M14 Range Report: Good, Bad, Scary!

slushee

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So I drive out to EESA with some 7.62 IVI Ball. Looking forward to sighting in this stock Norc M14 from Dark Int.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/SSPX0050-1.jpg
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I start out at 25 yards..

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/27yardsightin.jpg

Looking good so far, now to 50!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/50yardsightin.jpg

1 shot is all i need to see that things are looking good! Slightly high at 50 yards should be right on target at 100!!!!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/100yardsightin.jpg

Now theres the accuracy I was looking forward to! Seems to be a 2-3 Moa rifle ... good good...

Then I moved from the 100 yard range to the 300 meter range (shooting to 100 meters) .. that's when it all went to hell.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/craptacular.jpg

You can see how the first two shots were GREAT! even better then before. But after that ... I just couldn't get why my accuracy went to h3ll. Then I started packing up and noticed my flash hider had come loose (which the front sight sits upon).... Because Dark Int. replaced it, it is NOT welded and the wheel rotated a bit (the set screw stopped it from rotating so much that it would have fallen off, but it was still wiggling about 1-2mm)

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i75/slushee1234/SSPX0053-1.jpg

Think I found the culperate? I think so ... problem is I dont have the tool to tighten it! Oh well, at least I know how good it CAN shoot :p

Okay, so that was the good and the bad, now for the scary!!! I have watched the M14 clinics, and there was a part on there that mentioned that you should keep an eye on the firing pin channel for bits of copper that could cause your gun to go full auto...

Welp, after 10 rounds, I quickly take a peek at the firing pin TO SEE A HUGE CHUNK OF BRASS STUCK INSIDE THE CHANNEL!!!!! Now my pin was not protruding at all, but man, am I GLAD I watched that M14 clinic dvd ... I pry'ed the brass out of the channel with my Buck Knife .. but had I not been paying attention, my #### could have fell off! (or been blown off, as the case may be)

THANK YOU HUNGRY FOR MAKING THE M14 CLINIC DVD'S SO THAT I WATCHED IT AND NOTICED THE BRASS STUCK IN MY FIRING PIN CHANNEL :D

Hungry here: You are most welcome. That's what the Clinic DVD's are all about, making sure that YER #### don't fall off! Thanks for the kind words.

I can't imagine what would have happened if I just left the brass in there...

So there you have it ... the gun preformed flawlessly! And shoots GREAT .. albiet when all the parts are screwed down tight :redface:
 
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Your groups look good for mil surp IVI, before you can make any real judgments on your rifle you will need to get it shooting some handloads. In mine the handloads shoot a full inch to inch and a half tighter than my milsurp. My milsurp is South African PMP. I do not have any experience with IVI .308, but I had a batch of IVI for my AR-15 that was absolutely useless.

The loose castlenut may have played a role as well, but I am not sure a minor change in bbl resonance would have added much to your spread. A drop of blue loctite will do wonders.

On mine the gas plug loosened up, I did not notice and spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out why the groups had suddenly opened up.
 
Your story only proves the fact that new guns are unproven guns that need to be broken in. Firing is the only way to make them function as planned, and it is how any faults show up. Fix the problems and go back to the range. Firing also gives the parts a chance to settle into position for reliability.
 
A loose flash hider could EASILY cause a vibration down the barrel that is inconsistent from shot to shot, thus affecting acccuracy.
 
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I don't see a problem with 2 MOA at 300 meters with open sights. I doubt that I could see that target at 300 meters with my old eyes!

You can make a tool for tightening the castle nut by regrinding the points on a pair of nippers (end cutting pliers) so they fit the castle nut grooves.
 
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I'd put my "super norc" up against anyones loaded m1a, any day of the week. I'd even bet for reggie's ... ya know, like racing for pink slips :D
I've seen sproingfields need to be sent back all the way to genesco, not to be seen for 6 to 10 months...... after a mag full of ammo, right outta the box....... all you guys trashin norcs .........:rolleyes: :rolleyes: to each his own i guess
 
What? ANOTHER Norc falling apart right out of the box?

:rolleyes:

Neal

Actually, if you had cared to actually read you would have figured out that it didn't "fall apart right out of the box" but rather after a "gunsmith" performed work on it.

Those footsteps you hear is your credibility running away. :runaway:
 
Then I moved from the 100 yard range to the 300 meter range (shooting to 100 meters) .. that's when it all went to hell.

To hell?,, what were you expecting?

Your group was about 3MOA,, that's pretty good with those sights and that ammo,, and that's the size of the bull in service rifle competition.

A nice hell if you ask me.
 
What? ANOTHER Norc falling apart right out of the box?

:rolleyes:

Neal


Actually the guy forgot to screw in the set screw lol .. otherwise, its a tighter rifle then I could have ever hoped for!

And by to hell, I ment the groups went from 2-3" to 8-9" lol .. 9moa to me is hell :p
 
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Against all USGI guns I would be nervous, but I would bet any of my plain-jane norks against any SAI standard, and my light tunes against their loadeds.

I would run a GI-modded nork against a NM, and a high tune against a supermatch or LRB nm, no problem.

They are not perfect by any stretch...but then the SAIs aren't either, not by a long shot! In terms of dollars-in, I would take a Nork over any SAI and would really only be interested in LRB stuff for US manufacturers personally (not that SAI's stuff is all built in the US, of course.)
 
OH I SMELL A RANGE DAY...... who's bringin thier springfield so i can eat it for breakfast with my super norc hehehehe . jus playin kiddies :D any m14 type rifle is a good rifle in my opinion
 
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