Norinco Olympia pistol 22LR only 199$

So I finally got the Olympia.
At this price point, it is really hard to complain about anything, as it seems pretty reliable and accurate thus far.
However I do have one complaint and it is about the magazines....complete junk in my opinion.
I haven't tried to take them apart yet, but it seems that the spring runs only on one side of it, which by itself is a design flaw and prone to binding.
They are very hard to load, regardless of the technique used (or whether I use the side tab or not).
The rounds keep jamming (likely due to the poor spring/follower geometry) and I have to bang the base plate against the bench, just so the rounds line up against the feeding lips with some spring tension behind them once loaded.
This is literally a complete opposite of my Bersa Thunder, which I had recieved a few weeks before and which is a total pleasure to load (the mags).
It is also possible, that both of the mags are bad...but this is not very likely, as one would think they should all suffer from the poor spring to follower geometry.
Would anyone here in this thread have any input on this issue?

My two mags load without special problems. In the beginning, the lead tips of the CCI Standards were getting stuck on the first hole in the mag. I filed the mag inside and it's good now. The second mag has been nearly perfect right from the beginning. Fact of the matter is that the follower spring is pretty strong. I agree that the mags are not the examples of superb design but IMO they are not that bad. On the other hand, I had a Norinco M93 and the mags were, indeed, better.
 
Mine was the same as this, has the same line. Also noticed by norinco coach gun has the same sorta thing going on

“Yes, that's normal. You can even see it in post#1. I wouldn't bother. It shoots great, anyway. I'm very happy with mine.”

Alright thanks, must be normal then. And oh yeah? Interesting its on both
 
So I finally got the Olympia.
At this price point, it is really hard to complain about anything, as it seems pretty reliable and accurate thus far.

However I do have one complaint and it is about the magazines....complete junk in my opinion.

I haven't tried to take them apart yet, but it seems that the spring runs only on one side of it, which by itself is a design flaw and prone to binding.

They are very hard to load, regardless of the technique used (or whether I use the side tab or not).
The rounds keep jamming (likely due to the poor spring/follower geometry) and I have to bang the base plate against the bench, just so the rounds line up against the feeding lips with some spring tension behind them once loaded.

This is literally a complete opposite of my Bersa Thunder, which I had recieved a few weeks before and which is a total pleasure to load (the mags).

It is also possible, that both of the mags are bad...but this is not very likely, as one would think they should all suffer from the poor spring to follower geometry.

Would anyone here in this thread have any input on this issue?


No issues with my mags, sorry to hear they are hard to load and jam. Hopefully you can modify them to make them work better.

If it makes you feel any better I have a couple kinks on mine, the rear sight was cut higher on one side, and the sights came way off. And standard velocity .22 doesn’t have enough power to eject rounds, but did a quick clean only, curious to see after a good clean and break in if that is still the case. And loading mags you have to depress mag release to insert.

Regardless I like it, it feels great in the hand, and pretty awesome trigger.
 
I was wondering about the sight adjustment too. Is the smaller screw on the right a set screw and the other side the adjustment screw? Tiny screws, both heads were battered pretty bad from the factory. I'm having a few ftf with quality ammo but will run a few hundred before I get worried...and will try filing the mag a bit. Best value gun purchase in years though I think. Really nice little gun to shoot and fits well. Getting great support from Marstar as always. Shout out to Payam for his excellent comms. This is my fifth purchase from them.
 
So I finally got the Olympia.
At this price point, it is really hard to complain about anything, as it seems pretty reliable and accurate thus far.

However I do have one complaint and it is about the magazines....complete junk in my opinion.

I haven't tried to take them apart yet, but it seems that the spring runs only on one side of it, which by itself is a design flaw and prone to binding.

They are very hard to load, regardless of the technique used (or whether I use the side tab or not).
The rounds keep jamming (likely due to the poor spring/follower geometry) and I have to bang the base plate against the bench, just so the rounds line up against the feeding lips with some spring tension behind them once loaded.

This is literally a complete opposite of my Bersa Thunder, which I had recieved a few weeks before and which is a total pleasure to load (the mags).

It is also possible, that both of the mags are bad...but this is not very likely, as one would think they should all suffer from the poor spring to follower geometry.

Would anyone here in this thread have any input on this issue?
Deleted
 
Last edited:
No issues with my mags, sorry to hear they are hard to load and jam. Hopefully you can modify them to make them work better.

If it makes you feel any better I have a couple kinks on mine, the rear sight was cut higher on one side, and the sights came way off. And standard velocity .22 doesn’t have enough power to eject rounds, but did a quick clean only, curious to see after a good clean and break in if that is still the case. And loading mags you have to depress mag release to insert.

Regardless I like it, it feels great in the hand, and pretty awesome trigger.

This is also what I thought, but force it in and it will get better. Give it a firm tap at the bottom, and it will get in (no ###ual reference).
 
Late to the party on ordering this one so still in the onterrible transfer Q with just under 20,000 to go so hopefully see it after xmas! I also ordered the spare mags and wood grips.

Of all the guns i ordered, for some reason this is the one that makes the top list of the one I look forward to getting the most. The price point was great and after watching a few UTube vid reviews it was a no brainer to order this one. If it holds together I think it will be one of the real hidden gems.
 
I took mine out to the range a few weeks ago. Shoots great. 6" groups off hand at 25 yards. With more practice and better ammo i'm sure i can tighten that up. Overall very happy and i had no issues with the magazines. I did have a few fail to eject on the first round. But that could be due to poor first cleaning.
 
Last edited:
This is also what I thought, but force it in and it will get better. Give it a firm tap at the bottom, and it will get in (no ###ual reference).

After shooting 600 rounds my magazines do not need any tap at the bottom, anymore. I can insert them with just a bit of force. With more shooting the Norinco Olympia (or more correctly the Jaeger) pistol is getting smoother and smoother. Some people are unhappy with magazines and other things but for $199+tax, the Norinco Olympia/Jaeger, is the best deal I've ever had in my nearly 50 years of shooting.
 
Last edited:
After shooting 600 rounds my magazines do not need any tap at the bottom, anymore. I can insert them with just a bit of force. With more shooting the Norinco Olympia (or more correctly the Jaeger) pistol is getting smoother and smoother. People are whining about magazines and other things but for $199+tax, the Norinco Olympia/Jaeger, is the best deal I've ever had in my nearly 50 years of shooting.

For sure, what a steal.
 
After shooting 600 rounds my magazines do not need any tap at the bottom, anymore. I can insert them with just a bit of force. With more shooting the Norinco Olympia (or more correctly the Jaeger) pistol is getting smoother and smoother. People are whining about magazines and other things but for $199+tax, the Norinco Olympia/Jaeger, is the best deal I've ever had in my nearly 50 years of shooting.

Deleted
 
Last edited:
I was wondering about the sight adjustment too. Is the smaller screw on the right a set screw and the other side the adjustment screw? Tiny screws, both heads were battered pretty bad from the factory. I'm having a few ftf with quality ammo but will run a few hundred before I get worried...and will try filing the mag a bit. Best value gun purchase in years though I think. Really nice little gun to shoot and fits well. Getting great support from Marstar as always. Shout out to Payam for his excellent comms. This is my fifth purchase from them.
It's just my take as I haven't disassembled the rear sight but I think that the sight is secured by tightening both screws securely against it. If you want to move the sight to the right you back off the right side screw and screw in the left side screw which moves the sight to the right by pushing against it. When you get to the desired position you tighten the right side screw to secure the sight. Reverse the process if you want to move the sight to the left. I would not want to do this too often as the screws are TINY and seem fairly soft so once I got the proper windage set up I have not touched them again.

Concurring with other posters I have found the gun quite accurate for what it is. The other big accuracy drawback beside the rear sight is the tiny front sight which is hard top pick up. However, I put some fluorescent red paint (covered with clear nail polish) on it which greatly improved its visibility. The front sight is not adjustable so the pistol shot consistently high but going with a larger target and a 6 o'clock hold brought the groups down and firing from a barricade support I am easily getting 3-4" groups from 25 yards.

As for dependability I have only had two misfires to date with a few types of ammo and both were dud rounds that failed to fire even after repeated solid firing pin strikes. Federal bulk pack ammo runs great (throws a nice muzzle flash too :d) and ejects very briskly. A couple different brands of standard velocity ammo also worked reliably but ejection was noticeably less brisk.

My hands are fairly large and I thought the plastic grips might be an issue but I have found the gun very comfortable to shoot.

Overall it was a fantastic deal for $200.
 
Whining??
I am curious why you would choose that word?
After all, you could have said "people are complaining" or even kinder, "some people are unhappy with"....

.....................

And for 200$, hard to beat, I agree.

O.K. I changed it to "some people are unhappy with". :)
 
Back
Top Bottom