M-14 Tips and such

The bad bolts are from the most recent imports and easy to identify. Anything with a forged bolt is good, assuming of course it's indexed, has decent headspace, and not too much slop on the gas lock. Buy a used Norinco, there's some pretty good deals to be had, and any problems should have been identified. Just read the sticky up top so you have a better idea of Norinco M-305 "idiosyncrasies", and can ask reasonable questions of the seller.
 
ColKurtz said:
Do the new Norinco rifles still have good receivers or are they junk now too?
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As per pics in the other thread on this subject, 7.62x39 receivers have been found with cast marks. I haven't seen any pics of cast .308 receivers. They still seem to be forged. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It's tough to go by the date as well, my rifle had paperwork showing a 2015 date of mfr and it came with a forged bolt. Some people are reporting their 2014/2015 had MIM bolts. So don't go just by date (unless it's 10+ years old or something), you have the check the bolts and see for yourself.

Either way, it seems Norinco is running out of parts and we're living the dying moments of Canada's M14 obsession.
 
Wal-Mart Greeter said:
As per pics in the other thread on this subject, 7.62x39 receivers have been found with cast marks. I haven't seen any pics of cast .308 receivers. They still seem to be forged. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It's tough to go by the date as well, my rifle had paperwork showing a 2015 date of mfr and it came with a forged bolt. Some people are reporting their 2014/2015 had MIM bolts. So don't go just by date (unless it's 10+ years old or something), you have the check the bolts and see for yourself.

Either way, it seems Norinco is running out of parts and we're living the dying moments of Canada's M14 obsession.
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As much as it is dying, i only want one because I have heard so much about them. I mostly just go out target shooting for fun, will be occasionally going out east to hunt with the family.
 
Outforce0 said:
As much as it is dying, i only want one because I have heard so much about them. I mostly just go out target shooting for fun, will be occasionally going out east to hunt with the family.
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Oh I'm not trying to dissuade you from purchasing one, I'm just answering ColKurtz' question. They were fun guns for the price tag when you didn't have to worry about MIM parts exploding. They still can be a fun gun if you get a used, properly put together one. The reason you've heard so much about them is because they were a cheap NR .308 battle rifle in a country with not many other options in that department.

That being said, if you plan to do any modifications or accurizing whatsoever prepare yourself for one of the deepest money pits in the hobby. Even just mounting a scope is a painful endeavor. If you want anything other than a bone stock rifle for historical fun factor, get a Stag 10. Save yourself thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours!
 
Wal-Mart Greeter said:
Oh I'm not trying to dissuade you from purchasing one, I'm just answering ColKurtz' question. They were fun guns for the price tag when you didn't have to worry about MIM parts exploding. They still can be a fun gun if you get a used, properly put together one. The reason you've heard so much about them is because they were a cheap NR .308 battle rifle in a country with not many other options in that department.

That being said, if you plan to do any modifications or accurizing whatsoever prepare yourself for one of the deepest money pits in the hobby. Even just mounting a scope is a painful endeavor. If you want anything other than a bone stock rifle for historical fun factor, get a Stag 10. Save yourself thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours!
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Being so popular at a time, im surprised everything for it is moderatley expensive compared to modding others from what i've seen anway. Even a stock swap is as much as the firearm itself at times, i've noticed. Is that because of how things are with the states?
 
Chikons receivers are good , other parts no (first 300 Poly imported into North America , tested by Ron Smith )
a complete rifle is good as starter kit to say a welcome to yourself into M14 world ,

find a used one in EE with heal stamp and build it with USGI parts ,
or go with LRB or any commercial USA made.
 
If your looking to get it it the platform and your debate is between a “gently used” pre-2013 Chinese rifle and a base model SAI (apples to apples IMHO), get the Chinese one.

Generally speaking, I do the same “standard” stuff to a base model SAI to a Chinese rifle. The biggest difference between the 2 is the parts like rear sight, gas cylinder and flash hider. The SAI parts will be good. The Chinese parts likely won’t. It is very very odd to find “square” or “true” keyways on the Chinese parts and the Chinese rear sight is only good for “set and forget” because as soon as you move the rear sight it won’t return to where it was.... the SAI parts will be more-or-less square /true and the rear sight will work.

The Chinese rifle can be had for under $650, the SAI will cost $2000. The value of the parts that will likely need replacement will be under $400. Not that the Chinese parts don’t work. They do, and they will be just fine for casual plinking. The only time those parts will start to hamstring you is when you decide to do a bit more than 12” steel at 100y shooting....

Telling someone to “look at an LRB” when they ask about the M14 is like telling someone to buy a New BMW M5 when they ask about “What car should I buy?”. There are lots of options out there right now that are reasonable and less painful on the pocket book. Now don’t get me wrong, I have 3 LRBs, and I love them all. But my “go-to” gong ringer at 300y and closer is a chi-com with some upgraded parts....

YMMV

John
 
m14medic.ca said:
If your looking to get it it the platform and your debate is between a “gently used” pre-2013 Chinese rifle and a base model SAI (apples to apples IMHO), get the Chinese one.

Generally speaking, I do the same “standard” stuff to a base model SAI to a Chinese rifle. The biggest difference between the 2 is the parts like rear sight, gas cylinder and flash hider. The SAI parts will be good. The Chinese parts likely won’t. It is very very odd to find “square” or “true” keyways on the Chinese parts and the Chinese rear sight is only good for “set and forget” because as soon as you move the rear sight it won’t return to where it was.... the SAI parts will be more-or-less square /true and the rear sight will work.

The Chinese rifle can be had for under $650, the SAI will cost $2000. The value of the parts that will likely need replacement will be under $400. Not that the Chinese parts don’t work. They do, and they will be just fine for casual plinking. The only time those parts will start to hamstring you is when you decide to do a bit more than 12” steel at 100y shooting....

Telling someone to “look at an LRB” when they ask about the M14 is like telling someone to buy a New BMW M5 when they ask about “What car should I buy?”. There are lots of options out there right now that are reasonable and less painful on the pocket book. Now don’t get me wrong, I have 3 LRBs, and I love them all. But my “go-to” gong ringer at 300y and closer is a chi-com with some upgraded parts....

YMMV

John
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thank you for this. i will be looking on the EE as soon as i get approval to do so. i don't have an issue with Chinese rifles, as my first was an SKS and all the input i had was that i wouldnt be able to hit much with it, but after 200rds, i was hitting 4" targets with ease at 100m+, i found it was mostly ammo manufacturer dependant with accuracy. i've been on the hunt for a Norc M14 for awhile now, i am hoping this site gives me that option. I'll keep you in mind for anything M-14 related as you do seem to be an expert for the lack of better words.
 
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