Looking for info on Norinco AR-15 Parts

Deckard said:
I was thinking about getting a CQ. Then the price jumped $100 'just because'. For $100 more than that the Lever Arms 'C7A2' is a far better rifle.
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Speaking of C7s, What is really the different between the M16 and the C7?
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You won't find a hooded front sight. They were for select-fire early production models of the Norinco 311. I have found this out through my own searching for it. 99.9% of export models did not have it, no Civilian ones ever did. The shorty 311 you saw was locally cut down that way, I've read the article that's from. Norinco has only made the 311 (A1 clone) and 311 CQA (M4A1) no other AR-15 style guns though they did make a 10 inch M933 Commando style upper for the CQA it was never renamed anything at least the select fire export versions.
 
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folffairport said:
You won't find a hooded front sight. They were for select-fire early production models of the Norinco 311. I have found this out through my own searching for it. 99.9% of export models did not have it, no Civilian ones ever did. The shorty 311 you saw was locally cut down that way, I've read the article that's from. Norinco has only made the 311 (A1 clone) and 311 CQA (M4A1) no other AR-15 style guns.
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Thank you for the info! I actually figured I wouldnt find the hooded front sight but it was worth asking. Now that I know they only made a few of them I wont ask for them if I contact places. Would you happen to have a link to the article you found out the Shorty was locally cut down? Would love to read it.
 
I read it forever ago, don't really have a link. It was basically an article about a guy in the late 80s / early 90s who was a military advisor to some group of anti-government forces in Burma and one kid had a 311 the locals cut down. I remember they had practically no .223 caliber weapons and the kid with the cut down 311 was proud to have announced he had 7 bullets for it. Other than that they didn't really talk much about the guns, the writer himself didn't know what the gun was until someone pointed out in comments it was a Norinco 311 and I think the guy had responded in the comments and not the article they said it was cut down locally or something like that.
 
They sat there are about 20 improvements in the C7 over the M16. I dunno. Diemaco screwed up the M203. I was referring to the better Lever Arms A2 type. Over the 311 you get a better barrel profile with different twist rate, A2 birdcage, case deflector, detachable carry handle with A2 sights, pic rail, ambi safety, and ambi mag release. I can't see the point of the 311 now.
 
folffairport said:
I read it forever ago, don't really have a link. It was basically an article about a guy in the late 80s / early 90s who was a military advisor to some group of anti-government forces in Burma and one kid had a 311 the locals cut down. I remember they had practically no .223 caliber weapons and the kid with the cut down 311 was proud to have announced he had 7 bullets for it. Other than that they didn't really talk much about the guns, the writer himself didn't know what the gun was until someone pointed out in comments it was a Norinco 311 and I think the guy had responded in the comments and not the article they said it was cut down locally or something like that.
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Huh, Interesting
 
I have often thought the lack of appreciation for the uniqueness of the Norinco 311 shows how unsophisticated Canadian AR-15 owners are. Every Small Arms of the World type of reference book published since the 80s showed images of the Norc, and very few are seen around the world, but Canadians tore them apart as soon as they got hands on them, with a look of disgust on their faces. With the strong trend towards retro and historical models of AR in the USA it should have been obvious that the Chinese furniture would be desireable to folks who were serious students of the AR-15.

I myself have rescued one full set (pistol grip, foreends, stock) and one partial set (no pistol grip) strictly with the intent of selling them on Gunbroker one day when I was bored and the market seemed strong. If the OP hasn't been able to find his yet, he is free to contact me.
 
I used a friend's 311 to compete successfully against A2s. It holds its own, maybe because it's lighter. The hate Norc is a bit about the previously poor finish (paint) and tool marks. However, it's mostly about gun snobbery. For a while all ARs were $1500-1800 and the $500 rifles offended their ego -especially if someone can out shoot them.
 
BattleRife said:
I have often thought the lack of appreciation for the uniqueness of the Norinco 311 shows how unsophisticated Canadian AR-15 owners are. Every Small Arms of the World type of reference book published since the 80s showed images of the Norc, and very few are seen around the world, but Canadians tore them apart as soon as they got hands on them, with a look of disgust on their faces. With the strong trend towards retro and historical models of AR in the USA it should have been obvious that the Chinese furniture would be desireable to folks who were serious students of the AR-15.

I myself have rescued one full set (pistol grip, foreends, stock) and one partial set (no pistol grip) strictly with the intent of selling them on Gunbroker one day when I was bored and the market seemed strong. If the OP hasn't been able to find his yet, he is free to contact me.
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I am definitely interested! I sent you a PM but wasnt sure if you got it. If you could PM me some pics we can go from there
 
Overwatch3985 said:
Other then the fore end, pistol grip and the butt stock are there any other differences that the M311-1 has that other ARs dont?
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In my opinion they took samples captured in Vietnam and reverse engineered them in metric as close as they could. The gas block is rough. The finish was just okay. They were meant for cash sales to #### holes and in semi for America. The Clinton ban made them languish in a warehouse. The boxes they came in were mildewed.

A friend asked me to put a CAR stock on his 311. Being metric the threads don't match but I was able to install one anyways. The new 311s are much better in fit and finish and come in 1:12 and 1:7. They are great. My earlier point is that the C7A2 is much better. But those went through a period of shoddy finish too. Some factories painted them and the paint was flaky when you bought the gun. So we shopped around for the vendors who had the best finish.
 
Anyone tell you the weird "MINDEN" marking on the right side of the mag well? Nobody seems to know what it means from what I have seen. I believe it only appears on Canadian civilian ones. There are however several states in the US with a town by that name as well as one in Germany. There are also different left side receiver markings per version and what country the rifle is exported to and whether or not it's a civilian or select fire version. Ones in the middle east as of late turn up with no markings what so ever. It should be pointed out that Iran makes it (whether by Norinco license, laughably because it's an unlicensed clone, even though I believe the patent for the design is now dead but wasn't at the time of the 311's first appearance, or unlicensed I don't know) and again same situation with Sudan. They make it same specs, same furniture, but Iran seems to make theirs in a sort of rip off of US digital camo pattern paint jobs. Iran's special forces and police only seem to use them now though as they have the Khyber 2000 (I think that's what it's called) which is actually a bullpup redesign of the 311. The 311 was actually supplied by the Chinese to Mujahadeen and similar groups in the Russian Afghan war in small numbers where it was reportedly disliked for reliability issues (which I'm sure wasn't the gun necessarily so much as the fact they used their guns to death and probably didn't clean or maintain them regularly, look at the beat up guns they find today and back then) and they tend to scoff at .223, Norinco M14s were also supplied. Interestingly enough, I have heard fake US markings were put in the Norinco guns because it wasn't any secret we were arming and helping the anti-Soviet resistance groups at the time and China figured it'd be an easier way to deny anything if openly brought up politically. (China and Russia have been in tension for decades despite communism.) Several third world countries who have made their own AR-15 variants locally have actually used the 311 as a basis instead of regular AR-15 designs, keeping metric dimensions. I find it funny that Sudan used to use the AR-10 (one of the few countries who actually did, and made it locally under license) and nowadays use a local copy of the 311 (metric differences, unlicensed, Chinese instead of US or licensed production of reputable company.) I mean they are a third-world country, but the fact they went from first world standards to third world (though I'm sure cheaper,) standards is interesting, historically and politically speaking. I'm sure it had to do with the AR-10 being bought and paid for by either colonial or post-colonial aid and because it's similar and they probably no longer get aid and aren't a colony any more, they just went to the cheapest modern option.
 
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Overwatch, I totally forgot I promised pictures. I have to go out of town tomorrow so it will be a couple of days until I can anything detailed, but until then here is something to wet your whistle:

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