Norinco M14

Blue Brick

Blue Brick

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Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
2,158
Location
Pinal County, Arizona
I don't need it, I have never owned an M type rifle, I have no place to put it, I don't how to clean it, and I know very little about it, and 308 is expensive and everywhere.

I have an option to buy one. I have not seen it. Family sale, but I know it works. Condition unknown, but functional. No box or papers. I think one magazine. I do not know when it was made or the official brand.

Enablers.
 
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Blue Brick

That's a great price on a gun that there aren't a lot of them floating around. The only negative thing I heard about them back when they were being imported was that some receivers and parts were a little soft due to spotty heat treatment.

Even knowing that, for $800 I would definitely be interested.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
Norinco M1As are ridiculously collectible these days.

$800... bottom line up front, you’d be an absolute stupid idiot to say no to that price.
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Or not interested enough. This would be a just cause purchase. Financial gain is not a valid reason to buy something from a family member. Taking advantage of people is never acceptable. He wants a cross bow for deer 🦌 and it's $800.
 
Way back when, a friend bought one. The only thing I didn't like about it, was they cut the flash hider off at the front sight to import it and had a rubber butt plate instead of the Gi steel one. Both are easy fixes. The later ones I saw had an unslotted flash hider.
 
Zygodactyl said:
Way back when, a friend bought one. The only thing I didn't like about it, was they cut the flash hider off at the front sight to import it and had a rubber butt plate instead of the Gi steel one. Both are easy fixes. The later ones I saw had an unslotted flash hider.
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How will I know it was cut?
 
Blue Brick said:
I don't need it, I have never owned an M type rifle, I have no place to put it, I don't how to clean it, and I know very little about it, and 308 is expensive and everywhere.
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Seems you’ve answered your own question.

I’d pass.

Full disclosure – I sold my Springfield M14 a year and a half ago because I no longer had a use for it.

Neat rifle, glad I owned it, functioned great, glad to be familiar with its operation, don’t miss it at all.
 
From what I remember of these, (back in the early '90s) supposedly you just needed to swap in a surplus TRW bolt and the Norincos were good to go. No idea if any bolts are still available now, though.
The finish was a phosphate or parkerized coating.
Never had the M14 clone, but I owned just about every other Norinco from that era and they were all well-made guns. $800 is a good price, and I think fair if you figure a couple hundred allowance for a new bolt.
 
Blue Brick, I'd do it. For $800 these days you can't blow your nose in the quality rifle domain. You have a chance to own a faithful copy of an American iconic rifle. They are a world of fun at 200m.
 
Blue Brick said:
Norinco M14 ... family member ... wants a cross bow for deer 🦌 and it's $800.
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Sounds like win-win. 👍

Since it's no longer imported, value will only go up and you can always consider trading it for something you really do want (There are plenty of those who want Norico stuff ... I wish I kept my NHM-91 ... Nice shooting 20" barrel AK ... Dang).
 
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It is worth buying a Norinco for the receiver alone. A bud of mine had two Norinco M14 receivers non destructive tested with ion spectroscopy. I don't recall the composition anymore, but we looked up the class in Machinery's Handbook and it was superior to the 8620 used in GI receivers. What I do remember is Machinery Handbook said the Norinco materials were appropriate for heavy duty gears, etc. Applications where toughness and strength were critical, and the service conditions were above what 8620 would be used for.

Their is a Cult of the Mil Spec, particularly on M14 forums. The Cult believes Mil Spec is next to Godliness. But the materials used in Garands and M14's were the absolute minimum that would meet requirements. The Chinese material scientists picked a better material, for whatever reason.

At the time there was criticism of Norinco bolts, don't remember the exact problem, might have been related to chamber headspace. Might be a good idea to find a GI bolt and see if it headspaces.
 
BTW, Henry at 9-Hole did an amusing video recently where he talks about why some Chinese-made firearms featured better than average quality steels. Go to the 7 minute mark (or watch the whole video for a chuckle) which is where he talks about a Chinese 1911. He doesn't cite any sources, but his story sounds believable to me:



If you're OK with a bit more Henry Chan, in this video he talks about building his M21 clone using a Chinese (Polytech) base rife, a bunch of extra parts and some savvy gunsmiths to do the bedding, etc.:

 
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I have one. It's excellent. I swapped the lousy stock for a GI fiberglass, and only took just a bit of fitting. It does 1.5MOA...all day long, any temp, any weather, rain or shine.

I can't say that for my SA m1as.

Note also..you can't just "swap" in a GI bolt. They don't fit, never mind the heads pace.
The receiver has to be machined to accept a GI bolt. I've had my Norinco since 1991..and have seen no need to replace the bolt.

However..SEI can do it for you..if you choose.
 
If your family member wants a crossbow and you can give him at least that for the Norc, then you've done him a favor by getting the money to him. He wins. You're not hurt. Win-win.

If you don't want the Norc, trade/sell it for something you do want.

Win, Win, Win
 
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Megawatt maker said:
I have one. It's excellent. I swapped the lousy stock for a GI fiberglass, and only took just a bit of fitting. It does 1.5MOA...all day long, any temp, any weather, rain or shine.

I can't say that for my SA m1as.

Note also..you can't just "swap" in a GI bolt. They don't fit, never mind the heads pace.
The receiver has to be machined to accept a GI bolt. I've had my Norinco since 1991..and have seen no need to replace the bolt.

However..SEI can do it for you..if you choose.
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Same here, the one here has been very accurate. Put in an Archangel stock. Buy It! $800 is a screaming deal. Don't shoot this one much anymore just because I have other interests but it is not one that I'd look to get rid of.
 
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