Springfield VS Norinco

[Long Range Canuck]

The word Norinco sends shivers down my spine. From a very young age the Norinco's have meant the cheapest poorest built firearms money can buy with the accuracy of a 12guage at 100 yrds. This is exagerated of course but in all my feeling toward this product.

Now to the meat. I have been contemplating buying a Springfield M1A super match for about a year but am into a rifle project with ATRS right now, but once that one is done and paid for an M-14 type rifle is in the works.

What I have been reading is the general opinion on this board is that the Norinco is right up there with the Springfield with big savings in dollars. my question is. Is it worth going the Springfield route or buy the "Dreaded Norinco" and do your own custom mods to it?

Forgive me for asking this question....It hurts to do it...I hope the Springfield comes out ontop! :shock:

 

[Disaster Monkey]

I had a Norinco M305, and sold it. I'm starting to regret that now, as I like the M-14 style, and although I have the money to spend for the right thing, I haven't been impressed with what I've heard about the quality of Springfield Armory's product. The primary difference is that Springfield uses cast receivers and operating rods, whereas Norinco uses forged receivers and op rods. I don't know how much of a practical difference that makes. Statistics on how much faster the Springfield's cast components wear, or how much more likely they are to break would be nice, but just the idea of inferior manufacturing processes in a rifle 5 times the price of the alternative is hard to accept.

I think personally I will end up buying another Norinco, and gradually tweaking it out into a solid rifle. I'll buy the Springfield only if / when I decide I want their SOCOM (II) model.

 

[Ducimus]

The M1A is better looking out of the box, but not $1600 better looking.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I would suggest you buy the Norinco and do the mods yourself. Having 4 of each ,I will say Springfields do "Look" nicer out of the box . Disaster monkey has a point about the cast Reproduced parts . Op rods , trigger assemblies, some rear sight parts ,extractors ,flash suppressors,front sights,and gascylinders are all cast in Taiwan . Receivers are cast in Canada ,and the barrels are spun in house on Wilson blanks. Ask yourself this would you rather buy a SA inc rifle made with mostly Taiwanese parts for $$$$$$ or a Chinese made rifle for about 1/4 of the cost ?
Having both ,it would be a no brainer for me . Of my last 4 rifles 3 have been Polytechs(Chinese ) with only 1 Springfield early rifle with all USGI parts . Plus you get to buy the Norincos for 1/2 of what we have to pay here in the states .
You will not be sorry

 

[Disaster Monkey]

Oh, and another thing I read recently that helped me make up my mind on the Norinco rifles ... this is a quote from the website of Fulton Armory (American maker of grossly overpriced but high quality M1A/M14 rifles with forged components):

CHINESE UPGRADES

If you have a Polytech or Norinco M14S complete rifle you have one of the finest M14-type receivers ever made. We can turn your Polytech or Norinco M14S complete rifle into a beautiful Fulton Armory rifle as follows:

 

[Keller]

The big factor in this great debate is simply price; given an unlimited budget I think even the die-hard Norinco owners would choose a Springfield. You can get a Norinco and spend months and quite a bit of money making it "better" if that's what you're into, or you can spend the cash and get a Springfield. In the end the Springfield will mean more money for you if you ever choose to sell.

Most will say that Springfield M1A owners curse the Norincos 'cause we are just mad that we spent too much to get the "same" rifle. Basically there are two types of people, the ones that will settle for something and the ones that are cursed with a desire to own the "brand name" products even if it costs more.

So what do you want, a Polex or a Rolex? :wink: :mrgreen:

 

[Boomer686]

Norinco will give you the most bang for the buck...even after you spend a little extra $$$ on a few mods (which aren't all "necessary" , you will still end up on top with the Norinco.

Regards,

 

[Carney]

I bought a Norinco M-14s this spring and love it. All I've done to it was replace the stock with a USGI fiberglass stock,an ARMS 18 scope mount,and a NM flashsuppressor. And this thing will print 1"-1.5" groups at 100yrds consistantly from the bench. Buy a Norinco you will not regret it.

Carney

 

[Skullboy]

The big factor in this great debate is simply price; given an unlimited budget I think even the die-hard Norinco owners would choose a Springfield. You can get a Norinco and spend months and quite a bit of money making it "better" if that's what you're into, or you can spend the cash and get a Springfield. In the end the Springfield will mean more money for you if you ever choose to sell.

Most will say that Springfield M1A owners curse the Norincos 'cause we are just mad that we spent too much to get the "same" rifle. Basically there are two types of people, the ones that will settle for something and the ones that are cursed with a desire to own the "brand name" products even if it costs more.

So what do you want, a Polex or a Rolex? :wink: :mrgreen:

Would never go back to a Springfield.As was posted above, Springfield had subcontracted out most of their parts, and a lot are made off shore.

The basic mods people are doing to the Norincos, should also be done to the Springfields (IE, NM oprod spring guide, shimming the gas cylinder, etc.).

Plus the Norcs Flash hider is already at NM specs, was as the Springfield FH needs to be reamed.

The Chinese barrel is rated as a USGI equivilent.

The finish is better on the Springfield, but is it $1600.00 better for a cast reciever rifle VS a Forged reciever rifle????

Plus the Chinese recievers are closer to USGI specs then the Springfield recievers.

It's your choice, spend $2000 on a standarded Springfield, or $399 on a Norinco.

The $1600.00 you save on the Norinco will let you build a Super match version for the same price as the standard M1A.

SKBY.

 

[Disaster Monkey]

In the end the Springfield will mean more money for you if you ever choose to sell.

This is the one stated benefit of Springfields over Norincos that I will agree with.

 

[Long Range Canuck]

Wow In my wildest dreams I would have never figured a Norinco would rate anywhere near a SA.....The nice thing is it is in a price range that makes it available right now. On P&D website I saw a Norinco M-14 and another Norinco 305 one being more money. What are the major differences between the two and which would you go with?

 

[Sinasta]

Same thing

 

[agit-prop]

The big factor in this great debate is simply price; given an unlimited budget I think even the die-hard Norinco owners would choose a Springfield. You can get a Norinco and spend months and quite a bit of money making it "better" if that's what you're into, or you can spend the cash and get a Springfield. In the end the Springfield will mean more money for you if you ever choose to sell.

Most will say that Springfield M1A owners curse the Norincos 'cause we are just mad that we spent too much to get the "same" rifle. Basically there are two types of people, the ones that will settle for something and the ones that are cursed with a desire to own the "brand name" products even if it costs more.

So what do you want, a Polex or a Rolex? :wink: :mrgreen:

Actually, I could have afforded either a Springfeild or a collection of 4 or 5 Norincos.

In the end I bought a Springfeild... Garand

I also bought a breda, a SA 1911A1 defender, a Ruger GP100 and a Winchester Model 94 in .357 mag

All that for the price of a Springfeild M1A

 

[Oldsmobiler]

Hey if it makes you happy go and buy the Springfield. Now if you want a better rifle go buy the Norico, chuck the stock in the fire/trash, sell all the parts you take off the receiver, buy a new USGI stock, barrel, gas assy, blah blah.....and you'll have 10x the rifle than the Springfield.

But hey thats just my opinion.

By the way I have two Norico's so I'm kinda biased :lol:

 

[Sinasta]

Hey if it makes you happy go and buy the Springfield. Now if you want a better rifle go buy the Norico, chuck the stock in the fire/trash, sell all the parts you take off the receiver, buy a new USGI stock, barrel, gas assy, blah blah.....and you'll have 10x the rifle than the Springfield.

But hey thats just my opinion.

By the way I have two Norico's so I'm kinda biased :lol:

So your paying 400 for just the reciever?

 

[Oldsmobiler]

Hey if it makes you happy go and buy the Springfield. Now if you want a better rifle go buy the Norico, chuck the stock in the fire/trash, sell all the parts you take off the receiver, buy a new USGI stock, barrel, gas assy, blah blah.....and you'll have 10x the rifle than the Springfield.

But hey thats just my opinion.

By the way I have two Norico's so I'm kinda biased :lol:

So your paying 400 for just the reciever?

Whats wrong with that? I've shot my plain jane Norico with just a few basic mods in service rifle competition and it did extremely well. What I'm doing this winter is building an XM25 copy just because I've always wanted one not because the stock Norico didn't shoot well enough.

LRCanuck asked if he should buy a M1A Supermatch. I'm telling him to buy the Norico, sell the #### he don't need, probably make back most of his money selling the parts and build his own copy of an M1A supermatch and be better off that getting it from Springfield.

 

[Nester]

Owned both and honestly they both performed very well.

If I was handed either too shoot without knowing which was which...I couldn't tell the difference.

Yes the Springfield is a prettier to look at ....but that's about it. Get a Norinco, tweak it and be happy.


Sold my M1A and kept the Norinco, go figure.

 

[BigUglyMan]

The number of guys on the board that own Norincos should make it pretty obvious. There's probably 200 M14S/305 owners on here versus very few M1A guys.

After all, most of the guys here are compulsive tweakers...hence the M305's and M700's. Too many fun add one to make them look cooler and shoot better. Not that an M305 is a bad rifle out of the box. I'm not selling mine any time soon.

 

[tree mugger]

I have two, and consistantly get 1.5" @ 100 yds with handloads out of both.

The only mods are one has a Garand sight and refinished chinese wood (which does refinish nice), and the other has a DaveGP pistol grip stock.

 

[Long Range Canuck]

OK you guys got me sold on the Norinco.......It realy kills me to say it and hear it but It is what it is....and if it saves money excellent. I will buy one..next question USGI parts, where would i get those in Canada and will the Norinco's fit the Macmillan stock...i assume it will if it is USGI spec. thanks for your help.