Use of Norinco 223

MauroUlisse

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I'm looking at stocking up on 223 . I've always been using AE 223 but since now it's sold out I'm willing to try Norinco's 223. My question for you guys is , has anyone used it and your comments would be great. I just don't want to buy it then find out my AR's don't like it. I'm using a Noveske and LMT
 
Heres one of my targets from the other weekend. Right side is Norinco, left side is AE tactical. 10 rounds at each target at 50 meters (thats why they are all high)
I sold some of my AE to buy more norinco.
Probably be best to try and find a smaller quantity to see how your AR likes it though.

DSC01014.JPG
 
Heard that they were a hotter load than most. They certainly seemed to be louder and kick a little harder on my AR's and a friend's SU-16, anyway.
 
Those groups are pretty good , maybe I'll grab some and try them out . Stock up guys , a friend of mine works for the distributor that supply's retailers and once there old stock is done new orders will see a 15-25% increase in price.
 
But how many have experienced tumbling bullets? In another thread a member had about 20% tumble on him due to undersize bullets. Nobody else has had this happen?
 
But how many have experienced tumbling bullets? In another thread a member had about 20% tumble on him due to undersize bullets. Nobody else has had this happen?

I think that would vary from rifle to rifle...... can't blame the ammo 100%

my norinco AR15 likes it, seems to work just fine, american eagle is available in bulk localy so I shoot more of that.
 
Heres one of my targets from the other weekend. Right side is Norinco, left side is AE tactical. 10 rounds at each target at 50 meters (thats why they are all high)
I sold some of my AE to buy more norinco.
Probably be best to try and find a smaller quantity to see how your AR likes it though.

DSC01014.JPG

The distance is too short and those groups are all far too large to be conclusive (4-6MOA @ 50m).
 
They are indeed a bit hotter, not true .233 but closer to M193 (55gr 5.56x45) specs.
Primers are hard milspec and some sporting arms have a tough time making them go bang consistantly.
Runs quite dirty and the powder lacks much flash redardent (typical combloc surplus).

If you have a true .223 chambered sporting rifle I would not be using these.
Not the most accurate ammo but thats what you get as it is originally manufactured for non Western militaries/juntas.

AE is is alot accurate and consistant ammo in my experience.
 
But how many have experienced tumbling bullets? In another thread a member had about 20% tumble on him due to undersize bullets. Nobody else has had this happen?


I don't know where this stuff comes from. I have personally shot over 600 rounds of the Norinco and never had one bullet tumble. Even out of a Remington 700 varmint with a 1-14 twist.

The powder and bullets in this stuff, weighs out within .2 grains from cartridge to cartridge. It's very consistent and in certain rifles, can be very accurate.

I have had trouble with accuracy in a friends rifle. His firing pin spring just doesn't have enough strength to ignite the primers consistently and causes poor powder ignition as well, therefore poor accuracy.

For some of my rifles, other than a CZ527 Varmint, I pull the bullets and powder, pop out the milspec primers and replace them with CCI small rifle, magnum primers. Try it, weigh out the components and do an average. You will be pleasantly surprised.

In the case lots I have, the average powder weight comes to 26.8 grains of ball powder. Exactly the same load I use with BLC2 and 55 grain bullets for accuracy loads.
 
I usually shoot my AR standing at ~50m, so for my use the Norinco is better. And at 50m, the norc groups better.
I will take it out to 100m next time and compare.

That's not how you test for accuracy, and any results are not conclusive. Bench it, shoot at 100m using a rest and a magnified optic. Based on the size of the groups (at least 4+ MOA), the human factor is playing a large role in the group size. I'm not saying that the norinco ammo is better or worse than the AE, but just that the methodology of firing while standing at close range does not give a good indication of accuracy.
 
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They are a pretty hot load. Just ran about 40 of them through my 10.5" AR for the first time today. The muzzle flash was crazy, could really feel the heat. I have a still from a video that I will post.

Overall they were really great rounds.
 
Here is the still I grabbed from the video. Good indication of how "hot" the Norinco .223 is. You can actually feel the warmth. :)

5.56.blast-small.jpg
 
Goes bang every time for me out of my ACR and is accurate enough for plinking. I don't generally bench my ACR, so excellent accuracy is not required. If I want precision I shoot some of my Black Hills 77gr supply, but thats really only for my bolt gun. At 26 cents a round it hard to beat Norinco.
 
Here is the still I grabbed from the video. Good indication of how "hot" the Norinco .223 is. You can actually feel the warmth. :)

5.56.blast-small.jpg

Awesome...

That picture alone makes me glad I bought 10 -20 cases of the stuff.

I think I should get a 10.5" upper. What kin of flash suppressor do you run?
 
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