Norinco or Springfield M-14?
- Thread starter McCoolium
- Start date
Last count, I have personally owned ...
Five Springfield M1As, ranging from Standard to National Match, to SUPER match ... that's Springfields BEST ... which comes with a SS Heavy barrel, unitised gas assembly, and bedded into a Macmillan glass stock, etc.
Six DOZEN Norinco M-305/14S, several of them "GI/Chinese Bastards" ... with ALL US GI parts on a Norc receiver. Some of these were "accurised" to shoot at least as well as any of the Springfields ... for a LOT less money.
I have enough experience with the M-14 system to know EXACTLY what I want from this type of rifle, and I can easily afford another Springfield if I wanted one.
At this time, I have only one M-14 type rifle left ...
a Norinco .
[;{)
LAZ 1
Five Springfield M1As, ranging from Standard to National Match, to SUPER match ... that's Springfields BEST ... which comes with a SS Heavy barrel, unitised gas assembly, and bedded into a Macmillan glass stock, etc.
Six DOZEN Norinco M-305/14S, several of them "GI/Chinese Bastards" ... with ALL US GI parts on a Norc receiver. Some of these were "accurised" to shoot at least as well as any of the Springfields ... for a LOT less money.
I have enough experience with the M-14 system to know EXACTLY what I want from this type of rifle, and I can easily afford another Springfield if I wanted one.
At this time, I have only one M-14 type rifle left ...
a Norinco .
[;{)
LAZ 1
Hey LaZ:
You've got ONE more Norinco M14 that I presently have. I don't even own ONE!
The only Springfield Armory boomsticks I buy are 1911 pistols and M1 Garands from them. Yeeeeeha !
Life is good.
2nd son going to university this fall. That's why I cain't afford to buy an M1A !!
I can still buy an M1 Garand AND 2 Norc M14's and then have $ 200 leftover to buy a .308 Wilson barrel for the M1 Garand. Now I can have 3 .308 shooting rifles for the $ 2000 plus taxes for ONE M1A (which I'll have to tweak anyways).
Peace be to journey
You've got ONE more Norinco M14 that I presently have. I don't even own ONE!
The only Springfield Armory boomsticks I buy are 1911 pistols and M1 Garands from them. Yeeeeeha !
Life is good.2nd son going to university this fall. That's why I cain't afford to buy an M1A !!
I can still buy an M1 Garand AND 2 Norc M14's and then have $ 200 leftover to buy a .308 Wilson barrel for the M1 Garand. Now I can have 3 .308 shooting rifles for the $ 2000 plus taxes for ONE M1A (which I'll have to tweak anyways).
Peace be to journey
8Ball has put his finger on one issue where SA still has the advantage.... amongst uninformed buyers, who still shop on brand name, rather than VALUE, Springfield rifles [ and Harley motorcycles ] will still command the best resale value.
So if you are buying your rifles [ or your motorcycles ] as an investment, and plan to leave them in the gun safe [ or the garage ] and sell them later, at a profit, to other uninformed, brand conscious buyers
then Springfields [ and Harleys] are the way to go.
But this is changing, as more and more informed and educated buyers drive up the prices on Norinco rifles.
If you plan to shoot [ or ride ] your toys, and keep them for a lifetime, then the best bang for the buck will be a NORC M14 [ or a BMW motorcycle].
And resale be damned.
Of course. as with any other opinion expressed on the internet,
YPMMV
[;{)
LAZ 1
PERSONAL PS to Hungry ...
don't buy that Harley,
I'll sell you my 2001 BMW 1150 GS for cheap [ the damn Euro went down VS the Canuck Buck, so Used BMWs are too cheap to believe right now, and my BMW GS is going for about $ 4000 grand less than i paid for it last year].
But then so are the NEW BMWs ... so I guess I should take my own advice and keep that BMW till I die ...probably long before the BMW does]
[;{)
So if you are buying your rifles [ or your motorcycles ] as an investment, and plan to leave them in the gun safe [ or the garage ] and sell them later, at a profit, to other uninformed, brand conscious buyers
then Springfields [ and Harleys] are the way to go.
But this is changing, as more and more informed and educated buyers drive up the prices on Norinco rifles.
If you plan to shoot [ or ride ] your toys, and keep them for a lifetime, then the best bang for the buck will be a NORC M14 [ or a BMW motorcycle].
And resale be damned.
Of course. as with any other opinion expressed on the internet,
YPMMV
[;{)
LAZ 1
PERSONAL PS to Hungry ...
don't buy that Harley,
I'll sell you my 2001 BMW 1150 GS for cheap [ the damn Euro went down VS the Canuck Buck, so Used BMWs are too cheap to believe right now, and my BMW GS is going for about $ 4000 grand less than i paid for it last year].
But then so are the NEW BMWs ... so I guess I should take my own advice and keep that BMW till I die ...probably long before the BMW does]
[;{)
If one North American, European or Japanese made guns would comes in the market witch such issues like the Norcs does he would be trailed in court and be out of business in a blink. Norcs have great receivers but not better than any North American made ones. Saying that forged are better than modern standards metallurgy cast just proves that someone is totally ignorant. If someone can not afford one American made M-14/M1A does not need to bash American made rifles to justify himself. BTW Lazerus I did never ride my M1A and I don't know who is your dealer but this year my R1200RT is only $1500 less.
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If you buy a Norinco, and don't like it, I doubt you'll have any problem getting your money back. Also, if you dress it up with a quality scope mount, spring guide, FG stock, etc, all that stuff can be parted out and resold. I'd hardly think it a mistake to buy a Norinco. You can try it, and if you don't like it, you're not married to it and the investment was little to try.
heavenIsAlie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Abbotsford
norinco gets my vote, its cheap so you dont feel bad about painting it ect. its on my short list of to buys
"Norcs have great receivers but not better than any North American made ones. Saying that forged are better than modern standards metallurgy cast just proves that someone is totally ignorant. If someone can not afford one American made M-14/M1A does not need to bash American made rifles to justify himself."
8 Ball,
I don't bash Springfields because they are expensive, I CANM affor them. I bash them because, IMHO, their quality control in general is not much better than the new Norincos. And this goes especially for the SA receivers ... the most critical part of this rifle ... where I would put Norc quality control well above Springfield. As for being ignorant about the cast VS forged receiver issue, I plead not guilty.
I've built up a few 14s with both receivers ... this is what I base my opinion on ... how many have you built, to justify your opinions?
For example,
I hand built two FULL HOUSE target rifles side by side ... one on a Springfield receiver, and one on a Norc receiver. The Springfield had a Barnett HEAVY barrel, short chambered, the Norc had a mint US GI barrel, all the rest of the parts were handpicked US GI.
When I was finished, both shot about 1 1/8",
BUT,
fitting the US GI op rod and bolt into the Springfield receiver took several HOURS more work, because the CAST Springfield receiver was unbelievably rough inside the op rod channel, the bolt lugs inside the receiver were quite a bit off, and the receiver itself did NOT have a relief cut to allow the bolt roller to seat fully locked. All three of these issues are all too common with springfield receivers, and this is NOT just my opinion, surf any US M-14 forum, and you'll find an epidemic of similar stories.
PS: Nice looking BMW bike
[;{)
LAZ 1
8 Ball,
I don't bash Springfields because they are expensive, I CANM affor them. I bash them because, IMHO, their quality control in general is not much better than the new Norincos. And this goes especially for the SA receivers ... the most critical part of this rifle ... where I would put Norc quality control well above Springfield. As for being ignorant about the cast VS forged receiver issue, I plead not guilty.
I've built up a few 14s with both receivers ... this is what I base my opinion on ... how many have you built, to justify your opinions?
For example,
I hand built two FULL HOUSE target rifles side by side ... one on a Springfield receiver, and one on a Norc receiver. The Springfield had a Barnett HEAVY barrel, short chambered, the Norc had a mint US GI barrel, all the rest of the parts were handpicked US GI.
When I was finished, both shot about 1 1/8",
BUT,
fitting the US GI op rod and bolt into the Springfield receiver took several HOURS more work, because the CAST Springfield receiver was unbelievably rough inside the op rod channel, the bolt lugs inside the receiver were quite a bit off, and the receiver itself did NOT have a relief cut to allow the bolt roller to seat fully locked. All three of these issues are all too common with springfield receivers, and this is NOT just my opinion, surf any US M-14 forum, and you'll find an epidemic of similar stories.
PS: Nice looking BMW bike
[;{)
LAZ 1
Norc vs Springfield
For me everything came down to price and ( to a lesser extent ) availability. With a Norc, $399 + tax got me in the game vs what - say $1200 ++ for a Springfield plus the waiting/importing paperwork etc etc. The Norc works just fine for what it is, is real fun to shoot and is fully supported (here in the LM) by guys like Laz and 45ACPKING who are prepared to share their knowledge and experience. The stock seems to be the thing most folk moan about and while mine was OK I did get a USGI one which is very much better. So, for under $600 I have a real fun rifle that I like the look and feel of and which doesn't look out of place amongst the 1942 Enfiled or 1955 M1 when I have the mind to have a "milsurp day" at the range 
For me everything came down to price and ( to a lesser extent ) availability. With a Norc, $399 + tax got me in the game vs what - say $1200 ++ for a Springfield plus the waiting/importing paperwork etc etc. The Norc works just fine for what it is, is real fun to shoot and is fully supported (here in the LM) by guys like Laz and 45ACPKING who are prepared to share their knowledge and experience. The stock seems to be the thing most folk moan about and while mine was OK I did get a USGI one which is very much better. So, for under $600 I have a real fun rifle that I like the look and feel of and which doesn't look out of place amongst the 1942 Enfiled or 1955 M1 when I have the mind to have a "milsurp day" at the range
my latest build on a g.i. spec norc receiver, finished her yesterday.
new from wrap trw bolt ,
new gi internals
complete new nm tuned trigger group
nm usgi gas cylinder and piston
springield medium contour 6 grove 1:10 twist NM barrel (same barrel as the springfield "loaded" m1a
New from wrap Hr oprod
NM front and rear sights
.308 match chambered
5lbs trigger pull
have to see how she groups but...... if you would buy a springfield over a hand built rifle such as the one described above, simply because the receiver is chinese.. you are truly a fool and too brand concious to see the light. I don't mean that as a personal attack on anyone.... it's just my feeble minded opinion on a topic that has been flogged to death
to each his own i suppose
But consider this.... the two leading officiandos of the m14 rifle on this site.... Hungry as a competition shooter and Lazerus2000 who has been building m14 since.... my god... way back.... are telling you that springfield is really no better than norc...... well ..... I'll go with the recommendations of those who have the experience to back up thier opinions and I'll build my match rifles on norc recievers.... providing the receiver guages to g.i. spec.... most do.... springield... most do not and that is a fact.
new from wrap trw bolt ,
new gi internals
complete new nm tuned trigger group
nm usgi gas cylinder and piston
springield medium contour 6 grove 1:10 twist NM barrel (same barrel as the springfield "loaded" m1a
New from wrap Hr oprod
NM front and rear sights
.308 match chambered
5lbs trigger pull
have to see how she groups but...... if you would buy a springfield over a hand built rifle such as the one described above, simply because the receiver is chinese.. you are truly a fool and too brand concious to see the light. I don't mean that as a personal attack on anyone.... it's just my feeble minded opinion on a topic that has been flogged to death
to each his own i suppose
But consider this.... the two leading officiandos of the m14 rifle on this site.... Hungry as a competition shooter and Lazerus2000 who has been building m14 since.... my god... way back.... are telling you that springfield is really no better than norc...... well ..... I'll go with the recommendations of those who have the experience to back up thier opinions and I'll build my match rifles on norc recievers.... providing the receiver guages to g.i. spec.... most do.... springield... most do not and that is a fact.
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