NEW M305 broke the bolt!
- Thread starter Apple tree
- Start date
I'm pretty new to the M14/M305 community, but based on the apparent jump in frequency of bolt failures, I would speculate that we are providing the testing that should have happened before they reached the consumer. At the very least, the importer should be stepping up to address the failures, ideally by recall. In turn, they should have enough clout with Norinco to have this corrected.
Expectation is though, that those with bad bolts will be left on their own.
If NS doesn't warranty that, they should go bye-bye from CGN like M@rst@r did when they sold unsafe M1 bolts. This is not your fault, the Chicoms have switched processes and the product isn't holding up to average normal use.
We've seen the older machined bolts survive KB's regularly without lug shear. That's not an ammo or user issue, it's a defect.
We've seen the older machined bolts survive KB's regularly without lug shear. That's not an ammo or user issue, it's a defect.
I bought an M305 at the end of October, to use as a donor receiver for an IDF build. It was never fired in the original configuration. The bolt is numbered 24xx and has the circles on the underside exactly as those in the above pictures. It also shows a complete absence of tool marks and is the same black colour as Apple Tree's bolt. If the numbers are sequential (as I would assume), then this is indicative that the manufacturing process has changed at some point, IMO. The receiver shows tool marks typical of the other Norinco receivers, so I reckon that the receiver manufacturing is unchanged.
I think that anyone who has bought an M305 in the last two years should inspect the bolt on their rifle and at least be aware of the pattern of failures, the serial number, and the circular marks/black colour of the bolt. If the colour and markings are consistent, then that would be a very quick indication of a potential problem.
I have enough leftover parts to build another M14 if I can source another receiver, but there's no way my Norinco bolt is ever going to be more than a paperweight until there is some resolution on this.
I think that anyone who has bought an M305 in the last two years should inspect the bolt on their rifle and at least be aware of the pattern of failures, the serial number, and the circular marks/black colour of the bolt. If the colour and markings are consistent, then that would be a very quick indication of a potential problem.
I have enough leftover parts to build another M14 if I can source another receiver, but there's no way my Norinco bolt is ever going to be more than a paperweight until there is some resolution on this.
Hahaha... I had an issue with a Kel-Tec rifle I bought from CSC. They were happy to deal with everything for me. I guess you can't expect things like that from SFRC. Just another reason I won't deal with them unless I have no choice.
The different material might have been intended for the smaller cartrige though. Are the gas cylinder and flash supressor normally cast or machined?
Gas cylinder has normally been cast stainless, FH cast carbon, on Nork M305's.
MIM bolt in anything would not survive long, even a 22lr would beat it to death.
Ruger investment casts just about everything they can...bolts, receivers, slides, frames, you name it, and they have the process down pretty good. Their casting can be trusted. They even had a batch of MIM front sights fail on their 1911's as that was too much battering.
MIM is not a good choice for a heavily stressed part, and Chinese QC is non-existent. A North American company would never attempt something so ridiculous.
Even the batch of T81's that were supposed to be "made at the same factory on the same tooling as the military ones" had a variety of embarassing issues.
