Norc M14... Convince me it's worth it....

if it needs a bunch of time and money thrown at it, it isn't such a good deal.
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Maybe for you it isn't, but there's a ton of guys on here who would disagree. Elbow grease is virtuous and don't forget the sheer satisfaction that comes from customizing something.

The Americans are stunned and envious when they hear of the prices we pay for the Norcs and Polys. As more than one guy has pointed out on here, the receiver alone is worth the price of the whole rifle, and if you upgrade different parts, then you have still have the originals for spares.

Don't buy one, mhletovaraa.
 
I just got one myself and loving it. If you are skeptical about buying a lemon and don't want to spend the time fixing it, then just check out EE and get a used one that has been tested. You can always upgrade it to your budget later on. It is a great battle rifle and it definitely feels like a man's rifle:). For the price, you will not see too many steel rifles like it on the market.

I am planning to use mine for hunting as well, here is a thread about hunting with M14: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...9-Hunting-with-Norinco-m-14&highlight=hunting
 
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OP... from reading your opening post, my gut says you should not buy one. You would most likely get 2 MOA with hand loads but my gut tells me you're not interested in tinkering, and tinkering with these Norc's is at least 1/2 the fun.
 
Is it worth it? There are 2 ways of looking at it.

1. Budget plinker. Good enough to hunt with etc. Maybe get the headspace checked at the local gunsmith if you're worried about it OR just look at a bunch of spent casings to see if theyre deforming. It prolly isnt. Then buy some surplus ammo and enjoy your 7.62 fun.

2. The customizable option. Sights, barrel, Getting a GI stock and bedding it yourself(or really expensive aftermarket stock), shimming the gas system, new spring guide, trigger job etc etc....
 
I got one out to the range last summer, an older wood stocked rifle with an off indexed barrel.

On several occasions I've managed to get 4-5" groups shooting prone at 200yards using copper washed Norinco ammo. I've added a USGI stock and NM Op Rod Spring Guide, but the rifle was achieving that accuracy before any changes. Group size normally opened up after the first few tries, but I'd account that to shooter error and fatigue since I take time to let the barrel cool between groups.

Another synthetic stocked Norinco (2009 import) has shown similar performance in the past on some 200 yard groups and I suspect that I'd get similar results using it the same way and on the same targets (Figure 11s).
 
Tinkering with these rifles is fun!
You definitely need one.
Swap out the Norc sights for USGI sights (very worthwhile), make sure your gas system and barrel are indexed properly, and swap the op rod guide if you want a bit of an accuracy boost.
None of these require major modifications or time investments but they definitely improve the rifle.
Overall they are a great gun, but be warned you can drop a lot of $$ into them if the M14 bug bites you.
2MOA is reasonable but what it boils down to is that these are a battle rifle not a precision rifle!
 
My non-shorty M14S was capable of groups between 1.5"-2" at 100y with Federal Fusion if I really focused on the fundamentals and waited a minute between shots to allow the barrel to cool. My current shorty did the same with a 2.5x scout scope (though I've gone back to irons). These rifles are accurate but the finish is a bit poor. I've not measured headspace but the emtpy cases do not show signs of distress. I've got a few hundred rounds through the shorty and had about the same through the rifle-length one when I sold it.
 
Its not the most expensive rifle in the world its not the best rifle in the world but its cheap and it works. I upgraded the guide rod adjusted the sights took it apart then put it back togther who ever put it togther did a poor job it was lose this lose that not in shooting shape (need to be cleaned anyways lots of oil) I tunned it up shot cheap mfr ammo through it and it groups all right with the 147 gr steel case cheapo ammo so I just shoot that cheaper then reloading for it but I've done that as well I played around with a few loads and I found that it works just fine. Accuracy is not bad for what it is so don't expect the best in the world and shooting 100m with iron sights you might not get 2 moa doing that just because its not easy. You can ring a gong with it all day long at that range though.

For a hunting rifle its just way to heavy to lug around.
 
I was kinda skeptical about this one myself, but I bought one in December and my buddy goaded me into bringing it out today to fire for the first time.

I used the if-your-gun-doesn't-shoot-with-this-load-it's-crap load (41.5 H4895, Sierra 168gr, i think it was), loaded with the CCI 7.62 primers in RCBS small base dies.

Shot it, loved it, #### didn't fall off (how does that one work anyway?)

Minute of gong accuracy at 200metres. I wasn't about to wade thru snow to set up targets.

My gas lock wasn't tight until something like 9 or 10 o-clock either. I just shimmed it today after I got home (lazy-bugger way - split the shims. it required the 2 thickest ones in the Brownells kit). Op rod guide seems a touch loose so I guess that is next.

Tomorrow I'm going to try a series of cast boolit loads in it to see what the minimum charge is for reliable function. I'll worry about accuracy work in the spring.

I'd say that if you want a Garand-ish rifle just to play with but can't afford to drop near 2-Garand on one, this fits the bill.

It's one of nature's Fun Guns ;)
 
I have put almost 1000 rnds through mine.

I'm not exagerating, I have never had a stoppage or issue of any kind.

Using quality ammuntion I can get 1"-1.5" groups at 100 meters using the irons. I hate scopes lol I only shoot irons so I hear you there.

They are definitely worth it Sir.
 
I have two, a Nork 22" and a Poly shorty. The only thing left thats chinese on them is the receivers, all else is USGI (thanks to Barney, Thomas and others!) The receivers are very good, as others with more knowledge will attest to. The fact that the only chinese part on mine is the receivers, read into that what you will. In the end, I suppose the cost is the same had I bought a current Springfield, but not quite as much when it comes to LRB/SEI, etc.
 
Repro77 said:
I have two, a Nork 22" and a Poly shorty. The only thing left thats chinese on them is the receivers, all else is USGI (thanks to Barney, Thomas and others!) The receivers are very good, as others with more knowledge will attest to. The fact that the only chinese part on mine is the receivers, read into that what you will. In the end, I suppose the cost is the same had I bought a current Springfield, but not quite as much when it comes to LRB/SEI, etc.
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I agree with where I think you're going regarding a Springfield. I've done most of what you can do configuration wise with the M14, from an old school blued flatside Polytech (junk), to recently a SAGE'd Mod 0 EBR. My favourite, which I've built twice once fiberglass once birch, is an all TRW bone stock M14. My current one came from the Mod 0 mentioned, I stripped it back to a standard TRW with Springfield receiver and dropped it in a green fiberglass stock. Not certain yet, but I think this is my "keeper" configuration.

If you're going to build a nice M14, start with a M1A. They are for sale on the EE for as low as $1850 and you WILL spend more acquiring quality USGI parts and labour to try and make a Norc into what is already put together in a good M1A. There also won't be any surprises when trying to build, and believe me you can run into them, and resale value is also going to be better if you're investing in an American made rifle.
 
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