Another Norc M4 Initial Review

I just got mine and cleaned it. I've operated a C7, Colt Canada C8 semi, and owned a Stag 15. Keep in mind that I'm very much an "end user" and not as knowledgeable as the gun geeks that study this stuff.

I friggin love it. I cleaned the whole thing with CLP and didn't notice any finish coming off (I also rubbed the mags down trying to get the finish off to no avail)

The finish is very nice... much nicer than I had anticipated.

Somethings I've noticed (first the bad then the good)


BAD:

The buttstock is very tight and difficult to adjust (light sanding on the inside of the plastic would likely fix this)

EDIT TO ADD: my caliper indicates that this is a commercial buffer assy.

Everything is stiff and a little gritty (it'll break in nicely)

The gas tube is painted under the handguards (no idea why?)

The ambi mag release is kinda cool but I'll never use it.

The ambi safety selector feels funny in my hand.

The rail is not numbered.

The buffer tube nut thingy (OK... I use em' I don't study them... much) is not staked

No side sling swivel.


GOOD:

The trigger is nice.

Sight adjustment clicks are solid and from "eyeballing" the barrel, sights, buttstock, etc... everything looks good and straight.

The finish is nicer than I thought (who put those pics on lever arms?)

FA bolt

M4 feed ramps... I think

No shiny surfaces.

2 fairly nice mags

Nice 3 point sling (very nice actually)

Nice packaging (very professional and current) compared to other Norinco products.

What else can I say... its just very nice and more than I was expecting.

If you guys want me to measure anything to see if its in spec. please post the spec and I'll get my caliper out.

It'll be off to the range tomorrow (time permitting.)
 
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Navy Gunner said:
Here's a few pics.


DSC01638.jpg




Navy Gunner
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I actually wasn't going to buy one of them until I saw this...now I must have one.
 
ponts said:
They still suck in my books.....sold me a New MP45 with a huge dent in one of the mags and after MONTHS of dicking me around they finally told me there was nothing they could do and it was too bad for me. Great service eh!? Consider this story if you choose to buy from them.....ARMS EAST would be a far better choice.
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LEVER ARMS are brutal in the customer service dept. I don't know why anyone would buy from them!
 
OC-3 said:
Order was placed Feb 6.

Arms East shipped it 2 week later as there seemed to be delays at the source (Lever).

Walt sent me an email advising the delay; after one week it was ready then transferred in 2 days (and approved - BC).

It took Canada Post 8 business days to get it back to Vancouver.

I could have had it from Lever earlier, but I will take Arms East 1 year warrantee any day.

Yes, it did a cross county round trip, but it's here now.
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Wow only 8 days . Mine shipped Mar 4 , Shows in Montreal Mar 10 (today) tracking says delivery by Mar 17

Don't ya just love waiting
 
This is it cleaned up.

Not really a huge task.


As mentioned, the carry handle, charging handle and safety were painted.

You can see the carry handle has two spots (which I assume) why they decided to paint it. Finish is OK underneath. Paint has been stripped.

The ambi safety is weird as it feels odd for a right hander; the down position doesn't interfere with the grip, but feels odd. That will be replaced.

AR_1.jpg

AR_2.jpg

AR_3.jpg

AR_4.jpg
 
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ian_in_vic said:
That would look good, "CQ-A-556" then a silhouette of the rifle and underneath "enjoy a better anihilating firepower"
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carbonrod said:
"makes the operator enjoy a better annihilating firepower withing 460m"

So awesome.
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I would buy a shirt with that on!!!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. The more I read from you guys, the more I believe it is only a matter of time before I give into temptation and buy one!!!
 
OC-3 said:
...
As mentioned, the carry handle, charging handle and safety were painted.

You can see the carry handle has two spots (which I assume) why they decided to paint it. Finish is OK underneath. Paint has been stripped.
...
Click to expand...

I just noticed the same thing on my rifle; the charging handle catch, bolt release, and the front take down pin are painted.

Most of the paint is gone now and the finish looks fine underneath, albeit not perfect (slight wear around the edges)

Strange. I'd rather have the minor imperfections than the paint that falls off. - o-well.

I'm loving this rifle for the price.
 
Soooooooooo at 461 meters if you are wearing a down vest is a person considered 'safe'. I wonder if a guy dare fire .223 out of this 'WMD';)
 
Agh! I couldn't take it anymore, and ordered and received one of these last week from Arms East. I said I'd never own a restricted rifle as they simply make no sense for me, but when I realized that I could have a scoped M4gery for less than the price of an Acog there was no more resisting. The ambi controls are a nice addition and a selling point for me also, and probably sealed the deal.

As has been mentioned the paint comes off in a heartbeat, but that just gives it that nice antiqued or lived in look right away. Mine had no oil or any other coatings on anything, so a quick wipe with CLP was all that was needed to send a few rounds downrange. I only fired 10 rounds, but everything functioned perfectly, and the brass was easy to find in a nice small area.

The trigger is amazingly and fantastically horrible though. There are three distinct stopping points as it travels, although the actual letoff is quite nice and crisp. I removed the upper and "dry fired" it into a piece of high density foam about 500 times with no change. I might try some steel wool and polishing compound on it next, but it does kinda match the whole "Crude Chinese Knockoff" aspect of the rifle so I'm not too worried about it. :)

In keeping with the clone motif, I added a wannabe Acog in place of the carry handle. From half a mile away in the dark you could never tell this isn't a genooowine Colt and Acog combo...

M4L.jpg



M4R.jpg


Hmmm....must learn to take better pictures. Anyhoo, now the questions...

How exactly does the included sling work? As much as I hate to admit defeat, apparently there is no way this idjit can figure it out. Is there a pic or video out there that might help with the installation and operation of this {censored} thing? And how does the rear sight on the carry handle work? The windage is simple and intuitive enough, but the elevation drum doesn't turn in either direction, and appears to have two parts that can rotate individually(?). I may never use it, but I am kinda curious about how it functions.

Range report to follow if it warms up a bit this week and I get it sighted in.
 
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