I'm far from an M-14 expert but have owned a few over the years and still own a couple.
If you're getting 1.5-2 moa from a factory Norinco barrel I think you're doing pretty well. Have realistic goals when running Chinese parts in your rifle, if you expect too much from your equipment you'll just be frustrated and it will become a money pit chasing a 0.5 moa improvement.
My nice M-14 (not built by me) has well over $3000 invested including a Krieger barrel and bedded to a Blackfeather chassis and I still haven't seen 1 moa. I just finally found some H4895 and hope to get some loads built to test soon. I'm hoping for a consistent 1 moa, I don't expect any more than that from a semi auto, especially an M-14. I think a lot of guys give others unrealistic expectations when they claim sub moa from a mostly stock Norinco, one fluke three round group is not a sub moa rifle. That's why I said I was hoping for a consistent 1 moa, that means if I shoot it from bags where it isn't me screwing up the group the rifle can put all of the shots into that size group with no flyers. My Modern Hunter is almost there but I still have more load development to do before I'm happy with it then I'll switch back to working on loads for the M-14, then loads for the cheaper M-14 (similar build to yours but with USGI fiberglass stock)
Hopefully the gas system unitizing tightens it up for you but I wouldn't expect miracles from a Norinco barrel. Also keep in mind that not all Norinco barrels are created equally, you may have gotten one that just isn't capable of 1 moa or better no matter what you do to everything around it.
Good luck.
If you're getting 1.5-2 moa from a factory Norinco barrel I think you're doing pretty well. Have realistic goals when running Chinese parts in your rifle, if you expect too much from your equipment you'll just be frustrated and it will become a money pit chasing a 0.5 moa improvement.
My nice M-14 (not built by me) has well over $3000 invested including a Krieger barrel and bedded to a Blackfeather chassis and I still haven't seen 1 moa. I just finally found some H4895 and hope to get some loads built to test soon. I'm hoping for a consistent 1 moa, I don't expect any more than that from a semi auto, especially an M-14. I think a lot of guys give others unrealistic expectations when they claim sub moa from a mostly stock Norinco, one fluke three round group is not a sub moa rifle. That's why I said I was hoping for a consistent 1 moa, that means if I shoot it from bags where it isn't me screwing up the group the rifle can put all of the shots into that size group with no flyers. My Modern Hunter is almost there but I still have more load development to do before I'm happy with it then I'll switch back to working on loads for the M-14, then loads for the cheaper M-14 (similar build to yours but with USGI fiberglass stock)
Hopefully the gas system unitizing tightens it up for you but I wouldn't expect miracles from a Norinco barrel. Also keep in mind that not all Norinco barrels are created equally, you may have gotten one that just isn't capable of 1 moa or better no matter what you do to everything around it.
Good luck.
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