LRB...Worth it?

Odd Shot

Odd Shot

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I love the M14 platform. I lusted after these rifles as a teen.

I love the value of the Norinco as well. I may swear under my breath as I tweak one, but I do love the value they offer.
In contrast, the LRB rendition seems to be the state of the art as far as these rifles are concerned, from what I've heard/read.

SO....

other than price, and the fact that they can be had with an integrated scope mount and built to order, why choose an LRB vs. any other version of the M14 pattern rifle.

OR...

why is it more satisfying to have a Norinco M305 based rifle???


Discuss

($3500 is on the line here)
 
Odd Shot said:
other than price, and the fact that they can be had with an integrated scope mount and built to order, why choose an LRB vs. any other version of the M14 pattern rifle.
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You're after the absolute best quality rifle made with expertly refinished U.S.G.I. parts.

Odd Shot said:
why is it more satisfying to have a Norinco M305 based rifle???
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You've saved over $3,000 (if you were smart and bought one before the prices increased) and have a rifle with a receiver that surpasses the quality of a Springfield Armory and ~90% of the quality of a standard LRB Arms receiver (if you were very smart and bought and sold many until you ended up with more than one of the finest Norinco receivers). You now get to combine that exceptional Norinco receiver with an I.D.F. U.S.G.I. parts kit to create a rifle that would be the envy of any American for far less than half what they would pay for a rifle of similar quality.

Now that I've answered your questions, some additional thoughts:

Unless you are wealthy you should not pay a premium for one of LRB Arm's standard receiver based rifles no matter how nice they are, nor should you consider an LRB Arms rifle built to anything less than a national match standard with their M25 receiver. The price difference between their most basic rifle and their best national match rifle isn't substantial enough to make the savings worthwhile because you're paying for quality either way.

If you're after quality and a superior scope mounting solution you can't go wrong with an LRB Arms M25 receiver and bolt based rifle. The action is incredibly smooth and refined - you can literally feel the quality.

If you're after the best quality M14 pattern rifle that is as close to U.S.G.I. specification as possible you can't go wrong with a hand picked Norinco receiver and a U.S.G.I. parts kit.
 
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ive been wanting an m1a for a loooong time also and im soon going to be buying a SA. after looking at the LRB all i can say is they can go get fooked. im not sure how many drugs they're on but id like some. refurbed stocks? non chrome lined barrels? what the hell are people paying for? the ones i looked at didnt even have trigger jobs or new triggers put in. to me they look like a pile of turds that somebody is trying to cash in on, with only the special part being.....nothing that i can see. they should be ashamed of charging that much money for "custom" built rifles. for that price ill go buy a springfield armory and put my own scope mount on it, and maybe even a new trigger. and probably a couple of spare mags. plus a box of ammo. no f*cking thanks LRB
 
nate18 said:
ive been wanting an m1a for a loooong time also and im soon going to be buying a SA. after looking at the LRB all i can say is they can go get fooked. im not sure how many drugs they're on but id like some. refurbed stocks? non chrome lined barrels? what the hell are people paying for? the ones i looked at didnt even have trigger jobs or new triggers put in. to me they look like a pile of turds that somebody is trying to cash in on, with only the special part being.....nothing that i can see. they should be ashamed of charging that much money for "custom" built rifles. for that price ill go buy a springfield armory and put my own scope mount on it, and maybe even a new trigger. and probably a couple of spare mags. plus a box of ammo. no f*cking thanks LRB
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I've held several Springfield Armory receivers with much worse finishing than my (hand selected) Norinco receivers, and have held some brand new rifles with serious quality issues.

I've also seen an LRB Arms M25 national match built with U.S.G.I. parts, and it was exceptional in every way to any other M14 pattern rifle I've ever seen. Better than the real deal, like a classic muscle car restored to modern build quality.

I'm sure the smiths on here will agree with me.
 
I own three LRB's and have built two more for other people. I've handled various M1A's of different vintages and the LRB is superior in every way. You've never felt a smoother action than an LRB except an LRB that has a few thousand rounds through it. A well used LRB is smooth as silk. My last LRB (a T44E4 model) was literally flawless. I'd never seen a more perfect receiver. Lap the bolt, screw on the barrel and headspace....DONE!

I know things are different up north, but down here, the LRB's are worth it. You'll rarely find an LRB owner that regretted buying one or building one. My M25 will never leave me until I've breathed my last. At that point, it will be passed on to my daughter or son. You all know my M25 and what it's capable of. Enough said...

The best way to get an LRB is to buy the receiver (if that's possible up there) and slap on GI parts and a match grade barrel. If someone can afford and LRB, I'd never discourage anyone from going that route.

Bula, however, has changed the game. Bula hasn't been at this as long as LRB but they are pretty much caught up with where LRB is right now. I have one of their latest receivers and latest complete parts kit and it's perfect! I just need to build it. I've built four other Bula rifles so far, and they are all good rifles. Bula will be much more cost effective simply because Bula Forge is not primarily a firearms manufacturer. They are a forge company first. The defense side is just a side project that that they started simply to sell parts to gunsmiths, armorers and hobbyists.

They have no plans to be a "custom gun maker". LRB, on the other hand, is solely a firearms manufacturer and can't afford to cut the price to compete with Bula. We'll have to see how this turns out.

A Bula trio below...


Tony.
 
^^^ that is some nice Tony.
Bob.. my thoughts. Build a US parts kit on a older norc receiver. One could have two nice rifles for the price of one LRB. But I hear what you're saying there's nothing like quality. I myself would like a LRB receiver. waiting for the right opportunity though.
 
Have recently been thinking of parting out my M305 in a Sage Chassis. I went through quite a process of getting her to run smooth and accurate as possible.
I had limited funds and did not want to be into it for $4K or more...had read alot of disappointing comments from owners with poor at best accuracy in the end.

Added a fulton Gen II bolt, USGI guts but used Norc firing pin. Sadlac spring and guide, SA muzzel brake, USGI gas system and sadlac TiN non groove piston. Arms 18 mount. No trigger work, and the Sage stock. $2850.00 all in...my labour = free. 2 years to learn, watch Tony Ben videos and get it figured out.

Alot of intrinsic value, and going to keep it. She just runs so good.
 
73582 said:
Have recently been thinking of parting out my M305 in a Sage Chassis. I went through quite a process of getting her to run smooth and accurate as possible.
I had limited funds and did not want to be into it for $4K or more...had read alot of disappointing comments from owners with poor at best accuracy in the end.

Added a fulton Gen II bolt, USGI guts but used Norc firing pin. Sadlac spring and guide, SA muzzel brake, USGI gas system and sadlac TiN non groove piston. Arms 18 mount. No trigger work, and the Sage stock. $2850.00 all in...my labour = free. 2 years to learn, watch Tony Ben videos and get it figured out.

Alot of intrinsic value, and going to keep it. She just runs so good.
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Did you get good range results?
 
brutus460 said:
Build a US parts kit on a older norc receiver.
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The best Norinco receivers I've seen were Dominion Arms SOCOM18 marked receivers and the receivers which came on the 2015 deluxe rifles with the Minelli S.P.A. walnut stock and hand guard. Nothing else came close to those batches in my experience.
 
I have a M305 shorty that works flawlessly as an iron sight shooter and steel target gun, and I got my monies worth from it. Its not a platform that I would sink hundreds after hundreds of dollars into to attempt to making it a sharp shooter, and it chews up good brass like a fat girl on cake. The only thing I don't care for about the Norinco M305 is the cheap plastic stock. One day I will order a decent Boyd's wood stock and call it a day.
 
Yuk yuk yuk... I must be the only fan boy of that cheap Norinco plastic stock. ha ha ha ha It's because I was a cheap teacher. ha ha ha :cool:

Cheers,
Barney

PS: the LRB M25 shorty I owned was fantastic.... :nest:
 
Mike112288 said:
Owned?? No more??
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The LRB is a great piece of gear.... I loved it every minute. My reality as some of you know, this LRB is my teaching platform. I hardly shot it, but carried it across the country twice teaching clinics. My Beretta Garand shared the same role; teaching and not much shooting (okay, I sighted it in....) :cool:

So I needed some other PR platforms to teach PR clinics with so the LRB had to be sacrificed so that I could afford another Norinco M14 to build into a teaching gun (with some USGI components) and also a Ruger Precision Rifle for clients to shoot at my PR matches. :eek:

It was Thomas (45acpking) and greywolf who turned me on to the LRB love back in 2012, I've never looked back. I wish I could get another keeper, but I still need the teaching tools! :wave:

Should you all get one? All depends on your game, your hunt, your budget, your desire, your cool factor, your dream platform, your needs (hunt, target, bench, Service Rifle, Precision Rifle, etc)


Cheers,
Barney
 
I've got a massive itch for an Lrb. I'm not machanically dumb but am wondering how easy it is to swap out the 22" barrel on a new Lrb m14 to a 18.5" medium weight barrel? I like the look of the shorties vs the long 22" thin barrel. I'm tempted to buy a new one at wolverine. Maybe I could get a decent penny for the new 22" barrel..
 
Mike112288 said:
I've got a massive itch for an Lrb. I'm not machanically dumb but am wondering how easy it is to swap out the 22" barrel on a new Lrb m14 to a 18.5" medium weight barrel? I like the look of the shorties vs the long 22" thin barrel. I'm tempted to buy a new one at wolverine. Maybe I could get a decent penny for the new 22" barrel..
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Easy peasy. It's the same as swapping a barrel from a SAI or any other m14 maker (with the exception of the barrel set screw on your Chinese rifles you've got up there).

If the rifle has already been assembled and the bolt lapped, then install/time the new barrel, cut the chamber and you're done.

Tony.
 
Mike112288 said:
I've got a massive itch for an Lrb. I'm not machanically dumb but am wondering how easy it is to swap out the 22" barrel on a new Lrb m14 to a 18.5" medium weight barrel? I like the look of the shorties vs the long 22" thin barrel. I'm tempted to buy a new one at wolverine. Maybe I could get a decent penny for the new 22" barrel..
Click to expand...

TonyBen said:
Easy peasy. It's the same as swapping a barrel from a SAI or any other m14 maker (with the exception of the barrel set screw on your Chinese rifles you've got up there).

If the rifle has already been assembled and the bolt lapped, then install/time the new barrel, cut the chamber and you're done.

Tony.
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Another option is to buy a LRB reciever from wolverine and a USGI parts kit. Source a 18.5" medium weight Kreiger and pay someone to assemble the pieces.

If you opt for a M25 reciever, you'd be into it for about $3500 all-in. You would have a USGI barrel to sell and likely a USGI fibreglass stock to sell to buy the stock you actually want. (I am obviously a shill)

My $.02

It would probably be cheaper than buying the complete rifle for $3200 and tax and then purchasing the barrel you want after. AFAIK LRB uses Criterion barrels on their builds. Take off barrels never sell for as much as a new un-installed barrel.

John
 
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