Which rifle costs more to build, Norinco M305/M14 or Type81?

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john523

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As I know, M305's receiver is forged and the Type 81 uses stamped steel fastened by rivets. While M305 is selling around $650 nowadays, T81 costs $1000. I am just curious which rifle costs more to make and how much the T81 is really worth.

Are there any other dealers planning to bring more T81 to Canada?
 
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john523 said:
As I know, M305's receiver is forged and the Type 81 uses stamped steel fastened by rivets. While M305 is selling around $650 nowadays, T81 costs $1000. I am just curious which rifle costs more to make and how much the T81 is really worth.

Are there any other dealers planning to bring more T81 to Canada?
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As with most things, demand drives price points as much and sometimes more than cost/quality of production!
 
I could go into economic 101 or tell you by the time members got their m305 to where they were happy to shoot it cost them more in time and money but I won't cuz thats just one sided, I'll be able to make a comparison once I get my grubby hands on a t81 .

I'm impatiently waiting.
 
Well just to make a modern m1a reciever is around 1000 bucks. ... and you can upgrade your m305 to make it shoot better ! Why as i dont think you can do that at all with t81?
Still the t81 is friggin cool ! Id say its about same as kalashnikov $500
Hard to say forsure
 
About same cost.
It is easy to drop a scope on the m305, same level of ruggedness. theoretically more accurate, better sight.

On the another hand, lets see what type 81 has: nice looking, good looking, better looking, best looking. isnt it enough?
 
Curtton said:
I could go into economic 101 or tell you by the time members got their m305 to where they were happy to shoot it cost them more in time and money but I won't cuz thats just one sided, I'll be able to make a comparison once I get my grubby hands on a t81 .

I'm impatiently waiting.
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I was happy with my M305s right out of the box. All I ever did to either of them was replace the op spring guide with a match grade one from Marstar and install a recoil buffer. I do have a Type 81 with fixed stock on pre-order though.
 
john523 said:
As I know, M305's receiver is forged and the Type 81 uses stamped steel fastened by rivets. While M305 is selling around $650 nowadays, T81 costs $1000. I am just curious which rifle costs more to make and how much the T81 is really worth.

Are there any other dealers planning to bring more T81 to Canada?
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You can whittle people down on the EE for a stock Norc M305 for a lot less than $650.
I bought mine for $400 a ways back because the finish was a little worn but it had barely been shot. Buddy said he used it for hunting so carried hard and shot twice a year. Only upgrades that cost money were the NM rear sight, walnut stock and the Op Rod Spring Guide (again all used EE stuff for around $200) You can basement fix all the other problems with a vice, large crescent wrench, center punchs etc and a couple borrowed tools.

The T81 is really worth over a $1K because that's what it's going to cost in Canada. What it costs to make and the profit margins for a new non restricted toy in Canada is something else...
The M305 are dirt cheap and plentiful now because everyone is likely ditching theirs to jump on the NEA 102 wagon. I love the M14. It's one of my all time favorite guns. Learning how to tweak them for max accuracy and function is a fun hobby/addiction.
A rifles base price is nothing compared to the amount on money you will put through it in ammunition over years though. T81 will be cheap to shoot. 7.62x39 corrosive surplus can still be had relatively cheap though it's doubled in price in the last 3 years. M14 shoots a more expensive round but the M14 loves bulk Norc/Hirt/Anything 7.62mm NATO all day long so you can still shoot the M14 for a relatively cheap price if you can find the bulk stuff which is still around.
Just food for thought.
 
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Mantis said:
I was happy with my M305s right out of the box. All I ever did to either of them was replace the op spring guide with a match grade one from Marstar and install a recoil buffer. I do have a Type 81 with fixed stock on pre-order though.
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I ordered two from Marstar several years ago for $400 each and I wasn't as lucky as you so instead of joining classes to fix some of the deficiencies, I chose to sell it at a profit a few months later.

Btw, did you see the m305 on EE asking more than two grand? Sh1t , it's like putting $20,000 stereo and upgrade in a $5000 car. Lol.
 
Hitzy said:
It's a Nork M14/M305 in 7.62x39 instead of 7.62x51....
Do you know what an M14 is?
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Which makes it a different gun, needing a different FRT.....
Plus it takes AK mags which to me seems un holy...

Is a XCR M the same as XCR L to you aswell ? Lol

How bout the mini 30 and the mini 14 ?

The ATR MV vs MH same gun aswell?
 
ComradeVlad said:
Which makes it a different gun, needing a different FRT.....
Plus it takes AK mags which to me seems un holy...

Is a XCR M the same as XCR L to you aswell ? Lol

How bout the mini 30 and the mini 14 ?

The ATR MV vs MH same gun aswell?
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Yep, you are clueless, it's confirmed.
 
OP, I think you are looking at this issue in the wrong light... It's business...

It is not about the cost of manufacture when comparing the M14, T81 or any other firearm...

The reality is the T81 is new to the market, it's Non-Restricted, it was fielded by the Chinese military etc...

AND all those 'things' make it attractive to the Canadian market...

Only time will tell if they well sell @ the $1000 price point.

As for the M14, they were a SCREAMING deal @$399.

Cheers
Jay
 
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Jay said:
OP, I think you are looking at this issue in the wrong light... It's business...

It is not about the cost of manufacture when comparing the M14, T81 or any other firearm...

The reality is the T81 is new to the market, it's Non-Restricted, it was fielded by the Chinese military etc...

AND all those 'things' make it attractive to the Canadian market...

Only time will tell if they well sell @ the $1000 price point.

As for the M14, they were a SCREAMING deal @$399.

Cheers
Jay
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Jay makes a good point....but cost to make has to play some part in the equation.
Look at the T97, everyone wet the bed when these arrived, retail was $1100 and our dollar was par. Now they are $700 and our dollar is 30% lower. They would not be selling these at $700 losing money right...
What does that tell us? We probably don't have much of a clue how cheap importers bring guns in from China lol.
 
I am in a totally different business than importing or manufacturing firearms...... but i do import parts for farm and construction equipment.... what I can tell you is this...... same part - made in USA - lets say my cost is $150.00..... can have it made in Turkey - very similar quality - for easy half as much - or can go to China for anywhere from 25% to 10% of the cost.... the real difference is this..... the water pump that costs 10% of the 150 bucks is usually a piece of crap..... the one that costs 25% of the 150 bucks.....same quality as the Turkish.... i would dare to say, that metal and plastic as the same in guns.... (forget all the different rules and regulations for importing guns vs water pumps, which I am sure adds to the cost of it)... but from a raw COST to make it point..... i am sure the formula would be pretty much the same...
 
Every time an importer brings a shipment in , especially when there are no history of demand , it's a guess game. they must make a decision how many to make and at what price point so they clear them out quickly, time in inventory cost money.

the higher the price then lesser demand and if he cant reduce the quantity of the order then he must decided how long would it take to hold it till they are all cleared out.


Judging from the quantity that is avail at TI now, I would say with this shipment , they hit it right on the button. Ofcos benefited from market hype and lack of another importer bring them in.

Like the old adage, buy on mystery .
 
Who the #### cares?!?!?!?
If you want it,you'll pay.
If you don't, then you'll whine cry and ##### in every thread about it on how much you dislike the importer and firearm being imported and not buy one.
Doesn't it make the importer change price, nope. Does it make people not want to buy oNE, nope!!!
Does it make people still fvcking ##### and cry, yup
 
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