How good are the norinco m14's

The fans tend to gloss over the warts and the detractors tend to highlight them. The simple fact is that most M305's are perfectly useable right out of the box in spite of loose op-rod guides, poor indexing, finger-tight gas locks, crappy rear sights, and factory Norc spring guides. If all you want is a fun semi-auto that can be reasonably expected to put cheap copper-washed bulk ammo inside of 5 inches at 100 yards, just clean it and go shoot it. If you want anything significantly better than that you're looking at a project gun that you'll likely be putting a fair bit of time, effort, and cash into before you're happy.

The thing to watch out for is when Norc quality control drops the ball on more than just fit and finish. A poor heat treat on the bolt, badly mated lugs, or misaligned hammer hooks (just as examples) can become dangerous problems if they're not caught and the problem parts fixed or replaced. Most are fine, but the bad ones are more common than in your typical North American or European firearms. If you don't know the platform well enough to inspect them properly it's a really good idea to either learn how or enlist the aid of someone who does.

Personally I think they're some of the best fun you can have with your pants on. I love both shooting them and tinkering with them, so the Norcs tend to satisfy my needs pretty nicely.
 
I have a 2007 M14S, love this rifle, have changed op rod spring guide and op rod spring, shimmed gas cylinder, USGI hammer spring. Factory sights suck but I put the M14.ca scope rail on so no big deal. Probably about 2000 rounds through it, takes a licking and keeps on ticking!! Never had a misfunction yet (knock on wood)
I have a M1A Springfield loaded with about 1000 rounds through it same mods as the Norinco except that the trigger is factory stock, more accurate because of the heavy barrel but having some issues with the trigger right now. (seems to be getting too light on the pull weight and malfunctions)
I honestly would not be able to choose one over the other, both are a crap load of fun!!
I have changed the original stock on both of them....Norinco has M14.ca Blackfeather stock and M1A has USGI walnut both choices just because!
Rodney
 
How good are the norinco m14's

The Norinco m305 (M14 copy) is not good ….for you.
I found my "Shorty" addicting to fondle and to break-down/clean. Unfortunately, mine required no tinkering as it came BNIB from the Testicle Teacher(Barney) himself. He tweaked everything and made it into a flawless shooter (requiring no extra parts). It Needed nothing…even the rear sight worked!
I only put 60 rounds of the Norinco ammo thru it but it was enough to convince me that the platform was addictive. Mines sold now and I'm waiting for my SOCOM16 to be delivered. I swore never to get another Restricted Rifle again but concluded I'd rather have it than not.

I'm sure this one will be even worse….for me. Get one!
 
johNTO said:
How good are the norinco m14's

The Norinco m305 (M14 copy) is not good ….for you.
I found my "Shorty" addicting to fondle and to break-down/clean. Unfortunately, mine required no tinkering as it came BNIB from the Testicle Teacher(Barney) himself. He tweaked everything and made it into a flawless shooter (requiring no extra parts). It Needed nothing…even the rear sight worked!
I only put 60 rounds of the Norinco ammo thru it but it was enough to convince me that the platform was addictive. Mines sold now and I'm waiting for my SOCOM16 to be delivered. I swore never to get another Restricted Rifle again but concluded I'd rather have it than not.

I'm sure this one will be even worse….for me. Get one!
Click to expand...

Where are the Socom 16's in stock?
 
johNTO said:
Exactly why I sold the AR's....my HG's are next to go
Click to expand...

I understand your frustration with restricteds and the system but selling all of them justifies the Antis efforts to make it more and more difficult for all of us. I have LOTS of restricteds but if I was ever tempted to sell I would keep at least one as my protest of the bull we go through (and to make sure if I ever found something I couldn't live without I would be able to buy it without going through all the hoops again!)
Edit.....got a 625 you want to get rid of cheap?:cool:
Rodney
 
rodauto said:
I understand your frustration with restricteds and the system but selling all of them justifies the Antis efforts to make it more and more difficult for all of us.
Edit.....got a 625 you want to get rid of cheap?:cool:
Rodney
Click to expand...

I was actually being a Smarta$$ about selling my AR's because "restricted=less fun" (as per previous poster)…..and I will never sell my 625:)
Back on track…the Norinco m305 allowed me to get into the platform inexpensively to test the waters. Once I was convinced(about the platform) I just had to have the SOCOM16 that I have been lusting for... for years. Helped me justify spending the $$ on one and getting it even thou they are Restricted. Like I said…better to have one(even Restricted) than not at all. YMMV
 
In the past year, I purchased a m305 put a new stock on it and upgraded the guts and FS. She shoots like a dream....for a clone! Some advise I got, don't spend to much on the upgrades or you might as well just buy one from Springfield Arms, remember lipstick on a pig!! So if you can save up, even for a year, buy yourself quality if you can hold off.
 
johNTO said:
I was actually being a Smarta$$ about selling my AR's because "restricted=less fun" (as per previous poster)…..and I will never sell my 625:)
Back on track…the Norinco m305 allowed me to get into the platform inexpensively to test the waters. Once I was convinced(about the platform) I just had to have the SOCOM16 that I have been lusting for... for years. Helped me justify spending the $$ on one and getting it even thou they are Restricted. Like I said…better to have one(even Restricted) than not at all. YMMV
Click to expand...

:cool::cool::cool:
Rodney
 
Yeah, the restricted stuff just sucks. The mag limit and arbitrary prohibition even more. Did you guys knew that you can legaly buy a semi-auto ak47, ar15, fn fal, etc, with full capacity magazine in France if you are a member of a shooting club? Socialist France allow it's citizen to have ak47 with 30 rounds magazine! The possesion of these guns by licensed citizens don't pose any problems in this country, it's just that some people find them "offensive".
 
45ACPKING said:
Some of the posts in this thread are typical LOL exploding bolts are not very common

10 years of constant new content in the main battle rifle forum is a testament in itself to the popularity of the chinese M14/M305. The rifle has a cult like following and at the same time has brought out the tinkerer in many a gun owner. No, the chinese M14 is not perfect and like has been said, they do produce their lemons so buy from a dealer with an exchange policy/warranty.
BUT if you like to tinker and play with your tools... The chinese M14 is certainly a fun rifle to own. That and there is a fantastic community here to be part of and make new friends. The thing that makes them popular is not accuracy out of the box, it's not the finishing on the metal , it's not the sloppy parts fitment... It's just that they are a real fun rifle to tinker with and a real fun time to shoot.
That's my thoughts anyways.
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly. Ya saved me a pile of typing. The M14 community is the envy of the CGN community. I often get PM's from people asking about milsurp or hunting rifle schtuff because they feel invited to share and that's great.

Just a few observations:

Many people start their tinkering / tweaking /modifying on the M14 before expanding their comfort level into other platforms (ex. Ruger 10/22, AR15's, Rem 870, Rem 700, Savage 10/111, Tikka T3, Mossy shotty

Many people have started reloading (coming from a factory ammo background) because the M14 platform necessitated such a move. Welcome to the hobby within a hobby. :D

Some M14's allow themselves easy and drop in mods from USGI or M1A spec'ed parts, some don't which leads to the conclusion that some Norc/Poly M14's are 'more in-spec' than others.

Goofy QC makes the swap ability less predictable and mysterious, hit and miss is what comes to mind. Sometimes more hit and sometimes more miss depending on the rifle / shorty you end up with.

Some Norc rifles shot really well when tweaked and then shot better with swapped parts (from USGI or M1A rifles), some of them shot like KRAP and my fix was to "part" out the entire package and recover your money. With the Norc/Poly rifles, it's like a "box of chocolates."

I've met soooo many people doing their own parts swapping in and out, they have become experts and started helping people all over their communities. Ah... that's part of my vision. I ain't gonna live forever. :) Don't plan to either! :evil:

I've noticed that whenever M14 Norc/Poly parts are posted for sale on the EE Forums, they sell! Not always quickly, but they sell....

Anyways, I've got a moose hunt coming up in a few days and I better screw off that .22-250 coyote sporter barrel and replace it with a .308 barrel on my hunting M700. My guardian angel gunsmith helped me get set up with a 700 that now has THREE barrels (.22-250 for coyotes, .308 for large game, and .223 for gophers and earth pigs). Yes, I have a .308 bolt face bolt AND a .223 bolt face bolt. So depending on the season, my M700 can serve triple duty. That's what happens when you can only have one hunting rifle, but at least I've got a Leupy Mark4 duplex on a set of ARMS22 throw rings and that helps the caliber/season/game swapping. :D

Cheers and keep on helping them noobs.

Barney
 
I have one of the newer Norencos. I have put over 1000 rounds through this weapon. Mounted it on a SAGE EBR stock and with careful hand loads and 168 grain SMKes it prints 1 MOA or better in a ten shot group with one flyer (always a flyer) at 1.5-2 MOA. It took a while for me to find the proper powder, charge weight, and bullet combination. M14 rifles are extremely load sensitive. I do have a few problems with the EBR chassis. The rifle will occasionally fail to #### after cambering a live round from the magazine box. (this problem does not occur in the Chinese stock) Sometimes, depending on how I am on the trigger, it will do a double tap bump fire. All in all it is a rifle that is lots of fun to shoot. The down side is that it weighs over 14 lbs, in the EBR stock not something I would want to pack in the bush, it should be just fine from a stand or truck road hunting for bear. This rifle is a good buy.
 
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