Norinco T-97

[woodlotowner]

There is probably a thread on this, but who shoots the T-97? I have had mine out a few times, once to 3 Gun, and it is a true cheap POS that works surprisingly well and is accurate. The bullpup design is surely a different hold, but one gets used to it. Magazines are the issue on these rifles it would seem. After cycling through 4 different types, I have found the XCR mags are absolutely the best and fit right out of the package with no modifications in the vise needed to make them fit the mag well. Definitely fun to shoot and being non-restricted means one can take them to any range any time with no papers, Comrade.

 

[Shorerider]

I plink with mine. I have one LAR mag that won’t work. It’s stiff going in and goes too far up so the bolt won’t move. I need to pay attention and mark which one so I can check and see how it functions in my AR but I don’t remember ever having an issue in my AR with any of them.

 

[woodlotowner]

I plink with mine. I have one LAR mag that won’t work. It’s stiff going in and goes too far up so the bolt won’t move. I need to pay attention and mark which one so I can check and see how it functions in my AR but I don’t remember ever having an issue in my AR with any of them.

The plastic ones work, once modified to fit, but I left one loaded in the lock-up for a few days and it ballooned to the point where the cartridges were launching themselves with a little lateral squeeze of the mag. Kind of comical actually, but not too functional. Again, the XCR mags are plug and play if you need additional mags.

Woodlot

 

[tenringbound]

I had to do some filing in the magwell to get my LAR mags and Pmags to fit but now they work flawlessly.

 

[Jarvy]

I like mine. They're simple but they work, and I've gotten excellent accuracy considering what it is. There are enough aftermarket options now to make it viable as anything other than "unusual range toy"

 

[diegocn]

I found t97 work best with the steel cased barnaul ammo. It has a tendency to destroy brass ammo and cause dangerous situation (projectile pushed into the case creating high pressure).

It's surprising accurate consider how much it costs. I think it's on the same level as a stock tavor. The iron sights are actually pretty nice too.

And I agree mag, mag release, and safety is the main culprit of this rifle.

 

[SustainingGopher]

Try using the CPD mags. I have 3 5/30 mags and 3 LAR mags and they all function flawlessly and drop free. My serial starts with 140 is that helps. The gen 2 pmags also function well and drop free but gen 3 pmags will not.

Decent accuracy out of mine as well, best results were with 75 grain 5.56 Hornaday match, but I get decent group with 62 grain PMC.

Gotta disagree with the sights. It could be just my eyes but I find the front sight has a tendency to blend in with the rear sight. I put an eotech on mine and I find it much better.

 

[DVX]

Been running mine for about 3 years now. Got the Gen 1 with an FTU. About 3-4 months after getting it (and having it work flawlessly), it began pushing the bullet into its casing every other round when either racking it or after ejecting a spent casing. Sent it back to where I got it (Bullseye London) for repair. Got it back, and put thousands of rounds of various quality, with a variety of magazines, and not a single FTF/FTE since. Very happy with mine. I still ended up getting a Tavor, but both see equal range time. It's also a whole lot less bulky than a Tavor, and easier to carry around.