Seems many folks have the impression that i am all about the usgi parts.... that i feel the norc "must" have it's parts swapped out to usgi.
This is not the case, for the most part, the current product we have by way of marstar are built with parts that are excellent in both dimension, finish and hardness and for the most part adhere to the specified usgi dimensions.
However, for my personal tastes, I like to build my rifles, well my match shooters, with usgi parts. The reason for this is that the values for dimension and hardness are known when it comes to usgi parts, I can look up these specs and have them on hand when i am fitting and lapping parts into a new build. This info is important as you can now fit a part, knowing it's hardness value and how far you can and can't go before wearing that surface hardness out. Also, the match conditioning instructions i have are based on USGI spec components with known values of dimension and hardness.
this in depth information is simply not availlable for the chinese rifles.
for the most part the norinco m14s needs nothing to make it a reliable, accurate shooter but a few tweaks and tightening of parts.
For those who's norinco's guage with long headspace.... exceeding 10 thou over the 7.62nato go guage, you are safe for 7.62 nato surplus ammo BUT i am leery of using commercial .308 in such chambers. FOR this reason I would lap in a USED usgi bolt to bring headspace down. Thing is , you can't just go lapping a usgi bolt into a norc receiver and grind away till you have 7.62 nato headspace.... too much surface hardening is being removed. Thus, if you are going to take the usgi bolt route.... be prepared to reload or shoot .308 commercial spec ammo only.
when selecting a usgi bolt, you are better served sourcing a used bolt. This is because a used usgi bolt in serviceable condition will lap into your norc receiver with far less removal of material during the lapping process.
I've met one norc receiver where the owner lapped in a brand new trw bolt and effecively had removed 6 thou (
) from his receiver lugs and after 100 rounds of 150 gr federal.... the right hand bolt bearing surface of his 2007 date stamped norc receiver was peening..... he lapped away the surface hardening. The receiver must be magnafluxed or re case hardened..... he was not impressed.
For those wondring what they should have to pay for a usgi bolt..... we can use a couple of U.S. equipment exchanges to find a ballpark price. Whenever i have parts surplus to my needs, I check the adds on the m14-forum.c and the ar15.c websites. I then calculate exchange and voila, i have my pricing.
expect to pay 250 to 325 for a good , serviceable , complete usgi bolt from either trw, H&R or Winchester ..... all three are suitable and none offer any real benefit over the other. The TRW mystique has done nothing but inflate the prices of trw parts in the minds of those who feel they are superior to the rest. Trw parts and all other usgi parts all pased the same QC and dimensional testing.
the other 2 parts on the norc that are often swapped out for better grade stuff is the rear sights and the flash hider
real usgi m14 rear sights fetch high dollar even in the U.S. BUT lucky for us, they are identical to the M1 garand rear sight, which incidentily are found for about 50.00 u.s. through various online sources and make an excellent replacement for out of spec rear sights on the norc. In my inspections I'd say 5 out of 10 norcs would benefit from an upgraded rear sight.
the flash hider specs on many norcs... again i'd say 5 out of 10 are also very hit and miss with Q/C and machining dimensions. Popular replacements would be the smith ent coast guard muzzle break (160 to 190.00 canadian) and of couse a usgi flash hider with bayonet lug......generally run 100.00 to 160.00 if you can find one.
The U.S. will allow export of muzzle breaks but no more flash hiders.
I have posted this because i have had a LOT of guys p.m.'ing asking me for advice on usgi parts swaps and pricing.
It blows my mind when i see a bolt in the EE for over 400.00 or a fellow cgn'er who messaged one of my clinic attendees and offered him a bolt for 750 
I would like to hear from Hungry and a few other well versed M14 nuts , as to your thoughts on the whole usgi parts thing...... a lot of guys are getting burned paying way too much for parts they just may not need. I've sold a lot of usgi stuff here and have always tried to price things according to fair market value.
If you are a builder as a hobby, usgi parts are a great resource. If you are just a shooter and want a reliable norinco m14s..... your #### will not fall off if your rifle has no usgi parts
This is not the case, for the most part, the current product we have by way of marstar are built with parts that are excellent in both dimension, finish and hardness and for the most part adhere to the specified usgi dimensions.
However, for my personal tastes, I like to build my rifles, well my match shooters, with usgi parts. The reason for this is that the values for dimension and hardness are known when it comes to usgi parts, I can look up these specs and have them on hand when i am fitting and lapping parts into a new build. This info is important as you can now fit a part, knowing it's hardness value and how far you can and can't go before wearing that surface hardness out. Also, the match conditioning instructions i have are based on USGI spec components with known values of dimension and hardness.
this in depth information is simply not availlable for the chinese rifles.
for the most part the norinco m14s needs nothing to make it a reliable, accurate shooter but a few tweaks and tightening of parts.
For those who's norinco's guage with long headspace.... exceeding 10 thou over the 7.62nato go guage, you are safe for 7.62 nato surplus ammo BUT i am leery of using commercial .308 in such chambers. FOR this reason I would lap in a USED usgi bolt to bring headspace down. Thing is , you can't just go lapping a usgi bolt into a norc receiver and grind away till you have 7.62 nato headspace.... too much surface hardening is being removed. Thus, if you are going to take the usgi bolt route.... be prepared to reload or shoot .308 commercial spec ammo only.
when selecting a usgi bolt, you are better served sourcing a used bolt. This is because a used usgi bolt in serviceable condition will lap into your norc receiver with far less removal of material during the lapping process.
I've met one norc receiver where the owner lapped in a brand new trw bolt and effecively had removed 6 thou (
) from his receiver lugs and after 100 rounds of 150 gr federal.... the right hand bolt bearing surface of his 2007 date stamped norc receiver was peening..... he lapped away the surface hardening. The receiver must be magnafluxed or re case hardened..... he was not impressed.For those wondring what they should have to pay for a usgi bolt..... we can use a couple of U.S. equipment exchanges to find a ballpark price. Whenever i have parts surplus to my needs, I check the adds on the m14-forum.c and the ar15.c websites. I then calculate exchange and voila, i have my pricing.
expect to pay 250 to 325 for a good , serviceable , complete usgi bolt from either trw, H&R or Winchester ..... all three are suitable and none offer any real benefit over the other. The TRW mystique has done nothing but inflate the prices of trw parts in the minds of those who feel they are superior to the rest. Trw parts and all other usgi parts all pased the same QC and dimensional testing.
the other 2 parts on the norc that are often swapped out for better grade stuff is the rear sights and the flash hider
real usgi m14 rear sights fetch high dollar even in the U.S. BUT lucky for us, they are identical to the M1 garand rear sight, which incidentily are found for about 50.00 u.s. through various online sources and make an excellent replacement for out of spec rear sights on the norc. In my inspections I'd say 5 out of 10 norcs would benefit from an upgraded rear sight.
the flash hider specs on many norcs... again i'd say 5 out of 10 are also very hit and miss with Q/C and machining dimensions. Popular replacements would be the smith ent coast guard muzzle break (160 to 190.00 canadian) and of couse a usgi flash hider with bayonet lug......generally run 100.00 to 160.00 if you can find one.
The U.S. will allow export of muzzle breaks but no more flash hiders.
I have posted this because i have had a LOT of guys p.m.'ing asking me for advice on usgi parts swaps and pricing.
It blows my mind when i see a bolt in the EE for over 400.00
or a fellow cgn'er who messaged one of my clinic attendees and offered him a bolt for 750 I would like to hear from Hungry and a few other well versed M14 nuts , as to your thoughts on the whole usgi parts thing...... a lot of guys are getting burned paying way too much for parts they just may not need. I've sold a lot of usgi stuff here and have always tried to price things according to fair market value.
If you are a builder as a hobby, usgi parts are a great resource. If you are just a shooter and want a reliable norinco m14s..... your #### will not fall off if your rifle has no usgi parts
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