Norinco NR15A

[Lever30]

Temptation struck again with Tenda's recent promo of the NR15s and JW15s. I already tried a couple of JW15s, they were fine as long as you resigned yourself to using CZ magazines, the originals were pretty unreliable and difficult to fix. The NR seems to be an updated version with a few minor changes:

1. The magazines are a straight stick style, 9rds
2. The safety is oriented differently than the JW15 safety, but similar mechanism.
3. The stocks are different designs - one conventional sporting (or sproting), and the other a thumbhole.
4. The bedding system is different, with action screws at the front and back of the receiver held in with dovetailed lugs.
5. Threaded barrel 1/2-20.
6. The firing pin is a 2pc affair.

There are probably some other details, but the basic rifle is the same. It seems the machining and production standards are considerably higher than the most recent JW15s. The trigger mechanism is the same Brno 1 or Mauser style, unfortunately Norinco didn't decide to try and copy the Brno 2/CZ 452 triggers. It's OK though. I ended up getting one of the thumbhole stock versions. It's very solid and fits well for shooting. The comb is a bit higher too, so better when scoped.

Did a range test today and didn't have any issues - the feeding, firing, extraction, and ejection all worked perfectly. Tried 3 magazines, they all worked great.

It took quite a few rounds before the barrel seemed to settle in and give some OK groups. You don't expect a $200 Norc to give you CZ (or even Savage) accuracy, so no surprises there. Still, after about 250-300 rounds, the accuracy took a significant jump up from the start. I haven't (and won't) borescope it, but usage definitely improved accuracy. It seemed to like Eley Club, SK Std+, S&B Cdn Match, and CCI Blazer. The last couple groups with CCI Std seemed to improve quite a bit too.

If you're looking for an inexpensive 22, pretty hard to beat these guys, at least when on sale.

 

[Arcosdad]

Thanks for the detailed report Lever. Very helpful. I've been pondering one of these because I'm a fan of the "ergonomic" stock due to my right wrist arthritis. I have a Scorpio and really like it. Just not sure I like the FDE colour but it probably grows on you! It actually looks kind of sharp on the table.

 

[legi0n]

those are decent groups if at 50y or further

 

[Lever30]

legi0n, the groups are at 50yd, should have mentioned that.

Arcosdad, the stock is very comfortable and like I mentioned heavy. The rifle without scope is around 7lb, so it's no lightweight. I had a couple of Scorpios as well, I liked those stocks a lot more than I thought I would. This NR15 isn't quite at the 'quality' level of the Scorpio and the trigger definitely isn't as good. As far as the color, you could always paint it. I like the spatter finish paints. As long as you put on a coat or two of clear, they last a very long time too.

 

[horseman2]

These rifles were knock offs of some excellent European rifles.
The variations in the model numbers would have kept a statistician busy.

 

[Meroh]

Temptation struck again with Tenda's recent promo of the NR15s and JW15s. I already tried a couple of JW15s, they were fine as long as you resigned yourself to using CZ magazines, the originals were pretty unreliable and difficult to fix. The NR seems to be an updated version with a few minor changes:

1. The magazines are a straight stick style, 9rds
2. The safety is oriented differently than the JW15 safety, but similar mechanism.
3. The stocks are different designs - one conventional sporting (or sproting), and the other a thumbhole.
4. The bedding system is different, with action screws at the front and back of the receiver held in with dovetailed lugs.
5. Threaded barrel 1/2-20.
6. The firing pin is a 2pc affair.

There are probably some other details, but the basic rifle is the same. It seems the machining and production standards are considerably higher than the most recent JW15s. The trigger mechanism is the same Brno 1 or Mauser style, unfortunately Norinco didn't decide to try and copy the Brno 2/CZ 452 triggers. It's OK though. I ended up getting one of the thumbhole stock versions. It's very solid and fits well for shooting. The comb is a bit higher too, so better when scoped.

Did a range test today and didn't have any issues - the feeding, firing, extraction, and ejection all worked perfectly. Tried 3 magazines, they all worked great.

It took quite a few rounds before the barrel seemed to settle in and give some OK groups. You don't expect a $200 Norc to give you CZ (or even Savage) accuracy, so no surprises there. Still, after about 250-300 rounds, the accuracy took a significant jump up from the start. I haven't (and won't) borescope it, but usage definitely improved accuracy. It seemed to like Eley Club, SK Std+, S&B Cdn Match, and CCI Blazer. The last couple groups with CCI Std seemed to improve quite a bit too.

If you're looking for an inexpensive 22, pretty hard to beat these guys, at least when on sale.

Firing pin looks to be a better design than the JW15; mine anyway. Much better finish on the bolts.

 

[*lawrence]

These rifles were knock offs of some excellent European rifles.
The variations in the model numbers would have kept a statistician busy.

Brno sold the equipment to the Chinese eons ago to make their own rifles (basically under license) so not really knock offs.

 

[Meroh]

Brno sold the equipment to the Chinese eons ago to make their own rifles (basically under license) so not really knock offs.

That seems to be the case with the Scorpio and Anschutz. I do not believe that this is correct regarding the Brno 1. The NR, having a different mag well, different magazines, Trigger is a completely different design. The last bunches of JWs that came in have quite early dates. Your NR appears to have an import mark of 2024. Much later. I also noted abive the very poor fit and finish on the JW compared to the pictures posted for the NR. Looks to me like they revamped their whole process. Looks also like the mag well has a spacer. I wonder if the mags are the same as the Scorpio mags; they work very well. Bought tooling or not, they are clones. Some better than others. Their 1911s are excellent performers as are the NZ 85B, their Sig clone is excellent, as are their .22 pistols. Some are so close, parts interchange. In the case of the NZ 85, one of the best clones of the CZ 75, but not Identical; the slide looks like that of the Sphinx, another CZ clone. First one is the NZ 85, second, the Tanfoglio Witness, and finally, the CZ 75.

In light of our political climate; if your rifle wants to "identify" as a Brno; who are the rest of us to say otherwise? I'm old school, it is a clone; and possibly, compared to my JW, a really good clone. My NZ 85 B is a really good clone as is my 1911; but they are neither CZs nor Colts; they are Norks, and fiercely proud of it!!!

 

[TANK1867]

 

[Arcosdad]

That stock is definitely growing on me...

 

[TANK1867]

That stock is definitely growing on me...

It is somewhat ugly but nothing some imagination and spray paint won't fix.
It is also surprisingly comfortable to hold, as I posted in the Tenda NR15 thread my only regret is that I only bought two of them. Fantastic bang for the buck right up there with the old Norc pistol deals.

 

[Arcosdad]

It is somewhat ugly but nothing some imagination and spray paint won't fix.
It is also surprisingly comfortable to hold, as I posted in the Tenda NR15 thread my only regret is that I only bought two of them. Fantastic bang for the buck right up there with the old Norc pistol deals.

Yes, I wasn't as fast as Meroh on center-fire pistols but I did pick up a Norc Olympia in 22 LR from Marstar before the ax fell. $199. Just a beautiful little gun,all steel. Walther knockoff.

 

[Lever30]

Don't even get me started on Chinese 870 knock-offs....

 

[Lever30]

Meroh - Your question about the magazines - the NR15 mags are different than Scorpio EM332 mags. Scorpio mags are kind of double-stack with a curve in them, while the NR15 magazines are single stack type and straight. Both work great and are infinitely better than the newer JW15 ones, which seem to have been assembled by the 'F-team' in the Norc factory. Then coated in gritty phosphate finish on the inside too to make sure they don't feed.

The JW-15s I tried I had bought last year were marked 2024, so newer production as well. I have a hard time understanding why any Norc factory would put out rifles with so many issues, when they used to make the same thing 10 years earlier and they were fine. Yes, they are cheap rifles built on older machinery, but surely someone there tried to run through a magazine at some point. It's too bad, the design and materials are actually pretty good.

 

[*lawrence]

That seems to be the case with the Scorpio and Anschutz. I do not believe that this is correct regarding the Brno 1. The NR, having a different mag well, different magazines, Trigger is a completely different design. The last bunches of JWs that came in have quite early dates. Your NR appears to have an import mark of 2024. Much later. I also noted abive the very poor fit and finish on the JW compared to the pictures posted for the NR. Looks to me like they revamped their whole process. Looks also like the mag well has a spacer. I wonder if the mags are the same as the Scorpio mags; they work very well. Bought tooling or not, they are clones. Some better than others. Their 1911s are excellent performers as are the NZ 85B, their Sig clone is excellent, as are their .22 pistols. Some are so close, parts interchange. In the case of the NZ 85, one of the best clones of the CZ 75, but not Identical; the slide looks like that of the Sphinx, another CZ clone. First one is the NZ 85, second, the Tanfoglio Witness, and finally, the CZ 75.

In light of our political climate; if your rifle wants to "identify" as a Brno; who are the rest of us to say otherwise? I'm old school, it is a clone; and possibly, compared to my JW, a really good clone. My NZ 85 B is a really good clone as is my 1911; but they are neither CZs nor Colts; they are Norks, and fiercely proud of it!!!
View attachment 1123076
View attachment 1123075

View attachment 1123077

It was the Brno No.1 tooling that was sold to China. They've copied everything else.

 

[Lever30]

Happy Easter folks - Just another shooting update. Was able to get to the range this morning. I really wanted to try as much cheap ammo as possible to see what works well in the NR15. Some decent but not as consistent groups with Aguila SV, Federal Gold Medal HV Match, S&B Canadian Match, and Federal Champion HV. Cheap rifles are great, but better if they can shoot cheap ammo reasonably well. Aguila SV, S&B Canadian Match, and Federal Champion HV all fit the bill, so that's good news. I ran quite a bit of CCI Standard and Blazer through it, and got the odd good group, but not consistently. So that's not good news.

One other observation, the rifle likes to take 10-20 rounds of a new ammo type before it begins to group well. It's more sensitive to lube/bullet type/velocity changes than most other 22s I've owned. Yes, we've all heard of the 'lube shift' and it's a real thing, but notable with this NR15.

5 shot groups at 50 yds.

It's a pleasant 22 to shoot, especially cuz the magazines work well and in general it has a very mechanical feel to it. The weight and barrel length help to keep it stable when shooting too. Not bad Norinco, not bad.