Hungry review of NEA NM Op Rod Spring Guide

Hungry

Hungry

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I just received my NEA (Northeastern Arms) made National Match Op Rod Spring guide today.

First Impressions

I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy! :runaway: I'm so impressed. I have really been overwhelmed by the response our great sponsors/dealers/manufacturers have made to meet the demand of our M14 addicts to prevent (inside joke, here) #### loss.

What a well finished product. It's got the 4 flutes in the positions (clockray method) of 3, 6, 9, & 12 o'clock. Great machining and smooth finish. Wow, nice edges. Sizes look identical to the USGI back up I used to carry in my shooting stool (NRA High Power shooters know about the stool) since the hand welded efforts we used to make were ugly and would often break at the welds.

Have a look at this picture:

DSCN3007.jpg


Installation

All was easy and straightforward. This spring guide will accomodate your Norinco / Poly spring interior diameter. No need to rush out and buy a USGI dimensioned spring from Wolff at Brownells like before since units from Brookfield Precision (made for USGI springs) would not easily work with the Norinco / Poly op rod spring. :eek: Especially after paying lots of after-tax $$ importing these nice units from USA.

Observations and Testing

I dropped the NEA unit and the Norc op rod spring fits a bit shy of the spring recess. You can see that this is such an insignificant difference, but some of you M14 lovers will discover this and then think, "Hey, my #### will fall off... " :eek: No worries, man! Have a look at the picture:

DSCN3006.jpg


Then compare the spring contact in the recess:

DSCN3005-1.jpg


This is not an issue because everything works as usual. I was testing the travel of the op rod spring guide (both USGI and NEA Unit) and everything is perfectly fine! :D

I then pulled out 4 of my 5/20 round magazines, inserted the 4 of them in to my Tactical Tailor pouches on my London Bridge Trading MOLLE Vest. I had to stand in front of the full length bedroom mirror to do this. :cool: Your partner/wife/ G or Bfriend hopefully will understand....

I carried out some mag changes and wow! Was everything just as smooth :p with BOTH USGI and NEA op rod spring guides. No difference in function and speed reloading. High Speed, NO drag on the magazine funnels. :D Not to mention looking :cool: in front of the mirror with my CQB vest! :nest:

Then I sat down and tried to JAM my magazines by hammering the op rod handle aggressively (I work out 3 to 4X per week, in hopes of becoming a TUFF Guy! ;) ) Not a single lick of trouble.

Okay, I thought... let's try jamming things with the NEA installed Tacticool bolt lock that I installed and did a review on. :nest: Well, I could not jam anything with my 4 magazines. I even swore at all the units just for effect, everything worked smoothly. I tried overgripping things (you AR15 CQB dudes know what happens when I STRESS you at our CQB matches with your mags that work at your home range) in hopes of jamming the front end of the M14 steel magazine and it's geometry with the op rod spring guide. DAMN.... I cannot jam things ! :eek:

Conclusion

I've been super happy over the years with the products other makers, dealers, and builders have brought out. This unit delivers just like many of the others I've tested of the years. And yes I have tried to mess things up with my tester M14 Norc 2007.

I'm thankful to all the dealers and sponsors on our board who help our community and M14 addiction. It's a welcome relief from my days of welding up my own NM (wannabe) Op Rod Spring guide!

Cheers for stepping up the game! :cheers:

Don't buy ONE! :eek: Buy TWO of them (you did buy 2 M14's didn't you?) :nest:

I'm just jabbing at you all! :ninja: LOL

Barney
 
Satain said:
  • Did it wiggle alot by the tip of the op-rod? (Other side of red pen)
  • Side to side?
  • Up and down?
Click to expand...

Side to side wiggle was snug with about a quarter mm of slack, just enough to allow it some fore and aft movement. I discovered that the movement was identical to the existing USGI Op rod spring guide. I guess that it's a good thing. I ain't an engineer, but a match shooter.

Price? I saw these at the NeitArms website for $ 45 :D Sure beats the prices of the Badger Ordnance ($ 43.99) and Sadlak ($ 38.99) and Springfield Armory ($ 56.99) at Brownells (not to mention the shipping) :eek:

Don't get me wrong, I like to buy my Magpul KoolAid from Brownells, but that's another story! :)


Cheers,
Barney
 
Nice piece and another great review Hungry. All that's left to develop in spring guides now are different colours.
 
Hungry said:
Side to side wiggle was snug with about a quarter mm of slack, just enough to allow it some fore and aft movement. I discovered that the movement was identical to the existing USGI Op rod spring guide. I guess that it's a good thing. I ain't an engineer, but a match shooter.

Price? I saw these at the NeitArms website for $ 45 :D Sure beats the prices of the Badger Ordnance ($ 43.99) and Sadlak ($ 38.99) and Springfield Armory ($ 56.99) at Brownells (not to mention the shipping) :eek:

Don't get me wrong, I like to buy my Magpul KoolAid from Brownells, but that's another story! :)


Cheers,
Barney
Click to expand...

Hungry approved.
D.L.P. (#### Loss Prevention) in effect. Mine came day before yesterday. Thanks for the reviews, they help for the newly addicted.
 
I we just reordered and took the last ones from NEA. I think we only have 3 or 4 left out of their first batch. Get em while they're hot..

.. Won't even have one for myself until the next batch.
 
Warrdog said:
Ordered 2 last night. Hope it resovles a problem with the JAE stock and the 5/20 Mag disconnecting the spring rod on release.
Click to expand...

Not likely, given your description, I am willing to bet that your problem is that your retainer pin is standard Norinco and therefore flush with the receiver.

The US receivers have a longer guide retainer pin that sticks out from the receiver and is held by the stock.

What you describe is often referred to as the retainer pin 'walk' where is slides sideways because of the leftover void and unlocks the spring guide.
 
The mag well on the JAE is so open i can push the rod in with my finger and turn the rifle sideways and the retaining pin slides right out. Oddly enough, i dont remember having this problem with the 5 round mag. And yes, this m14 is a Norenco build still in progress. I will get a few pics up of the mag well. Its a hugh opening with nothing to hold the retaiing pin at all.
 
Last edited:
Hey,

I just got this oprod spring guide a little while ago and tonight went to install it. It went into the receiver fine but the retaining pin will not close unless the guide is fully forward in the channel. With the pin closed, the guide has almost no movement and is too far forward for a mag to hook on to. On comparison with my Norinco guide, it appears the NEA guide has slightly more material below the hole. Please see the pictures below.

I am just curious what I should do? I think I can file it to fit but I am not sure if I should if it is out of spec.

m14oprod1.jpg


m14op2.jpg


m14op3.jpg
 
Some guide rods fit as you describe and when they do... Generally I stone the botton edge until the rod end fully seats and the pin slides un hindered.
However, you should still need to push on the rod during install to slide the pin in.
When it's all said and done and installed, when you push on the end that engages the mag, the rod should have some slight fore and aft movement.
This was very common with rauch guide rods and the occasional marstar. Not a big deal as even some drop in ready parts will need some minor fitting ;)
 
M14Doctor said:
Some guide rods fit as you describe and when they do... Generally I stone the botton edge until the rod end fully seats and the pin slides un hindered.
However, you should still need to push on the rod during install to slide the pin in.
When it's all said and done and installed, when you push on the end that engages the mag, the rod should have some slight fore and aft movement.
This was very common with rauch guide rods and the occasional marstar. Not a big deal as even some drop in ready parts will need some minor fitting ;)
Click to expand...


Ok cool. I just wanted to make sure before I started removing material.
 
I would use the GI-style rod as a template as to where to file. Go slow, try for fit often. Easy to remove material, hard to put it back ;)
 
M14Doctor said:
Some guide rods fit as you describe and when they do... Generally I stone the botton edge until the rod end fully seats and the pin slides un hindered.
However, you should still need to push on the rod during install to slide the pin in.
When it's all said and done and installed, when you push on the end that engages the mag, the rod should have some slight fore and aft movement.
This was very common with rauch guide rods and the occasional marstar. Not a big deal as even some drop in ready parts will need some minor fitting ;)
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm gonna try that approach with my NEA guide rod. I overlooked that situation. :eek:

Thanks for the suggestion! :D

Cheers,
Barney
 
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