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

This whole thread is bad news!
Just got my PAL and after buying Bubba'd enfields and a Cooey 600 for next to nothing, I went back to the store and bought that friggin M14 thinking it was a good deal for such a badass rifle..

It's a shorty, seems to be built in 2014. The receiver doesn't look MIM. Nor even cast since I can't seem to find a line in the middle, and there are tool marks in multiple spots. Could some receivers still be forged? Where would I find MIM marks on the receiver? The bolt is definitely MIM though.

I'm getting afraid to shoot the weapon now. I work with my eyes... I can't seem to find those USGI bolts anymore online. Where would be a good place to buy a good bolt and send the rifle and the new bolt to a gunsmith for checking?. Ill never have the cash for a Springfield so if a known good bolt cures the problem it ain't so bad!

Thanks for the relevant info in the thread!
 
V8rider said:
This whole thread is bad news!
Just got my PAL and after buying Bubba'd enfields and a Cooey 600 for next to nothing, I went back to the store and bought that friggin M14 thinking it was a good deal for such a badass rifle..

It's a shorty, seems to be built in 2014. The receiver doesn't look MIM. Nor even cast since I can't seem to find a line in the middle, and there are tool marks in multiple spots. Could some receivers still be forged? Where would I find MIM marks on the receiver? The bolt is definitely MIM though.

I'm getting afraid to shoot the weapon now. I work with my eyes... I can't seem to find those USGI bolts anymore online. Where would be a good place to buy a good bolt and send the rifle and the new bolt to a gunsmith for checking?. Ill never have the cash for a Springfield so if a known good bolt cures the problem it ain't so bad!

Thanks for the relevant info in the thread!
Click to expand...

Google either LRB M14 bolt Canada or Fulton Armory M14 bolt Canada. There is only one supplier, it will likely come up for you. Skip over the Wolverine "hits" on google - they are out of stock, not longer are the LRB importer, and can't get more for the time being. The supplier is about the 5th hit when I search. Starts with an A. Ends with a CH. 6 letters long.
 
V8rider said:
This whole thread is bad news!
Just got my PAL and after buying Bubba'd enfields and a Cooey 600 for next to nothing, I went back to the store and bought that friggin M14 thinking it was a good deal for such a badass rifle..

It's a shorty, seems to be built in 2014. The receiver doesn't look MIM. Nor even cast since I can't seem to find a line in the middle, and there are tool marks in multiple spots. Could some receivers still be forged? Where would I find MIM marks on the receiver? The bolt is definitely MIM though.

I'm getting afraid to shoot the weapon now. I work with my eyes... I can't seem to find those USGI bolts anymore online. Where would be a good place to buy a good bolt and send the rifle and the new bolt to a gunsmith for checking?. Ill never have the cash for a Springfield so if a known good bolt cures the problem it ain't so bad!

Thanks for the relevant info in the thread!
Click to expand...

If nothing is MIM or cast on the rifle you are good to go. I bought a USGI bolt when my MIM broke, but the importer sent me a new rifle with a forged norc bolt. Its a seriously good rifle with that bolt. That USGI bolt now sits in my safe because I don't see why I would change a perfectly well working bolt.

I am more than 1000 rnds through the rifle and the only problems I get are mag related. Super reliable and accurate (no, not bolt gun accurate...) with original mag.

MIM parts are not the same color, they don't seem to be ''Parkerized gray'', they are darker. Definitely swap those out otherwise don't throw your money away forged norc bolts are good.
 
I was at EOSC shooting my 2007 M14 today & a gentleman arrived with his brand new N serial series CN 14 CA M305...

I brought this thread up, showed him what folks were saying & we disassembled his M14 and confirmed he had the 5 circles on the underside of his black bolt on both sides...

Needless to say, he did not fire his brand new gun & was going to call the shop he bought it from to ask questions...

Personally, I don't know what to think about the new M14 rifles, but this PSA is definitely concerning and the reason I told the gentleman about others experiences.

Cheers
Jay

Cheers
Jay
 
Claven2 said:
Google either LRB M14 bolt Canada or Fulton Armory M14 bolt Canada. There is only one supplier, it will likely come up for you. Skip over the Wolverine "hits" on google - they are out of stock, not longer are the LRB importer, and can't get more for the time being. The supplier is about the 5th hit when I search. Starts with an A. Ends with a CH. 6 letters long.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Someone on reddit is going to send me an old norinco one but he's been busy! I'd kinda want to wait on him and be hopeful he comes through because the site you mentionned only has a few 300USD bolt left! And considering there is no garantee it will even fit my receiver I'd rather wait on one! I went ahead and tried the rifle (with safety glasses lol) and 149gr M80 ball which seemed the safest option! Very fun rifle and extremely accurate once I figured how the elevation worked! I'm hoping that reddit gentleman sends me his forged bolt!
 
Apple tree said:
If nothing is MIM or cast on the rifle you are good to go. I bought a USGI bolt when my MIM broke, but the importer sent me a new rifle with a forged norc bolt. Its a seriously good rifle with that bolt. That USGI bolt now sits in my safe because I don't see why I would change a perfectly well working bolt.

I am more than 1000 rnds through the rifle and the only problems I get are mag related. Super reliable and accurate (no, not bolt gun accurate...) with original mag.

MIM parts are not the same color, they don't seem to be ''Parkerized gray'', they are darker. Definitely swap those out otherwise don't throw your money away forged norc bolts are good.
Click to expand...

My receiver seems to be forged thank god since I can see tooling marks and machining and no cast signs. The bolt is MIM though so I'm trying to get a replacement to fire the rifle with peace of mind.
 
There should be some forged norinco bolts kicking around from guys that have replaced them with a USGI bolts to head space the rifle accurately.
 
What, if anything, are stores doing for folks who buy these MIM bolt M14 rifles?

I did notice that the importer is denying any responsibility if the gun has been modified in any way... Which seems ridiculous if the owner simply changed the stock, swapped out the stock guide rod for a match one OR changed the rear sights to USGI... I would guess that most of these guns with MIM bolts fall into this category? Guys generally buy the chinese m14 to tinker with...

But take the guy I met at the range last weekend with a brand new unmodified M14 with MIM bolt... What will the store do for him considering he didn't modify it in any way or even fire it before I made him aware of this thread?

Cheers
Jay
 
Grizzlypeg said:
There should be some forged norinco bolts kicking around from guys that have replaced them with a USGI bolts to head space the rifle accurately.
Click to expand...

I've been looking on EE with no luck! I want my gf to try the rifle cuz its a great plinker, but i'm afraid the bolt will explode while she's shooting!
 
buckbrush said:
Are you sure she can handle the recoil? It could intimidate her. Better a .22 then a .223 or 7.62x39. No 12 gauges!
Click to expand...

I shot about 40 rounds with it and found it had much less recoil than I anticipated! She is small but the range is a sitting one where the gun is on a rest! I'm sure she'll be fine, I'll start her on a few .22 rounds! Just need to find a stupid bolt!
 
Claven2 said:
Google either LRB M14 bolt Canada or Fulton Armory M14 bolt Canada. There is only one supplier, it will likely come up for you. Skip over the Wolverine "hits" on google - they are out of stock, not longer are the LRB importer, and can't get more for the time being. The supplier is about the 5th hit when I search. Starts with an A. Ends with a CH. 6 letters long.
Click to expand...

I bought the Lrb bolt from azz-tech and it will not lock up without a round in the chamber.

I trial fitted it with the op rod out and just have the bolt slide on the track, it will rotate down (on the right lug) and stops with about a 1/8 inch from the bottom.

Now do i send it to a smith and have it lap or can i do this myself?
 
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sky52 said:
I bought the Lrb bolt from azz-tech and it will not lock up without a round in the chamber.

I trial fitted it with the op rod out and just have the bolt slide on the track, it will rotate down (on the right lug) and stops with about a 1/8 inch from the bottom.

Now do i send it to a smith and have it lap or can i do this myself?
Click to expand...

Can you positively identified what dimension is causing the interference? Is there clearance between the bolt and the barrel?

It will fully lock up with a round in the chamber? If so, is there any fore and aft play left in the bolt to indicate head space exists?
 
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I will take picture tonight, but it does look like the barrel setback is there preventing the bolt from going into battery
 
In all likelihood it just needs lapping.

If you dont know how, I'd recommend an m14 clinic or a Gunsmith.

Someone will tell you to look at a Tony Ben video or you might find my tutorial on milsurps.com, but if you dont have the gauges, and you are only doing one, just pay someone who knows what they are doing.
 
Thanks claven, i just looked again. The bolt head tucked into the barrel hood completely fine, it looks like the stoppage is occurring on the receiver side, either on the left or right so the bolt doesnt fully lock into battery, leaving an approx. 1/8 of inch gap before bottoming out on the right lug.

Ps: just going to send it off to dlask and have them deal with it. You are right, its my 1 off, by the time i get the bolt tool, HS gauge and a barrel vise, i am well into the 500$ range.
 
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