my first M14

nscavello

nscavello

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Guelph; Wellington County
greetings,
I'm considering my first M14 rifle (.308), and would like opinions from users/owners on whether I should choose a Norinco or Springfield? What are the main differences, besides price? I have friends that swear a Norinco M14 customized by shops such as the M14 Doctor are as good, if not better, than a stock Springfield M14. No plans on using the rifle for anything other than target.

Thanks for your answers in advance! :50cal:
 
No brainer there...get the norinco , fix it up the way you want, buy a bunch of ammo and you will still be spending less. I have 2 polytech m-305 and really like them.:D
Attend one of Hungry,s excellent clinics and you wont regret it , you get to learn lots about them and get to do some work on them yourself.
 
nscavello said:
greetings,
I'm considering my first M14 rifle (.308), and would like opinions from users/owners on whether I should choose a Norinco or Springfield? What are the main differences, besides price? I have friends that swear a Norinco M14 customized by shops such as the M14 Doctor are as good, if not better, than a stock Springfield M14. No plans on using the rifle for anything other than target.

Thanks for your answers in advance! :50cal:
Click to expand...

Availability is a big issue. Norcs are easy to find, Springfields? Good luck finding one. I've put 1100 rounds through my Norc M14 this year, so far.
 
Do you buy expensive things to have the best and look at it? Or do you want a fun to shoot, hard to hurt rifle that you can mod many ways or not, and not feel guilty about possibly hurting an investment? If you are more image conscious Springfield is the way to go. There is nothing wrong with them, you just pay a lot more for a marginal increase in performance. The appearance and finish on the Chinese rifles leave something to be desired, but the performance is good, and if modded, they are still less expensive than the Springfield while performing as well or better.
 
If you really insist on having a Springfield buy one in the US and have it shipped to a dealer in the US who specializes in bringing firearms into Canada. I know Gunbroker.com has a list of dealers who do this. Yes there are fees associated with all the paperwork but you will have saved a decent chunk of change.
If you read the stickies in this forum and research this out, you will be surprised to find that the steel of alot of 'Norc receivers is just as good, if not better than the Springfield rifles. So you can do what alot of guys here and elsewhere (including the US) do, keep the 'Norc receiver from your $450 rifle and slowly change out the rest (sights, barrel, trigger group, stock etc...)for USGI or similar parts here on the EE or online elsewhere.
 
For your first buy a previously tuned Norc on the ee if you can, it can be pretty easy to spend alot on fixing up a Norc too. Just look on the ee and see for yourself.

Then if you really want something better go LRB.

Though I think pretty soon there will be enough LRB's around for guy's to try that we'll see once again that for most of us it will be the shooter that is real determiner of performance and not the pocket book.
 
I recently bought an M14 and I can't complain. Good rifle. Sure, I guess I COULD spend the $$ to have it tuned etc, but for now I am no pro and not shooting out past 100-200 yds, and since I plan on hunting with it, if it can hit a dessert plate size target at 100-200, I am happy.

PS I have read numerous times that US m14 builders seek out Norinco frames/receivers for their M14 builds because the steel is harder and or a higher quality...just something to think about ;)
 
Yup, come and learn. Just ensure yer #### don't fall off! :D We are here to support ya! :) And yes, I did love fondling my 3 M1A's I've owned and upgraded over the years! :dancingbanana:

Oddly enough, I just built up a (started from stripped Norc receiver) M14 using USGI take-off parts and it was one tight and wonderful piece of pride! Only thing left was the Norc receiver and maybe... the gas system. Everything else was USGI. The cost was well under $ 1400 give or take. Did that unit ever come together well.

Hmmm.... time to start another; I'm getting bored.

Cheers,
Barney
 
thank-you all for your input :cheers:
now its time to make a decision, but hopefully get to shoot one or two before I do...have friends with both the springfield and norinco models, and they have good things to say about both
 
Just some thoughts once you get your m14 :)

Plan to attend a hungry clinic, tighten your op rod guide, re index the barrel, shim the gas lock

Replace the op rod spring guide

Disassemble the bolt and check your firing pin for cracks/damage

Do you need to do any of that? No. Your #### WON'T fall off :D however it won't cost you very much, will give you something to do and will make the rifle run a bit smoother then it does from stock.
 
Get yourself a nice bone stock Norico. Do the BASIC jobs to it that you can find on the stickies. Go out and shoot it...LOTS...then figure out what you want to do with it and PLAN YOUR ATTACK. I hate it when I see guys buy one of these and then figure they need to scab on every lame ass attachment they can get their hands on. Shoot the damn thing with the irons....use them, they work very well. Then if you want to scope it get a good scope mount and a DECENT SCOPE! Don't cheap out with a scope. The 14 is very hard on them. And remember its not the equipment its the shooter :D
 
Oldsmobiler said:
Get yourself a nice bone stock Norico. Do the BASIC jobs to it that you can find on the stickies. Go out and shoot it...LOTS...then figure out what you want to do with it and PLAN YOUR ATTACK. I hate it when I see guys buy one of these and then figure they need to scab on every lame ass attachment they can get their hands on. Shoot the damn thing with the irons....use them, they work very well. Then if you want to scope it get a good scope mount and a DECENT SCOPE! Don't cheap out with a scope. The 14 is very hard on them. And remember its not the equipment its the shooter :D
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x 2 on this one. I bought one in 2010 (2009#### serial). The dealer recommended I spend $45 on an op-rod guide, so I did. I read a bunch about the *gasp* horrors regarding the Norcs (pretty much ancient stuff) and got a little freaked out. You know, the ol' Chinese communist/cheap labour thing versus the made in America stuff.

I discovered that while the bolt had a little movement in it, went to Hungry's clinic and discovered that things were all good. I reload and left about .005" on my casings. My headspace was within NATO spec and she shot true and consistently, no misfires, etc. A wonderful rifle to shoot. Me being me, I wanted tighter groups and made the plunge to world of upgrades. It was there when I realized very quickly that the Norcs are not exactly a match to the M1A's, but certainly nothing worth sleepless nights about. (see other stickies).

The bottom line is that I scoped it, and have since went back to irons...shooting 300 yard gongs all day long. w:h:

Don't even waste time trying to compare the Norc's/Poly's to Springfields (or any other brand). The Norcs are without a doubt the best value for your hard earned dollar straight out of the box. If you want a match shooter, you will have to invest in parts...same as you would with the M1A's. The bottom line will be that you will still not spend as much as buying a stock M1A. Trust me, the bullets you shoot, or the targets you hit, will not know the difference between the Chinese or American rifle.

And this is the point of it all....right? :bangHead: :D :popCorn:
 
Oldsmobiler said:
Get yourself a nice bone stock Norico. Do the BASIC jobs to it that you can find on the stickies. Go out and shoot it...LOTS...then figure out what you want to do with it and PLAN YOUR ATTACK. I hate it when I see guys buy one of these and then figure they need to scab on every lame ass attachment they can get their hands on. Shoot the damn thing with the irons....use them, they work very well. Then if you want to scope it get a good scope mount and a DECENT SCOPE! Don't cheap out with a scope. The 14 is very hard on them. And remember its not the equipment its the shooter :D
Click to expand...

I have taught you well young Grasshopper....................;)
 
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