This is meant to be a continuation, of sorts, of the discussion of Norinco metallurgy that started here:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34902&highlight=norinco
In the above thread, a number of claims were made and apparently accepted at face value. Though, I'm no metallurgist, I became interest in the subject and conducted some research. Not surprisingly, many claims regarding the superiority of the steel alloy used by Norinco turned out to be erroneous. And because many of these claims have apparently been accepted as truths and regurgitated in a number other threads, I believe that it would be helpful to refute them with factual accounts before they turn into another Internet urban legend. My goal is not to bash Norinco or create a sh*tstorm but rather to simply relay the facts that I came across in the course of my research.
In the thread linked above, three major claims were made:
1) Norinco pistols are made of the same alloy as Norinco's M14 knock-off
2) The steel that is being used is a 5100 series alloy
3) 5100 series alloy makes a great material for firearm parts because it is extremely hard (one poster, in particular, claims at every opportunity that Norinco steel is the best thing since sliced cheese because it "eats h.s.s. cutters").
All of these claims are either partially or completely false. First of all, Norinco M14 knock-offs do not use 5100 series steel. They are made of an alloy that is similar to 8620, the kind of steel used in USGI M14s. Here's a quote from Lee Emerson's very extensive M14 guide:
Smith Enterprise, Inc. has done extensive inspection, and non-destructive testing, and destructive examination of Chinese receivers. These inspections and tests have verified that Chinese M14 receivers are made of AISI 8620 equivalent alloy steel.
And second, 5100 series alloy is NOT an ideal steel alloy for high stress firearm parts. According to Emerson:
Chinese receivers are not made of high carbon alloy steel such as AISI 52100 or other such high chromium alloy steel. Equivalent AISI 5100 series steel is high carbon (1.0 to 1.1 %) alloy steel that is much too hard for a rifle receiver. Because it is a high carbon steel that is thorough hardened it lacks toughness and ductility needed for the M14 type rifle. AISI 52100 alloy steel is the most commonly used steel for bearings.
All of this leads to two possible conclusions. Either Norinco is made from steel that is too hard and brittle to be used in a firearm or the claim that Norinco uses 5100 alloy is yet another false rumor.
The quotes above were taken from Lee Emerson's M14 guide. He provides multiple references to substantiate his claims. You can download the guide here:
www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc
The facts relevant to this discussion can be found on page 106. Hope this was educational. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go dust off the good ole flamesuit and prepare for the onslaught of the legions of the Norinco faithful
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34902&highlight=norinco
In the above thread, a number of claims were made and apparently accepted at face value. Though, I'm no metallurgist, I became interest in the subject and conducted some research. Not surprisingly, many claims regarding the superiority of the steel alloy used by Norinco turned out to be erroneous. And because many of these claims have apparently been accepted as truths and regurgitated in a number other threads, I believe that it would be helpful to refute them with factual accounts before they turn into another Internet urban legend. My goal is not to bash Norinco or create a sh*tstorm but rather to simply relay the facts that I came across in the course of my research.
In the thread linked above, three major claims were made:
1) Norinco pistols are made of the same alloy as Norinco's M14 knock-off
2) The steel that is being used is a 5100 series alloy
3) 5100 series alloy makes a great material for firearm parts because it is extremely hard (one poster, in particular, claims at every opportunity that Norinco steel is the best thing since sliced cheese because it "eats h.s.s. cutters").
All of these claims are either partially or completely false. First of all, Norinco M14 knock-offs do not use 5100 series steel. They are made of an alloy that is similar to 8620, the kind of steel used in USGI M14s. Here's a quote from Lee Emerson's very extensive M14 guide:
Smith Enterprise, Inc. has done extensive inspection, and non-destructive testing, and destructive examination of Chinese receivers. These inspections and tests have verified that Chinese M14 receivers are made of AISI 8620 equivalent alloy steel.
And second, 5100 series alloy is NOT an ideal steel alloy for high stress firearm parts. According to Emerson:
Chinese receivers are not made of high carbon alloy steel such as AISI 52100 or other such high chromium alloy steel. Equivalent AISI 5100 series steel is high carbon (1.0 to 1.1 %) alloy steel that is much too hard for a rifle receiver. Because it is a high carbon steel that is thorough hardened it lacks toughness and ductility needed for the M14 type rifle. AISI 52100 alloy steel is the most commonly used steel for bearings.
All of this leads to two possible conclusions. Either Norinco is made from steel that is too hard and brittle to be used in a firearm or the claim that Norinco uses 5100 alloy is yet another false rumor.
The quotes above were taken from Lee Emerson's M14 guide. He provides multiple references to substantiate his claims. You can download the guide here:
www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc
The facts relevant to this discussion can be found on page 106. Hope this was educational. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go dust off the good ole flamesuit and prepare for the onslaught of the legions of the Norinco faithful
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