I think my head is going to explode............(updated, sort of, post 32)

[Stevo]

It's still not right. Better, but not consistent.

From marks on the stock's paint it looks like the inside of the stock cap was banging up into the gas cylinder. I relieved that a bit and will see if it makes a difference.

As per your earlier suggestion, I've also taken the handguard off and will shoot it to see if it's the stock causing the problems.

[Stevo]

Well, here's an update, of sorts. I tried everything I could think of. I measured, checked, torqued, re-torqued, relieved, took it to an M14 clinic, re-did the op-rod guide, consulted a psychic....you name it, I tried it.

And then I gave up. There's no sorting that rifle out with a handguard type rail. It will not shoot with one installed. Period. So I ordered an ARMS 18. The dealer sent me a used, broken one. Obviously, I've sent it back and am awaiting a resolution. So, I'm still in limbo on that mounting method.

Then I saw a deal online and thought, "screw it, let's go a different direction entirely". So, yesterday I came home from the range to find these outside my garage door. Happy they've arrived, unhappy that UPS are morons.

Brand new Norinco 18.5" shorty and a case of 1040 Chinese steel-cased ball. $818 plus tax, delivered:



Rifle out of the stock:



Meet the new boss, same as the old boss:



And:

5 shot, 2" group at 100m:



So, same stock, same rail, same scope, same ammo on a different rifle. And it shoots! That pic is the best group, but I did no worse than 3" at 100m. I'm happy with that result.

The rifle still needs some tweaking. The gas system could use a shim and the flash suppressor is so far canted I'm not sure I can zero the irons. I'll most likely replace it with a USGI version or a brake. The rear sight is mostly serviceable, but the windage is extremely tight. I guess the wrong Chinese high school shop class put this one together.

[jmoore]

I had a brand new 18" barrel chambered with a match reamer that just would not shoot. Went through months of gyrations trying to sort it. The fix was a used no name 22" barrel out of a friend's used barrel pile.

ETA: I guess that was covered way back on page one. But your solution has merit. Start over. Expensive up front, but...

[Stevo]

I had a brand new 18" barrel chambered with a match reamer that just would not shoot. Went through months of gyrations trying to sort it. The fix was a used no name 22" barrel out of a friend's used barrel pile.

ETA: I guess that was covered way back on page one. But your solution has merit. Start over. Expensive up front, but...

The sad part is that the rifle is pretty much the cheapest part of the entire equation. For the $400-ish I should have bought another one last year. And if that one didn't work, buy another.

The darn things are almost disposable at that price and don't depreciate much at all, even when well used. I don't think I've ever seen one as low as $300 and that's only 25-35% off MSRP.

[jmoore]

The prices are over double that in the US. And the "boutique" manufacturers want to generate even more snob appeal. It's a wonderful platform, but the design traded ease of building a precision rifle for a host of other good features.

[browningautorifle]

The gas system could use a shim and the flash suppressor is so far canted I'm not sure I can zero the irons

Then you need to re-index the barrel. No magic, just do it. Otherwise it's not right. And it never will be.

[Stevo]

Then you need to re-index the barrel. No magic, just do it. Otherwise it's not right. And it never will be.

The barrel is properly indexed.

The splines for the flash suppressor and gas cylinder are inline. The gas cylinder is straight, the front sight is canted because the flash suppressor itself is defective. Not an uncommon thing on the Norinco, according to Hungry.

If the barrel was not indexed right, the Vltor rail wouldn't mount either. It clamps to the grooves in the barrel shoulder for it's middle mounting point and would be visibly rolled to one side if those grooves were not square to the charger guide.

[Stevo]

The prices are over double that in the US. And the "boutique" manufacturers want to generate even more snob appeal. It's a wonderful platform, but the design traded ease of building a precision rifle for a host of other good features.

When did Garand come up with the original mechanical layout for the M1/M14, in the late 1920's? It's a product of it's times and a modern rifle it certainly is not.

If our laws didn't restrict .308 ARs to being range-only toys, the M14 would be far less popular, even though it would remain 1/4 the price of the AR.

[browningautorifle]

the flash suppressor itself is defective. Not an uncommon thing on the Norinco, according to Hungry.

Roger that. So, it's a new part or remove that part? I have one close to me that just removed the FS and mounted a scope. The flash and blast are prohibitive now though. Hungry has already looked at it?

[Stevo]

Roger that. So, it's a new part or remove that part? I have one close to me that just removed the FS and mounted a scope. The flash and blast are prohibitive now though. Hungry has already looked at it?

If I took the sight assembly off it wouldn't be noticeable, but I think I'll replace the whole thing with one of the SAI brakes from Brownells. I'll wait until I get a new muzzle device in before I take a cold chisel to it. The welds look pretty solid on this one.

No, Hungry hasn't looked at this particular rifle, though he did look over my old one. It was one of the tidbits of info I gleaned from him when we had him here for an M14 clinic in mid-July.