I was told up front by the questar guys that there was no guarantees with respect to the state department approving the export permit; in fact that there was real risk that it could be denied and they suggested that while this had happened to them in the past they had also had some approved. It's a little unsettling when opening up the wallet to think that the outcome of the endeavour is subject to a large degree of qualitative judgement (or perhaps just plain mood?!?!) of a foreign government official, however if you don't apply you don't give them the opportunity to say yes. I'm not sure how exactly they worded the paperwork, but the sun must have been shining over the state department office that day 'cause it came back approved! I was pretty excited....
With respect to the USGI parts used in the build, I was somewhat pleasently surprised however one of my two springfields (imported via different importers) showed up with a large number of USGI parts in it also. How does the reasoning go behind the state department allowing this? I don't know but I'm not going to complain.
Build Details:
- LRB M14SA receiver with mixmaster Winchester & H&R parts
- 18.5 inch medium weight non-chrome lined barrel
- Sadlak op rod spring guide
- Sadlak Ti Gas Piston
- Smith Enterprise Direct Connect Vortex
- Smith Enterprise Dovetail Gas Lock Front Sight
- Walnut Stock
- 5 round magazine
- leather sling
- fabric carrying case
- cleaning kit
Costs:
$2233.00 = $2300US @ 1.03US/Can
$225.00 - Import/Export Paperwork
$223.92 - GST and shipping from Questar's Canadian Office
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$2681.92 All-In
Pretty pricey but have a gander at a USGI Norinco Build:
$400 - Norinco Receiver
$350 - New USGI Bolt with all guts
$300 - USGI Operating Rod
$300 - USGI Gas assembly
$250 - USGI Barrel
$100 - SE Vortex
$100 - SE Dovetail Gas Lock Front Sight
$250 - USGI Stock complete with all hardware
$75 - Sadlak Op Rod Guide
$25 - USGI Op Rod Spring
$300 - USGI Trigger Group
$100 - USGI Rear Sight Assembly
---------
$2550
And it does not include things like the tools you need to check headspace, barrel vice/action wrench or any of the hourly work required to part/thread barrels etc etc etc. Now about here is where Hungry will chime in and tell you that your #### won't actually fall off if you shoot your Norinco without all these USGI parts and you know what...
HE'S RIGHT!
There is not alot wrong with the chinese guns other than their stocks and rear sight assemblies; a couple hundred bucks will fix that up for a fraction of the cost of an LRB.
I have many chinese M14s with varying degrees of USGI upgrades (some are almost bare bones chinese! GASP!) and I enjoy shooting the crap out of them. But I love this type of rifle and there is something special about one that has a bit more soul (and good looks to boot!)...something I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford. At least that's what I keep telling myself....