Norinco or Springfield ???

Pietro Beretta said:
I agree with Fenix NZ, it's true whether you like it or not....Norinco is a knock off of the Springfield M1A rifle. I've owned my Norinco M14 for about 5 years and love it, easy purchase when it's $500....the M1A is over 2 f*ck'n K, that's why not too many people own them and praise their cheap-ass Norinco's

If I could, I'd throw my piece-of-sh*t Norinco in the fireplace and grab an AUTHENTIC Sprinfield Armory M1A. Incorporated my ass....Springfield Armory was the original manufacturer of the infamous M1 Garand & M1A/M14

Just like when I was a little guy, and bought a Norinco HP-9, sold the sh*tbox and grabbed my self a Remington 870 Marine Magmun, only then did I appreciate the differences between quality, craftsmanship, finish, etc.

Compare those sh*tty Norinco 1911's to a TRUE Colt Government Model .45
Compare an HP-9 to a Remington 870
Compare an M14S to a Springfield M1A

Just doesn't add up...

When I settle some stuff and gather up some $$$, I'm going to walk into my local gunstore and make the purchase of a NIB Sprinfield Armory M1A Loaded in a walnut stock....and it's going to feel GREAT :cool:
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LOL...

...just LOL.
 
Norinco vs. Springfield is the same as Hundai vs. Ferrari. I think Hundai's are better than Ferrari's; right!
 
GIGGIDY said:
the Norc's are actually closer to the original M14 spec.
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Ha! With metric threads, different barrel contours, bolt issues galore, soft rear sights and the need to inlet a USGI stock to make it fit. Yup ... really close to USGI. :rolleyes: :runaway:

Not knocking a M14S, perhaps one day I will get one to go with my M1A as a loaner rifle when shooting with buddies, but its less to spec then a M1A which at least is based on the USGI drawings and has parts outsourced to the Taiwanese Armory that got the M14 tooling after the US gifted it to them and not some half a**ed attempt by the Chinese to arm Communist rebels on the cheap.

Dimitri
 
I own Norincos and an M1A...

...IMO, it is NOT like comparing Hyundai and Ferrari, more like comparing Chevy and Ford.

I have heard horror stories about the quality of particular rifles from both sides of this debate, neither side has a monopoly on quality control.

They all work well(mine anyway), with my rifles, how well they perform all depends on who is using them.

The ONLY regret I really have is that I spent $2200 for my M1A before I was able to purchase and try a Norinco from Marstar for $399.

An M1A may be more accurate for some members here but I can hit any target with my Norinco that I can hit with my M1A.

I can't speak to how good a REAL Springfield Armory M14 performs as I dont have a 12.3(?) license.
 
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Tehoke01 said:
IMO, it is NOT like comparing Hyundai and Ferrari, more like comparing Chevy and Ford.
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I'd compare my FN49 to a Chevy and my M1A to a Ford. The Chevy has some rough spots but is well built and works, while a Ford is a work of art. :cool:

Yes I am a Ford kind of guy. :p

Dimitri
 
Pietro Beretta said:
I agree with Fenix NZ, it's true whether you like it or not....Norinco is a knock off of the Springfield M1A rifle. I've owned my Norinco M14 for about 5 years and love it, easy purchase when it's $500....the M1A is over 2 f*ck'n K, that's why not too many people own them and praise their cheap-ass Norinco's

If I could, I'd throw my piece-of-sh*t Norinco in the fireplace and grab an AUTHENTIC Sprinfield Armory M1A. Incorporated my ass....Springfield Armory was the original manufacturer of the infamous M1 Garand & M1A/M14

Just like when I was a little guy, and bought a Norinco HP-9, sold the sh*tbox and grabbed my self a Remington 870 Marine Magmun, only then did I appreciate the differences between quality, craftsmanship, finish, etc.

Compare those sh*tty Norinco 1911's to a TRUE Colt Government Model .45
Compare an HP-9 to a Remington 870
Compare an M14S to a Springfield M1A

Just doesn't add up...

When I settle some stuff and gather up some $$$, I'm going to walk into my local gunstore and make the purchase of a NIB Sprinfield Armory M1A Loaded in a walnut stock....and it's going to feel GREAT :cool:
Click to expand...
just a note- the REAL springfield armory was run by the us government, and was closed in about 1963- the springfield armory which produces the m1a is a private concern based out of genesco, ill, after being based breifly in texas- THEY ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL m1 garand/m14 manufacturers - they only share the name
moreover, springfield has suffered quality control problems over the years,( out of spec receivers, amongst other things) so as far as i'm concerned it's like the difference between drinking perrier and tap- IT'S ALL WATER
just to give you an idea of what's in my safe, there's a VERY EARLY m14/305/whatever- it has no designation- that shoots with my SPRINGFIELD M14 - they both wear 4-12x40 scopes- besides that, there's a TRW and an H& R( harrington-richardson)- these came surplus from the isrealis and were designated sniper rifles- that's documented, as the isrealis picked the best for sniper rifles and parted out the rest- no doubt they picked them by FIRING them
and i have the model 70/series 4 45 colt and a remington -rand as well- the norc version will shoot right with the remington b/c it's not modded- but 9/10s of the thing of pistol shooting is the NUT BEHIND THE TRIGGER
 
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For the money, my expectations would be a lot higher for a Springfield M1a. I wouldn't put up with a barrel that is slightly off index. But aside from that problem, of the 3 Norinco's I've purchased, they have been 100% operational and whether it played any role in it or not, the one I scoped and did some minor accuracy work to, shoots a consistent 1.5" at 100 yards with cheap Federal Factory ammo.

I think you have to go into it with a different mindset when you know you are getting a Norinco for $400 and a paying, what 3 or more times that price for a Springfield M1A. I'd say the Norinco's have exceeded my expectations, certainly in terms of accuracy and reliability. As for looks, the wood was smelly and unattractive, and the state of conditions the guns arrives in, greasy and gritty, is a make work project and reminiscent of milsurp, not new production.
 
Own 2 norincos m14s and one mia one of the norincos shoots better then I can see
(bad eyes)one has problems which is easy to fix just haven't got arround to it yet.The M1A shoots better then I can see (see above)So I am happy with both.I will state I paid about 3 1/2 times more for the M1A then the 2 norincs combined.(had a hole in my pocket when I spotted the M1A)As for doing up a norinco to a high state of tune I started looking for the parts to do this and found them to be really hard to comeby.So you guys that have gone this way where and how did you find the parts,I must be looking in the wrong places,Or more likely to late
 
my"breakthrough " if you will, came through LOAD DEVELOPMENT- more than anything else- i was dissatisfied both in terms of accuracy and payload with the 147-155 grain bullet- i went to "m14 match loads" , and stated duplicating the recepies as close as i could- the diff between this stuff and the surplus i was shooting was like night and day- all 20 rounds in a 1 inch circle at 100 yards- and that was the old norc
 
I'd like to know what is the expected accuracy of an M14. Sure, I hear bandied about how the GI guns might have only shot to 4-6" accuracy at 100 yard, but what really was considered good and what is exceptional. How good do the "Match" rifles with highest quality barrels shoot?
 
The M-14 is a 600yd. rifle if you ask me. Shooting at 100yds. is a waste IMO. Between 600 and 1,000yds with a 12 inch group is what the military trains for at any rate.
 
The Springfield rifle is far superior to the Norinco.

First of all is the headspacing issue. It may just blow up in your face, after thousands and thousands of rounds.

The Springfield will not blow up in your face after even 100, 000 rounds.

The action release on my Norinco did not work and it was a stinky rifle too. It shot well scoped with 2 inch groups, but the iron sight were never alignable.

So buy the Springfield, it is a superior firearm. At over a thousand dollars it's a true functioning American battle rifle. If you need to save money, then buy the Norinco for the bargain price of 399.99-499.99.


The M-305 Norinco was meant for the Viet Cong and NVA to impersonate the sound of the M-14 wielding American G.I.

You can imagine the chaos that may have ensued.
 
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smak_daddy said:
If both were the same price, Springfield would win hands down.
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...but they're not the same price and never will be, that's the problem with the Springfields.

I'd like to submit this picture as evidence to all who doubt the shoot-ability of the Norincos. This was a called shot by my friend with his Norinco at roughly 80 yards off a bipod. His rifle is scoped and he didn't do anything else to it other than a trigger job and polishing of the op rod-- that's it to his "crappy" Norinco M305.
I witnessed the shot an took the picture. His words were, "that gopher is chirping, I'm gonna put this one right in his mouth from here."

pics002.jpg


In case you're wondering why the back of the gopher isn't obliterated, the bullet was an FMJ and the exit wound was just left of the "poop shute".
My buddy slugged the barrel to see how good of a job the Chinese did with his rifle and the bore is an exact .308 and it shoots like it too.
I buy rifles and pistols not for fit and finish, but to shoot them, and how it shoots determines what it's worth, not how pretty the thing looks, or who made it.
 
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proonur said:
...but they're not the same price and never will be, that's the problem with the Springfields.

I'd like to submit this picture as evidence to all who doubt the shoot-ability of the Norincos. This was a called shot by my friend with his Norinco at roughly 80 yards off a bipod. His rifle is scoped and he didn't do anything else to it other than a trigger job and polishing of the op rod-- that's it to his "crappy" Norinco M305.
I witnessed the shot an took the picture. His words were, "that gopher is chirping, I'm gonna put this one right in his mouth from here."

pics002.jpg


My buddy slugged the barrel to see how good of a job the Chinese did with his rifle and the bore is an exact .308 and it shoots like it too.
I buy rifles and pistols not for fit and finish, but to shoot them, and how it shoots determines what it's worth, not how pretty the thing looks, or who made it.
Click to expand...


For the record I own a Norinco M-14S and like it. I have no problems with it. It just doesn't shoot like my Supermatch M1A did.
 
My first and last Springfield M1A was a problematic POS right out of the box and
even after 4 warranty repairs it was not totally reliable. SEI made it reliable.

I have not fired a single shot from any of my bone stock Poly Tech or Norinco M14s.

The Chinese made M14s that I shoot have been domesticated and modernized by
Smith Enterprise, Inc. and the results are outstanding. No issues, no worries.

My opinion: No matter what brand name is stamped on your M14 copy, have a
qualified M14 armorer inspect it from top to bottom before you fire a single round...




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