Hunting with Norinco m-14

J

JR45-70

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Thinking of buying this rifle:D Just woundered if anyone is using it,,and what type of ammo you would use and or game you have hunted. Is it reliable in field conditions... It is a 308 so it should be good for big game(moose,elk,bear,deer)I hope:D. The M-14 should be a accurate enough for hunting, right???

THANKS
 
I've shot two deer with my M14. Used handloaded Hornady SST projectiles & they dropped the deer RIGHT THERE! I would not recommend the SST projectile for anything other than a broadside shot on deer sized & smaller game...

Now, back to the M14, YOU WILL LOVE IT! Just go to a M14 clinic & learn/tweak your gun!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. and grab a USGI stock off the EE while you can!
 
I have used one of mine for the past 2 years....Federal 150 grain powershock (blue box) from crappytire will work fine.

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I hunt with mine. Hornady 150g BTSP work fine on deer. Plenty accurate for hunting so long as you do your part. Like get out and sight it in and practice with it. Downside is it is heavy and longish. Plenty reliable though in crap weather.
I'll also add the trigger guard is small for gloved fingers if you hunt in cool/cold weather.
 
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I just got my M14 but I've already made plans to use it next hunting season or even this up comming spring bear season. May as well so that when anti gunners try to ban it because its "not a hunting rifle" we can clearly show them that yes, as a matter a fact its as much of a hunting rifle as the Lee Enfield .303 is. Call me paranoid about the banning crap but you never know what the dumb dumbs will think up next. The only down side to this rifle is the weight but I don't walk around with my guns anyways. I sit in a good spot for a couple hours and wait.
 
Like Chalkriver, I shoot Federal blue box 150 grain at the range and deer hunting. The rifle will shoot that stuff all day long with no issues. Just go spend some time at the range and get used to the battle sights. They work great for me up to 200 meters with around 2in grouping. I have added a holo sight for next hunting season just because I found it hard to pick up the front sight blade I low light conditions. If you like to tinker with your toys, this is the rifle for you.
 
I carried mine for 5 years until I got a very contrasting single shot Ruger Number 1. I didn't mind the weight. I loaded mine with 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for Deer and a light load that needed to be cycled by hand for the occasional small game that came by during hunt.
 
Hunted with mine this past fall, used Federal 150's in it, might have got something if I hadn't mounted a scope, a nice 5 or 6 pointer came outta the woods about 30 yards away as I was walking up the trail, I got the rifle up but couldnt get my head setup behind the scope before he bounded off through the woods. Needless to say my heart was pounding, I was scouting out a new area, didn't expect to walk up on one like that, specially as I wasn't being that quiet. I might have gotten a shot with open sights, coulda gotten a sight picture quicker.
 
Thanks Mumbles :)

USGI fiberglass stock,Ultimak M8 front rail, Bushnell TRS-25 red dot, M1 Garand rear sights,Turner Saddlery biothane sling , Springfield Armory muzzlebrake,
upgraded op rod spring guide, unitized gas system.
Smakdaddy made a great video on how to paint these and I followed his directions except I took the rifle apart to do it.
I used some twigs and some cedar branches with Kyrlon camo (crappy tire) paint and then a few coats of clear satain followed with a light rubbing with steel wool to dull it abit.

[youtube]3q9YYy3O3m8[/youtube]
 
A 10lb rifle doesn't bother me, but it bothers a lot of folks. They are godawful heavy for what they do, a 5 shot iron sighted (or awkwardly scoped due to very high mounting) rifle. For the same weight in a bolt action you have a bull barrelled precision rig ("sniper" for the new generation) with a big scope on top, instead of a pencil barrelled .308 with iron sights. They won't bring you any advantages, as they're less accurate than good bolt guns, heavier, have poorer scope mounting options, and are restricted to a smaller range of ammunition choices.

This all said, they'll kill game just as well as a $15,000 custom Krieger barrelled bolt gun as likely 90% of the game in Canada is shot inside 100 yards, and often just barely further than that from the ATV or truck so rifle weight doesn't mean a ton. All my criticism aside, I also love the M14, just not Chinese versions but that's a personal choice on country of origin and who I want to support. They have great lines, very natural iron sights, and give at least functional accuracy if you're not comparing it to your bolt guns. Recoil is very soft due to their porky weight and semi action, and they are one of the last great "wood and steel" military rifles (not the Norcs however, the Chu wood is atrocious).

If it's a gun you're attracted to, it's no different than commuting to work in a '67 Fastback, it's a classic and part of the enjoyment comes from seeking out and using something different you enjoy even if there are faster cars out there. I hunt with a 1924 Oberndorf Mauser a bit, there are better bolt guns, but I enjoy using that one. M14's are the same, know their shortcomings and just go have fun anyway if you like them. I'm looking to build an LRB or buy a nice Springfield M1A myself at present.
 
I own a Norinco M-14 and have taken it out a few times during my Winter coyote hunts for a change up. Those blue box 150s mentioned work great in most .308s for sure I remember using them on deer in a BLR .308.

I bought several boxes of Winchesters 150 PHP Power-max ammo. Good price a CT and it's a protected hollowpoint design so the bullets shape is basically a FMJ therefore not causing any feeding issues on your feed ramp,especially the last round in your mag that has been exposed to up to five previous smashes into the front of the mag on recoil, and extra drap going up the ramp in cold weather. Any largely exposed soft point bullet like the 150 sierra BTSP's I used to use, will mush back quite bad, slightly affecting accuracy at distance but more importantly possibly a concern in an auto feeding..
The power max with its light jacket forward and small hollow point should open up properly on game, but I've never killed with them so I can't comment for sure. Maybe other Nuttters have used this 150PHP Power-max in .308s or .30-06 and would comment on the performance.
 
I've used federal vital shok 165gr(? 165/168 can't remember) nosler partition with oustanding results on black bear, moose and mulies, shot from my M14 rifles at distances of 50 to 275 yards.
The m14 family is a hunting rifle for many. It also has a nostalgic appeal.
My hunting m14's are no heavier than some of my other larger caliber hunting rifles so no biggie there and I'm a cripple hehehe
Have also had excellent target and hunting/killing performance from federal powershok 150gr SP.

I would like to try the barnes solid, like nosler, I would expect preformance to be superb but the potential for improved feeding of a solid would be something I'd like to try.
 
After hunting the past few years with my SKS, I decided to take my new M14 shorty this year. Sure it was heavier, but with a sling for longer walks its easily manageable. Even though I'd gotten two deer with the SKS, having the bigger .308 round was a nice power increase, and made me completely confident in putting deer down with one shot.
 
I have also hunted successfully with the blue box federal powershok 150 gr ammo. It does the job but rates low on the accuracy scale. The M14 is ammo picky. Practice and know your limitations and you will do fine and have fun.
 
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