Looking to get into AR on a budget

Nuggs

Nuggs

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Yeah I know, the title looks like contradiction in terms.

Basically my options are buy the cheapest thing going and upgrade / mod it slowly overtime (This pretty much leaves me at Norinco), or buy parts over an extended period and put it together myself.

Couple of questions for you guys:

1. WRT Norinco CQ-A, how is it for parts swapping with the rest of the AR family (I see contradictions here sometimes)?

2. Does anyone have experiances (good / bad) with Motiuk Upper / Lowers?
 
I cannot stress how true TDCs reply is. I started out with a Norinco and had problems from the get go. I upgraded to an Armalite and what a difference. It all depends on your budget but remember, you only have to buy the gun once, ammo is what's gonna bite you in the ass.
 
Motiuk ? Are you thinking of building one ?

You should hit up the EE. I've seen complete lowers for as low as $400. Then just get some parts together to build an upper.
It at least might give you an idea of what you can pull off for what price.
 
From what I've read here about Norincos, they are a great reliable rifle worth the money you pay for them, some people rave about them.
However, it's also been said that their tolerances compared to a typical AR are off enough that it makes parts upgrading difficult.
Seems they are a WYSIWYG rifle. Buy it for what it is and enjoy it.

If you want a Norc for an Intro to AR's rifle, sure why not, after all, you'll just get addicted like the rest of us and end up buying another better one in the future anyway.
 
Nothing wrong with a norc for your first,your going to buy another not too long after your first anyway well more likely build. Ask most people with ar's chances are they have more then 1. Get a norc then build something badass with a different barrel length next becouse you going to need a 10" and a 14" :D
 
Nuggs said:
Yes, That's why I was curious if anyone has experience with them.
Click to expand...

From what I've read, no one has had any problems with them. Canadian made and the price is right.
I almost bought a set from them, but went Dlask instead, only cause they did not have stock at the time.
I may yet buy from them.

I saw a complete CMMG lower on the EE for $375 shipped.
You can get Canadian made S&J barrels from Oneshot (~$215), they have S&J gas blocks too(~$50), and while your there, you can't go wrong with a DD BCG(~$200).
Cannot remember if they had gas tubes in stock.

On the EE, I saw a seller I've delt with before, has an Upper for $175 shipped.
Say another seller selling a BCG for $150.
Gas blocks and Handguards galore. $30 - $50
Saw a barrel nut for $20 from one guy, delta ring and charge handle from another $50.

Not sure where I going with this, I think you get the idea. Get on the EE, and you can peck away at it over time.
 
norinco is great quality for the money... im 2 years into mine, and I treat it like a tool... its been thrown, dropped, dragged, snowed on rained on, shot through dust mud ect ect....

minor issues with stuff getting loose over the thousands of rounds I have put into it, but really, spending 10 minutes to stake/locktite the castle nut, and replacing the lower cam pin spring with a bic spring is the only maintenance I have had to do on it, aside from wiping it down with a cloth and CLP every 500-1000 rounds or so....

I certainly have the money to spend on a noveske... but the need just isnt there, it wont be appreciably more accurate or reliable then what I have...

because what I have goes bang every time and hits what I shoot at every time (long as i do my part)

and it really doesnt get better then that
 
Nuggs said:
Basically my options are buy the cheapest thing going and upgrade / mod it slowly overtime (This pretty much leaves me at Norinco), or buy parts over an extended period and put it together myself.
Click to expand...

If these are really your only options at this time, I would say it depends where you are going with this. Do you plan on moding the Norinco until it is an entirely different gun? I’ve heard this can be quite a chore at times, ask BCBoy and Mystic Precision. Also, fitment maybe an issue.

But, really, if you just want a cheap AR, want to keep it more or less as it is, not too concerned about it being perfection, want to shoot the piss out of it and have some fun… get the Norinco. But seriously, don’t run out and spend $700 on stocks, grips, rails, triggers, and all the bells and whistles a week later… ‘cause that money would have been better served on the initial purchase… I know if it was me that’s what I would do…
 
blaxsun said:
My recommendations would be:
1. Get a Norc, and don't bother upgrading anything.
2. Save up a bit more and get something like a DD.
Click to expand...

:agree:

No point in bankrupting yourself only to find you don't like the platform or whatever. Buy the Norc, shoot it for while to see if you like having a restricted rifle and if an AR suits you and your type of shooting. If it does, then either sell the Norc and add $$$ to step up a level or two or save your pennies to buy something nicer while enjoying the Norc for what it is.


Mark
 
You said "budget" right? Not "save more money and buy a brand name one later"? Okay, easy answer, the only answer to your question - get a NORC. I've got 4000 rounds through mine so far, no issues. Obviously, there are lemons out there, but I haven't heard of any. Buy new, so if yours is *ucked, exchange it for a new one.
 
Plinking every once in a while and have a tight budget? Norinco

Won't be as nice to look at as the $2000 ar, but should be fine otherwise.

In the end, ammo cost will outweigh the rifle price several times over
 
Conte said:
From what I've read, no one has had any problems with them. Canadian made and the price is right.
I almost bought a set from them, but went Dlask instead, only cause they did not have stock at the time.
I may yet buy from them.

I saw a complete CMMG lower on the EE for $375 shipped.
You can get Canadian made S&J barrels from Oneshot (~$215), they have S&J gas blocks too(~$50), and while your there, you can't go wrong with a DD BCG(~$200).
Cannot remember if they had gas tubes in stock.

On the EE, I saw a seller I've delt with before, has an Upper for $175 shipped.
Say another seller selling a BCG for $150.
Gas blocks and Handguards galore. $30 - $50
Saw a barrel nut for $20 from one guy, delta ring and charge handle from another $50.

Not sure where I going with this, I think you get the idea. Get on the EE, and you can peck away at it over time.
Click to expand...

You certainly can source the various parts as Conte has pointed out. Remember, however, that depending on how complete the parts are you may have a difficult time assembling them without the proper tools.

For example, you need a barrel wrench to mate the barrel to the upper and something to hold the assembly while you're doing it (upper receiver block or barrel vice clamps). If you can borrow these from someone that's OK but if you have to buy them they add to the cost. I assembled my first AR over 20 years ago with a minimum of proper tools and it was a frustrating experience. Plus, if you don't know what you're doing you risk damaging the parts.

Sure, everyone wants a Noveske or LMT or some similar high end gun but if you don't have the money, start with a Norinco and move up when you have the extra cash. As long as you maintain it you'll probably never lose more than a $100 on resale and it will go quick. You'll lose far more on the resale of a high end gun and they often take longer to sell.

Once you have determined that the AR game is for you then dump the big coin on a top quality unit but until you reach that stage I think the Norc is the way to go.
 
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