NEW ITEM: Dominion Arms Socom 18

I agree with you totally. I understand that some of the guns had more severe issues that really gave them grounds to send it back. Completely justified. But i think there are a lot of people too that are taking the minor/imperfect things, and saying what a piece of crap the gun is. I was just saying take it for what it's worth, and if it functions well like mine does, be happy you got such a cool gun for such a cheap price.
 
Can-down said:
Nice Videos. In the one video you state that you just can't understand why some people are bummed with the issues they are having because your gun has only the minor issue of a slightly under indexed ( by the look of it) barrel.
Imagine if yours was not functional? It's not hard to guess how you's feel at that point.....
I was lucky as well as mine is also under indexed and everything seems straight inside. I won't know till I have a chance to shoot it but compared to some of the other guns out there mine looks like a winner.

[youtube]LhJMhouYKJI[/youtube]
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agree with you totally. I understand that some of the guns had more severe issues that really gave them grounds to send it back. Completely justified. But i think there are a lot of people too that are taking the minor/imperfect things, and saying what a piece of crap the gun is. I was just saying take it for what it's worth, and if it functions well like mine does, be happy you got such a cool gun for such a cheap price.
 
I started being worried when I looked at this post, and I saw that his bolt was so much tighter that mine, with almost no light showing across either front or back of the lugs. also, his sights seems a lot better, especially the rear one which is aligned with the receiver and the front one being centred on the sight base.
http://www.kentuckyarmoryclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=13109


I decided to disassemble it to see how it looks inside, and I now know why my front sight is off, I don't know how to fix it though! I don't know if it can also explain why the charging handle is hard to pull.

30ksk00.jpg


qqpboh.jpg
 
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gunnuts said:
I received mine last week and finally had time to take it out of its package and take a look at it, and it seems to be pretty off from everywhere, but since I don't know anything about the m14 platform, I'm posting pictures hoping someone can give me infos on it and tell me how to fix it and bring it to spec, if possible, or if it's a lost cause!
I want to be sure I don't have to send it back before shooting it and not be able to return it, and I also have a brand new archangel stock and I want to make sure everything is OK before I grind the stock to fit it in.
I would like to shoot this rifle with the iron sights and I don't plan on putting a scope on it for now, so I would like to get those sights aligned correctly.

First: the GOOD:
- the mags fits in it and don't need to be wrestled out!
- the trigger is pretty good
- safety and bolt open lever works
- muzzle was hand tight

The BAD:
- The charging handle is very hard to rack, and even worst when I just pulled the trigger (with or without snap caps). I need to use an excessive amount of force to open the action (unless it's meant to be that way?).
I found this to be the case on both my M305's when new. The solution is to just grease it, as per the stickies, and shoot at least a few boxes of ammo through it. This will break in the mechanism and allow it to run smoother. Just make sure that before you shoot it that the op rod guide is more or less centred and not causing the op rod to bind up against the barrel flanges (make sure it passes the Tilt test -- found in the stickies)

- The indexing of the barrel does not seem ok
It is a little off (over indexed), but it's looks quite good

- the front sight is offset to the left
By "left" you mean to the "RIGHT", since that is the side the casing is ejected on. The sight off centre to compensate for the barrel being slightly over-indexed (screwed on a little too far). When you properly index the barrel (by backing it out slightly), the gas cylinder lock will also be rotated slightly counter-clockwise (as viewed from the front in your pic), leveling off the dove tail base for the front sight and allowing you to centre the front sight

- the rear sight base is misaligned with the receiver
That rear sight base looks defective (part diagram link: http://www.fulton-armory.com/\faqs\M14-FAQs\NM4.gif), as it looks like it's bent. I'd suggest removing it to check (look up disassembly here on Youtube). If it is bent, it's simply a matter of buying a replacement USGI/Italian M1/M14 or Springfield Armory M1A rear sight base (a common mod on the Norc M305). If the rear sight base is not bent and the holes for the rear sight base in the receiver are out of alignment, then you will need to either a) live with it, b) buy a scope sight base like M14.ca's CASM mount, or c) return the rifle

NOW THE PICTURES:

Front sight to the left
xdw875.jpg

Barrel slightly over indexed, sight dovetail rotated slightly "right" requiring the front sight itself to be to the "left" (in the picture)

barrel:
2yngizd.jpg


Looks good! If you're worried about the point in the middle of the feed ramps being slightly off centre, it's nothing to worry about, and in fact, will be closer to the centre if you get your barrel properly indexed




rear sight:

245ajxz.jpg


looks like the rear left corner has been bent outward. Is the front edge of the sight base square with the receiver?


I also saw someone light up the magwell to see if the bolt closes correctly so here is a picture of mine so someone can tell me if it looks OK!:
nfib14.jpg

2enpzrt.jpg


Are these last two pictures with the hammer up or cocked? Is there a spent casing in the chamber?
To get a better idea of whether there is a gap, have the hammer cocked, a spent casing in the chamber and the rifle standing vertically on its butt
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I hope that helps!
 
I sent an email to Canam with the pictures, and I'll see what they have to said about it, I hope they will live up to their reputation of good customer service!

Odd Shot said:
I hope that helps!
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First of all, thank you very much for those answers, you are very helpful!

as for the bolt, the pictures shown on this post are with an empty chamber, if you look at post 838, you will see the bolt with a snap cap in the chamber (fired or unfired did not change the position of the bolt).

for the op rod guide, if you look at the picture in post 843, I'm pretty sure everything is misaligned and is probably the cause for being hard to move the charging handle.

I will take a look at the stickies (I just discovered where they are!) as soon as I have 2 second (I have 4 exams next week so I'm quite buzy!).

As far as indexing goes, if I just have regular tools (I have a pretty complete toolbox for automotive work, but nothing for firearms, and no vice), do I need to bring it to a gunsmith to get the barrel unscrewed and properly indexed, or it's an easy job with the basic tools? How much do they usually charge?


I'll check for the rest of the points you mention as soon as I have a second.

Thanks
 
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gunnuts said:
k9cpc7.jpg


2h2p7dj.jpg
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That actually looks good. I wouldn't be worried about the left lug engagement given these photos. Someone with more experience will likely correct me if I am wrong about this.

gunnuts said:
As far as indexing goes, if I just have regular tools (I have a pretty complete toolbox for automotive work, but nothing for firearms, and no vice), do I need to bring it to a gunsmith to get the barrel unscrewed and properly indexed, or it's an easy job with the basic tools? How much do they usually charge?


I'll check for the rest of the points you mention as soon as I have a second.

Thanks
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Properly indexing a barrel is "easy" to do, but it does require a barrel vice, a sturdy work bench and a strong wrench and breaker bar. It's a common flaw in these Norinco M305's and re-indexing is often done at many of the M14 clinics (hands on workshops) you see popping up across Canada (look up "tactical teacher" on CGN). If you don't have the tools (I only know one person who has his own barrel vice for the M305 -- Tactical Teacher) or can't get to an M14 Clinic, I'd take it to a gunsmith. The barrel doesn't have to be completely removed, just backed out a few degrees.

As for the difficulty of operating the action, I doubt the indexing is responsible, unless your op rod is binding on the flange of the barrel near the receiver. It is most likely difficult because the trigger mechanism and action hasn't been properly broken in yet and the rifle isn't properly greased yet (oil is not good enough).

Try the tilt test: remove the trigger and stock from the barrelled action. remove the op rod spring and spring guide and then tip the rifle about 30 to 40 degrees forward and backward. The op rod and bolt should slide freely front to rear. If it doesn't, then yes, the op rod binding somewhere may be why operation of the action is so stiff.

but my guess would be on the rifle not yet being broken in.
 
Heres my socom 18 with a Springfield Armory Scout Squad stock and scope mount. Indexing is very good, smooth action and both lugs have contact and the flash hider serwed off by hand. So I'm very happy with it after reading some of the posts in this thread. Its a hit and miss deal I guess, a buddy of mine sent his back as the bolt release/stop would not hold the bolt back.
 
WOW! all i can say after seeing these pics and reading these posts - glad i never sprang for one of these, anything i buy ever, that looks like that - would go straight the F*$k back. no mistake.
 
You're very lucky scuitto, and it looks amazing!

Got an e-mail back from Canadaammo, and it seems that I'll have to live with it as they don't see anything wrong with it (they say that every socom is like this!!), there might be some that are worst than mine, but there are some better ones, and I did not see any with a crooked rear sight base like mine.
So I have to say I'm pretty disappointed as I expected more from them.
When I purchased this rifle I made a request if they could do a quick check on it before shipping it because I did not know anything about this platform, but they were probably too busy with all the order to take a second to look at it (even though they had already opened the box to put little item I purchased at the same time in the box).
If I knew it would come out of spec like this, I would have passed on this rifle and invest on my other firearms instead.

I'm pretty sure there is no m14 clinics in Quebec, so I'll have to bring it to a gunsmith to get the barrel indexed properly and the gas block lined up, as I can't see how the gas block and op rod being so offset from each other can be normal and function correctly as is.

I just hope it won't cost a lot to get it done, I did not plan on putting a lot of money on this platform as I already have a lot of other fun toys I prefer! It better be as fun to shoot as everyone says, otherwise I'll be pretty pissed!


Odd Shot,
Regarding the tilt test, it seems to be ok for the bolt and op rod, but the gas piston does not slide very freely in the gas block. The piston is pretty rough on the edge, I might need to be smoothed, but I don't know if it can be done without removing the chrome finish.
One thing I noticed though is that the op rod is not 100% aligned with the barrel and has a very slight angle to the right, which does not help to be square with the already tilted gas block (see pictures of post 843)
 
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You have a 14 day no questions asked return policy. The only way people will get the message that we're not satisfied with $hit is to stop being satisfied with $hit.
FF
 
FyreFighter said:
You have a 14 day no questions asked return policy. The only way people will get the message that we're not satisfied with $hit is to stop being satisfied with $hit.
FF
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But shipping it back would probably cost 30-40$ since it's not a warranty issue (at least they don't consider it to be!), and I'll have a case of 1000 rounds and no 308 to shoot it!
 
Not to be rude but, if you're truly disappointed in this and wouldn't have bought it had you known, then don't ##### about it since you have an out. You are either unhappy with your purchase or you are not.

FF

gunnuts said:
So I have to say I'm pretty disappointed as I expected more from them.
...
If I knew it would come out of spec like this, I would have passed on this rifle and invest on my other firearms instead.
...
so I'll have to bring it to a gunsmith to get the barrel indexed properly and the gas block lined up, as I can't see how the gas block and op rod being so offset from each other can be normal and function correctly as is.

I just hope it won't cost a lot to get it done, I did not plan on putting a lot of money on this platform as I already have a lot of other fun toys I prefer!

But shipping it back would probably cost 30-40$ since it's not a warranty issue (at least they don't consider it to be!), and I'll have a case of 1000 rounds and no 308 to shoot it!
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The problem is that I'm not even sure I have an out, because I don't remember when I received it exactly, I'm in my exams at the university (8 exams in 2 weeks), and I haven't had time to check it before, and I actually don't have time to deal with shipping it back right now, so I'll probably be past the 14 days anyway, but I was hoping they would take care of it, and at least fix the most obvious problems, I don't want it to be perfect, but at least better than this.

I know everyone keeps saying it's only a 500$ rifle, and the real one costs 2000$ bla bla bla, but the reality is that 500$ is still not cheap and we could at least expect not to have to fix it before using it. For around the same price, I can get a tikka T3 308, maybe it's not a semi auto, but at least it's assembled flawlessly, and is very accurate out of the box.

Everyone was saying the same about the T97 being just 1000$ for a bullpup, but people are starting to regret dropping a grand into these rifles. We should stop comparing the norinco rifles with the real deal and excusing all the problems because of the price, they are cheaper because they are made in china, but we should expect to get a properly assembled rifle no matter where it's made.
I don't care if the stock is cheap plastic and the finish is not perfect or there is tool marks, but they should not cut corners on the assembly of the main parts of the rifle which are the fit of the barrel and the bolt to the receiver.

If they were made somewhere other than china, and sold for the same price, you would not see that kind of excuses regarding poor quality control, they would get bashed a lot more. We just got used to get poor products from them and to not expect or ask more from them.

Hopefully, the next more expensive batch will be better made.
 
I am in Québec and could fix some of you guys indexing issues. I got a vice, two angle finder and the receiver wrench.

PM if you are interested.
 
My barrel is slightly over indexed and is throwing my op rod alignment off and since I can't seem to find a seminar in the Ottawa area I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with Jason from gunco working on there m305.
 
Sent the first 100 rounds of Norinco 147 FMJ down range through my Socom 18 today. Rifle shot without a hitch and a breeze to sight in and get dialed to hit a 6" gong a 100 m practically every time with the open sights. Frickin' funnest day at the range in a long time and I came away fairly impressed with the rifle and ammo. Its a keeper.
 
dpopl8r said:
Sent the first 100 rounds of Norinco 147 FMJ down range through my Socom 18 today. Rifle shot without a hitch and a breeze to sight in and get dialed to hit a 6" gong a 100 m practically every time with the open sights. Frickin' funnest day at the range in a long time and I came away fairly impressed with the rifle and ammo. Its a keeper.
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How is the fit of everything on yours?
 
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