Norc CQ M4 vs NEA AR-15

I'm thinking a used LMT or Stag. Resale value on either will be a lot higher than Norc or NEA, and the quality is certainly there.

On the flip-side, if resale value is an issue, there are enough Norcs out there already that you can look for one on the EE after the initial buyer has eaten the depreciation; just like buying a used car.



from what i read on this forum, there are more NEAs having issue than Norc.

The NEA is a new product. Just like new cars, electronics, software, etc. there will almost certainly be teething problems. The cost of being an early adopter.

The difference with the Norinco CQ is that it isn't a new product. Even the M4 clone has been out for a few years, so someone else got to do the bug testing.
 
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If a person wanted a real nice economy AR they would start with the Norc, upgrade to a precision barrel and match trigger then upgrade the rest as parts became available cheaply on the EE.... For under $1500 you would have yourself A tac driver in sheeps clothing instead of buying an expensive scatter gun and being too proud to admit it.
 
If a person wanted a real nice economy AR they would start with the Norc, upgrade to a precision barrel and match trigger then upgrade the rest as parts became available cheaply on the EE.... For under $1500 you would have yourself A tac driver in sheeps clothing instead of buying an expensive scatter gun and being too proud to admit it.

I have to disagree - the value is not there. If you dump $1000 into a $600 Norinco AR, the rifle will not be worth $1600. It will be work maybe $800 in the EE.

A used dressed-up Norinco for sale is still just a cheap beater, no matter how much you dress it up.
 
I have to disagree - the value is not there. If you dump $1000 into a $600 Norinco AR, the rifle will not be worth $1600. It will be work maybe $800 in the EE.

A used dressed-up Norinco for sale is still just a cheap beater, no matter how much you dress it up.

Sadly, that kind of common sense has not caught on in the EE, where everyone seems to believe that because they Tapco####ed the thing it's suddenly a valueable, custom rifle with a four figure price tag.

My opinion is it's a $500 Chinese beater that lost 1/3 it's value when a noob used it to introduce himself to the AR platform by sticking airsoft parts on it...but that's just me.
 
If I was buying an inexpensive AR at this point in time, I'd give the Norc a try first. I've seen the old stuff and it wasn't that great but the most recent production appears to be far better fit & finish and less issues compared to the NEA based AR.
 
Why people still comparing a $650 Norinco to a $1000 NEA?
Should a NEA compare to a let's say CORE15?
A torture test between a Norinco and a NEA, I will go for a Norinco.
To the OP if you want to buy an AR NOW, I would suggest go for a Norinco.
NEA IMO is not there yet.
 
I have to disagree - the value is not there. If you dump $1000 into a $600 Norinco AR, the rifle will not be worth $1600. It will be work maybe $800 in the EE.

A used dressed-up Norinco for sale is still just a cheap beater, no matter how much you dress it up.

I agree with your last point, a low priced Norinco new will be a low priced Norinco used. You can't get around the low starting price and low opinion folks have of the quality of the build. I personally have kept this in mind when changing out parts on my Norc (DD forend, MIAD Grip, CTR Stock, AFG, BCM charging handle, Black Hawk single point sling mount - I think that's it) for functional purposes or just cause I like them. Each can be easily removed and the rifle returned to stock form if/when I decide to sell it. The the removed parts can be sold for fair value or used on another rifle.

However, the poster was talking about how to make a tack driving rifle for cheap, not increase the value on resale. If it gets the poster a rifle that shoots the way he/she wants there is no reason not too. Not every firearm decision is or should be based on resale value IMO.
 
Sadly, that kind of common sense has not caught on in the EE, where everyone seems to believe that because they Tapcof**ked the thing it's suddenly a valueable, custom rifle with a four figure price tag.

My opinion is it's a $500 Chinese beater that lost 1/3 it's value when a noob used it to introduce himself to the AR platform by sticking airsoft parts on it...but that's just me.

Yeah, I shake my head at folks asking for full retail value of their add ons. But to be fair, not all upgrades are made from junk parts. Hence my idea to take of the add ons on mine eventually and sell the rifle in stock form so somebody else who is looking for a low priced starting point to the AR platform can have one.

Maybe.....we will see. Mine has at least one more shooting season in it for me and probably more.
 
And to be completely fair to NEA my buddy just bought a Norc 10.5 and it had a problem. Bad extractor caused double feeds 100% of the time. No warranty from Norinco.....but Epps fixed it in about 5 minutes for no charge. My buddy is very happy.

Now if I can just convince him to get out to some matches and shoot the god damn thing. He is overly attached to long range shooting with heavy barrelled bolt actions. Nobody is perfect :D
 
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