough the finish and fit was compared to my other firearms (a Browning BAR, Ruger 10/22, Remington 870, Sig P226, etc.). The Norinco M305 in comparison is quite literally a diamond in the rough. I had three (gave my dad one of them), and they did cause some moments of frustration. I visited Barney (in Collingwood) a few times, as well as Casey (at Tac-Ord), and gradually put some money into them (for fun, not because anything failed). For the price, however, they're hard to beat, and I love the two that I have.
They're also the only guns I have that I've stockpiled ammo for!
Stripes: pick one up and have fun with it. It will likely need some tinkering, in all probability, and you may have to buy a couple tools, but that's part of the fun.
Just don't expect a precision, well oiled machine (well...it's soaked and covered in packaging oil when brand new, but that's a different gripe). Honestly, I was quite shocked at how rough the finish and fit was compared to my other firearms (a Browning BAR, Ruger 10/22, Remington 870, Sig P226, etc.). The Norinco M305 in comparison is quite literally a diamond in the rough. I had three (gave my dad one of them), and they did cause some moments of frustration. I visited Barney (in Collingwood) a few times, as well as Casey (at Tac-Ord), and gradually put some money into them (for fun, not because anything failed). For the price, however, they're hard to beat, and I love the two that I have.
They're also the only guns I have that I've stockpiled ammo for!
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m14medic.ca
Expried Business Member
- Location
- Regina SK Canada
To be honest I always have, but perhaps I shouldn't..... I have only ever had 3 of the "Socom" shorties on my bench. all 3 required indexing, but were perfectly fine other wise.... Normal stuff like fit and finish, but the bolts spec'd out. The receivers' spec'd out, Headspace was near SAMMI maximum, but that's pretty normal.
John
Re: my bolt problem, I wonder if the extractor spring is longer than it needs to be. It sticks out so far that it makes it exceedingly difficult to push the extractor down into position. If I had an extra set of hands it might be possible, but not with the two that have...
as for the .30-06 trick, would an 8mm Mauser Snap Cap work in its place? (Just based on what I have at hand)
as for the .30-06 trick, would an 8mm Mauser Snap Cap work in its place? (Just based on what I have at hand)
Ah! So you did use the "appropriate" tools. You just didn't buy the actual tools!
"Appropriate" is a bit of a stretch.
Should you buy one? Yes you should.
Consider:
- you can still (as of today) buy this semi-auto rifle legally.
- it's non-restricted.
- it's affordable.
In the future, and possibly sooner than we'd like, it may very well end up:
- illegal altogether, or
- restricted.
My advice is if there's ANY gun you're thinking of buying: do it now, while you still can.
ps- I bought my 18.5" shorty from P&D at the last Kamloops gun show, and couldn't be happier. Just over 1.5MOA right out of the box.
Consider:
- you can still (as of today) buy this semi-auto rifle legally.
- it's non-restricted.
- it's affordable.
In the future, and possibly sooner than we'd like, it may very well end up:
- illegal altogether, or
- restricted.
My advice is if there's ANY gun you're thinking of buying: do it now, while you still can.
ps- I bought my 18.5" shorty from P&D at the last Kamloops gun show, and couldn't be happier. Just over 1.5MOA right out of the box.
Thanks for the info. Honesty is always better then withholding info. Canam was great handling my purches. The first socom was way outta wack and they promptly exchanged it with another one that they inspected before shipping out.
LordEvilPepper
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Under a rusty barge in BC
Tilt test,
check head spacing,
Check triger function
fix the loose op rod guide (hammer and punch)
fix the op rod if it no longer moves after fixing the guide (lots of them come bent)
inspect the gas assembly for cracks, ensure the piston can't jam sideways in it.
lock tight the rear site retaining screw
check head spacing,
Check triger function
fix the loose op rod guide (hammer and punch)
fix the op rod if it no longer moves after fixing the guide (lots of them come bent)
inspect the gas assembly for cracks, ensure the piston can't jam sideways in it.
lock tight the rear site retaining screw
OP...I was in your shoes once. Wanted to get into the "M14" platform but didn't want to spend lots of $$ so the M305 was the obvious choice. However, not being a Tinkerer I held off buying one until I saw an EE ad posted by Barney (aka Tactical Teacher) who had a BNIB 22" M305 that he worked on. It was a no-brainer to purchase it.
Fast forward a couple years....while the M305 shot great it was short on refinement so I sold it and now own a SA SOCOM16. Love the "M14" platform!
BTW....the Norc ammo shoots fine for plinking purposes and Target Sports has it on sale from time to time and its GTG for their range!
Get one and if you're unsure about your skills have one of the Guru's give it a once over
