Anyone own a PolyTech M-14/S

[Rockrivr1]

Would you say that a PolyTech M-14/S is better, worse or the same as a Springfield Armory M-14?

 

[Grendizer138]

What is this commie crazy talk?!

 

[Picton]

I can't speak to that particular weapons system, but everyone I know who shoots Polytech products (including me, sometimes) thinks Polytech products are dead-nuts reliable. I'd go as far as to say that if I was in the market for an M14 clone (used, 'cause that's how I roll), I'd probably take a commie one over a non-commie one.

China's got a lot of problems. The way they make guns isn't one of them, from what I can see.

 

[not new guy]

I think they used forged receivers, which is better than SA, but people talk about soft bolts and other issues (Chinese M14 bolt chemistry and Chinese M14 barrel hardness - AR15.COM). Consensus seems to be that they make a good base rifle, you may just need to swap better parts in. Not sure how good the SA guns are in comparison though.

 

[Dennis in MA]

Like a modern era Springfield or a vintage geezer C&R Springfield?

I will say, the stuff that Poly put out was amazing. Not just their AK's. But I recall them shipping a number of really high quality 1911's back in teh day as well. They had their stuff together. Not so sure about chinese weapon manufacturing in teh last. . . . 20-30 years. But 1980's? Top notch.

 

[whatluck]

I've never handled their M1A, but I have a Legend and if I were to ever drop my shovel and go to work it's probably the first thing I'd grab. I keep it next to a pile of 9 bulgy mags filled with steel core. Thousands of rounds and not a single hiccup, amazing accuracy for the platform, and the best damn ak trigger I've ever felt.

If that M1A is built anything like my legend you'll have an actual reliable war rifle.

 

[nordic alien]

they are not as nice finish, wood wise but have a good rep and cheaper. i have a norinco tokarev 7.65x25 and it is totally reliable and use it for carry

 

[TurdFerguson]

For a while their receivers were considered some of the best since they were/are forged.

That being said, Springfield’s warranty is phenomenal for any issues that may arise at any point during ownership. Can’t say the same for the PolyTech and in-depth repairs on these get expensive quick.

If you use a tool enough something is bound to break in time.

 

[nstassel]

Polytech products are dead-nuts reliable

It's an industry term.

My Cousin Vinny (1992) clip with quote It's an industry term. Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

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[Sweeney]

Go over to the M14 forum and ask. I have no first hand experience with Poly Tech but hear the receivers are high quality and good to build off of. Soft bolts, questionable barrels and other bits not made to spec can hamper fitting replacement parts... though I may be remembering that incorrectly.

SA has been hit or miss over the years. I looked at one in a shop years ago that had a terribly warped receiver and there have been machining defects off and on. Often you find the takedown notch needs to be corrected, the receiver legs are not at the correct angle and need to be ground, etc. A friend and M14 guru has made jigs to correct some of these issues while working on them for decades. Lifetime warrantees are for one of two reasons (in my mind). Your product is so good that it never gets sent back for work or it's problematic enough that the warrantee is needed to move product.

 

[Sweeney]

I've never handled their M1A, but I have a Legend and if I were to ever drop my shovel and go to work it's probably the first thing I'd grab. I keep it next to a pile of 9 bulgy mags filled with steel core. Thousands of rounds and not a single hiccup, amazing accuracy for the platform, and the best damn ak trigger I've ever felt.

If that M1A is built anything like my legend you'll have an actual reliable war rifle.

Just for the record, 'M1A' is a trademark of Springfield Armory Inc. It doesn't denote a semi-auto or 'civilian' M14 type. For instance, I have 5 M14 type rifles, four are marked M14 and one is an M1A. A pet peeve of mine... carry on!

 

[whatluck]

Just for the record, 'M1A' is a trademark of Springfield Armory Inc. It doesn't denote a semi-auto or 'civilian' M14 type. For instance, I have 5 M14 type rifles, four are marked M14 and one is an M1A. A pet peeve of mine... carry on!

Thanks.

 

[Yotacrawler]

The Chinese receivers are forged vs investment casting on the Springfield I believe. Theres reports of soft bolts on the Chinese ones. I have read to headspace it and check it after a while. Supposed to be able to swap in a US bolt with some fitting but they are not a straight drop in. Theres a book by Lee Emerson.

https://miamirifle-pistol.org/wp-content/uploads/M14-RHAD-Text-Only-Edition-100815.pdf

 

[dhuze]

I had one. I sold it, but whish I hadn't. I t was great and the guy who bought it loved it too.
I was told that the bolts have a tendency to not be hardened properly, but swapping a GI one is easy.

 

[Sunny]

This notion that simply because it's Chinese-made, it's automatically bad quality, is just not true.

 

[CMEBoston]

They are great rifles built on forged receivers. “Better” is a bit of a farce. While yes they are built on a forged receiver, some of the parts on them Aren’t the best and the fit and finish of both the wood and machining is sub par. Also note many of the machine threads are metic

I have a Springfield M1A and I have had to send it back to Springfield for a bent op rod around 3k rounds, but it was covered under warranty.

If I had the money in my pocket and there was a poly in front of me I’d buy it for the collection

 

[PatMcD]

I've had one. I've also had a Norinco. I sent the Norinco off to Smith Enterprise to have to bolt changed out for a USGI.
The wood is junk. The FH is sawed off and looks like crap. The trigger group is meh: replace it. The rear sight clicks wear out quickly if you use them: replace it.
They look pretty crappy. Serial # electro-penciled on there.
I didn't do anything to the Polytech. I bought it cheap. I was buying the chink 14's for $400-$450 and reselling them for $800-$1000.
I saw one for sale at a recent gun show and it was $1600.
No way I'd buy one over a Springfield at that price.

P.S. you may want to save your money: I'm not saying the opportunity to buy a real-deal USGI M14 is on the horizon, but......

 

[55_grain]

I've also had one, in USGI wood with added flash hider. Great rifle. As Pat noted, the rear sight clicks aren't great.

Someone was selling a stack of Norincos in the NES classifieds recently, I was definitely tempted.

 

[weekendracer]

I can't speak to that particular weapons system, but everyone I know who shoots Polytech products (including me, sometimes) thinks Polytech products are dead-nuts reliable. I'd go as far as to say that if I was in the market for an M14 clone (used, 'cause that's how I roll), I'd probably take a commie one over a non-commie one.

China's got a lot of problems. The way they make guns isn't one of them, from what I can see.

You are an AK fanboi, your opinion matters not here.

 

[Picton]

You are an AK fanboi, your opinion matters not here.

I represent that remark!

I currently have three rifles that take AR mags. Oh, and an AR180, which is "close enough."

 

[June4th]

I think they used forged receivers, which is better than SA, but people talk about soft bolts and other issues (Chinese M14 bolt chemistry and Chinese M14 barrel hardness - AR15.COM). Consensus seems to be that they make a good base rifle, you may just need to swap better parts in. Not sure how good the SA guns are in comparison though.

I bought a Poly M14S with USGI bolt (TRW, I think) and stock. I don’t shoot it often but I like it. Yeah, the consensus is that heat treatment for bolts on Poly M14S isn’t quite up to standard, but the receiver is excellent to build on.