How safe are Norinco M305s?

Mad Cow Rebel

Mad Cow Rebel

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I've read some interesting stories about Norinco m14s. From a bolt lug breakage to a rifle exploding and these have got me wondering (as I am looking to buy one) are Norinco M305s worth the apparent safety risk? Or are these stories over exaggerated.
 
I have a 2007 Marstar M14 and I believe it to be perfectly safe. Many of us own these rifles & have tinkered with them for years. To be honest, they were an incredible value back in the day @ $399!!!

A general comment about 'a rifle exploding' is just that, too general a comment. Was it hand loaded ammo? Was it the owner dropping the bolt on a cartridge single loaded into the chamber NOT loaded into the magazine... Etc etc etc...


I will admit that the recent advent of using a MIM bolt in these M14 rifles has folks rightfully concerned: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...failures-in-recent-import-M-14-pattern-rifles

Cheers
Jay
 
Older m305’s have forged receivers and bolts and any problems are with the newer ones where the manufacturing process has changed. There are threads that can be found with a search with details about this ... others know the years to look for etc. Buy an older one.
 
I have several, all are pre 2012 though, and have been flawless. Zero issues, whereas I did own an M1A with problems in the past. As well, a 2016 was a dog, lots of issues, out of spec receiver as well as a MiM bolt that broke.
I have no experience with LRB, definitely cannot afford one (hear they are great), but find my older Norincos give me plenty of satisfaction.
In short, go Old School. JMHO
 
After 2012 batches came in with metal injection molded bolts. Some receivers are cast as opposing to forged and machined.
It's not as cut and dry as "year x has these" either.
I'm currently building a tuned lightweight one off a 2013 stamped import. It had a forged/machined receiver and a forged machined bolt.
It's easy to spot a MIM bolt. On the underside you'll see small circles in the steel on both sides of the bolt from the mold injection process.
These are bad. The amount of physical force exerted on that piece of steel in the m14 design is phenominal. That being said the norc forged bolts are rock solid and good to go.
Having a cast receiver is not necessarily a bad thing IF good quality materials and methods are used. I've not heard any instances of these being problematic.
You can spot a cast receiver easily. Check the underside of the receiver at the rear for a visible middle/symmetrical seam frim the cast process. If you don't see this and there's classic machined with a potato tool marks all over it instead then its 99% it's forged and machined.
They sold new for 399 back in the day...but this one was almost new in the box shipped to my door for 500 off the EE.
I made sure it was a forged bolt/receiver via asking for detailed pics before comitting.
Guys are all but giving them away these days to buy the new NR AR10 that are flooding the market.
Educate yourself a little on the platform and reap the rewards brother! :rockOn:
 
The older ones have been good to me. I haven't experienced any problems that relate to safety issues. The only issues are quality control issues relating to the assembly of them, such as barrels not indexed correctly (so that the sights don't point straight up and the gas system aligns with the op rod). Or sights that were poorly machined so that one ear is larger than the other, or the rear peep is drilled off centre, or the sight adjusting mechanism is difficult to adjust for proper tension because the serrations in the receiver aren't deep enough or even all the way around to engage properly and click. The headspacing is typically beyond a saami no go gauge, but below a field gauge. That's hard on the brass if you reload them. I've shot them in rapid fire competitions where I had to empty magazine after magazine in rapid succession until smoke was coming off the barrel and point of impact changed significantly and I experienced one failure to eject in the midst of it, but no safety issues. I would say find an older one with a forged bolt and dive right in.
 
Thanks everyone. I am currently looking at a 2007 model which I believe to be sound aside from the barrel being slightly over indexed but I think i'll go for it. Thanks for the help!
 
Mad Cow Rebel said:
Thanks everyone. I am currently looking at a 2007 model which I believe to be sound aside from the barrel being slightly over indexed but I think i'll go for it. Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

The barrel 'could be' perfectly indexed... It's gun to gun & you have to look at each one.

There is a 2007 on the EE & I was looking at it... No, I don't 'need' another one, but I want it...

Cheers
Jay
 
I miss this rifle and all the ammo deals that came during its time. No doom and gloom.. The only problem to have was not having enough money to buy more 3 for 2 ammo deals.
 
Hello there,

I too am looking for a M305. When your bolt broke as you had mentioned, what type of failure was it? How bad was the whole incident? What other damage did it create? Was it a remove and re install job or gun smithing involved? I thank you in advance for your co operation with this matter.

Best regards,
Bob
 
These are old threads, Disco Bob. There should be a thread here on the forums detailing a good portion of the failures, funnily enough I can't find it atm.
You're advised against buying new, unless the vendor can guarantee a forged bolt and receiver.
Most of the failures seem to send parts flying by peoples faces. I'd be sketched out about shooting it left handed. Shooting right handed, the receiver should theoretically protect you from most flying parts.

You'll still find some used Norincos for 500 - 900$ with forged bolt and receiver.
Else be prepared to shell out 300$ for a forged bolt and 500$ for a gunsmith to install it. If you can find a lone bolt. You may need a wolverine parts package for 650$.
Even then there's a chance your build may not work. Or it could come out with bad accuracy. If it does come out well, you may have a rifle on par with 2500$ rifles.
From time to time the M14's that have already been converted to USGI parts come up for sale, usually in the 1700$ price range.
 
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