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

The M14's charger guide is there so people can top up. You can easily push a single round down into the mag with your thumb and single-feed that way. No sweat.

Yes, that's the normal way, and in doing that, the bolt still has to strip the round from the mag avoiding the potential for a slam fire. The problem is as yomamma says, when people just put a round straight into the chamber and let the bolt close on that.
 
These and the Nork AR15's were the only worthy Chinese rifles to buy. Now with MIM bolts shattering, it's just the AR15's.
Yes they make "other stuff" but it's not worth $1000+ or anywhere close IMHO.
 
These and the Nork AR15's were the only worthy Chinese rifles to buy. Now with MIM bolts shattering, it's just the AR15's.
Yes they make "other stuff" but it's not worth $1000+ or anywhere close IMHO.

Fwiw, if you were planning on dropping in a usgi bolt anyhow, the m305 receivers are still made well at this point.
 
How easy is it to fit a USGI bolt into a norc receiver? Any hand fitting required?

Like so many things, it depends. Sometimes they just drop in and the stars align. Some armorers keep a bag of bolts to do trial and error fitting.

You would need to put in the bolt and check for lug contact. The welfare way to do this is with a bright flashlight, the correct way is to strip the bolt, use marking blue on the back of the lugs and rotate the bolt into battery using a spring-loaded lapping jig.

If there is not an even 80% contact, NM work would involve hand lapping the lugs.

Once you are happy with fit, you then need to check headspace. With a chrome bore you hope lug fitting didn't result in too much headspace. Too little headspace would be corrected with further lapping.

With a short chambered new barrel, ideal headspace would be set with a reamer.
 
I sold both of my M14s about 4 years ago
Had a scoped standard barrel and an iron sighted 18.5"
Started to regret selling them about a year after doing so
I'm considering getting back in the game now by buying 2 x shorty M14s
All this business of bolt problems is putting me off though
I'll have to do alot of thinking and reading before plunking down the cash
 
I sold both of my M14s about 4 years ago
Had a scoped standard barrel and an iron sighted 18.5"
Started to regret selling them about a year after doing so
I'm considering getting back in the game now by buying 2 x shorty M14s
All this business of bolt problems is putting me off though
I'll have to do alot of thinking and reading before plunking down the cash

Invest in a milled GI bolt now while they can be bought for around $250. Then if you buy, you're all set. If you don't buy, flip the bolt in a year from now for a profit.
 
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Picked up a 18.5 version from Kelly's Sporting Goods in Feb, 2017 that's been kicking around in the safe ever since. Finally was going to get this out to the range and saw this thread, and sure enough there are the circles on the bottom. Mine is stamped as a 2014 version with an "N" suffix before the rest of the serial. Definitely not taking to this to the range. Now, what are the options? Should I be contacting Kelly's about this, or getting in touch with North Sylva as these appear to be dangerous goods at this point?
 
Picked up a 18.5 version from Kelly's Sporting Goods in Feb, 2017 that's been kicking around in the safe ever since. Finally was going to get this out to the range and saw this thread, and sure enough there are the circles on the bottom. Mine is stamped as a 2014 version with an "N" suffix before the rest of the serial. Definitely not taking to this to the range. Now, what are the options? Should I be contacting Kelly's about this, or getting in touch with North Sylva as these appear to be dangerous goods at this point?

Try to reach for the warranty. Don't be the guy that lost an eye.
 
I have a never fired Norinco 22 inch barrel, no issues besides the rear sight right now, but I'm wondering how can I tell if mine is in that serial number lot? Mines for 2010, I was told
 
Picked up a 18.5 version from Kelly's Sporting Goods in Feb, 2017 that's been kicking around in the safe ever since. Finally was going to get this out to the range and saw this thread, and sure enough there are the circles on the bottom. Mine is stamped as a 2014 version with an "N" suffix before the rest of the serial. Definitely not taking to this to the range. Now, what are the options? Should I be contacting Kelly's about this, or getting in touch with North Sylva as these appear to be dangerous goods at this point?

Check with the retailer. If you get stuck with it, reach out to Wolverine and buy a USGI bolt from an IDF kit. Honestly, a GI bolt is always a good upgrade to the M305 anyhow.
 
I hope this sort-of applies here. I doubt if anyone doesn't know how a Garand action operates but it shows how fast the bolt moves to the rear. Lots of stresses here, esp. on the rearward stroke.

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What about those plastic bolt recoil buffers from marstar! Just because they damage your rifle, doesn't mean they're not cool
 
Check with the retailer. If you get stuck with it, reach out to Wolverine and buy a USGI bolt from an IDF kit. Honestly, a GI bolt is always a good upgrade to the M305 anyhow.

All gone (asked them). Gonna give the retailer a shout, but doubt that will do anything. If this is a known problem (which it appears to be), and due to this being a very dangerous risk, why is there no recall on them?
 
All gone (asked them). Gonna give the retailer a shout, but doubt that will do anything. If this is a known problem (which it appears to be), and due to this being a very dangerous risk, why is there no recall on them?

You could ask North Sylva... they are the distributor apparently.
 
You could ask North Sylva... they are the distributor apparently.

Well, I have been following this thread since day one and the name of North Sylva keeps coming to the forefront after 95 posts. Claven2 was the first one (post #7) to challenge North Sylva to come out and at least try to straighten things out. But North Sylva does not seem very interested to show up - and drop the gloves, so to speak ...

I will keep watching the game and maybe - just maybe - I will be able to see a good fight. Chances are slim though. It reminds me of John Ferguson (among others) looking for Eddie Shack who finally never dropped his gloves. Eddie Shack was good at yacking, that's for sure.
 
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kind of an aside, but how the hell does a toaster oven have to be UL/CSA rated to get into this country, but the most dangerous consumer item you can buy gets a total pass on any kind of safety regulations?
These importers should be absolutely crucified for inflicting this potentially deadly #### on the shooting public.
There are numerous consumer protection laws that cover this kind of nonsense; not to mention potential criminal negligence should someone get hurt. Where's Burlew and the other lawyers? Where's the CSSA?
 
kind of an aside, but how the hell does a toaster oven have to be UL/CSA rated to get into this country, but the most dangerous consumer item you can buy gets a total pass on any kind of safety regulations?
These importers should be absolutely crucified for inflicting this potentially deadly #### on the shooting public.
There are numerous consumer protection laws that cover this kind of nonsense; not to mention potential criminal negligence should someone get hurt. Where's Burlew and the other lawyers? Where's the CSSA?

meh. I wouldn't get regulation involved. It can do more harm than good lol.
 
I contacted a distributor today regarding possible purchase of 2 x 22" barreled m305s from him
I wanted to know about bolt condition and the rifles year of manufacture
The distributor stated he wasn't sure but that they sold lots and haven't had any complaints
Another distributor I contacted yesterday said any defects are handled by North Sylva
Wasn't too pleased with these answers
I don't know of any local vendor who sells the long barrel version here so I can inspect one myself
A certain large hunting store here has the short barreled rifles
I may go take a look anyway though to check the bolt conditions and barrel indexing up close myself
Who knows maybe I'll get lucky
 
I've just received this one on a trade. It's got a 2014 date on it. I don't see any circles on the bolt so I think I'm good. does the 0043 denote early 2014 so maybe still forged bolts?





 
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