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M1A-Polytech vs. Norinco vs. the original

shilowar
How is the quality of the Polytech and Norinco M1A/M14s? obviously they are a quarter the price of a 20 year old Springfield, I'm just interested in plinking and having an M1A without spending a fortune!

Worth the under 1k price?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • cpermd
    Definitely worth it.
    The receivers are forged and in spec if you want to mount a scope properly, unlike the SA rifles.
    The barrels are good.
    They have a forged one piece op rod like the TRWs.

    A FEW of them have soft bolts that will increase headspace over time
    Get a set of 7.62X51 headspace gauges (not .308) to check the rifle.

    Mine and my daughters' High Power rifles are Chinese.
    Mine has over 12,000 rds and the girls each have over 6000 with no bolt problems. These are facts not internet rumor or Fulton advertisements.

    CP
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  • Emmett Dunham
    The stocks are not that nice all the parts will fit on a GI or after market stock. The rifles shoot good and a lot of the parts interchange with the M14 and the Springfield.


    Emmett
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  • Old Fool
    Norinco is owned by the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army)of Communist China. If you want to support our enemies, that is your right, but I do not believe that a patriot would.
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  • nmyers
    I don't like them on general principles. The Chicom rifles in the US were sold out of the back of a truck in a dark alley. No warranty, no parts, no service, no nothing; the distributor hid his identity. Even today, the manufacturer doesn't back them up; those currently sold in Canada are warranted by Marstar (the distributor), not the manufacturer.

    Sure, SA Inc has had quality problems, but they still have a lifetime warranty.

    Neal

    EDIT: You are right to bring us back to the original question. Most of the folks I know who shoot the Chicoms have replaced the bolt, trigger group, & sights with USGI parts, as the Chicoms used soft steel for these parts in the '80's. If you are going to have to do $400-500 worth of improvements, it may not make economic sense to spend a lot for the rifle.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by Old Fool
    Norinco is owned by the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army)of Communist China. If you want to support our enemies, that is your right, but I do not believe that a patriot would.





    NO offense meant, Every time I hear this kind of stuff, I ask the folks if they buy from Wally World. Not just the Chinese stuff, but anything. If they answer in the negative, I commend them! But if they in fact, are buying from Wally, they are FOS.
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  • shilowar
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by Old Fool
    Norinco is owned by the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army)of Communist China. If you want to support our enemies, that is your right, but I do not believe that a patriot would.





    NO offense meant, Every time I hear this kind of stuff, I ask the folks if they buy from Wally World. Not just the Chinese stuff, but anything. If they answer in the negative, I commend them! But if they in fact, are buying from Wally, they are FOS.



    yeah...was kinda thinkin that....do you use US Currency? Then you're supporting the People's Liberation Army...in case you weren't aware they own 1/3 of our Nations Debt and Treasury notes.


    Atleast if I bought one I'd know where the steel came from, because its most likely American Steel that was purchased by the Chinese from the US to build that rifle

    My question was related to quality of product...not the geopolitics or patriotic ramifications of purchasing a foreign made product.
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  • drobs
    Friend of mine bought one a few years ago used. Works just fine and US parts drop right in on it. Shoots just as good as my other friend's M1A.

    I passed on another one when he bought his. I'm holding out for a Springfield M1A.
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    I wouldn't pay the money they get for them today, but that's just me. 15 years ago a local store had a used Poly-Tech for $400.00 IIRC. I wouldn't pay that for it then. I saved my money and got a SA.
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  • fordsix
    i have 2 chicoms and 2 springfields not much differance...
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  • joel_black
    I have owned all of them. Most of the internal parts, including the bolts were GI, in both the Polytechs and Norincos. They shot as well as my SA, which I eventually sold along with the Norinco. The Polytech is on its second batch of 5000 7.62s and still trouble free and accurate.
    There are few manufactured goods sold here that do not have parts originating in China.
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