I bought a Poly M14S a 4-5 years ago, never even fired it. I also picked up a walnut and a birch GI stock, a TRW bolt and a H&R rear sight. Because I "knew" the Chinese bolt would be "soft", and I wanted to build a nice rifle.
Anyway, I am thinking I will probably hold on the rifle a while, maybe sell later it as I have kinda moved on to other rifles. My GF's cousin is wanting to buy the bolt and/or the sight for some kind of a precision build, but doesn't want to pay "internet" prices, lol.

Finally my questions:
Should I hang on to the parts as long as I have the rifle, or let them go? I am not really interested in building up a M14 anymore.
Any idea what the bolt and sight is worth? (Don't rem exactly what I paid).
Can anyone explain the 920 (or whatever) rule and selling a Chinese rifle? I would hate to list in on GB and you guys make fun of my ad for not complying.

Thanks

I would hang on to the rifle & parts.

If you decided to sell, list the rifle & the parts separately.


Heel stamp or IDE side stamp on the receiver?

Bolts seem to be running $375 give or take.  TRW is currently the cool brand to have.  I too have a Poly.  I replaced the rear sight but haven't felt the need to go beyond that.  Rfile prices seem to be 850 to 1000.  I don't recall what I paid for the rear sight assembly.  Less than a 100 I think.

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found a pic with the GI bolt

I prefer the aesthetics of the heel stamped receivers, but side stamped IDE Polys are said to be the best right out of the box.

I do too, I had heard this and was looking for a IED IDE when I picked it up.

Don't pick up IEDs

Hang on to the parts. Girl friend's cousin's come cheap. USGI M14 parts don't.

Ameshawki, I missed this yesterday when posting the pic for AquaMan, lol...Thanks.



I think I will hang on to it now. I tried to send it to the one internet M14 specialist I kept hearing about to have the bolt fitted back when i got it, but communications were lacking and I never seemed to be able to make it happen so it went to the back of the safe and I lost interest. then 300BLK happened...

If I post a better pic of the bolt, can you guys give me an idea of condition, or if you see issues with the bolt?

If you plan to shoot it as-is, buy yourself a set of 7.62mm NATO head space gauges, and check your bolts head space periodically.

Reminds me, I have NATO, GO and NO_GO gauges I bought from CMP back when this all started.
All this makes me want to keep it, anything wrong with this bolt?

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There's nothing inherently wrong with using a used bolt, but if it's been lapped to another receiver prior to your coming into possession of it, then it's possible that enough case hardened material has been removed from the rear of the locking lugs to expose the softer metal underneath.  That's *if* the bolt has been lapped.

Or so I read, and it seems possible.

I would shoot the poly bolt until it has issues , no reason to waste usable life . I have a Poly and a GI bolt , that is my plan .

I shot mine for around 1200 rounds using the chinese bolt without any problems. Accuracy was soso. The USGI bolt install improved accuracy quite a bit.

M14 bolts need fitted because the M14 rifle's chamber and barrel are chrome lined. In non chrome lined barrels, such as the M1 rifle, the head space can be set by reaming the chamber, thereby fitting the barrel to the bolt. Difficult, if not impossible to ream a chrome lined chamber. Also, the Chinese M14's have been known to have issues with lug engagement surfaces on the receiver. They sometimes have to be worked, or at least extensively lapped to achieve proper lug engagement. This fact would not dissuade me from owning a Chinese M14. I have a Poly with mostly USGI parts, including a TRW bolt fitted by Smith enterprises back in the 90's. The Chinese made an M14 rifle with parts that are nearly all on par with USGI parts. However, bias, and misinformation created doubt and suspicion regarding the quality of the Chinese M14's starting from the time they were imported back in the 80's.



 

Thanks for the input, I learned some of that later. That's what I was trying to say in the OP.
BTW, any info on the 920 (or whatever) law regarding changing Chinese parts?

From M14 Rifle History and Development Third Edition by Lee Emerson copyright 2008:

"Domestication of The Chinese M14 Type Rifle – The owner of a Chinese M14 type rifle imported into the United States after November 29, 1990 may install a slotted flash suppressor with a bayonet lug in the United States if no more ten specified imported parts are in the assembled rifle and if allowed by state and local laws. If the import date or assembly date in the United States for a particular Chinese M14 cannot be solidly documented before November 30, 1990, the rifle owner should not assume it to be so in order to remain within the law. From Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations revised April 01, 2007:

Sec. 478.39 Assembly of semiautomatic rifles or shotguns.
(a) No person shall assemble a semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in paragraph (c) of this section if the assembled firearm is prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) as not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for sale or distribution by a licensed manufacturer to the United States or any department or agency thereof or to any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof; or
(2) The assembly of such rifle or shotgun for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the Director under the provisions of Sec. 478.151; or
(3) The repair of any rifle or shotgun which had been imported into or assembled in the United States prior to November 30, 1990, or the replacement of any part of such firearm.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term imported parts are:
(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings or stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Butt stocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearms, hand guards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Followers
(20) Floor plates

Semi-automatic Chinese M14 type rifles as imported into the United States, did not have these four parts: barrel extension, mounting block (trunion), bolt carrier, and pistol grip. One possible method of installing an American made flash suppressor with a bayonet lug, where allowed by state and local law, while complying with 27 CFR 478.39, is as follows.
Leave these ten specified parts on the Chinese manufacture M14 type rifle: receiver, barrel, operating rod, trigger housing, sear, trigger, hammer, bolt, disconnector and gas piston. The U. S. Rifle M14 nomenclature does not include the term "disconnector." No part of the rifle is named "disconnector" in any of the U. S. military manuals or in any of the product (part) drawings of the M14 or M14 NM rifle technical data packages. The function of a disconnector is to release the hammer when the trigger is pulled. The disconnector is a separate part in the AK47 and the M16. In the M14, the disconnect function is performed by the top lugged portion of the trigger. After the trigger is pulled and released, the trigger lug engages the hammer hooks to prevent further firing until the trigger is subsequently pulled. The M14 trigger counts as two parts for the purpose of the above list of foreign named parts.

After checking the rifle is empty of ammunition in the chamber and in the magazine, replace these six parts in this order: 1) remove the Chinese magazine (three named parts) and never use it again in the rifle 2) remove the Chinese hand guard and stock (two named parts) 3) install a USGI hand guard and American made stock 4) remove the Chinese solid faux or bobbed flash suppressor and flash suppressor nut (one named part). This leaves ten named foreign made parts in the Chinese M14: receiver, barrel, bolt, trigger housing, hammer, trigger, sear, disconnector, operating rod, gas piston. If allowed by state and local laws, now install a USGI flash suppressor with bayonet lug and an American made flash suppressor nut. Note that an American made flash suppressor nut will work on a Chinese barrel but not vice versa. By installing an American made flash suppressor and nut on the barrel last the rifle will not even momentarily exist in a configuration that is prohibited from importation. Installing an American made flash suppressor nut on a Chinese barrel should avoid any cute accusation of it being a foreign made "muzzle attachment."

American made parts can be installed in a Chinese M14 type rifle but the U. S. owner must not install a slotted flash suppressor or a folding stock or a stock with a pistol grip with more then ten specified imported parts from the list above on the rifle. Note that parts made by Wayne Machine, Inc. (Taipei, Taiwan) for the Springfield Armory, Inc. M1A are also imported into the United States. Disclaimer: As always, local, state and federal laws and regulations are subject to change. Note that the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations is revised annually. The rifle owner or gunsmith is responsible for complying with all current local, state and federal laws and regulations."