M14 shorty - what's been customized? *UPDATE 07/16/2012 - rifle arrived!

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stickhunter

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Hi guys,

I'm an M14 newb, but I'm curious what you think of this Chinese M14 shorty?

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From the limited pictures, would anyone venture a guess as to what's been modified? The stock looks like it might be USGI but I'm a bit thrown off by the buttplate. The flash hider is different as is the gas lock front sight, and I think there's a picattiny rail on the handguard.

Would the different colours on the metal (e.g., oprod and rear sight) indicate replacement?

Any details (e.g., model of flash hider and handguard rail) would be appreciated --- I'm trying to build up my knowledge of M14s. What would be a fair price for the above?

Thanks!
 
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if its a usgi, the selector cut out has been filled
but plate looks like it's be replaced with rubber.
indeed a "navy" gas lock front sight - not sure but might be a dlask front flash suppressor.
that is a pic rail on the front -Springfield armoury if i'm not mistaken.

the guide rod is a little discolored- if it's a dlask brake, possibly a dlask guide rod as well.

also, looks like there may be an oversized/after market bolt stop.

I ASSuME that if the previous own took the time to get it chopped and threaded that they have shimmed/aligned the gas system, replaced the op rod guide.

looks like it might be greased properly as well.

EDIT: i'd get some more pics, a round count, list of work before even thinking about making an offer.
 
na1lb0hm said:
I ASSuME that if the previous own took the time to get it chopped and threaded that they have shimmed/aligned the gas system, replaced the op rod guide.

looks like it might be greased properly as well.

EDIT: i'd get some more pics, a round count, list of work before even thinking about making an offer.
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Thanks for the info. It appears to me that it's been put together with some decent parts, so I'd think it's had some actual accurizing done to it.

Unforturnatey, it's being sold thorugh a dealer, so I don't think any history of usage/work will be available. That being said, it's priced like a run-of-the-mill Norc shorty ($395), so that's why I was interested in figuring out what's been done to it as it might be a pretty good deal.
 
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That is a good deal. Buy it! Cutting the barrel down will run around $100. The stock, another $100. The gas lock front sight and flash hider, at least another $100. Take a normal $450 gun and add it up. You just gotta hope that it isn't a good deal for a reason.
 
twoguntim said:
That is a good deal. Buy it! Cutting the barrel down will run around $100. The stock, another $100. The gas lock front sight and flash hider, at least another $100. Take a normal $450 gun and add it up. You just gotta hope that it isn't a good deal for a reason.
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Yes, those additions/modifications do add up. The dealer is reputable, so I'm sure if I tear down the rifle and find anything problematic, it will be dealt with appropriately.

I found out, too, that it comes with 6 magazines --- plenty enough for me!

I'll post better pictures when it arrives, and hopefully that'll help figure out what's been done to do it. Now to start reloading some 308...
 
Rocket Surgery said:
$400 for that gun? Buy that right now, the parts alone are worth that much.
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Done, and done!

Canada Post was extremely fast... Ontario on Thursday and picked up in BC today!

I just tore down the rifle to inspect the parts, and everything looks great. An initial inspection shows that the bolt and oprod are electropenciled with the same serial number as the receiver --- the faint serial is the only identifying mark on them, so I'm assuming they are the originals. Can the serial number be used to tell the year of manufacture? This rifle has a serial number of the for 003###. EDIT: I did some searching and the numbers under the stock (3 7 19 1 10) probably indicated a July 1993 manufacturing date.

The only markings on the receiver are on the left side and say "M14 308 / CJA SFLD MICH / NORINCO MADE IN CHINA" followed by the serial number. The markings are pretty faint. The heel has no markings whatsoever --- is this the way they came, or has the receiver been scrubbed and refinished? That would explain the difference in colour of some of the parts (e.g., the oprod). EDIT: more searching indicates that they were produced without heel markings.

The flashider is a four prong affair with the ends of the prongs pointed and slanted towards the bore axis. I'll get a closeup picture, and hopefully someone can help me identify it.

The stock is in good condition (minus the drab camo). The rubber buttplate is homemade, and I suspect the stock has been cut back to remove the standard buttplate inletting (I have to measure to verify). The length of pull feels a tad short, so I'll probably look at putting a thicker pad on it.

The rifle came with 4 5/20 mags and 2 5 round mags, as well as a sling, cleaning kit, and a couple of stripper clips. Interesting, the nylon pouch containing the cleaning kit is marked "Lady Mac Corset Co."

Now for the real surprise... I believe it has a National Match rear sight. The windage and elevation knobs are marked WCE and the aperature is rotatable with a "520" marked in front of a small v-notch. The elevation rack is marked NM. This is my first Norinco M14 -- did they ship with an NM-knockoff sight?

I'm going to get it cleaned up and relubed and will take some photographs in the next while.

This sure feels like a sweet rifle!
 
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haha - I wouldn't tell anyone where it was either.

Nice work OP and congrats on a beaut of a rifle!

We want to see more pictures!
 
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