Norinco M-14s

[mr_trout]

EDIT: This got moved from the red rifle thread.

While waiting to see if LWRC can clean up their export paperwork (so I can buy one of their ###y rifles) I am looking for an inexpensive project gun.

The Norinco M-14 caught my eye because they are dirt cheap ($399) and the M-14 has very strong aftermarket support.

The "classic" look is nice, but eventually I would throw on a more modern stock. JAE, Sage EBR, SRSS, Troy all make fantastic kits for the rifle.

Is the Norinco M-14 WORTH upgrading to a modern stock? Or is it a rotten little gun? There are good reviews of the Norinco M-14 (some say the receiver is better then springfields), while other reviews are horribly biased (Fulton Armory has a mad-on for Norincos, accusing them of being complete failures that do everything short of causing cancer).

So long story short: would the Norinco be a worthwhile gun for any of the following projects:

SRSS M-14 Bullpup:

JAE-100:

SAGE EBR:

Troy MCR:

Lots of neat stuff out there... SRSS is still looking for a Canadian dealer when I last talked to a rep, and Troy seemed reluctant to sell their stock kit to civilians (They have HK-like delusions of wanting to sell to OPERATORS only). But given time they will make their way here I think.

 

[mr_trout]

Just a note, I was not sure if this would go under "red rifles" for being a Norinco question, or "battle rifles" for being M-14 based. It's hard to say where Norinco clones belong.

If it doesn't belong here, call it a newbie error.


EDIT: haha yea... looks like a ton of Norinco talk in the main battle rifle thread. So it seems any Norinco (aside from the QBZ) seems to belong in whatever category it is a clone version of.

 

[Fenix.NZ]

yeah, post in 'main battle rifles' forum, you'll get all the answers you need/want/dont want

 

[mr_trout]

Yea the question looks like it belongs here...

Problem is, there are already a few dozen Norinco M-14 threads here, and now that my Norinco post got moved here it is only adding to the clutter. Ahh well..

 

[FrankieT]

As far as I know...

The SRSS is an aftermarket bullpup stock, and is therefore prohibited in Canada.

The MCR is fine in Canada, but I believe there are export restrictions in the U.S. which makes getting a hold of one difficult.

The Sage is viable as well as the JAE (I think Wolverine stocks or stocked it). Not easy to find, but easiest of the three are at least legal. (MCR and Sage, JAE)

 

[mr_trout]

As far as I know...

The SRSS is an aftermarket bullpup stock, and is therefore prohibited in Canada.

Ohh? So if they are bullpups right from the factory they are allowed, but a bullpup stock of a normal rifle is not? Pitty.

So it looks like a JAE in my best option then... Still a lovely design. To satisfy my bullpup fetish I may as well just grab a 97A on the side then.

 

[FrankieT]

Ohh? So if they are bullpups right from the factory they are allowed, but a bullpup stock of a normal rifle is not? Pitty.

So it looks like a JAE in my best option then... Still a lovely design. To satisfy my bullpup fetish I may as well just grab a 97A on the side then.

Not necessarily.

I believe that an aftermarket stock was defined somewhere down the line with whether the firearm could fire if it was removed from the stock.

A couple of examples of legal firearms would be the TAVOR, 97A.

Something that is prohibited, but comes out of the factory as such, would be the Walther G22. It's a nice little 22LR that CAN fire (I believe) if it is removed from it's stock. This got it reclassified from a non-restricted to prohibited. There are some people fighting the ruling though.

 

[Winz]

Feel free to search and peruse through the Main Battle Rifles forum...which is largely a M14-talk forum anyway.

I think you'll find that few will argue that the Norinco M14 is bad. Despite one's personal opinions about China's political standing, one can hardly argue that Norinco hasn't provided a great gun.

Until LRB started offering its much more expensive(albeit much nicer finished) receiver, Norinco was realistically the only forged receiver available. Dimensionally, few will say that they've had any issues.

For the other bits, apparently some of the last batches have perhaps less than desired tooling and slight off-center cylinder holes but all are serviceable. As all M14 nutters and gurus like Hungry will tell you....you are paying a low price of $400 for a nice receiver and get free bits hanging off of it.

DON'T BUY ONE, BUY TWO

 

[mr_trout]

The political issues of Norinco don't bother me. I encounter a strong bias in the American forums I visit and it is hypocritical.

People will condemn China as an evil empire, and yell at you for buying a Norinco... And then they go shopping at walmart where the entire store is 95% made in China. Their fisher price, their xbox 360, their clothing, their shoes... all made in China and somehow that is ok. But you mention firearms and suddenly they get all political and call it "immoral".

 

[H2O MAN]

That bullpup has not been released, probably never will.

The JAE is an overly complicated heavy target stock and it's pretty.

The LAW483 M14 MCS by TROY has been on the market for a short time.
It is a very nice stock best suited to those that want an M14 with an AR flat top.

The battle proven SAGE has been out for several years. The EBR is my favorite modern M14 stock.

I live in the states and own nothing but Chinese M14s

 

[Winz]

That bullpup has not been released, probably never will.

The JAE is an overly complicated heavy target stock and it's pretty.

The LAW483 M14 MCS by TROY has been on the market for a short time.
It is a very nice stock best suited to those that want an M14 with an AR flat top.

The battle proven SAGE has been out for several years. The EBR is my favorite modern M14 stock.

I live in the states and own nothing but Chinese M14s

H2O Man is THE MAN when you want to talk about Americans with hopped up Chinese M14s. If you see his pics here or on his site, have a cup ready because you'll have enough to make some M14 money after your deposit at the spermabank.

The Troy MCS as H2O mentioned is very cool for the AR style flat top and I like how the top mounts to the rear sight position to make it ultra secure.

The SAGE EBR is (as H2O mentioned battle proven and ) more versatile. You can have forward optic mount or get the rail piece to mount it close(would remove the stripper clip guide). You can keep your standard M14 sights on as backup as well.

 

[22lr]

.
Is the Norinco M-14 WORTH upgrading to a modern stock? Or is it a rotten little gun?

I have two norinco M14's and one is sitting in JAE and another on in SAGE stock and I have real trouble deciding which one I keep. Both are great rifles and very accurate with cheapest factory ammo. I decided to go with norinco M14 after I tried borrowed M14 in USGI stock that was consistently shooting under 1MOA and some 3-shot groups were 3/4" or smaller.