Norinco M-14 clone - Good or bad?

[Mak the gun]

I am looking to buy a Norinco M-14 clone, a dealer I am talking to has one new for $600. Is this a fair price and is the rifle decent? Or should I spend it elsewhere?
Thanks

[gopher29]

If you decide to buy one don't go thru a retail store. You can probably get one from Gunbroker.com for a lot less. As for quality, I haven't fired one...

[China Sports]

I suggest you spend your money elsewhere. The lugs on Norinco bolts fit horribly with the reciever, funny cuz GI ones have better engagement. Unless you have a fortune to spend on dressin it up and fixing it, keep your cash for a different investment.

Just my 2 cents.

~CS

[JA]

A friend/gun dealer sold 2 Norinco's and the customers brought them back because of excessive headspace. One blew a primer the other a case. He returned them to the wholesaler and received 2 Poly Tech 14/S's at a discount. HE has sold about 8 of the Poly Tech 14/S and none have been returned. This happened in the early 90's.

[Eclipse]

You might want to check out this review of the Chinese M14S at Fulton Armory.
http://www.fulton-armory.com/M14S_Eval.htm

[Jay_S]

I bought a Norinco M-14 at a gun show for $650, including 5-20 round magazines. That was about a year ago.

As for the headspace issue, I haven't experienced any problems with it, though I've only actually taken it out to shoot on two occasions to date, and it has had less than 200 rounds through it since I've had it.

[7th Fleet]

I would pass on the Chinese version of the M-14, to many problems and doubtful metalurgy in certain areas. Invest in a Springfiled Armory M1-A, you won't be sorry, my neighbor had a Norinco M-1A and he regreted buying it, sold it at a loss.

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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.

[This message has been edited by 7th Fleet (edited 10-22-1999).]

[steaklover]

Although I am not too crazy about chinese made weapons, I have to say that a decision should be made according to the cost and quality of the weapon.

I did some digging on chinese M-14 a couple of months ago and almost got one, only passed due to a bulgarian AK on the show that day. This is my impression and research result:

Polytech M14 are fine. In fact, their reciever are better, yes better, than Springfield Armory receiver. The only problem is bolt and hammer. Sometimes they tend to get soft. Therefore, if I must get an M14 but not want to spend too much, i will buy a polytech and then send it to either Fulton Armory or Smith Enterprise for their "chinese package" This way, you will end up with an M14 better than the stock SA M14 for less than $1000.

About Norinco, my personal opinion is to avoid these. The receivers are usually too soft and need heat treatment. This will add up the cost for extra $150.

For receiver grade:

GI > Polytech > Springfield > Norinco

Some people insist on Springfield M14 and assume that these are GI spec. In fact, SA do NOT make GI spec M14. They cheaped out when making the parts. If they stick with GI spec, the cost will probably double.

In fact, United States was NOT the last country making GI spec M14. Taiwan was. After US M14 production stopped during 60s, all tooling and machinery were sold to Taiwan. They made more than 1.1 mil M14 (type 57) in semi-auto config on the top of 200,000 they purchased from US. Therefore, they end up as the country which has most M14 in the world, more than the US. For a nation only has 500,000 army, that's a amazing number. On the top of it, they also made at least 2-3 mil Type 65, hybrid of AR15 and AR18. Therefore, Springfield Armory has NOTHING to do with real GI M14, as these who spent big money want to believe. I have a friend who served in Taiwan army, he told me that these Taiwanese M14 are extremely accurate but stock is somewhat crude compared with American GI M14. He was able to hit a small target he could barely see at 500 yrds with iron sight!! He was just a regular soldier (required service, none voluntary) without any special training.

The Taiwanese M14 are real GI spec, much better than Springfield -- an unauthorized commercial copy. Some heavily used (rejected?) Taiwanese M14 mags (but very few) got into this country a few years ago and they were seen at least as good as GI mags or better, but just different finish. These used mags are blued instead pakerized. Some people who don't know better passed them and think these are chinese mags because they look so old and used.

For those who want a real GI M14, go to Taiwan. Otherwise, don't claim that their Springfield Armory is "real thing"


[This message has been edited by steaklover (edited 10-23-1999).]

[Jay_S]

I keep hearing these horror stories about "soft metal" and "dangerous headspace" in the Chinese M-14 clones. Is there some sort of "self examination" that can be done to see if one possesses such a "defective" rifle? I haven't seen anything "obvious" in the area of defects on my rifle (unless you count the plain/ugly finish). I would prefer not to have a gunsmith look at it just to take my money and tell me it's fine (or else take my money and tell me it needs work), and while the Fulton Armory upgrade package is tempting, $300 (last I checked) is a lot of money to blow just to have the privledge of having G.I. parts installed (making it more of a Frankenstein gun than it already may be).

[glockgazda]

Ditto what steaklover said.
I thaught what Fulton Armory has on their web site was bunch of bs, to make money. However I did pick up a pre ban Polytech M-14, and it did have too much play when the bolt was locked in battery. The rifle looked like it was fired very little. The only reason I bought it, was because it was dirt cheap.
I traded it in for a Centurion STG-58, pistol grip on an Imbel reciever. That's the best Frankenstein gun in .308. And the mags are dirt cheap.

[Jay_S]

For what it's worth, I took another look at it and noticed it's a Polytech, not a Norinco. Silly me.

[Gary]

Springfield Armory Inc. subcontracts out for their receiver. Unfortunately, a lot of those casted receivers are not cleanly casted around the area of the bridge (web). This can cause the firing pin tail to break.

One M14 clone omitted from discussion is the Smith Enterprise receiver. They're among the best of the commercial US made receivers.

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