PSA re: bolt failures in recent import M-14 pattern rifles

kingprince22 said:
Hey guys, I just got the socom version of the m305 during boxing week from Tenda. Turns out I got a MIM bolt as well. Tried to return it, citing safety concerns but Tenda replied and insisted it’s forged and if I have any problems then I should contact North Sylva. Which store should I ‘Karen’ here and if they don’t budge then what are my alternatives?
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Dealing with North Sylva is like pulling your own teeth
You might have to get a gunsmith to go over your rifle and if your lucky the headspace is out and then you can go after NS.
NS will just tell you to complain to the manufacturer if you don't like the cast bolt
Tenda won't do much as they didn't import these
All else fails see if you can get a forged bolt that will fit
On my rifle the reciever was so out of spec that the MIM bolt was the only one that would fit
It took some threatening before NS would let me send the rifle to them for inspection
They did replace the rifle but the replacement had the MIM bolt too, fortunately I have a forged one that fits it
 
kingprince22 said:
Tried to return it, citing safety concerns but Tenda replied and insisted it’s forged and if I have any problems then I should contact North Sylva.
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It is a huge safety concern - judging by the reports of exploding bolts/rifles here and elsewhere.

Send them multiple emails, if they do not respond move onto phoning - document everything. When they still refuse, take to posting topics on their dealer forum here. That'll get their attention...
 
kingprince22 said:
Hey guys, I just got the socom version of the m305 during boxing week from Tenda. Turns out I got a MIM bolt as well. Tried to return it, citing safety concerns but Tenda replied and insisted it’s forged and if I have any problems then I should contact North Sylva. Which store should I ‘Karen’ here and if they don’t budge then what are my alternatives?
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Wolverine IDF kits are 650$ and come with the good bolt. If you only use the bolt, you can part out the stock, barrel, gas system and trigger to make back a few hundred bucks.
Or just do the full IDF rifle conversion. You'll end up with a rifle equal to or exceeding a Springfield M1a for way less. You could be unlucky with a springfield M1a as well - receiving a cast bolt, receiver, or op rod from them.
 
Kevin32 said:
Wolverine IDF kits are 650$ and come with the good bolt. If you only use the bolt, you can part out the stock, barrel, gas system and trigger to make back a few hundred bucks.
Or just do the full IDF rifle conversion. You'll end up with a rifle equal to or exceeding a Springfield M1a for way less. You could be unlucky with a springfield M1a as well - receiving a cast bolt, receiver, or op rod from them.
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….. if the bolt will fit. the one I have is so far out of spec there is no way it would ever be made to take a USGI bolt. and as far as it being equal or exceeding a springfield. fat chance
 
Beater said:
….. if the bolt will fit. the one I have is so far out of spec there is no way it would ever be made to take a USGI bolt. and as far as it being equal or exceeding a springfield. fat chance
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If the receiver is cast, 90% chance a forged bolt will not fit....

And your other comment of “exceeding a Springfield”... The Chinese M305 of the late 90’s through to 2010 or so, IMHO was a better rifle “out of the box” than any SAI rifle I saw between 2009 to 2018....

The only thing SAI gets credit for is a nice looking finish, and perfect headspace (which cannot be dismissed), but when that bolt roller is impacting on the op rod shelf, it doesn’t matter if HS is perfect, because that bolt will fail as well...

When you’re starting with a “Base” rifle at $500 vs a base rifle at $2300, and they both have a barrel that is out of index.... it’s a no brainier... IMHO, but those times have passed.

Now that the Chinese rifles are basically made from recycled hand grenades, and; Now that SAI has a Canadian warranty centre, that’s all changed.... today, if I was shopping for a new M14 pattern rifle.... I have to say a Springfield is the cheapest option. But be prepared to spend $500 to get that springer tuned up.

But, (insert a dreamy look in my eye and a hint of whimsy to my voice) if I had a 2007 ish receiver and a USGI parts kit... hands down, no question.... that’s a better rifle than a comparable SAI.
 
Kevin32 said:
Wolverine IDF kits are 650$ and come with the good bolt. If you only use the bolt, you can part out the stock, barrel, gas system and trigger to make back a few hundred bucks.
Or just do the full IDF rifle conversion. You'll end up with a rifle equal to or exceeding a Springfield M1a for way less. You could be unlucky with a springfield M1a as well - receiving a cast bolt, receiver, or op rod from them.
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The only thing that is cast in a Springer is the Receiver, there was a small run many years ago that came out with cast bolts but they were recalled and replaced. I've handled many Springers and only seen one severely out of spec receiver, but it is possible to get a lemon from them. The only one I owned was a National Match and it was a beauty.
 
so how long has this been going on is it in the new ones only ?
I've had 2 no issues but I only like Polyteck built M14s haven't seen a good Nork rifle yet.

Just checked my bolt in my 2009 Polyteck NO circles bare steel no coating and it is matching numbers to the receiver. Polytecks been around since 98 my first one was a 2004 new from Milarms no problems with it either.
 
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walleyed99 said:
The only thing that is cast in a Springer is the Receiver, there was a small run many years ago that came out with cast bolts but they were recalled and replaced. I've handled many Springers and only seen one severely out of spec receiver, but it is possible to get a lemon from them. The only one I owned was a National Match and it was a beauty.
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There's a video a guy posted of his M1A on utube the receiver broke in half and he didn't become aware of it until after he got home from the firing range and took it apart to clean it back half of it stayed in the stock. You'd think you pay out all that money the receiver would be forged. Turned me off of them anyway I e-mailed them and phoned them on it with no response was put on hold when I phoned ended up hanging up. if I'm going to spend that kind of money I want the best of the best. I read a lot of reviews on the Polyteck years ago the gist of them was they were a well made rifle for the most part as good or better then the high dollar ones. I may still have a write up on it goes back to 2001 I think if I can find it I'll post it an interesting read. Norks have all kinds of issues lately bad barrel fazzing, broken trigger assembly parts, bad furniture, etc. now this.
 
maxinumarmor said:
so how long has this been going on is it in the new ones only ?
I've had 2 no issues but I only like Polyteck built M14s haven't seen a good Nork rifle yet.

Just checked my bolt in my 2009 Polyteck NO circles bare steel no coating and it is matching numbers to the receiver. Polytecks been around since 98 my first one was a 2004 new from Milarms no problems with it either.
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Norinco = polytech= norinco when it comes to the m14. All made in same factory, same parts. Just branded differently depending on client.
 
any dealer on cgn selling these rifles right now should be absolutely ashamed of themselves and I really mean that.

I mean it enough that I will simply no longer deal with "any" Canadian company who chooses to ignore the evidence we have collectively presented here and still choose the dollar over their customer's safety. Absolutey shameful. This community tarred and feathered marstar for selling unsafe and not as advertised firearms so why is this cast m14 bolt issue any different.
The straight facts are in this thread without bias or manipulation.

CGN dealers, if you are reading this, stop selling these unsafe firearms to Canadians..... the m305 stopped being "safe" about 7 years ago
 
Dealers/retailers keep selling them, because they can hide behind every stores policy of "all firearms transactions are final sale". Cabela's, right down to the little gun store on the corner have this policy. So, if something breaks take it up with the store > who directs you to the distributer > who directs you to the manufacturer > who directs you back to the distributer...

Until someone is seriously injured, and lawyers up, nothing will change.
 
45ACPKING said:
any dealer on cgn selling these rifles right now should be absolutely ashamed of themselves and I really mean that.

I mean it enough that I will simply no longer deal with "any" Canadian company who chooses to ignore the evidence we have collectively presented here and still choose the dollar over their customer's safety. Absolutey shameful. This community tarred and feathered marstar for selling unsafe and not as advertised firearms so why is this cast m14 bolt issue any different.
The straight facts are in this thread without bias or manipulation.

CGN dealers, if you are reading this, stop selling these unsafe firearms to Canadians..... the m305 stopped being "safe" about 7 years ago
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Technically the cast bolts started in 2016, but yes, quality of assembly has also been on a downward slide.
 
Claven2 said:
Technically the cast bolts started in 2016, but yes, quality of assembly has also been on a downward slide.
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ya but the crap started in about 2012 , perhaps 1 year earlier. I won't mention the importer/online retailer but the first load of rifles wearing their brand name were shoddy enough I closed my rifle smithing bench so I wouldn't have to handle another one ever again LOL I did not want the possibility that my insurance would take a hit if I worked on one of those rifles and it had an issue later related to it's manufacture/assembly.
 
45ACPKING said:
ya but the crap started in about 2012 , perhaps 1 year earlier. I won't mention the importer/online retailer but the first load of rifles wearing their brand name were shoddy enough I closed my rifle smithing bench so I wouldn't have to handle another one ever again LOL I did not want the possibility that my insurance would take a hit if I worked on one of those rifles and it had an issue later related to it's manufacture/assembly.
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And that's what blows my mind with NS...as the importer of these Chinese bombs they are essentially the manufacturer if something happens and people get injured.
Their insurance company would drop them in a second if they ever found out about this.
 
very disgrasefull im not a fan of NS at all all they did when I posted my prob in there section was to delete it. and yes the marstar thing, they even got booted from here. kinda surprised that hasn't happened with NS
 
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