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Is a Norinco M-14 pre-ban a big deal?

GunHawke
Quick question.....is a Norinco M-14S pre-ban worth the big $$$?? I have seen them for $725.00-$1200.00.......

Thanks,

Jim



"They blink an eye or draw a breath before they pull a trigger. I won't!" J.B. Books
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    Wow! A big question, sure to cause controversy; because there are those who hate them, and those who praise them highly! My opinion is that they are serviceable weapons, but nowhere near the quality of any of the U.S. made versions, all of which are to some extent made with U.S. G.I. parts with the exception of the receivers. Nevertheless, the ones that I have come in contact with functioned well, and the owners were pleased with them. They bought them largely because they cost much less than a Springfield M1A, but I believe that all of them would have bought the Springfield given sufficient funds. So, that is my advice to you....buy an M1A. As for the value of the Chinese model, I believe that $700 is about right for a good one--not much more.[:)]
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    For $1200.00 you can get a Springfield.[:)]

    Aberdeen.gif
    81st FA BN WWII...Thanks Dad
    U!S!A! ALL THE WAY!!
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  • CS8161
    I have heard that the steel is soft in the Chinese M-14 rifles.

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • Rebel_James
    I just sold one on GB for about 500 less than that. Wish you'd been wanting to give $1200.00 for it !



    "If they won't give us good terms, come back and we'll fight it out."
    -- Gen. James Longstreet
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  • kuhlewulf
    I've seen Polytech M1A/M14's at gun shows for $600-750. And some of those were augmented with a lot of USGI stuff by previous owners. $1200 is too much to pay for almost anything from Norinco. And yes the steel is softer in Norincos. I had a Norinco M14 years ago that seemed to be surface hardened but not very deeply. The Op rod channel on the receiver showed excessive wear and after about 3000 rounds the channel was scored so badly that the op rod could be disengaged from the channel at about mid-travel point. Yes I lubed it correctly and maintained it as well as any 11 bravo (Infantyman) would. "Made in China" does not equate superior quality. Price accordingly. By the way, that weapon was stolen along with several other rifles and sidearms. I hope the Norinco blew up in the ba$tardo's face.

    James

    Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
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  • Contender Man
    Norinco has made some good stuff and some pure junk. Their Polytec m14/m1a is OK but not worth anywhere near $1200.

    For $12-1400 you can bet a stock S'fld. For another $300 or so you can pick up a match grade ... and if you want a Super Match I've got one that is in near new condition for the first person with $2,000.

    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • boeboe
    The Polytech and Norinco M14/S can be built into better rifles than the Springfield Armory M1A, if you want to spent the money doing it. Out of the box, the Poly's are better.

    It's not the receivers that are bad, it's the bolts, and their fit to the receiver.

    Because thew receivers are forged (not cast like most M14 clones), they are potentially amoung the best on the market. The metallurgy is better on forged parts, and actually closer to MIL-SPEC than cast. Smith Enterprises in Arizona, and Fulton Armory are both using the Chicom rifles as the basis for some of the best out there. If one had been reworked by either of these services, it is definately worth every bit of $1200.00, and much better than all but the very top of the line Springfield Armory rifles.

    They (Smith and Fulton) re-heat treat the receiver when they re-build these, there are lots of people who don't think that's necessary. Many will say they are probably as strong as most cast receivers as they are.

    But I don't think they imported any real prebans of these. As far as I know, they were all imported after the '89 ban, which would make them all post bans. Fulton and Smith can add a flash hider because they add enough US parts to qualify them as US built. But they can't add both the flash hider and bayonet lug.


    To err is human, to moo is bovine.
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