How’s the Norinco M305?

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Jargo

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How’s the Norinco M305?

Hey everyone, just looking to get some opinions on the m1a clone, I plan on getting the .308 one. Been thinking about picking one up soon since I’m getting a nice bonus. From what I’ve heard it sounds like it’s an all around fun gun for target shooting and hunting. Although I’ve also heard accuracy isn’t great out of the box. I plan on putting a red dot or scope on it, but before that should I do anything else on it, would I have to pour a lot of money into it before it hits its potential? Also another reason I want one is just because I want a black rifle to be “tacticool” with before I get around to getting my restricted for an ar15, should I just wait and save? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
 
Just get one with all the ticks in the box.

1. Forged Receiver
2. Forged Bolt
3. Properly indexed barrel

After you find one that meets those criteria, have fun. Just remember its a 4 MOA rifle unless you put money and work into it.
 
The rifle is fairly inexpensive, the ammo is not. As you've touched on, even a budget bolt action will most likely be more accurate. Are you going for tight groups, or just blasting away?

It is a fun gun, but there are probably better options to scope. The rifle starts out pretty heavy.

There are good NR black rifles options in 223 if you just want tacticool fun. More shooting for the money.

If you do decide to get one, be sure to get one with a forged bolt. There are a few threads on the importance of this already.
 
They are heavy pigs. They sometimes need quite a bit of tinkering as the Chinese "craftsmanship" is quite often really lacking. That being said, I have owned a few that shot just crazy well.
 
Buy one 2007 or older.

Do not buy one of these rifles if you think you're going to put it in a fancy stock, buy a match op rod and magically have a rifle that will shoot 1 moa.

I have one that has had pretty much every part changed or worked over by someone who knows this platform, including swapping in a Krieger barrel and it's still not shooting 1 moa even with handloads (it's close though).
My other M305 has been through a clinic and had some minor attention paid to it but still has the factory barrel and it's never shot anything better than 3 moa.

I don't like to call people liars but if the guys who claimed to be getting 1 moa from their mostly stock M305 were actually getting those results everyone here would own one of these rifles. A fluke 3 shot group out of a days worth of 3-4 moa groups does not make the rifle a 1 moa rifle.
With the factory barrel I would guess that 2 moa with match grade ammo or handloads is attainable but to get any better than that will require putting some real money into it.
I'm talking about consistently producing those results so to the guys who are going to jump in and tell me their rifle shoots that well I'd like to see evidence of it before I believe it. I've owned five of these rifles now over the years and none have shot as well as some of the people claim their rifle shoots. I could believe that every now and then someone gets a unicorn and they can shoot 1.5 moa consistently but it is not the norm for this rifle.

They are also not a great rifle to add a scope to, I have an M14.ca CASM and also some other (not sure of the brand) and while it does hold the scope I don't feel it is as sturdy as having a rail machined into the receiver.

These are however a very enjoyable rifle to shoot and are a lot of fun to modify and play with as long as you keep your expectations realistic and don't expect to end up competing with the guys with their Stag-10, I love my cheap one with the iron sights and only have a scope on it now so I can develop a good plinking load for it before going back to the irons.
 
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Only reason i bought mine was to give my Garand a break. There is also a small but probable chance this rifle might come hunting with me on a day i am hunting with friends and dont expect to see anything.
 
rci2950 said:
Only reason i bought mine was to give my Garand a break. There is also a small but probable chance this rifle might come hunting with me on a day i am hunting with friends and dont expect to see anything.
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Lol, I'd carry something lighter if you're not expecting to need it.
 
check the EE usually a few for sale for decent price , some already tuned up and may come with a scope and mount or other accessories .
 
peacemaker56 said:
check the EE usually a few for sale for decent price , some already tuned up and may come with a scope and mount or other accessories .
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ya, don't expect someone else's "tuned" 305 to give you your dream 1-2 MOA M14 clone. but it IS a cool, inexpensive, semi-auto, non-restricted, mag-fed rifle, and when you hold one in your hands you won't regret your decision to buy it.
 
I'd watch EE for a good low round count used one. Even one missing parts of you interested to swap things.

Don't expect a 1 moa or less rifle. It's a lottery but if you do you part picking one you should be able to get decent accuracy with good ammo. Bad ammo shoots bad.
 
Just a little eye candy, it cost a lot to get though.
I don't know how much it cost to build but I have around $3000 invested (made trades to get it). Not much left that came from China.

M305R.jpg
 

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ya, they were fantastic rifles when they were still under 500 bucks ..... for the most part you kinda got what you paid for with a few gems mixed in.
these days not so much, new rifle prices have nearly doubled over 10 years, quality has gone down and there are no gems mixed in....
Huge fan of the platform though and always will have an m14 type rifle or two in the locker.
 
They're fun rifles. I have 3: 1 dressed up in a Boyd's walnut stock (classic style) and 2 dressed up in the M14.ca Blackfeather chassis.

I'm not an accuracy fanatic (I only consider myself a so-so shot) but I enjoy ringing an 8" gong at 200 metres (off the bench).
The scoped one in the Blackfeather stock gets 1.5" to 2.0" groups at 100 metres (my friend's bullet holes all overlap at 100 m with his Savage bolt action).

They can be a bit of a money pit if you get carried away with them. I picked up all my rifles for about $500 ea years ago.

OP: have you read the DIY threads in the stickies?

Here are mine, since we're doing a show and tell:

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jonh172 said:
Damn! Thats the nicest BF build Ive seen yet!
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Thanks

I have a nice load for it with H4895 and 168gr Hornady BTHP but still haven't played with the barrel tension yet to see if it will tighten it up a little more. It's hovering around 1.5 moa right now. Prob do a little better with a different scope as well, the reticle in the Burris Veracity is a little thick for precision work.
I added the HERA folding hinge since I got it but still haven't decided on a stock for it, I have an MDT skeleton stock that I might try on it next. It needs a stock with a cheek riser so the UBR it came with went to an AR and this is a temp fix for now.
:cheers:

M305FL.jpg
 

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