Blast from the past!

Not having owned or even shot one, how were the Norinco guns? Same as all their other garbage or was it a serviceable gun that could be relied on to work and hit target with?
 
I had one, it was a decent replica, but the Chu wood stock was pretty crappy. I replaced it with a plastic one, applied a camo paint pattern and mounted a scope and bipod on it. I had zero issues with the performance of it, the only thing it was lacking was the bayonet lug.
 
Painkillers said:
Not having owned or even shot one, how were the Norinco guns? Same as all their other garbage or was it a serviceable gun that could be relied on to work and hit target with?
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I still have one. Worked OK. Broke a firing pin once, perhaps a metal issue. Other than that no problems aside from government interference. - dan
 
in my opinion they were great rifles but the import years after 2009 saw a decline in the product for sure and the imports in the few years before the ban were worse even still. The decline after 2009 is suspected to be that they were getting to the bottom of the barrel for serviceable parts but who knows. When they started producing 7.62 x 39 versions and the lesser quality bolts and parts I pretty much advised anyone who asked me , to steer clear.
That said, the rifles we were getting prior to 2009 had excellent receivers, bolts and barrels. Common issues were moslty related to assembly with barrels that often were not indexed correctly, flashider sight base off center and or off axis, flashhider and gas system splines off axis and very occasionally barrels with off axis splineways. Triggers were also quite good with some treatment. The great thing about the receivers (pre 2009) was that they were for the most part, dimensionally and metalleurgically sound and would accept USGI M14 parts as well as aftermarket barrels such as Criterion and Krieger. This drove a pretty healthy market for components from all the manufacturers that made parts and stocks for the M1A/M14 rifles in the US like Smith Enterprise, Sadlak, Sage, ect ect
Skullboy, Girlsgunsandfastbikes, Hungry/Tactical Teacher liked these rifles so much they started the cult like following the M14s/M305 had on CGN 20 years ago. I pretty much joined CGN and stuck around because of these rifles and eventually built a small business catering to riflesmithing the M14 types and custom stock fabrication. The many M14 clinics put on by Hungry inspired me to get involved and I began running M14 clinics here in BC. Those were such fun times at those intimate gatherings in my home hanging out with likeminded folks and showing everyone how to massage thier M14s/M305 into a reliable accurate and safe firearm. I really miss that part of the whole M14 rifle craze in Canada as it was a fairly large community within the larger community that is CGN.

I really miss taking these rifles out and can only hope that the bans are rescinded when a saner government is in charge.
 
ya those m14k rifles were pretty cool. The back story on them is really fascinating , especially as it pertains to Ron Smith.
I pondered doing up a replica modification to an 18.5" shorty as a "faux" m14k but never got around to it.
really sucks that these rifles are safe queens :(
 
Painkillers said:
Not having owned or even shot one, how were the Norinco guns? Same as all their other garbage or was it a serviceable gun that could be relied on to work and hit target with?
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The earliest ones, circa early 1990's were problematic. Non-standard configurations, dummy flash hiders, missing scope mount lugs, poorly heat-treated bolts.

The late ones, say after 2011, also were highly suspect, especially after they went to MIM bolts.

Those made from the late 90s to about 2010 were generally really good rifles, though they often required tweaking.

You can see my experience with one in this old thread.
 
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