Norinco 305 Barrel Indexing

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choppy99

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Found your forum, bought a Norinco and I'm beginning the journey so many of you have embarked upon before. One step at a time. This forum is such a great wealth of information and so many people willing to help us newbies with our journey. Proud to be Canadian and thank you all.

The rifle arrived on Thursday, OMG, and I have to keep her hidden from the wife. She is like a mistress where she is still unfamiliar and exciting and I like to hold her when no one is watching. But I digress..

Barrel indexing? Remember I said one step at a time. Perplexing with all the various ways to check to determine if the barrel is indexed correctly. The splines 4-8-12 o'clock were lined up and the front sight was not tilted. However the front sight was moved to the right with little more than an 1/8th inch remaining and staked. The rear sight was centred.

Thus, and now I'm assuming the other way to check the barrel indexing, is to look at the barrel in the breech. I took the photographs from the breech as I could not tell looking down the barrel. As you can see by comparing the 2 red lines the barrel is not indexed correctly. I would think the 2 red lines would converge to ensure proper indexing, at least in my opinion.

So my questions to the experts. Is this tolerance acceptable or do I need to have the barrel indexed? Is this barrel is over indexed? Thanks for your feedback.

Norinco_305_Barrel_Indexing.jpg
 
Looks better than mine and mine shoots great.

M14 Doc has said that the proper way to determine index is from the orientation of the gas port.

I wouldn't over think it. See how it shoots then start tweaking from there.
 
If yer indexing is off slightly, she won't blow up hehehe
Go shoot her and sight in the irons. If you are having to move the front sight to one extreme or the other, off center, you "might" need an indexing adjustment, you might not.
To check, strip action of bolt and oprod, undo and slide gas system forward to expose gas port
Turn action upside down on a flat surface
Insert 1/16 drill rod in gas port and view thru receiver "legs"
You'll know right away if the barrel is not reasonably close to index.

On an american made rifle, remove front sight and use levelling bars ontop of sight dovetail and behind rear sight.
This method is extremely hit n miss on chinese rifles due to commonly poor flash hider dimensions
Cheers
Thomas
Aka m14doc
 
Thanks guys and yes P589 you are definitely correct that I should be out shooting as your comments concur with a good buddy of mine that says "Get the heck out there and shoot that darn rifle and don't sweat the small stuff. This rifle certainly won't be a tack driver." The problem being with my "anal"ytic approach.

So being anal about this specific aspect of the rifle I took another photograph. And yes there is a cant to the right in the photograph which would coincide with the overtravel of the barrel in the breech photo with the righty tighty twist on the barrel.

Barney's way of determining index is to have your M14 here in his workshop (where I have all the tools). An Alberta workshop say Calgary would be nice.

Barney BEATs/Whacks/Pounds/Hammers off that Zhinese flash suppressor, understand that most if not all the Xhinese units are out of spec or out of whack. Then I slide on an M1A flash suppressor or a USGI if I happen to have one. Then I clamp the parallels on to see if things are out of index.

All kinds of other means are not always terribly reliable. Don't beat yourselves up over this issue. It's easily fixed by visiting me with a bottle of JLohr Cabernet!

No kidding! It's that simple!

Thanks Thomas for the reassurance the gun won't blow my face off and for your method for checking the barrel indexing. I'll try that method next.

Much appreciated for all the help here.

Norinco_305_Barrel_Indexing_02.jpg
 
You are slightly over indexed i'mquite sure.
Do you have any way to check your headspace?
You can send a few fired cases to someone withthe correct tools to measure your headspace.
 
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