Norinco M-305 Gunsmith/Armourer
- Thread starter KDXMAN
- Start date
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Not required at all in my opinion. I've built a lot of M305's, including one where every single piece minus the reciever was changed for TRW (top notch) to the tune of $3000... it shot the same as stock. Mucho bragging rights, closest thing to a real M14, but in reality the Norcs are well made. Awhile ago there were some headspace issues, but those have mostly been solved and are rare on the latest ones. Keep in mind a USGI bolt and barrel will set you back $600 plus install, perhaps more than you paid for your whole M305. The M305's today have good bolts and very good chrome lined barrels that are as good as any chrome lined milspec M14 barrel in my opinion.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
It's a reasonable question still though, nothing wrong with that. I you're really set on rebarreling and fitting a new bolt, shoot me a PM and I can get you started, but it will really be a waste of funds unfortunately.
My new Norc had feeding probs. Noticed that the bolt had play so replaced it with a tighter new Norc bolt and prob solved. Lucky for me I bought a bunch a while back. No real need for USGI bolt IMO. If you want a good smith try http://www.smithtac.com/Customgunsmithing.html Jeff does great work.
We just had a customer send in a Norinco M305 and wanted to get some work done, he also sent a USGI (TRW) bolt to have it replaced...
The headspace was exactly the same with either bolt. I then inspected both bolts side by side. The Norinco bolt has about 50% less machining marks and the Norinco Bolt was 0.09" thicker. The Norinco bolt was actually the better of the two bolts.
I would have personaly have kept in the Norinco bolt. I hav eseen and fired a lot of Norinco M305's and the best thing you can do to them is get good ammo that suits the rifle... 147-150gr FMJ's of a good quality.
The headspace was exactly the same with either bolt. I then inspected both bolts side by side. The Norinco bolt has about 50% less machining marks and the Norinco Bolt was 0.09" thicker. The Norinco bolt was actually the better of the two bolts.
I would have personaly have kept in the Norinco bolt. I hav eseen and fired a lot of Norinco M305's and the best thing you can do to them is get good ammo that suits the rifle... 147-150gr FMJ's of a good quality.
Thanks for the input guys. I have no doubt the Norinco bolt headspacing is fine from the factory. I was worried about it after a few thousand rounds. The op spring and rod were also on my mind. I have a mini 14 and 30 and was looking to get a real caliber. I appreciate your patience. I have to make sure the rifle I buy is going to last a long time.
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Been reading some of the posts about the Norinco M305 and the mods being made to them. Why would anyone buy an M305 and spend another 2,500 to 3,000 dollars to improve it rather than buying a Springfield Armory M1 for about the same amount of money and without the hassle of shipping the firearm back and forth and waiting for the work to be done?
ok, the springfield m1 and the norinco 305 are NOT the same animal- not even close- one's a 30-06 garand, and the other's an m14 clone-2 the norinco is made to usgi spec, which the springfield m1a may or may not be- it depends on how old it is, whether or not they used usgi parts, etc.
3 the amount you what to spend on YOUR rifle is up to YOU- it's like those guys that used to put porsche engines in volksagens or putting mag wheels on your honda- it's a personal thing
4 the NORINCO base model goes for 399, the springfield m1a USED to go for about 1299, i don't know what now- either way, when you get into the mods some of these guys put on, it costs big bucks- take a look at the NATIONAL MATCH and SUPER MATCH levels of the m1a- that's what these guys are building to- and the springfield is a PRODUCTION MODEL- the norinco with the mods is a CUSTOM gun, not a compromise-or someone else's idea of what you want .
now i'm sure guys that have built theirs out to where they want will join in with other reasons, but those are mine- incidentally, i got mine for 349 back 18 years ago and all it's got is a scope mount and a harris bipod- it may get a fiberglas stock later, but that's it- total is about 700,and it's seen more than a few hundred rounds-to equip the springfield the same way would have been about 1700-
you don't get the scope mount with either base model, plus they're both ALUMINUM mounts, which has heating /loosening problems
3 the amount you what to spend on YOUR rifle is up to YOU- it's like those guys that used to put porsche engines in volksagens or putting mag wheels on your honda- it's a personal thing
4 the NORINCO base model goes for 399, the springfield m1a USED to go for about 1299, i don't know what now- either way, when you get into the mods some of these guys put on, it costs big bucks- take a look at the NATIONAL MATCH and SUPER MATCH levels of the m1a- that's what these guys are building to- and the springfield is a PRODUCTION MODEL- the norinco with the mods is a CUSTOM gun, not a compromise-or someone else's idea of what you want .
now i'm sure guys that have built theirs out to where they want will join in with other reasons, but those are mine- incidentally, i got mine for 349 back 18 years ago and all it's got is a scope mount and a harris bipod- it may get a fiberglas stock later, but that's it- total is about 700,and it's seen more than a few hundred rounds-to equip the springfield the same way would have been about 1700-
you don't get the scope mount with either base model, plus they're both ALUMINUM mounts, which has heating /loosening problems
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
I have also tuned some M305's and they are shooters. Tune the trigger, bed the action, tighten the gas system. Fed ammo it likes (handloads preferably), it can shoot as well as the mega dollar springfields/US customs.
We are getting a great rifle for a fair price. Hope more show up soon.
Jerry
We are getting a great rifle for a fair price. Hope more show up soon.
Jerry
The Norc is a better buy. Machined parts, not cast like many of the SA are these days. True receivers that are actual Mil-spec, not like far too many of the SA. Some SA are so out of spec their owners haven't even been able to install ARMS #18 or Smith Enterprise mounts without extensive mods. Plus, you're looking at a purchase price of $399 vs. $2K and in many cases the stock Norc will outperform the stock SA!
Besides the looks of "Springfield armory" on the M1As I see no reason why you would want to purchase one over the Norc.
I love my Norc and although I sometimes have issues like the bolt catching a shell on its way out, I'm not too sure it is worth the 2000+.
I love my Norc and although I sometimes have issues like the bolt catching a shell on its way out, I'm not too sure it is worth the 2000+.
Thanks Guys I have my new Norc at home I got the recoil buffer and op rod spring guide. Can't wait to make some holes this spring. Any problem with cycling if I get the barrel down to 18.5 and use the gas lock front sight? Synthetic stocks are way expensive so I might just get a few rails on the forestock. Any ideas?
same guns
HOWever the problem is that the original norc barrels stuck into the receiver farther.... SO the bolts were made to that spec. Somewhere along the line they fixed thier barrel protrusion issue BUT had already made the bolts to suit the other barrels...... see where this is going? So now we have all the newly "assembled" rifles, from existing parts, that all headspace , on average roughly 6 to 9 thou over 7.62 nato go. This is an educated theory on my part.
With well over 40 rifles now across my bench, I have seen 2 that headspaced 4thou over go and ONE (a 1992/93 century arms import with barrel protruding into receiver ever so slightly) headspaced bang on match 7.62 nato go , the rest..... between 6 to 9 thou over, a couple at 11 thou over
unsafe in my opinion) and 6 with match .308 go all with usgi bolts, newer assmbled norc barrels
HOWever the problem is that the original norc barrels stuck into the receiver farther.... SO the bolts were made to that spec. Somewhere along the line they fixed thier barrel protrusion issue BUT had already made the bolts to suit the other barrels...... see where this is going? So now we have all the newly "assembled" rifles, from existing parts, that all headspace , on average roughly 6 to 9 thou over 7.62 nato go. This is an educated theory on my part.
With well over 40 rifles now across my bench, I have seen 2 that headspaced 4thou over go and ONE (a 1992/93 century arms import with barrel protruding into receiver ever so slightly) headspaced bang on match 7.62 nato go , the rest..... between 6 to 9 thou over, a couple at 11 thou over
unsafe in my opinion) and 6 with match .308 go all with usgi bolts, newer assmbled norc barrels
ghausvandorp
New member
- Location
- quebec city, Canada
HI ! I own a norinco m14 too and i want to know if is a good thing to go hunting with ? the m14 norinco is made to shoot 7.62 nato but if i shoot ammo like remington core-lokt at 180 grns made problem?
