M305 Bolt Failure

Helicoiled? That is new.
Can you show us some pics of that?
That would be a disturbing find in my books and would absolutely take a new import norinco off my purchase list hehehehe
 
yeah its got some thread insert installed. I can see a few tabs to stop it from rotating * edit no tabs just parkerizing over it from were the groves in the barrel were... I carefully scraped it down and a distinct edge can be seen*, but even were I drilled the lock screw out I can see its a diferant peice of metal.
sry for the ####ty picture quility
This is a late 2012
2013-05-11+22.52.58.jpg

2013-05-11+23.30.53.jpg
 
Last edited:
WOW!
No new Norc for me. That is bad in too many ways. Thanks for spotting that.

Looks like the value of older Norcs just went into orbit though
 
I was at the range a couple weeks ago, with my m305. About 50 rounds in or so, put in a new mag and pulled the handle, and the bolt came right out into my hands. Love the rifle, but let's be honest about this; love the price and availability. Springfield Armory, here I come! Although since my main contractor was just put into receivership (bye bye Brenmar and 11k in invoices for the month) may just have to hang onto this for awhile yet..
Ardent said:
And Norincos will still be touted in this forum for decades. :)

This week I've read about:

-Catastrophic bolt failure
-Catastrophic barrel failure
-Razor sharp op rod handles
-Cracked gas cylinder, full length, from the factory before firing

My eyes are worth LRB and Springfield prices. People are going to jump on me, again, but this isn't just a joke, we're putting contained explosions inches from our heads, throats, and hands and trusting Chinese bottom basement crap to contain the 50,000+psi. Support the good guys, they're on our side too, and more than worth the money.
Click to expand...
 
Must be a pretty special bolt.

I knew some of the op rods popped off once in a while but I have yet to hear of bolts jumping out into ones hand.

These things are what they are. They are a good base for a project gun. There is no surprise that issues pop up all the time. There are remedies all over the net for these issues. Caution is definitely warranted. and people should educate themselves before jumping in and buying one.


Mine came with issues too but none that I was not aware of. I ordered parts to fix the areas that were lacking. Even with a black feather stock i am $1600.00 into this project and everything is running as it should.
 
Last edited:
Yea the op rod lifting of the bolt while passing its exit slot is common on with nooby soldiers. Ensure you did not lift the op rod handle while retracting rearward, always pull down. Any M-14 may jump out of the track if you retract with hand under the handle. I'm not sure how the bolt itself could jump out into your hand on cycling, but anyhow this is the common cause as stated.
 
That sounds about right (the pulling up and away, not that nooby b.s. part) I must say that I'd probably be broke if I had enough time in at the range to "just know that." That being said; for the application of this rifle, isn't that a bit of a design flaw? When things get all heated and explody, who's going to want to be ensuring correct action and hand placement? Pull and go, is more of what I'm looking for (pun intended as per K.I.S.S.). I hear HK makes a nice .308..
RememberTheSomme said:
Yea the op rod lifting of the bolt while passing its exit slot is common on with nooby soldiers. Ensure you did not lift the op rod handle while retracting rearward, always pull down. Any M-14 may jump out of the track if you retract with hand under the handle. I'm not sure how the bolt itself could jump out into your hand on cycling, but anyhow this is the common cause as stated.
Click to expand...
 
45ACPKING said:
Unless somethings changed with the very recent imports this year, it has been my experience that there is no widespread issue with out of spec receiver bridges or firing pin tangs in the chinese rifles.
The safety bridge can do everything it's supposed to do but still , with a free floated firing pin and other variables.... Freak kabooms can happen. When they do, it's almost always , and I did say almost, a reloaded round. Don't take my word for it, these things happen in all versions of this platform and there loads of after kaboom data all over the internet.

Anyhow, beat the dead horse as we may, none of us is gonna get to the root of it from our keyboards.
With that, it's gettin on 3pm, I got a date with my tin boat and flyrods just over the hill out back. ;)
Click to expand...

Nobody is going to question your experience with these rifles. It's been widely known that AE ammo is a poor choice for M14 rifles. Obviously the failure of ammunition can't be regarded as a Norinco or Springfield issue.

I have watched on here for years as one Norinco buyer after another posts his problems which run the gamut from annoying to terrifying. It's not rare or unusual. I have also observed the Norinco crowd criticize the purchase of Springfield M1A rifles due to their higher price. We also have to listen to the false claims of MOA performance from these rifles when they posses none of the qualities that really make a rifle accurate. Things like quality barrels, careful selection of components and tight tolerances. It's actually an insult to people like you who make a living (or did) improving these rifles that so many claim they have the varmint edition right out of the wrap when I'm sure that's not the case.

I'm not a dollar store guy. I've always tried to get value for my money and purchasing a rifle for 25% that will need a number of changes and would benefit from a large number more holds no appeal for me. Lousy stocks, flash hiders, sights etc. don't interest me. I've also been fortunate in my career choice so the price is not a huge consideration. You don't see me claiming MOA performance from my SA standard. I don't expect it. One of the things I have noticed here recently is the anti Norinco crowd has grown or at least become more vocal. There is no way we as consumers of firearms should accept and support a company that produces rifles that shoot their barrels off, have bolts disintegrate and often just show very poor workmanship. Firearms are not the most complex of machines. They do however require high quality steel, careful assembly and use. I'm not sure that encouraging people to buy what could very well be a dangerous or frustrating piece of equipment is responsible or good for our hobby.

I had mentioned that I have some of the Israeli TZ80 ammo. I had fired 80 rounds of it before I became aware that there have been many instances of case head splits with it. My fired brass all looks good and many say that theirs is fine as well. There is just no way that because I'm out a couple hundred bucks I'll shoot the rest of this stuff. I'll either pull the bullets or put it away for the apocalypse because I can't put a price on my eyes. I also could not with a good conscience sell it. I feel the same way about the Norinco M14. I can't recommend one given what I know about them But then who cares what I think.
 
I get it seafury.
But this thread , nor my comments, have anything to do with a discussion on norinco vs springfield. Nothing to do with encouraging people to buy one or the other.
It has to do with a catastrophic action failure, which, from what little we know of the event, could have happened in "any" brand of the rifle.
So, to see the handful of usuals turning it into a debate on norinco vs springfield.... Is , well, silly in my opinion. Thus my tone ;)
Anyhow, on with the show, I got a project on my mill to finish. One thing about retiring, I finally have time to make cool stuff for my own rifles for a change LOL
Peace brothers
 
CoonT said:
That sounds about right (the pulling up and away, not that nooby b.s. part) I must say that I'd probably be broke if I had enough time in at the range to "just know that." That being said; for the application of this rifle, isn't that a bit of a design flaw? When things get all heated and explody, who's going to want to be ensuring correct action and hand placement? Pull and go, is more of what I'm looking for (pun intended as per K.I.S.S.). I hear HK makes a nice .308..
Click to expand...

Sorry the Noob soldier part insulted you, it was stressed in basic training on the M-14,.... it is however a glowing example I felt obligate to point out of the umpteen complaints referred to on this forum that have been used by owners of the "Other" rifles, to dis-credit the Norky and point out that they all are fail. Talk about dividing the Battle Rifle community we all enjoy.



One other thing to consider CoonT when you refer to the design not being sound in light of it's battle use and the confusion and stress that goes with, in that it may produce this "death producing" result for the poor infantryman who might have it happen. Well....., I guess he was yelled at enough on his GMT not to do it and explained to him why,... and this rifle would most likely have been reloaded with 5 round strippers in the heat of battle you mention, when the enemy was danger close(he also may be needing his M-6 about now) and all was needed was an ever so slight rearward pull and release with the trigger finger if prone or inside of right hand or thumb if standing, pressing down and no chance of jumping the slot. Maybe mine works different from others, this is the way I read the operation of this design.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom