The one I got from canada ammo in December is not painted. Its a nice gun. The finish isn't up to my Diemaco SA15.7 but its damn good for $499.
Is a Norinco CQ-A/ M4 a good thing?
- Thread starter mattarmstrong
- Start date
The one I got from canada ammo in December is not painted. Its a nice gun. The finish isn't up to my Diemaco SA15.7 but its damn good for $499.
I guess you better get rid of every electronic device and article of clothing that you own.
I have one with a painted finish, and I love it. The painted finish has mostly melted off of it. Underneath is the standard finish found on my Dad's non painted Norc AR. Mine came from Frontier Firearms and my Dad's from Marstar. Both are the only AR's anyone in my family has ever had anything to do with and we quite like them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I was looking to do so.
The paint looked to me like someone used a black aerosol can on it, which looked decent on mine until the painted parts heated up from shooting it. Now it's black anodized( I think) aluminum and matte blued barrel.
The paint looked to me like someone used a black aerosol can on it, which looked decent on mine until the painted parts heated up from shooting it. Now it's black anodized( I think) aluminum and matte blued barrel.
I've got a 10.5 inch barreled Norc, and she only ever malfunctioned once in the years I've owned her, and that was due to a very worn mag that I ended up retiring. Other than that, you can't stop the thing. Accuracy is excellent as well, for a gun with a short barrel.
As usual this has turned out like every Norc thread, lots of people who own them saying they're a great value, a vocal minority who have never owned one saying they're crap and only Murican will suffice, and a few people who have had issues with the guns in the past. I'm in the first category.
My first AR was a Norinco CQA. The fit and finish weren't great, but it was completely reliable and accurate with the stock irons (even better when I put a decent optic on it)
After I shot it for two years, I sold it for nearly what I paid. Then I upgraded to a DDV5, which was way prettier, but essentially the same in terms of function(goes bang, similar grouping in paper downrange).
My first AR was a Norinco CQA. The fit and finish weren't great, but it was completely reliable and accurate with the stock irons (even better when I put a decent optic on it)
After I shot it for two years, I sold it for nearly what I paid. Then I upgraded to a DDV5, which was way prettier, but essentially the same in terms of function(goes bang, similar grouping in paper downrange).
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Got one a few years back cause I couldn't justify the price US stuff... I bought one at $699 which was so much less the other AR's.
It went bang, holes in target. reloaded for it, it went bang, bang, bang and stuff always got hit. Ok so the exterior was not as pretty as other US made rifles but when we compared the internals and workings, I just couldn't see any differences. Certainly, nothing functional from USGI peer rifles.
In typical fashion, I decided to dress this rifle up... there is a very old post where I "chopped" the Norc parts to get them off the rifle.. WOW, strong steel. So a bunch of AR bling got put on and now it looks like many other bells and whistle ARs. I keep changing stuff cause it is fun, it fits and why not?
I put on a McGowen match prefit barrel and the groups dropped to sub MOA with reloads... Wow. That barrel lasted about a week after I made the post.... happy next owner.
Put the rifle away after blasting a little over 1000rds with NO cleaning. I hear they stop working and get crudded up and such so I wanted to stop the AR. After 1000rds over several months, it kept working and I got tired of trying to make it die. Took it apart and wiped all the parts clean with a paper towel - I grease the bolt parts. Boring.. no wear,no shiny spots, nothing.... into the safe.
Recently, I have restarted my interest in Service rifle and out came the Norc, new Mcgowen barrel, more sub MOA groups... happy
What I didn't like in the orig was the massively overgassed porting. this thing is going to cycle that bolt no matter what. It actually hurt to shoot. Ejected cases were so hot that they would melt the plastic tarp I put beside to catch the empties. Nuts.
I shimmed the gas port, changed out a recoil spring and buffer, modified my loads and all was really nice. Could put the empties into a bucket 4ft away if I shot from the bench... soft shooting like I would expect a 223 to be.
I am now using an adjustable gas block. will play with even heavier buffer when it shows up but the BCG doesn't really jar anything with current speedy loads and 75gr hrn bullets.
The orig trigger is typical 2 stage YUCK.. a bit of tuning with lighter springs and things are much nicer. Not light but minor creep and a crisp break so the orig parts do work... just need TLC.
Only other niggle is the mag release, it doesn't always lock the mag in place. not sure how to fix... any thoughts?
It happens with some mags and not with others. Maybe it is the mag latch opening???
Anyways, if the new ones run like mine, hard to argue with bang, bang, bang... little upkeep and still works just fine.
Put on a new barrel, some pretty clothes and it shoots just like anything else I have seen for far more money.
Jerry
It went bang, holes in target. reloaded for it, it went bang, bang, bang and stuff always got hit. Ok so the exterior was not as pretty as other US made rifles but when we compared the internals and workings, I just couldn't see any differences. Certainly, nothing functional from USGI peer rifles.
In typical fashion, I decided to dress this rifle up... there is a very old post where I "chopped" the Norc parts to get them off the rifle.. WOW, strong steel. So a bunch of AR bling got put on and now it looks like many other bells and whistle ARs. I keep changing stuff cause it is fun, it fits and why not?
I put on a McGowen match prefit barrel and the groups dropped to sub MOA with reloads... Wow. That barrel lasted about a week after I made the post.... happy next owner.
Put the rifle away after blasting a little over 1000rds with NO cleaning. I hear they stop working and get crudded up and such so I wanted to stop the AR. After 1000rds over several months, it kept working and I got tired of trying to make it die. Took it apart and wiped all the parts clean with a paper towel - I grease the bolt parts. Boring.. no wear,no shiny spots, nothing.... into the safe.
Recently, I have restarted my interest in Service rifle and out came the Norc, new Mcgowen barrel, more sub MOA groups... happy
What I didn't like in the orig was the massively overgassed porting. this thing is going to cycle that bolt no matter what. It actually hurt to shoot. Ejected cases were so hot that they would melt the plastic tarp I put beside to catch the empties. Nuts.
I shimmed the gas port, changed out a recoil spring and buffer, modified my loads and all was really nice. Could put the empties into a bucket 4ft away if I shot from the bench... soft shooting like I would expect a 223 to be.
I am now using an adjustable gas block. will play with even heavier buffer when it shows up but the BCG doesn't really jar anything with current speedy loads and 75gr hrn bullets.
The orig trigger is typical 2 stage YUCK.. a bit of tuning with lighter springs and things are much nicer. Not light but minor creep and a crisp break so the orig parts do work... just need TLC.
Only other niggle is the mag release, it doesn't always lock the mag in place. not sure how to fix... any thoughts?
It happens with some mags and not with others. Maybe it is the mag latch opening???
Anyways, if the new ones run like mine, hard to argue with bang, bang, bang... little upkeep and still works just fine.
Put on a new barrel, some pretty clothes and it shoots just like anything else I have seen for far more money.
Jerry
As others have said, the norinco mags are absolute garbage. There is no anti tilt for the follower, there's also a weird way of "pinning" the mags in that they cut out a small hole in them. The trigger reset is really weird too, not sure if it's just my own opinion because I haven't shot many other rifles. But other than those, there aren't muchother issues. Great gun for the money
IchBinEinSniper
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brockvegas
We must shop at different places...
As a young father you may want to do the 22LR thing for the time being if $$$ is an issue. Shooting sports is expensive in ammo alone let alone the price of admission.
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I recently picked up a DA556 and it has about 500 rounds through it now. It has run flawlessly so far. Even the mags that came with it seem to work fine for me. I have yet to put a scope on it but I can hit silhouettes with the irons up to 300 yards or so pretty reliably. As others have said the fit and finish can be a bit rough, I have a couple other Norincos and the DA 556 is probably the nicest looking one. The rifle is well worth the money I think.
Won a few comp with mine ( CQB ). So I guess it's "good enough"... haha
It's not a beauty contest winner ( bad finish, rough machined parts etc... ) but as for reliability and decent accuracy not too far ( 100 and less ) it will do the job.
But I would probably not use it for 200-300m + matches... Just saying.
P.S. As for beauty... Easy fix. Paint it!
Guys think I am shooting an LMT or something... lol
It's not a beauty contest winner ( bad finish, rough machined parts etc... ) but as for reliability and decent accuracy not too far ( 100 and less ) it will do the job.
But I would probably not use it for 200-300m + matches... Just saying.
P.S. As for beauty... Easy fix. Paint it!
Guys think I am shooting an LMT or something... lol
I concur, I have a DA 556 from Canada Ammo.........with some lipstick on it ; ) and yes no complaints....works fine.
I have 7 Norincos in total...no issues. Obviously not on par with the fit and finish of more expensive firearms, but they do work, and generally offer a lower cost entry level option.
I also picked up a Core 15 at a great price, and it works great as well.
I have 7 Norincos in total...no issues. Obviously not on par with the fit and finish of more expensive firearms, but they do work, and generally offer a lower cost entry level option.
I also picked up a Core 15 at a great price, and it works great as well.
Had a Norinco CQ and had no problems. It ate the cheapest ammo I could buy. Only problems were when I tried to use other components. Some stuff here and there required a bit of fitment. That being said, there are american parts and receivers that have the same problems at a steeper price. Nothing wrong with a Norc.
