Norinco M14 clone

[mshootnit]

I've got a relative with a Norinco M14 style rifle. He is wondering how good a rifle it is. He said it shoots decent groups, and that the bolt had a problem of falling out when it was in the rear position. He said he got that fixed. What are the positives and negatives of this model, and what would cause the bolt to do that? I personally held the rifle and I think compares well to my M1a just by looking and feeling the action.
Anyone have experience with these Norinco's?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I don't have a damn good thing to say about the Communist built clone but if it ever comes your way Ron Smith at Smith Enterprises was doing a decent tune up and upgrade to them a few years back.

You'll find lots of dimensional variations between not only your relative's Comm-14 and mil-spec varieties but between various Norincos as well. Many cast components of dubious metallurgical/dimensional composition conspire to cause the usual dropped bolt, dropped op-rod tail, sight drift, flash hiders being blown into cartoon shapes... aw hell, the list is endless though some lucky few have run 1000's through theirs without fail - or so they say.

 

[P-32]

Actually, the Norinco M-14 clone is a desirable base if one is planning to tune a rifle up for match shooting. The receiver is considered pretty good because I believe they are forged. Of course just like any other M-14 clone the barrel, trigger, Bolt, Op rod, gas system plus other area’s require tuning by a gun Plummer. Some may even weld a lug or two on the receiver. I’m pretty sure with a Norinco receiver, one could build a match grade M1-A for less money than the Spring Field Inc. Super Match and have a better shooting rifle.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

save some more $$$ and get a real one...it will be worth the wait and the cost. Love my Sprinfield Armory M1As. and I can say I got the real deal, not a knockoff.

 

[1KPerDay]

Love my Sprinfield Armory M1As. and I can say I got the real deal, not a knockoff.

Hmmmm..... Interesting perspective, as the M1A is a commercial knockoff of the "real" forged-receiver M14.

I love my M1A but by most accounts the Polytech and Norincos are excellent receivers. The weak link seems to be the bolts. Some have had issues, some haven't. Any good M14 smith will fit a USGI bolt to the chinese rifles. Many feel they are better overall than the cast Springfield ones.

Paging H20man....

 

[Shadow 7D]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yeah, if you didn't get a first series built from M14 part that were de-mill by simply removing the FA capability (this is where the 'once a MG always a MG ruling comes from)

you got a clone....
and the SA, well they aren't the top of the line, those cost more, quite a bit more.

 

[gotigers]

I have been tossing around the idea of a M1A. This brings up some questions:

1. Are the parts interchangeable between the different variations? If not all, how many parts?
2. How hard is it to deal with 922r for the imports?
3. What kind of price difference is there typically between US and imports?

 

[natescout]

I don't understand why people dislike the Chinese M14 so much. I have a Norinco M14S and a Springfield squad/scout M1A, love'em both... Bought my Norinco in 1992 for $450, 1000+ rounds through it , i shot case's of that cheap china sports steel case ammo through it , never had one problem with it. Bought my M1A in 2008, less than 800 rounds down range and already had to replace my extractor . ( fixed and running great ) Both are awesome rifles, just don't understand why people bad mouth the polys and norincos...?

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I like my Polytech... almost as much as I liked the 2011 $500 price tag.

 

[P-32]

Save some more $$$ and get a real one...it will be worth the wait and the cost. Love my Springfield Armory M1As. and I can say I got the real deal, not a knockoff.

Hey, Texas P, I hope you know todays Springfield Armory Inc is not the Springfield Armory of old. If you have a real Springfield Armory M-14, it would have to be registered. The US services never issued a made up name like
M1A made by anyone

 

[nathan]

I read an article of Norinco made M 14s being smuggled into the Philippines back in 1972 when the communist New People's Army were getting support from Mao's Red China. I was surprised to know these were Chinese clones of the M 14. Could they had copied them with captured rifles in Vietnam (given to them by the North Vietnamese whom they support)? Theres so much that we dont know how the Chicoms come with but they sure are smart to copied them.

If they can make a nuclear bomb in 1964 with their poor economy at the time then they sure can come up with M 14 clone.

 

[Ar180shooter]

Actually, the Norinco M-14 clone is a desirable base if one is planning to tune a rifle up for match shooting. The receiver is considered pretty good because I believe they are forged. Of course just like any other M-14 clone the barrel, trigger, Bolt, Op rod, gas system plus other area’s require tuning by a gun Plummer. Some may even weld a lug or two on the receiver. I’m pretty sure with a Norinco receiver, one could build a match grade M1-A for less money than the Spring Field Inc. Super Match and have a better shooting rifle.

Yep, lots of people doing that up here! In many cases, with $1500 invested (including $450 for the rifle), you can get something that will out shoot a Springfield M1A Super Match.

 

[Birdmang]

I have one.

Great rifle.

Nothing wrong with it, shoots just like my NM.

Springfield and others talked garbage on them because they could not compete with their prices.

 

[henschman]

Yeah, we gave some of the toolings for the m14 to south Vietnam when we switched to the m16, and then when the south lost the war the north sold the toolings to china. They can be pretty decent rifles... The receivers are definitely good to go. If I had one I would probably check the headspace. Also some of the rear sights don't work properly. My friend has one that adjusts for windage ok, but it doesn't have clicks. You might replace it with gi sights if you have a problem. Also the barrels don't have quite the same profile as gi ones, so you can't use barrel mounted accessories like scout mounts or chassis systems unless you swap out the barrel. However, the barrels are chrome lined, as per the gi specs, which is something that Springfield no longer offers on any of their rifles.

 

[nathan]

Okey, the chicom guns i have are , SKS, MAK 90, Preban Type 56 and the tokarev. All of them dont have the looks but have been flawless in the many hundreds of rounds fired.