Norinco cq-a 5.56x45
- Thread starter Andyman
- Start date
So 14,000 rounds....even the cheapest Nork ammo would have cost around 25 cents per, so over $3000 in ammo if you figure in tax etc.
Does saving $200 upfront buying a Nork over DPMS/PSA really make that much difference? A proper BCG will run that much if and when you have to replace it.
We know they are not 7075 upper/lower, we know the bolts are not 158 carpenter, we know there are fit and finish issues as well as out of spec components. When AR15's were $1200 minimum to get in the game, a Nork made sense and you could chalk up the flaws to the savings. But at $200 difference..... I think people are just short changing themselves now.
Unless of course you hardly ever shoot....then yeah, buy the cheapest dust collector you can lol
When AR15's were $1200 , Norc's were of lower quality. They are just plain better these days. NOBODY (including underpaid chinese workers) can build them THIS LONG without accidentally getting half-decently good at it. Norc AR's are worth the money. Not more, but they are certainly priced nicely for what you can do with them. I am not saying I won't splurge someday on a nice "$1500" AR , but until that time, a Norinco is more than enough. I also don't shoot competitively , so in the scope of what I wan't one for, it's almost a luxury to have ANY AR15, including a Norinco.
Bolivar
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You know you are making me a bit sad that I sold that to you eh? LOL.
sorry but if you ever make it up here to Yellowknife, you can shoot it all you want!!!!!!!!!!
Actually the best Nork AR I ever had was a CQ311 from the 80's...it was tight and accurate...headspace was 2 thou over min spec, well machined, and the only knock was that it had a painted finish. I sold it to Gunnar at Armco and I think he still has it.
I did buy one of the new CQA that are on for $529 and was pretty disappointed with the fit/finish and overall quality even for the price. The anodizing was flaking, there was paint in spots to hide parkerising flaws, tool marks and sharp edges everywhere, trigger and sear angles cut wrong, pin holes loose already. I ended up selling it without even firing it....lol
I'd say the quality has gone down not up...but if that is all you can afford and don't shoot much so can't justification spending more I get that.
But if you can pony up a few more $$ IRUNGUNS has had some fantastic deals....PSA middy with stainless barrel for $699, DPMS oracle for $525, Bushmaster carbines for $650, and Colt 6920 for $998 just for a few examples.
I had a CQ311 that a reservist friend of mine talked me out of. It was a bit more accurate than my 14.5" CQA , but could not be scoped and was what it was. I trained on a C7 while in the forces, so that was certainly nostalgic for me. But, after I realized that my eyes sucked 100x more than when I went through boot camp, I realized that I needed a flat top type AR if I wanted to bust anything beyond 25 yards.
I hear the oracles have lots of issues themselves.......................is this true?
I hear the oracles have lots of issues themselves.......................is this true?
I have seen some run well and some crash hard. I think TSC nailed it. I have also seen issues with springs on Norincos...most are made of spring steel, some are apparently made of ketchup.
FWIW, I can think of a couple of people on this forum who have "flawless" norcs that I have personally seen at the range dealing with multiple failures.
So just because there's lots of talk about how great they run, don't automatically conclude they run great.
FWIW, I can think of a couple of people on this forum who have "flawless" norcs that I have personally seen at the range dealing with multiple failures.
So just because there's lots of talk about how great they run, don't automatically conclude they run great.
Haven't seen or heard of any locally. There was a guy at the range with one in the summer that was accurate and reliable, it was his first time out with it.... I was shooting a new 20" build and on the 3rd round my brand new NEA bolt failed....so his Oracle was looking just fine that day lol
Garbage; unless out of spec components, poor materials, and fit and finish do not concern you. Allot of opinions on this forum are based solely on the "it's what I have/can afford, so its awesome" mentality.
There is no reason given the price drops on this platform to settle on a Norinco. A couple of years ago, sure, it made sense when everybody was trying to cash in on the gun scare, now not so much.
And don't get confused, this is not an entry level AR, it is a budget AR, pure and simple.
Well the fit and finish on mine recently purchased from Marstar is actually quite good. There are a couple little places where damage to the finish was touched up with paint but it wasn't a rattly piece of crap as some would have you believe. I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it and wouldn't you know it, not a single failure of any sort. No fail to feed, no fail to eject, no light primer strikes, no nothing. I don't expect that it's going to last the rest of my life, I plan to shoot it to pieces and move on.
I see that many people cry that there are american options for not much more, well I paid around $530 for mine. It came with sights already installed and two magazines, a usable sling (if you can't use it then figure it out) and a cleaning kit. I wanted the classic AR-15 look with a carry handle on a flat top, issued looking furniture and a gas block front sight. There weren't many options for that in American models and the ones I found were three times the cost.
All in all it's not a rifle I'll brag about the beauty of, but I betcha it'll chug through all the rounds I feed it for many years to come.
I see that many people cry that there are american options for not much more, well I paid around $530 for mine. It came with sights already installed and two magazines, a usable sling (if you can't use it then figure it out) and a cleaning kit. I wanted the classic AR-15 look with a carry handle on a flat top, issued looking furniture and a gas block front sight. There weren't many options for that in American models and the ones I found were three times the cost.
All in all it's not a rifle I'll brag about the beauty of, but I betcha it'll chug through all the rounds I feed it for many years to come.
WGT Consulting
Regular
- Location
- Quinte West Ontario
My opinion is based on thousands of rounds of flawless performance. This defiantly is an entry level AR. It will outlast most shooters! I would recommend them to anyone wanting to start learning how to use an AR. If you find you like it and you reach a skill level ( and budget ) were you feel the need for better equipment, then that will be the time upgrade and aply all the hard earned lessons from your Norinco!
Will
WGT
My CQA has about 2000 rnds through it. Bought it about 3 years ago and paid about $700.00 It has taken me through several 3 gun matches and never ever hiccuped. Prettiest rifle at the matches? No. But I have seen several higher priced AR's have issues. Not saying best one in market for price but it is reliable... at least mine is. Added Sparc sight, foregrip and CMMG trigger. All in about $1100. New ones are already $200 cheaper so sounds like a great deal to me.
Cheers
Cheers
I find it odd that the common theme with a lot of the Nork owners is all these other "expensive USA guns" have problems....and that they could only find similar guns to the Nork for "$1500".
I listed off some very good deals already that pretty well debunks that, and you only have to read the forum here for the weekly " Help! My new Nork has issues" and compare that to every other AR problem thread.
I recall one Les Baer thread where the rifle wouldn't function for ####, dozens of Nork won't work or Nork blew up threads. The only one that rivaled the Nork problems were the NEA rifles.... And they are just Norks made in Canada basically lol
I would have loved to have a cheap beater POS to let new shooters fire the crap out of, throw it around, not worry about scratches or dings....but the build quality left me with zero faith in the rifle lasting or taking abuse.
There are some OK Nork products, I still have a few in the safe.....but the AR ain't really up to par.
I listed off some very good deals already that pretty well debunks that, and you only have to read the forum here for the weekly " Help! My new Nork has issues" and compare that to every other AR problem thread.
I recall one Les Baer thread where the rifle wouldn't function for ####, dozens of Nork won't work or Nork blew up threads. The only one that rivaled the Nork problems were the NEA rifles.... And they are just Norks made in Canada basically lol
I would have loved to have a cheap beater POS to let new shooters fire the crap out of, throw it around, not worry about scratches or dings....but the build quality left me with zero faith in the rifle lasting or taking abuse.
There are some OK Nork products, I still have a few in the safe.....but the AR ain't really up to par.
In my case I wasn't able to find an AR outfitted the way I wanted with the gas block front sight, non free floating non railed front grip and the carry handle iron sights. Many of those cheaper AR's are cheaper than others because they leave things off. I entertained a S&W but the budget model lacks a forward assist and dust cover. Both of those aren't really necessary on a civilian rifle that will hit the range for fun but like the other silly things I wanted that aren't the new fangled upgrades I wanted all the buttons and flappy things. Really though, I have this antiquated idea that a rifle should be able to come out of the box and go into action. I don't want to have to order sights or slap an optic on it to be able to use it. I realize that many people will want to throw something new on right away, but personally I like starting with the basics. Also quick in my head math tells me that 525 American plus about 100 bucks for back up iron sights and a $25 import fee translates at our current exchange rate to about $732.
My norinco isn't a gorgeous example of craftsmanship carried by bearded supermen, it's a very functional and inexpensive way to dip your toes into the world of AR's. Pretty much any accessory you buy for it will also fit any new AR you may upgrade to in the future so why not take one for a spin of it floats your boat.
My norinco isn't a gorgeous example of craftsmanship carried by bearded supermen, it's a very functional and inexpensive way to dip your toes into the world of AR's. Pretty much any accessory you buy for it will also fit any new AR you may upgrade to in the future so why not take one for a spin of it floats your boat.
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This was $650 from IRUNGUNS when our dollar was above par.... A Chinese (NC Star) carry handle is like $30....just sayin.
Nobody is arguing that the Norks aren't the cheapest option, we are saying that for a few extra $$$ you can get much better quality.
Nobody is arguing that the Norks aren't the cheapest option, we are saying that for a few extra $$$ you can get much better quality.
mine runs flawlessly, I have the dom arms da556 c-8 relplica 14.5" from can am, had it out yesterday, spit out every shell into a neat little pile on the ground {100rds}, not 1 prob. it is a fun enjoyable rifle to shoot which to me is what its all about, I have shot $1500-$1700 ar's before and yeah they are better, not functionability but feel and such, I personsonally prefer to buy 3 or 4 different guns with my $1500 than 1. leaves more room for ammo etc. and also drives the fun factor way up. I am not one that believes if you don't spend $1200 on a firearm it sucks, my opinion anyway, also like to add that the owners manual suggests 6000 rds of life expectancy so 12000-14000 rds through it???? not too shabby.
