Norinco JW-25A Gold or Garbage?

.22LRGUY said:
On a side note~I do own a JW-15 "Backpacker". Can't bring myself to sell that little plinker. CZ mags fit great, handy size, light, decently accurate. That thing has been rained on/snowed on more times than I can even remember and it keeps coming back for more. Paid $175 for it, and for what I could get for it used~not worth selling.
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I'm kicking myself for selling mine. That thing was like a laser beam and perfectly sized for bushwhacking.
 
.22LRGUY said:
I wouldn't say they're gold or garbage~somewhere in between maybe. :)

Seriously though...for the price, I think they're decent/good guns. A little heavier than you might expect, I found the "wrist" in the stock to feel a little too thick for my liking. Sights were straight, mag sucked, CZ mags fit tight but worked. You had to work the bolt with some authority. All-in-all...great value, decently accurate, high on the "cool" factor. I found I never reached for mine after a year or so...so off it went. Have considered getting another, but I know I'll always reach for the CZ first.

On a side note~I do own a JW-15 "Backpacker". Can't bring myself to sell that little plinker. CZ mags fit great, handy size, light, decently accurate. That thing has been rained on/snowed on more times than I can even remember and it keeps coming back for more. Paid $175 for it, and for what I could get for it used~not worth selling.
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My exact findings also, but I have to say I think this is going to be my go to pest control and plinking rifle for the next little bit; I really like it... as for the JW-15 Backpacker, I want that so badly any ideas if they're still available anywhere? Just thought I'd ask before I start googling it.
 
Have one, had it for years. But plate was loose and the rear sight was off, like 20 degrees off to one side. But put a red dot sight on it and got some spare mags. Good rifle for the price, accurate with dynapoints.
Be well
 
I played with one today at my LGS, and seems decent. Heavier than I thought. Wood finish was darker compared to the photos posted here. Mag release was not hard to push. The safety seemed a little stiff.

Barrel looks like chrome lined? I used a barrel light and seemed to be lined. Owners confirm if true or not?
 
If you want the military 'look' go with the JW25, but if you just want a good shooter, I'd go with any of the variations of the JW 15-which shares the same BRNO knockoff action. I have two JW 15's,the regular length barrel,the JW15a Hiker,13'' barrel and the JW 23,.22magnum. All are excellent shooters .They made a thumbhole composite stock as well,that looked interesting and a better option than the softwood stock
 
OAL 30.5'' I'd like a handgun for shooting grouse,but since this is not an option,the short barreled Hiker is ideal,and probably more accurate,fits on my quad front gun rack without protruding out both sides and the synthetic stock means you don't worry about it getting beat up.Being clip,rather than tube fed,you can keep the clip in your pocket and you're good to go.I'm more than pleased
 
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I would buy or trade for another one if the opportunity arrives.
I think a used Cooey 75 in the original box, and some cash would put another one on my rack.
I just like military rifles.
 
I had one, didn't use it, gave it to a friend, kinda missed it but not enough to buy one again, came across one cheap, bought it and it's not going anywhere now. Soft wood, but it was pre scratched for me so it doesn't hurt my feelings to run through the bush with it. I put a compact ncstar 2-6 scope on it and it works with med or low rings and looks decent. Shoots well too. I also have the backpacker and that one has been here a few years. It shoots well too and takes abuse constantly and you would never know. I prefer the mag release especially on the shorty because it doesn't get hung up on stuff. I bought the Stevens shorties also but the mag release was so bad I sold them.
 
As of today at 13:00 my JW25A has approx 1200 rounds down its pipe... and not one, I repeat not one FTF and not one FTE since I polished up the inside of the magazine... it's still deadly accurate @ 50 yards (maybe not precision accurate but it will definitely kill a squirrel at 50 yards and that's accurate enough for me right now). I have fired Rem bucket-o-bullets, almost every 22LR CCI makes, Eley, Rem CeeBee's, Rem subsonic, Win 555's... it just chews up ammo 5 at a time (seriously have to break down and buy a couple of those weight in gold CZ452 mags).

I can't remember being this impressed this early on in a new sorta economical 22 purchase... Could be that I'm on a kick of buying everything bolt action as of late, but regardless I'm impressed. Took my dad out today to let him have a go at it and he was nailing everything with it too and took it home with him to play with... I have a sneaky suspicion I'm going to be in the market for another one if I ever want to see mine again LOL.
 
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ratherbefishin said:
OAL 30.5'' I'd like a handgun for shooting grouse,but since this is not an option,the short barreled Hiker is ideal,and probably more accurate,fits on my quad front gun rack without protruding out both sides and the synthetic stock means you don't worry about it getting beat up.Being clip,rather than tube fed,you can keep the clip in your pocket and you're good to go.I'm more than pleased
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Thanks for the o.a.l.
 
Your report on the JW25 is pretty much my experiance with all the JW15 variations,reliable, accurate ,cost effective good shooters.Funny,some people turn their nose up at 'Norinco' but if you are prepared to do a bit of polishing and cleanup,they're fine shooters that rival my BRNO in accuracy and function that they are a copy of.
The only thing you have to bear in mind is that once a shipment of NORINCO 22's is sold out,they don't seem to be able to get any more...I hesitated over the 94/22 model,waiting for reviews ...too late,out of stock,out of luck, no more expected..
 
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Bought one last fall from Canada Ammo. I put a Simmons 4X scope on it. Very accurate, even at 100 yards. Bolt has smoothed out very nicely. I couldn't get a CZ magazine to work, as the rounds tilted upwards and wouldn't feed into the chamber. No problem with the factory mag. Overall very good value for money.
 
I have one and keep it at the cabin for squirrels and pests. It feels nice in the hands and shoots well with a 4x scope. It will never be the Rifle of the Year, but what do you expect for 200 bucks.
 
I know I'm cross posting this but for the folks involved in this so far small thread, I thought I'd post some update pics of the Norinco plinker....

Today my K98 sling and see-through optics mount came in... so like a giddy kid I put it all together this evening.. for anyone wanting to know, the mount is perfect, not overly high but the see through is perfect to still use the open sights.







 
They're OK but I've had two and like the Norinco M14 rifles, the sights appear to be made by the high school shop class. I really didn't want to run a scope on a rifle like this, but the bolt did polish up nice and slick particularly after you deal with the nasty tool marks on the bottom.
 
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