Norinco M14, any good???

leeblackman

I've been eyeballing an NRA excellent condition Norinco M14 rifle. It has a $650 price on it and the owner is firm on that.

I don't have an M14 in my collection yet, wish I had money to get a springfield, but I don't. Do you think this would be ideal for me. I know the Norinco isn't as high quality and polished up as the springfield, but is it a battle field reliable weapon. I don't want a junk rifle.

Any comments?

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Greywolf807

Well, I can't tell you anything about the Norinco guns, as I've never used one. But I have had some pretty extensive trugger time behind the Springfields and LOVE them, though they do get a bit heavy if you have to lug them around for any length of time. From my experience they are pretty much indestructable and great fun to shoot. If I were you, I'd wait until I had the money for the "real McCoy". Maybe someone else has a better idea about the Norinco though.

nmyers

Unlike SA Inc, which offers a lifetime warranty, Norincos (and Polytechs) were sold without any warranty. The importer hid his identity, there is no US repair facility, and no source for parts. The Chicoms are not made to USGI specs, threads are non-standard, and some parts are soft. Would you buy a car like that?

That having been said, I know many shooters who have put thousands of rounds through them without problem, and are happy with them. I also know many shooters who have spent hundreds of dollars fixing them with USGI parts.

I think they are worth $400-500; if you are going to spend $650, and then possibly another $300-500 to get it to work, you might as well buy a SA Inc that you can have pride in. However, if the seller is willing to pay for a (satisfactory) technical inspection by Fulton Armory, or some other experienced armorer, it would be worth the asking price.

Neal

74cuda

The Norinco M14's came with receivers that were not heat treated correctly and some of them had terrible head spacing problems. If you decided to purchase it, I would have it sent to Smith Enterprises in Arizona and have it heat treated and checked out.

I just sold one for a client and got $650, but it included a 3rd generation scope mount, 3 magazines and a synthetic stock.

They are kind of like a Jennings.... When they work, they work and when they don't, they are a pain in the butt....



"In God We Trust........All Others Go Thru NCIC"

cpermd

Some of the above is incorrect.
There is nothing wrong with the receivers,they are as good as any ever built including USGI.They are also forged.
The bolt lug helix is incorrect and some of them are soft.
The trigger group parts are poor.
If you get one,buy it for the receiver and barrel.
I re[lace the trigger group and a machine shop here in town will heattreat the bolt for $10 when they do a batch.
I replace the rear sight with one from a Garand.
cpermd

JustC

74cuda is correct. I have seen 1 damaged receiver with my own eyes and I have a friend who WITNESSED another receiver destroy itself. The NORINCO's are poor guns. A USGI or SA new production model is still your best bet. Unless you have a used one (SA ) sent to the aforementioned custom companies and have the work done to it. I would recommend staying away from the norinco. I passed one up, unfired, in the box, with the accessories, for $400. The person trying to sell it was a range master!!!!

When in doubt...empty the magazine!!

ladr

I have two of them. One is untouched stock and the other is fixed up for hi power service matches.

Have had both for over ten years. Zero problems and I shoot them.

Sorry folks, but 650.00 is about right.

Did you see the SA picture that made the net rounds earlier this year?? Blowed to pieces.

NO GUTS, NO GLORY

cpermd

JustC and Cuda are incorrect about the receivers.
Please check the Fulton or Smith sites about the facts.
Also check the receivers at Camp Perry or the Wilson shoot here in Arkansas.
When a ChiCom blows it is the bolt that has let go.
This is easy to solve with a nogo headspace gauge and just check it after each use.
I have several that I have had heat treated and others that I have replaced the bolt and barrel on.
$650 is too high though.
Agree to disagree here.:)
cpermd

nmyers

ladr, I saw the photos of the SA Inc that kaboomed. I also saw the tech report that showed that the blow-up was caused by metallurgical imperfections in the no-name barrel that had been installed on the SA Inc receiver.

I also agree that the Chicom receivers are well-made. However, they STILL are not USGI spec, and an armorer needs to spend much time altering a USGI bolt to fit it properly.

You get what you pay for, sometimes less.

Neal

JustC

LEEBLACKMAN, pay close attention to the posts. Notice, I made no assertion to the metalurgy of the receiver, just the fact that the whole gun is of poorer quality than the others available. I agreed with 74CUDA's assessment of the product in question, Aside from my seeing a blown one in person. Even if it was a result of the bolt, the gun still KB'd. why buy the one worth the least that requires the most work? By the time all is said and done, a few more $$$ would buy a USGI that could be worked or "tuned" as they say. Look around and be patient, the better ones are available slightly used for not much more.



When in doubt...empty the magazine!!

leeblackman

thanks for the info guys, really changed my mind. I started adding up the cost in my head after I had everything tuned up on it, and I think I'll just save my cash for a Springfield Armory Mil-grade model. ---

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ladr

We can disagree on the rifle, nothing wrong with that. I just know my work fine and I enjoy them. The one tuned for matches work as well as the SA's....for a lot less money.

JUSTC, that guy still have that one for sell?? Could be interested for that price.

NO GUTS, NO GLORY

toolman9mm

have two polytechs and 1000's of rounds through they are excellent. will post a nice pic of a springfield blown up. let me see your pic's of poly's. my opinion tom