M14--why???

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timberhunter

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So I don't want to receive hate mail about this. But I got a norinco m14 a couple weeks ago. Wanted to see what everyone loves about them. I've taken it out shooting a few times, and yup it was fun. But I've never owned a gun where the novelty of owning wore off so quickly.

I hope no one takes this the wrong way, and of course meaning no insult to anyone who owns one or loves the gun. But I just don't see whats really special about them. Maybe you guys can help me discover what I'm missing with this gun.

I'm looking for helpful ideas here. Not "I'll take it if you don't want it" suggestions. There has to be something I'm missing. I'm kinda pissed the novelty wore off so quick. But I also don't want to spend a $1000 putting parts on a $600 gun to make myself happy. Maybe I should have stuck with my lever guns :rolleyes:
 
Probably not your cup of tea...nothing wrong with that. Some people aren't interested in lever actions. I happen to have both.
 
x2 maybe its not for you...but....you may enjoy it more if you put 200$ more into it and give it a new stock and some little upgrades. If that still dosnt turn your crank it will be easy to sell on the exchange.
 
You paid $600.00?? I know you said you won't sell it, but for ####s and giggles I'll give you $450.00 for it used and shipped. You don't like it? I have a home for it. I've got half a dozen guys here that want one. Closet queens are useless, sell it to someone that'll use it. PM me, we can deal.
 
Its not so much that it is a fantastic gun, but more about it being a great value for what you get.
You get an accurate, hard hitting, unrestricted, wood and steel rifle for about $400-600. One that has all sorts of upgrade options if you want to. Or fine right out of the box.
It does not have a $3000 Swiss Arms fine finish, but the deer probably won't mind a bit.
 
You cannot expect much if your not a gunsnith hobbiest, from chinese rifle parts that were actually surplus parts playing on both sides, but that is anonther story. I've used and trained with many military types of firearms. What I can say is the hype for me always wore off quickly, I love firearms but each has its own appliaction. The Americans use it today in conflicts, but it is not an assault rifle by any means, unless there is a short carbine model offered in select fire modes where you can control rate of fire. .308 or 7.62x51mm is a medium range to short long range caliber (don't expect much further than 500 meters in a semi-auto chinese rifle). I don't want to offend any of our asain comrades by any means, but as Canadians are losing their identy to state influences(U.S.A.), we choose Asian goods for price, we choose American goods for percieved quality.
The m-14 is a battle rifle, low maintenance in G.I. mode, high penetration with obstacles like barricades, and lightly armored vehicles. If it is upgraded can perform cqb tasks(close quarter battles), and on the other range of the scale can perform longer range tasks.
The utilization of a tool depends on the operators capability, and nothing else.
 
I own an M14 and I'm sort of in the same situation as you. I've had my firearm upgraded a bit, but at the end of the day, it's just another firearm, no different than the other guns I own. I really don't think any firearm is overly exciting to shoot at paper more than a couple times. They all do the same thing (put holes in the paper). That's why I think it's the application of the firearm that excites people. Just like using a lever action in cowboy styled events, using M14 to shoot in military styled events is where the fun is at.
 
Maybe it's just not for you. Different folks like different guns. I remember shooting a friends lever about 20yrs ago. At that time I felt nothing for it - and had little interest in it. I was more into the modern military firearms we could acquire at that time and I had a nice inventory of Steyr Aug, HK91, AK, RPK, etc.. Now 20yrs later, I just got into the lever guns and added them to my list just because all of a sudden I find I enjoy them. If the M305 isn't for you, that's ok. I think people like the full power cartridge, surplus ammo availability, past and present military heritage, and aftermarket support for these. I have one and enjoy it. Do I enjoy it more than my other firearms - no. I enjoy all of my shooters equally (western, milsurps, and more current military-like stuff), it's just a matter what I feel like that day - or what ammo I have in the basement, or what ammo deal is coming up - or who I'm going shooting with. Like you said. They all basically do the same thing - kinda like a car (it's basically just gets you from point A to B, but there's lots of choices out there).
 
An interesting and candid thread.

I've come close to buying one a couple of times. I may buy one yet. I agree with the other posters - there's no sense keeping it if its not bringing you any joy.

Sell it on the EE - you'll get more than $450 for it...


KFB
 
You can pick up any gun and get bored with it rather quickly. Once you start getting into the history of it's use, design, application, strengths and weaknesses, and start tinkering with it it'll take on a whole new appeal.

Get a 1907 sling (Turner AWS), good set of GI sights, firberglass/laminate (Boyds) stock and take it out to 600m. Start making hits prone with just a sling and irons and it'll take on a whole new meaning for you. Try that with your lever action!

A lot of the appeal of the M14, AR15, 1911 is that they can be tinkered with and made to suit your personal use and taste. Add to that their history and longevity and you have a gun that most don't bore with that easily, and all for $400-600 bucks!
 
unless things have changed there are NO surplus parts in the norcs- it's just easier to make new ones when the whole production line is set up-my 1990's norc first edition( the one with slanted receiver) is all chinese- what the chinese did was to COPY the tooling,- they've done the same with countless guns and other things over the years- even when they were at war-
just like on the REAL m14, unless you get a re-work or something that's been through someone's back room shop,
your springfield , h&r,winchester,or trw is all by the same manufacturer- or at least my isreali ones are- i've checked -
and if we ever get rid of the stupid mag regulations and go back to what it was pre-92 , you'll see the m14 AND IT'S CLONES really shine
20 round mag, shoots good, 500 yard and better capability, a good cartridge with decent killing weight( i'm talking about animals, not others) and relaible
the only real detractor with the m14 is the weight- put a good scope and mount on it and you're running about 12 pounds or more- i cured this by using a barrel band and putting a sling swivel in the TOP of the stock and the other in a barrel band ( thanks uncle mike) so it hangs like an m-60- go ahead and sell yours if you want- i ain't going to
 
timberhunter said:
So I don't want to receive hate mail about this. But I got a norinco m14 a couple weeks ago. Wanted to see what everyone loves about them. I've taken it out shooting a few times, and yup it was fun. But I've never owned a gun where the novelty of owning wore off so quickly.

I hope no one takes this the wrong way, and of course meaning no insult to anyone who owns one or loves the gun. But I just don't see whats really special about them. Maybe you guys can help me discover what I'm missing with this gun.

I'm looking for helpful ideas here. Not "I'll take it if you don't want it" suggestions. There has to be something I'm missing. I'm kinda pissed the novelty wore off so quick. But I also don't want to spend a $1000 putting parts on a $600 gun to make myself happy. Maybe I should have stuck with my lever guns :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

If it said Winchester US Rifle M14 and had a go fast switch(albeit welded up and non functional) you'd find it much more interesting...Made in China does tend to detract a bit from the raw fascination in owning something... I know what you mean. (runs for cover ;) )
 
the really early norcs have most of the internal goodies less the receiver lug and connector bar- they're direct copies with the exception of the metric castle nut, and set screw- the one that holds the flash hider on-probably had the lug and connector too, just ground off before dropping it in the tank to blue it
 
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don`t listen anybody....leave this gun in your gun shelf...one day you will ned it :)
I like my M14...all updates that I went through were a good school for me...
but now my M14 has only USGI stock, USGI spring, USGI muzzle break and AS scout mount for Holosight.....works perfectly.....
good luck with yours....one day you will like it :)
 
I bought the gun at a local gun show. I wasn't keen on the price tag at first, but tag on taxes and shipping, plus I had the gun in my hands the same day. It was worth a few extra dollars. Plus I got a 5/20 rnd mag with it.

Back to the fellow with the $450 offer :bsFlag: :bangHead:
You'll be looking long and hard to find one for that price. Or find any for sale these days for that fact. They go up for sale and are gone in minutes.

In its raw form the norinco is lacking for sure. Mostly due to the stock, what ever kind of wood that is anyways. And I'll admit it is fairly accurate off hand, due to its weight. Looking at the pictures of different setups, I really like the socom version, and I may go that way with it. Sans the scope.

I'd like to try and stretch out the shots, but our range is limited to 200 yards. And as far as hunting goes, I haven't shot an animal over 75 yards in years. The deer I shot last year was at 10 feet. I'm also a bowhunter, blackpowder hunter, so I like to get close. I never even considered the m14 for hunting.

I'll tinker with the gun until I figure which direction to go. If that direction doesn't ever materialize off she goes. But for now I have a bunch of free surplus ammo to blast off, and I'll have fun doing it :rockOn:

Thanks guys
 
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