Norinco M4 10.5" vs 14.5" (no one has the 14.5 in stock)

rubberdown

rubberdown

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So I'm really getting the urge to get an AR-15 and the Norinco M4 fits the budget but I could only find the 10.5" barrel version in stock. I remember reading some complaints about the 10.5" a while back and did a ton or reading with a couple searches on the forum and found a few things people say were a PITA about it. So my main questions are these, should I wait for the 14.5" model to be back in stock, or is the 10.5" still a good rifle for the money? Second question, if the 10.5" IS a good rifle with minor upgrades, what should I get or check and where can I get them?

I would likely only use it a few times a year which is why I want to keep it on the lower price point.

Thanks.
 
Lever arms have the 14.5" still in stock.

The 10.5" is a hit and miss... I read someone people have no problems with it nd some pope have to replace the the whole bolt carrier group to make it run.
 
I've owned both and seen quite a few. The 10.5 is going to let you know very quickly if it's going to need a bolt rebuild kit. That said rebuilding a bolt isn't the end of the world. The 10.5 I owned worked just fine, as did the 14.5 - to me the question is more of a 'what flavour do you like' than anything else. Despite what people say about quality or the lack thereof, the Norc keeps plugging - feed it reasonable ammo, and it'll do it's part - besides where else will you get a to "enjoy a better annihilating firepower"
 
jlomein said:
Is there a huge difference in noise between the two barrel lengths? Would a Noveske KX3 muzzle device make a 10.5" quieter than a 14.5"?
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Kx3 is heavy and over 3 inches long...that kinda defeat the whole purpose of short barrel..
Other options to control the noise are troy claymore or any linear break...these cost only half of what the Kx3 cost too.
 
Also, while the 10.5 is a bit thumpier than the 14.5, those breaks don't reduce the noise - they just push it forward, which might not work for you on an indoor range. Personally, I always figured that if people want peace and quiet, they should be somewhere other than a rifle range - as a shooter the increased noise and blast doesn't have much effect. The 10.5 is about as obnoxious as a 7mm Rem Mag, no one panicks about them.
 
I don't think you can put a KX3 on there anyway ? Aren't the Norc threads metric ?
If so you'd need to order a custom XB1 from Dlask.

They don't make the gun quieter, they just blow it blast away from you.
I've run a muzzle break on my 11.5, it's quite amusing.
 
Conte said:
I don't think you can put a KX3 on there anyway ? Aren't the Norc threads metric ?
If so you'd need to order a custom XB1 from Dlask.

They don't make the gun quieter, they just blow it blast away from you.
I've run a muzzle break on my 11.5, it's quite amusing.
Click to expand...

The new Nork's are not metric. The only thing I have found not to be "spec", is the safety selector.
 
Oh that's good. In that case a KX3 or XB1 may be a good choice. They will direct the blast away from you, and they are also designed to increase the back pressure in the barrel to cycle the gas system more reliably.

I plan to try one on my 11.5 some day. That gun won't cycle with some of my lighter plinking loads that work fine in my 16".
 
Okay, so I'm about to place an order, will I be able to reload rounds for these guns or are they really finicky on what they are fed? I can buy a press just for .223 as long as I can shoot home reloaded rounds through it.
 
I have not found our two Norinco M4 rifles to be 'finicky' wrt ammo. They eat anything fed to them! GREAT guns for the $!!! Now, take the $ you are saving and buy a 1600 round case of Norinco 223 from a site sponsor. (Free shipping from CanadaAmmo if you go with them for the ammo...)

And, most of all, HAVE FUN!

Cheers
Jay

rubberdown said:
Okay, so I'm about to place an order, will I be able to reload rounds for these guns or are they really finicky on what they are fed? I can buy a press just for .223 as long as I can shoot home reloaded rounds through it.
Click to expand...
 
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