Norc bashing is it really warranted?

Nestor said:
So to sum up...this is rather self re confirmation thread than anything else. Because even if Norinco sucks, it really doesn't. It must be you.
Click to expand...

Norinco: Because we suck, and you hate yourself

I had HK on the brain while reading this ;)
 
Last edited:
Yeah still looking for that perfect gun....

Oh well seems we have happy owners and unhappy owners as with any purchase.................
 
Interesting that some have had experience with half a dozen or more with problems in all, and others have had the same number with problems in none. Leads me to think that you get what you expect. Perhaps if you have one that has a rough finish, you tend to think "ah well, I only paid $300 for it", and ignore the issue, whereas if you spend $3000 on something and it has a burr not removed on the inside of the grip, you say "WTF!".....or maybe it's the other way around and if you paid $300 for a norc, you aren't embarrassed to say "what a POS! But what can you expect from chicom crap?", whereas if you spend $3000, you might be embarrassed to admit issues. Ferraris spend a lot more time in the shop than fords, but you don't hear Ferrari owners negatively comparing their reliability to ford, that would be embarrassing.....
Fit and finish on mine are "rough and ready", but they have never failed to function perfectly.
 
.325WSM said:
Interesting that some have had experience with half a dozen or more with problems in all, and others have had the same number with problems in none. Leads me to think that you get what you expect. Perhaps if you have one that has a rough finish, you tend to think "ah well, I only paid $300 for it", and ignore the issue, whereas if you spend $3000 on something and it has a burr not removed on the inside of the grip, you say "WTF!".....or maybe it's the other way around and if you paid $300 for a norc, you aren't embarrassed to say "what a POS! But what can you expect from chicom crap?", whereas if you spend $3000, you might be embarrassed to admit issues. Ferraris spend a lot more time in the shop than fords, but you don't hear Ferrari owners negatively comparing their reliability to ford, that would be embarrassing.....
Fit and finish on mine are "rough and ready", but they have never failed to function perfectly.
Click to expand...


Interesting point on price and expectations.

I know I was a bit disappointed to find a burr left on the back of the slide left over from milling the rear sight slot on my new-ish STI Spartan. Felt that if I noticed something like that within 2 minutes of inspecting the pistol then someone wasn't paying much attention to the job they were doing in putting it together.

I just pressed it up against the underside of the sight and got on with life lol.
 
I would say if you are mechanically challenged, don't buy a norc as fine tuning and the odd repair will probably be required, having said that, when taking people out shooting strictly for fun up at camp I quite enjoy the fact that I don't worry about much, for example, gun slides and falls over because of someones stupidity or the barrel falls off my lawn chair while cleaning it reaching for my beer. lay them on the ground, on the gravel, on the concrete no sleep lost and no damage done, many times I am involved in this kind of activity while I am in the north and not in a typical range setting, love these guns for that, they are a perfect fit and I have never measured "groups" on beer cans and water jugs, and yes people will laugh and want a turn at a hand thrown clay with a outlaw.
its really what its all about good times and good friends!! whats the best gun??? the one that puts a smile on your fuching face, yeah that one!!
 
Last edited:
That's the beauty of the Norcs! You can leave it rough and ready or it can be turned into a $2000 match machine. Eeven those cheap 1911 mags can be made to work well with just a new follower and spring.
If you already spent $2000 to $5000 on a match gun, it's a good chance you never considered a Norc to begin with, but I've seen those top shelf guns have issues too.
This thread keeps going back and forth to that. :)
 
Hitzy said:
The best chinese gun I've bought to date is the NS522 that was made for Kengs in the 90's. Pretty decent barrel, trigger is good but non-adjustable, action isn't a complete train wreck of gouges and tool marks, bolt assembly is pretty rough though, and they stuck it in a POS chu wood stock that doesn't fit right and was inletted by a chainsaw. They used 4 common steel washers as "spacers" for the trigger guard due to the half assed stock fit and the rubber butt pad smells like burnt pubic hair. $250 full price, $199 on sale. That is the best rifle they could make, and it's still completely unacceptable if made by any north american company standards. YOU have to FCK around with it and finish up the product to make it acceptable. It does shoot well, but no better then my cheap $300 Zastava Z5, and it comes in a walnut stock, with great deep blueing, great adjustable trigger, smooth action. Put the 2 side by side and that $50 difference looks like $500....just no comparison of craftsmanship.
Click to expand...

But it does not have a heavy Steyr 'like' barrel. Bit difference +$100 better off.

Candocad.
 
randyhub said:
Okay I own an NP-34 and really like it, upgraded the grips and installed the SRT. It always has shot well but I keep hearing over and over how bad these are and always see so many Norc bashing... But I also hear many as myself being quite happy. I have had Colts, Rugers, Berettas over the past 20 plus years so not really a newbie here.

If I didn't have to raise a family I would have the best but I am on a budget but still want to shoot. I have a Grizzly shorty as well and it is great too. Also had a couple of M305s with no issues but sold them due to ammo costs.

So let's hear from actual Norc owners that have had actual failures as opposed to critics that have never owned one.

Just getting tired of the Norc bashing and want some numbers based on actual experiences and pictures if possible.

So let's see what actual owners have to say and please if you don't own one please refrain from posting opinions as I really just want those who experienced the good and bad of Norincos.

Just can't help to think with all the horror stories that retailers would still sell them.

Now I understand that these are only are fraction of the cost of the guns they are cloned after but with that in mind are they that bad? I know I liked my Grizzly so much I sold my 870 Remington bush gun and well anyone who shoots this latest model NP-34 is pleasantly surprised how it feels and shoots.

Am I missing something here after having Norcs for years?
Thanks
Click to expand...

yes, end of story
 
Interesting and entertaining.
I've handled ( not shot, handled) a couple of 305's. They are kind of...'fat'...in the hand. The wood felt a tad oversized, like a kid was doing the finishing...tired of sanding it to shape , said '##### it' and varnished it.
On the other hand I had a really well finished and decently accurate SKS ( which is bizarre to say the least).
It's hit & miss with Norc's IMO.
Good guns for entertainment purposes, but for now I'll hold off on buying another. There was another thread a while back; wishing Norinco would build Lugers or Broomhandles...jeezuz wept that would be a wreck. Norinco trying to replicate hand fitted German pistols...to work, lol.
They'd look mostly OK; if you squinted a bit...but function would be good for a laugh.
 
Candocad said:
But it does not have a heavy Steyr 'like' barrel. Bit difference +$100 better off.

Candocad.
Click to expand...

It has an accurate barrel that shoots as well or better, and IMHO a heavy barrel for rimfire does nothing except add weight, and the $$ difference is almost the same now....can't get a 522 for less then $250+$40 shipping from some pawn shop in NS.
Plus mags are $20 for the Zastava.... And available.
These are nice guns
z5.jpg
 
I must admit it is a hard one to argue when you look at two side by side (I am familiar with Turkish made firearms) on both timber quality and finish and the polish / blueing. The Turkish rifle is several streets ahead.

But..... there is something about the Norinco 'gem in the rough' attraction that has captivated so many Canadians. I would not have even considered a Norinco in any way shape or form until about 4 years ago, until I had a day at a range with a M-305 and 100 rounds. Since then I have been hooked. The fact that they are able to be user improved is very much part of the charm of certain models. I have a couple of M-305's which are both projects and now a NS-522 which I am looking forward to working on over the next couple of months. (Inspired by Father)

The bottom line for me is, I have a personalized rifle the way I like it, that works as well as the 'original' model and cost me less.

Candocad
 
I had a ton of fun tinkering with my norc government model. It's still not a high end gun, but I learned a lot without spending a ton of money, and I have an accurate, reliable smooth gun to show for it. I even parkerized it using american pennies lol.
 
Candocad said:
I must admit it is a hard one to argue when you look at two side by side (I am familiar with Turkish made firearms) on both timber quality and finish and the polish / blueing. The Turkish rifle is several streets ahead.

But..... there is something about the Norinco 'gem in the rough' attraction that has captivated so many Canadians. I would not have even considered a Norinco in any way shape or form until about 4 years ago, until I had a day at a range with a M-305 and 100 rounds. Since then I have been hooked. The fact that they are able to be user improved is very much part of the charm of certain models. I have a couple of M-305's which are both projects and now a NS-522 which I am looking forward to working on over the next couple of months. (Inspired by Father)

The bottom line for me is, I have a personalized rifle the way I like it, that works as well as the 'original' model and cost me less.

Candocad
Click to expand...

It's not Turkish though....Serbia--(Kragujevac)
It can be fun tinkering with guns, sometimes I enjoy it, sometimes it's a pain in the ass. I'd mostly rather tinker with load development, or different .22 ammo then have to mess around with the gun.
I do like the NS522 as it is different from normal Nork offerings, and better made then most of their guns by far.
 
Candocad said:
I must admit it is a hard one to argue when you look at two side by side (I am familiar with Turkish made firearms) on both timber quality and finish and the polish / blueing. The Turkish rifle is several streets ahead.

But..... there is something about the Norinco 'gem in the rough' attraction that has captivated so many Canadians. I would not have even considered a Norinco in any way shape or form until about 4 years ago, until I had a day at a range with a M-305 and 100 rounds. Since then I have been hooked. The fact that they are able to be user improved is very much part of the charm of certain models. I have a couple of M-305's which are both projects and now a NS-522 which I am looking forward to working on over the next couple of months. (Inspired by Father)

The bottom line for me is, I have a personalized rifle the way I like it, that works as well as the 'original' model and cost me less.

Candocad
Click to expand...

Have you compared said personalized rifle to the "original"? Which sprigfield model have you compared your norinco m305?

And the gem in the rough? Let's be really honest about this. People buy norincos because it is the cheapest thing on the block that looks like the original.
 
Don't like them. Sold my Socom, use my friends grizz all the time and handle the backpacker my other friend owns.
It's like driving a Hyundai accent. It's all great until a guy with a challenger R/T (or any other actual good car) shows up.
Then You realize how lacking the quality is.
But yes they are easy on the pocket and put lead down range and can still be fun.

The quality of finish and fit of parts just doesn't do it for me.
Won't ever buy one again.
Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom