T 97 mag release

This is one of the reasons I sold my T-97's
such a flaw in the design.

I hope who ever brings in the T-97 in the future fixes this.

Actually well I am hoping for wild T-97 improvements how about a 5.45 russian version taking AK74 mags with a paddle mag release llike the T-95.......
 
I have :)

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I'm amazed how badly this rifle was designed. The railed top receiver that Canadians made makes this rifle so much better, and the magazine release design is unforgivable.
 
If you practice a bit the mag release is no big deal. Keep the rifle on target, hug mag with left hand, mag drops free.
Easy.
 
It looks like there is a bit of steel in place to retain a mag release directly behind the mag, as the other norc rifles have. Forcing my left hand to get around the mag to reach the standard button or use my thumb to hit a rear release is almost the same, and I'm comfortable with the old "reach-around." lol.

What would be NICE would be a mag release I can hit with my right hand without leaving grip. Either an index-finger based release like the AR pattern, or a thumb based release like... I guess, like a 1911.
 
If you practice a bit the mag release is no big deal. Keep the rifle on target, hug mag with left hand, mag drops free.
Easy.

This, or by using the rifle as it was designed and changing with your right hand. It's easy and ridiculously fast. Hold with left hand. Release right from grip. Tap eject while your hand is traveling back to grab a fresh mag. Mag drops free as you're grabbing fresh mag. Insert new mag. Shoot stuff.

Fiddling with new mag releases on the t97 is like putting a steering wheel on a motorcycle because you like the one in your car. Sure, it'll work. But it'll be awkward and not functioning how it was designed.
 
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This, or by using the rifle as it was designed and changing with your right hand. It's easy and ridiculously fast. Hold with left hand. Release right from grip. Tap eject while your hand is traveling back to grab a fresh mag. Mag drops free as you're grabbing fresh mag. Insert new mag. Shoot stuff.

Fiddling with new mag releases on the t97 is like putting a steering wheel on a motorcycle because you like the one in your car. Sure, it'll work. But it'll be awkward and not functioning how it was designed.

It is more like putting a new seat on your motorcycle because the stock one is too small and puts you in a awkward riding position.

I agree that the stock mag release is not a huge issue, with a bit of training and muscle memory it is not that bad. Having said that since I have installed my ambi release I have never and probably will never go back to using the stock configuration.
 
This, or by using the rifle as it was designed and changing with your right hand. It's easy and ridiculously fast. Hold with left hand. Release right from grip. Tap eject while your hand is traveling back to grab a fresh mag. Mag drops free as you're grabbing fresh mag. Insert new mag. Shoot stuff.

Fiddling with new mag releases on the t97 is like putting a steering wheel on a motorcycle because you like the one in your car. Sure, it'll work. But it'll be awkward and not functioning how it was designed.
Except when you look at the T97 and the QBZ95 it's pretty obvious that the T97 has just had an AR15 mag well slapped onto it to make it desirable for export with the least amount of engineering. The QBZ95's rock-in mag well works fine because it's ambidextrous by nature, the AR-type mag well is not.
I'll stick to my left side release as well.
 
I made this the first week I had the rifle. Works great.


That looks great! Can you upload a video of how it functions? CAN YOU MAKE MORE, PERHAPS? Another user used an airsoft clone of the Norgon ambi-catch. Works just fine with a little filing, apparently!

I think the coolest thing about the T97 is how individual Canadians are taking a rifle with some of the worst ergos of the century and making simple, dramatic improvements on their own initiative.

Like this single point mount I snagged from CGN user burdock - It's not just a bolt-in loop that takes the place of the takedown pin, it's cleverly designed to rotate in place! Assuming you're a righty, which you probably are if you want to shoot this thing without getting a facefull of dented brass.

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I got a mag change technique where I go for a new mag with my right hand, I haven't even release the old mag yet. bring the new mag up and use it to hit the side of the gun where the mag release it, old mag comes falling out, slap new mag in. I came up with the idea when I saw that Chinese troops use a new magazine to slap out the old mag on their QBZ-95. I realize its a different magazine release design but it works.

The safety on the Type 97 isn't an issue either because the safety doesn't in fact need to be turned all 180 degrees to turn it to safety. Only a quarter turn is needed just at the point where you can feel the safety ready to snap into fire.

My Type 97 is my favorite gun for the fact that it just works and works. I have never had an issue with the gun and with American Eagle 55gr BTFMJ or 55g FMJ, it shoots pretty damn well and with Chinese Surplus 5.56 it shoots well enough to have some cheap fun. Also should mention legal 5rd .50 Beowulf magazines and 10rd LAR-15 magazines. I have always been an iron sights kind of guy but I would love to find an original proprietary scope for the Type 97.
 
Duke878, Jarvy: When I first made the ambi release a little over a year ago, I thought about producing a few to sell but at the time there were no spare releases available for sale and I believe that is still the case. I modified the original release by welding the parts you see in my pic to it and would need a supply of oem releases to modify.

I didn't take enough pics while making it to make a how to write up because I figured most guys wouldn't have the proper tools (welder) to make their own.
 
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