What`s the diff. M305 & M14

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GeorgeJure

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Hello

I wanted to ask if anyone can explain to me, completely unknowing, what the diff. between a "Norinco" M305 and an M14 is? I know they come in a synthetic stock BUT what happened to the older looking Vietnam era wood stocks the M14 were known for.
Again to me, not knowing, they are both 308cal. ? I know the M305 have different barrel lengths, I thought the longer the barrel, the better the accuracy?
I would like one with a scope OR able to have a scope mounted without weapon alteration.

I Would possible buy one for a good price BUT I can`t find any in a wooden stock?

Tips and opinions and sources would be appreciated.

Thanks
George
 
M305 is made by Norinco in China. Forged receiver, synthetic stock, sometimes has some QC issues.

M14 is made by Springfield Armory in the US (and is prohibited in Canada). The US civilian version is called the M1A. Cast receiver, wood or synthetic stock, usually double or triple the price of the Norinco.

Both can be scoped with an aftermarket scope mount and a minimal mod - removing the stripper clip guide.

Both are chambered for .308 Winchester - which is the civilian designation for 7.62x51 NATO.

The Norinco's sights are typically rougher to adjust than the Springfield's, and the Norc's barrel indexing can be off, requiring a gunsmith (or somebody like Tactical Teacher - plug for ya Barney!! :p) to get the indexing right so the iron sights are aligned.

Some M14 guys have used the Norc forged receivers to build some VERY accurate rifles, but about the only parts left from the original rifle is that receiver!

All in all, it really depends what your budget is. If you can afford the $2000+ for a Springfield M1A, then go for it. If you can't, the Norc is a budget version, but you do get what you pay for (outside of the forged receiver).
 
Hi shredder

Thanks for the lesson. As for the Norc. version, are there typical failure issues after a certain amount of time? I see a few in the EE secton for sale, tempting BUT would like to know what a fair buying price would be with an average scope OR NOT. I know the seller is trying to get the best $ for their item BUT as a buyer, I`m trying to make sure I don`t buy a non stop repair queen.

George
 
One correction...M14 was made by four companies starting in the fifties...Springfield Armory, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson (H&R) and TRW. Almost all M14's are prohibs (12.3). People call the new, post-Springfield Armory M1A an M14, but it is not. True M14's have the capability of full auto fire (there are some exceptions). M1A's do not. The Norinco & Polytech M305 rifles that we get in Canada do not have the full auto capable receiver. When you see someone on this thread using the term M14, they are almost always referring to an "M14 type" rifle, not a true M14.
 
GeorgeJure said:
Hi shredder

Thanks for the lesson. As for the Norc. version, are there typical failure issues after a certain amount of time? I see a few in the EE secton for sale, tempting BUT would like to know what a fair buying price would be with an average scope OR NOT. I know the seller is trying to get the best $ for their item BUT as a buyer, I`m trying to make sure I don`t buy a non stop repair queen.

George
Click to expand...

Hi George,
It's not so much failure issues with the Chinese M-14 clones, it's manufacturer QA issues. The best thing to do would be to read through the stickies in the Battle Rifle section and ask for detailed pictures of the rifle.

If you want a worry-free M-14-style rifle, I'd strongly suggest talking to John at m14medic.ca about his products and services. Unless you're a die-hard tinkerer it's well worth paying a little extra to KNOW it's going to be in perfect spec.
 
The Norinco's can be found with wood stocks from time to time but they are a couple hundred bucks more and are harder to find. Best thing to do would be to buy a polymer stock version then watch the main battle rifle parts area on the EE for a wood stock.
I own two Norinco's one is mostly stock with some tinkering from the previous owner at an M14 clinic and a fiberglass USGI stock which is a great little rifle with the iron sights and the other is like the ones described above that only has the receiver left and everything else has been swapped out.
Great rifles once you go through them and make sure everything is lined up and tight. Lots of aftermarket for them so they can really become a bottomless pit to spend money on. My second one is well over $3000 so it's now an awesome rifle but also hard to sell because it's so much money for something that still says Norinco on it.
 
I say go with a norinco m305 vs a Springfield m1a. I would say the m1a is 20% better gun for 300%+ the price. The norinco's are know to have little thing you need to thinker with to get them good to go but the Springfield standard have ben known to be on occation less then perfect. The M1a will have a nicer finish. The m305 will have no warranty part from if a retailer has a his own warranty, but I have heard terrible thing about trying to get warranty work done on the m1a in Canada.

Bottom line I say go with the Norc and have room to grow! With the $1500 you save you can buy scope, ammo, stock or even a match barrel and end up with a way better gun at your taste for less.
 
I owned a Norc M305 and while it shot ok the fit and finish was rough. I personally enjoy nice things so once I was sure I liked the platform the M305 was replaced by a much nicer and more refined Springfield SOCOM16. Sure, it's restricted but so are my AR's and HG's......
 
And just for fun, check out the M305A rifles that have recently become available. M-14 type rifles in 7.62 x 39mm, decently accurate, good triggers and good sights. Heavy, accurate and virtually recoil-less, you feel it but not much of it!

Scott
 
m39a2 said:
And just for fun, check out the M305A rifles that have recently become available. M-14 type rifles in 7.62 x 39mm, decently accurate, good triggers and good sights. Heavy, accurate and virtually recoil-less, you feel it but not much of it!

Scott
Click to expand...

Lets just not forget that to mention that the m305a does not have a bolt hold open and does not have all the same stock options as a regular m305.
 
Here is something to wrap your head around. 1, Springfield Armoury is not the same company as the Springfield Armoury as the company that made the M14. Today's Springfield Armoury is a bunch of investors making a buck off of the Springfield name. 2, the Norinco M305 is more a M14 than any new production Springfield because Norinco is still using the same tooling they bought from the US Government when they shut down the original Springfield Armoury. And 3, what true gun enthusiast in their right mind would buy a newly produced Springfield from a company that have started out with an intent on making a profit at the expense of screwing their customers over and continue to do so today with the Illinois fiasco. The bill is in its final reading and Springfield Armoury continues to give the gun community the middle finger.
 
Garaldtao said:
Here is something to wrap your head around. 1, Springfield Armoury is not the same company as the Springfield Armoury as the company that made the M14. Today's Springfield Armoury is a bunch of investors making a buck off of the Springfield name. 2, the Norinco M305 is more a M14 than any new production Springfield because Norinco is still using the same tooling they bought from the US Government when they shut down the original Springfield Armoury. And 3, what true gun enthusiast in their right mind would buy a newly produced Springfield from a company that have started out with an intent on making a profit at the expense of screwing their customers over and continue to do so today with the Illinois fiasco. The bill is in its final reading and Springfield Armoury continues to give the gun community the middle finger.
Click to expand...

The US tooling was supplied to Taiwan, not the People's Republic.
Yes, the current Springfield Armory is a commercial operation, not a government facility. The castings for the receivers have been made in Montreal.
What bill?
 
tiriaq said:
What bill?
Click to expand...

Some stupid piece of "gun control" legislation that is headed for the books in Massachusetts (?) that Springfield Armoury "supported" by virtue of being a member of a trade lobby group that is supporting the bill.

Lots of backlash in the states, lots of smoke but not a lot of fire.
 
tiriaq said:
The US tooling was supplied to Taiwan, not the People's Republic.
Yes, the current Springfield Armory is a commercial operation, not a government facility. The castings for the receivers have been made in Montreal.
What bill?
Click to expand...

Rumours is that the PRC circumnavigated the 1960s US trade embargo via the Republic of China. Believable insofar that the PRC is not sufferring the same woes as Cuba and I did a part to part comparison between my cousins T57 and the M305... aside from the rear sight, they are identical. Reminds me of the time I was in the New Territories in the early 1990s, there was a factory that produced $200 Nikes for the North American market. The deal was that X number of shoes were to be made for a given period of time and the mold is returned to Nike. The locals tell me that they added a night shift and produced twice as many and we could get a pair for $10 across the border in the PRC for $10CDN. Hong Kong was bound by trademark and copy right laws and the PRC, lets say they play by their own rules. My brother bought 2 pairs of Nikes.

Rumours also have it that Blackfeather is also made in Canada.

And Springfield and Rock River are the only names on the lobby group and coincidently the only ones exempt from the Bill. It is like me saying to my bank... "Honestly, I do not know what happen to all the money even though it my wife's and my name that is on the account so therefore we should be exempt from the rules and you give us back the $20,000 that was spent. BtW no fraud investigation please, just take our word at face value."
 
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