T97 Gen 2: So do they shoot good?

Ooooh I'm feeling the pull. I'll still probably wait until it's cheaper than the FTU. Unless...

How does the top rail come off?

EDIT: I should probably ask since I can't handle one in person yet:
What's the new upper made of?
You said the BUIS are awesome but what kind of sight picture, adjustments, etc?
Still a$$ heavy?
I'm not sure what replacement parts would be needed, but it would sure be nice if somethings were to break that it could be purchased for replacement!
 
Feeding issues were all about overall cartridge length IF THE rounds were too long the would hit the back of the barrel before aligning with the chamber I could not use Norinco ammo in mine because of this and some factory .223 soft point ammo but found American eagle black box tactical ammo worked great no stove pipes My hand loads same thing have to keep them to this length no longer and all was fine
 
Feeding issues were all about overall cartridge length IF THE rounds were too long the would hit the back of the barrel before aligning with the chamber I could not use Norinco ammo in mine because of this and some factory .223 soft point ammo but found American eagle black box tactical ammo worked great no stove pipes My hand loads same thing have to keep them to this length no longer and all was fine

It's odd that a Norc doesn't like Norc ammo.
 
I'm hoping that replacement parts kits will become readily available for the T97 in the future.

I haven't even considered buying either version because the importer North Sylva has not yet brought in replacement parts for these guns. Anything mechanical can fail at some time. People should have access to parts for an uncommon gun, its not like you can just use AR parts or shop at Brownells for parts for the T97.

Boycott the dam things lol, then maybe NS will get on the ball and get parts coming :wave:
 
I haven't even considered buying either version because the importer North Sylva has not yet brought in replacement parts for these guns. Anything mechanical can fail at some time. People should have access to parts for an uncommon gun, its not like you can just use AR parts or shop at Brownells for parts for the T97.

Boycott the dam things lol, then maybe NS will get on the ball and get parts coming :wave:

It shouldn't be to hard to get replacement parts and NS..WELL!! Any new firearm sold should have readily available replacement parts for purchase.
 
Ooooh I'm feeling the pull. I'll still probably wait until it's cheaper than the FTU. Unless...

How does the top rail come off?

EDIT: I should probably ask since I can't handle one in person yet:
What's the new upper made of?
You said the BUIS are awesome but what kind of sight picture, adjustments, etc?
Still a$$ heavy?

Takes 15 seconds to take the rail off and is rock solid when the 2 screws are back on.

Sights are like the KAC flip ups, not bad actually for a copy. AR15 front sight and post. rear sight is an average aperture.

Rifle is well balanced like the other ones. Personal preference in optics is going lite as it keeps the balance on par with the rest unless going with a bipod then go nuts!

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I want one, just can't justify the funds on one, but time will tell. I like the improvements I've seen, but I'm also wondering about the threat pitch on the screws and if there are any issues with them loosening up without loc tite.
 
Awesome!

Other then the rail, cocking handle and mag release, did you notice any other differences?

Flashhider looks and rifles overall finish seems better. Feed ramp is different too, likely for the better.

Just comparing with my other ones. I really like the Gen 2, looks like a winner but still have to shoot it.
 
Well looks like I'll be putting up some stuff up on the EE. I went into reliable today to have a look and ended up picking up one. The build quality was a small step up with slight improvements. If I'm not mistaken the Chinese rail comes with is a lower profile than ftu. This one also seems to cycle smoother than the original I'd had.

There's also a little improvement in the feeding angle in the feed path. I'll see which magazines of mine work later tonight. I doubt that I'll get outtomorrow to shoot it, but I might.
 
Now that I'm home and give it a once over there are a few other things I can report.

GI Mags fit free and drop free
LAR-15 Mags fit free and drop free
Aluminium Beowulf mags fit free and drop free

PMAG - Gen 3 I think , fits snug, does not drop free
Old Polymer Beowulf mags will not fit, need jamming in and ripping out, don't try

Overall machining has improved, that is on the bolt, receiver, receiver rails and and barrel exterior (chatter marks and or finer cuts). The finish on the firearm is better than the Gen 1 I had, but still not great with some silver showing through on the safety. The safety has is the same old one, but the selector blade is now larger and easier to throw 180 as needed.

Hand Cycling the action is much more smooth than Gen 1 on my sample, less ping when the bolt slides home, it also has a different wire recoil spring that looks like an improvement to me. The iron sights it comes with are crude but workable, the front sight sits over the the upper rail screw - so to take off the upper rail you either need to remove or move the front sight further back.

The chinese rail is lower than the the FTU and this makes a difference when scopped or with irons, it's minor but worth mentioning. The ambi mag release is small, they could have made this larger on both sides, it would have been a positive improvement. Hopefully some after market will change this in the future. Trigger pull is improved slightly, I don't perceive as much travel as Gen 1, but it's still long and a little squishy, but consistent and not too heavy (most of this is actually in the trigger return spring, and can be change by a home made job and change of trigger bar, not worth it in my opinion).

The charging handle comes on the right side, but is reversible to the left side. Manual of arms can be right with either strong or left off hand (but this is still a right handed shooter rifle -only-). Depending on your options and mount you will jam your knuckles so that may make a difference in either the charging handle side or mount you use. There is no real clearance between the charging handle and rail so it keeps the rail low to the bore compared to FTU or the old carry handle.

There is a change in the feed path to the chamber, I wont call it a feed ramp because it's not, but the receiver is cut at slight angle, it should help with different magazine types (some cause nose diving) and various seating depths of different loadings.
 
Two more things to note on the typical Norc build quality.

1) The sights are crude like I mentioned, the front sight wasn't cleanly cut in the mount, and is pushed right. This means adjusting the windage almost all the way to zero.... I've replaced these sights.

2) The rear receiver cover / stock is actually from the original models, just cut to shape for the new upper rail. Mine is cut short and on a slant where it should mate level with the rail.. this means there is a little downward play when getting a good cheek weld. It's a little annoying and I think I'll jbweld a cut to shape shim.

I had a mystery washer fall out of the gun, it was ratting around loose under the hand guard from somewhere .
 
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Two more things to note on the typical Norc build quality.

1) The sights are crude like I mentioned, the front sight wasn't cleanly cut in the mount, and is pushed right. This means adjusting the windage almost all the way to zero.... I've replaced these sights.

2) The rear receiver cover / stock is actually from the original models, just cut to shape for the new upper rail. Mine is cut short and on a slant where it should mate level with the rail.. this means there is a little downward play when getting a good cheek weld. It's a little annoying and I think I'll jbweld a cut to shape shim.

I had a mystery washer fall out of the gun, it was ratting around loose under the hand guard from somewhere .

Wow! This is not even close to mine, even the BUIS are on par. I'd maybe give Reliable a jingle, just saying.
 
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