I thought he wanted .223 like the Mini 14?
What rifle should I buy?
- Thread starter Motorcycle Mike
- Start date
If they are easily available in a non-restricted barrel length that's awesome
Type 97 just got better thanks to a bit of Canadian ingenuity! The t97.ca (offshoot of m14.ca) FTU (flat-top upper) is out and it's looking good.. You have to make some sacrificial cuts on the rifle, but once it's on, it drops the height of your sights AND allows you to SECURELY mount some optics. Fewer elevation issues between distances and you can go forward.. Probably got just enough room to also mount some BUIS if you have a long eye relief scope.
I'm highly tempted to get that upper for mine. Also makes for a better coyote gun if you run higher magnification optics.
I'm highly tempted to get that upper for mine. Also makes for a better coyote gun if you run higher magnification optics.
Red_Liner740
Well-known member
Even though i'm a southpaw the T97 is starting to look nicer and nicer...Canadian ingenuit also brought us the shell deflector which should eliviate any issues.
Tempted....
Also Kel-tec is coming out with two bulpups in 223. They just announced them at the SHOT show....
Tempted....
Also Kel-tec is coming out with two bulpups in 223. They just announced them at the SHOT show....
Gaoler
Well-known member
Just mt two cents... A buddy of mine has one of these T97's...
All I can say about it is that it's "craptastic."
Perhaps he has a bad one, but... It's the worst jam-o-matic semi I've ever witnessed. LoL.
If the OP is still considering his "first" rifle and it just has to be a semi...
Sure, buy a .22lr. There are many well made models that can be had for under $400.
If trying to decide between 5.56 (.223) and 7.62 (.308) consider that .308 ammunition costs at least double what .223 does. The two rounds have very different ballistic characteristics. Read up.
The SKS in 7.62x39 is in my opinion a noise maker... Sure, cheap ammo is available, but it's all steel core (no good for hunting) and it's also corrosive.
There is modern "hunting ammo available, but if you're buying an SKS because it's cheap.. You won't like the price of the commercial ammo that's for sure.. LoL
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
Thanks, but I have long since moved on from the idea of only having one rifle. I am up to 5 now and I've nearly bought a 6th a few times now -- but talked myself out of it.
Welcome to the life. Every day's a struggle
When I got into shooting I kept saying "I only need 1 gun" 
Gaoler, you are correct on the jamomatic part.. There are 2 possible causes, both have easy fixes.. Start with the easiest (bolt hold-open tab hitting the back of the casing, popping it outta the mag and tilting it up).. Test-fit with a mag and if the tab doesn't clear the back of the casing when it's inserted all the way into the back of the mag, dremel it until it BARELY does (you still want it to be pushed up by the mag follower). You may also need to file a couple of feed channels into the hump but try the easy fix first. Yes, got a few quirks to sort out but once done, it's a great little rifle. Handles like a dream, takes LAR mags and VERY accurate for a semiauto service rifle.. Spend a few bucks on that flat top upper and you're set.
Gaoler, you are correct on the jamomatic part.. There are 2 possible causes, both have easy fixes.. Start with the easiest (bolt hold-open tab hitting the back of the casing, popping it outta the mag and tilting it up).. Test-fit with a mag and if the tab doesn't clear the back of the casing when it's inserted all the way into the back of the mag, dremel it until it BARELY does (you still want it to be pushed up by the mag follower). You may also need to file a couple of feed channels into the hump but try the easy fix first. Yes, got a few quirks to sort out but once done, it's a great little rifle. Handles like a dream, takes LAR mags and VERY accurate for a semiauto service rifle.. Spend a few bucks on that flat top upper and you're set.
Gaoler
Well-known member
Or... Buy a deceant rifle that doesn't need to be fixed before you shoot it.
'Look... I can sort of understand the appeal of these cheap Chinese arms, but... Having been there-done that and now being able to appreciate quality over price... I prefer spending more to get something that works as advertized.
But hey... to each there own.
If I wanted to cheap out, I could have picked up their AR clone for $600. For a little more than I paid for this rifle, I could have picked up a decent US-made AR. I bought the T97 because I wanted it. It's still a good rifle, but being fresh on the market, it has some quirks to iron out. Not even the Holy 1911 came out perfect and needed some revisions - hell, they are still working on improving the platform.
I actually ended up buying a second Norinco M305, this one with a standard 22" length barrel. It was even nicer than the first. Dropped it into a Boyd's walnut stock for a Springfield M1A that I finished myself and added a leather sling. Love it more than the first M305 with 18.5" barrel I already posted up all tacticooled.
Looking good! Love dem M305's.. Was almost ready to buy one but I got too many gun purchases on the plate.. Still need to get a spare handgun (in case my Shadow craps out during a match) and a shotty for IPSC Standard Manual (Gaoler will be happy to hear that I'm buying a Benelli for that lol), plus I'm doing a 10/22 build for IPSC Mini Rifle.
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
I briefly considered buying the Dominion Arms M14 Socom, but I have been very hesitant about buying Chinese made guns as I have read too many threads about deficiencies in their builds.
The latest gun I was close to buying was a Kel Tec Sub 2000, but I didn't as I was worried about the durability of a gun that has a lot of plastic, and I figured the gun would only see any use at the range, there is absolutely nothing I can hunt with 9mm so I would be better off spending that $500 on a crossbow and go out earlier for deer next fall.
As for what I have... just think of the most common 12 gauge, 22lr, 7.62x39, .223 unrestricted and throw a Marlin .270 in there. That is my collection.
The latest gun I was close to buying was a Kel Tec Sub 2000, but I didn't as I was worried about the durability of a gun that has a lot of plastic, and I figured the gun would only see any use at the range, there is absolutely nothing I can hunt with 9mm so I would be better off spending that $500 on a crossbow and go out earlier for deer next fall.
As for what I have... just think of the most common 12 gauge, 22lr, 7.62x39, .223 unrestricted and throw a Marlin .270 in there. That is my collection.
Gaoler
Well-known member
Oh no you didn't...
In the Name of John Moses Browning I hereby throat-punch you through the intertoob.
Sweeeeeet M305. I want one so bad but just can't bring myself to get yet another gun
In any case come spring we gotta do some shootin'.. Now get yo a** back to the IRC
I'm thinking Rem 870, Ruger 10/22, SKS and possibly a Mini-14.
Am I close? Do I get a prize?
You weren't kidding when you said you gave up on the one gun route!!!
I started out saying "I only need one gun"... Well now, it's more along the lines of... "So many guns, so little $$$/time" To draw some parallels to you non-gun guys and gals.. It's like wanting a supersport for the track, mx for a bit of fun in the dirt, a tourer for those long distance trips, a caffe racer for downtown posing and so on and so on.. Who wouldn't want a bike for every occasion if he could afford it? 
To draw some parallels to you non-gun guys and gals.. It's like wanting a supersport for the track, mx for a bit of fun in the dirt, a tourer for those long distance trips, a caffe racer for downtown posing and so on and so on.. Who wouldn't want a bike for every occasion if he could afford it?
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