The T97 Thread!

I was looking to buy a T97 within the next month, I had questions and I guess this is the place to ask them. The only reason I haven't yet buy one it that I'm still thinking about saving that 1000$ for an AR-15...The AR is still restricted, may be it will be reclassified as NR following C-42, may be not...so buying a T97 is a safer choice cause it's already NR.
I've been in the Canadian Reserve Forces for over 2 years ( Signals :) ) so I got to know the AR/C7 fairly well, and I would personally prefer an AR over a T97, but there's the restricted/non-restricted thing...I grew up in a remote region, I like to go there every summer and bring a few rifles, I travel between Quebec and Ottawa to meet with friends and bring rifles to shoot, so having a restricted rifle that I can't move anywhere else is a deal breaker. But before putting 1000$ in a gun that I only saw once in a store on a shelf, I would like to know a few things.



1-How is the maintenance on that gun, mostly cleaning compared to an AR, I watched few video of a T97 been strip down but no-one seems to give info about where carbon builds up the most, for example on an AR I would spend much more time cleaning the area around the gas key and inside the bolt carrier where gas is fed than cleaning the buffer spring :p . Also is there part that are more challenging to clean, again compared to an AR, I would say the space beyond the locking lugs around the chamber is much less easy to clean compared to...say..the locking lugs on the bolt itself ^.^
So basically if I don't mind cleaning an AR will I find cleaning a T97 easier, the same or harder ? I get that having a piston means that unlike the AR, I won't get hot gas purposely fed back in the bolt assembly, but having a SKS I know that even with a piston, some carbon end up everywhere around the bolt anyway.

2-How does the ergonomics feels, the safety seems to be positioned at an awkward location, changing a mag seems to required a bit more work, but I think I can get used to it, did it pose anyone problems ?

3-Does LAR-15 mags and PCV-50 (GEN2) mags work well ? I saw that someone got the second one to work by filling the magwell. Does the gun works with both "military" 5.56x45 and "civilian" .223 REM, they are technically different but close enough that many use them interchangeably. Can I do it or not, should I use only one of them?

4-A weird question, how many T97 do you think there is in Canada, basically, I want to know how easily the federal could reclassify it...say they want to reclassify the SKS, there's over 75000 SKS in circulation which makes a bigger challenge for a reclassification, more owner complaining, bigger class-action, harder to do it without compensation etc...

5-How satisfy are you from your T97, anyone think I might be disappointed by the T97 knowing I spent over 2 years using a C7 / AR platform, a rifle I like and wish I could own non-restricted someday.

Thanks for helping me knowing more about the T97.
 
Maintenance and cleaning is easy... Probably easier than an AR since it's a piston gun not DI

Safety is annoying if you use it, mag release some people don't like. I don't mind it. There is a lower coming out to fix this.

Mine works with LAR and beo mags. 5.56 and .223 are fine

I've heard anywhere from 3000-10000. I doubt I'tl get reclassified

And I love it, top 1 or 2 favorite guns
 
I gave a phone call to my local store yesterday to know if they had any in stock, if it was only on special orders etc... they didn't have any new but turned out someone who has bought one not long ago decided it wasn't is kind of gun, he returned it in exchange for a SR-22.

So, I took it, it looked in good shape from the exterior and inside the receiver as well, it had not been cleaned so I got to know where the gun gets dirty and how much, one curious thing, the gas regulator was so dirty, I had to pry it open with a flat screw driver, and the piston... had to use a hammer with a punch to push it out, I was surprised and I wonder how may rounds he must have shoot without cleaning before he changed his mind.
Anyway, once cleaned it moves freely and I'll test it next week-end.

I'm happy with the ease of use, the cleaning is easy, my concern was the space between the chamber face and the locking lug, but that space is much easier to access than on a AR. The trigger isn't that bad, same for the ergonomic of the mag release.
My LAR-15 mags fit very well and my PCV-50 Beowulf (GEN2) mags had to be sanded a little bit, the rear ridge was slightly to wide, but it fits now.
 
You are absolutely right. the gas regulator is just about the only part that gets gummed up pretty quickly. However, you will get used to it once you learn how to clean it a few times, the regulator will come off easier. I use a hook punch to push it out from the back. At the same time, I wiggle the front part which gets loose easily. Using a screw driver has a potential to accidentally scratch other parts.

In my opinion, I find the T-97 much easier to clean in comparison to an AR-15.
 
NVC , welded, need a good whack with hammer and flat punch around and it will break free, make sure to the pin has been removed. The barrel has no threading. We were able to thread 1/2x28 so will take most AR muzzle devices.
Here is a link to quick video with new muzzle device
https://youtu.be/n7swNweLdAE

I just removed mine yesterday on my other one and it took a torch to heat up enough to pound it out.

Just curious if you required to lathe the barrel before threading to 1/2 x 28 tpi?
 
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International Shooting Supplies store in Surrey, BC is showing the same ammo for $24.99 a box.

http://internationalshootingsupplies.com/product/hornady-match-223-rem-75gr-bthp/

I found some .223 stuff (I shot 5.56 stuff initially) for 25 a box at Canadian tire. but I was using superformance, not normal match. dunno how much difference it is.



ive never actually pulled my gas regulator out... I wasn't sure if it was supposed to come out. maybe I should do that lol.
 
So, I got to try it yesterday at the range with 120 rounds, worked very well, got 1 round stuck where the bullet is pushed in the casing, I've read that it's something that happens sometime with the T97, some more often. Is it something that might get worst with time ?

[...]
ive never actually pulled my gas regulator out... I wasn't sure if it was supposed to come out. maybe I should do that lol.

:p mine was already gummed after 120 rounds, not too badly, I could have kept shooting, does anyone ever needed to use the #2 "adverse condition" setting on the gas regulator, I mean really needed it, not just to try.
 
So, I got to try it yesterday at the range with 120 rounds, worked very well, got 1 round stuck where the bullet is pushed in the casing, I've read that it's something that happens sometime with the T97, some more often. Is it something that might get worst with time ?



:p mine was already gummed after 120 rounds, not too badly, I could have kept shooting, does anyone ever needed to use the #2 "adverse condition" setting on the gas regulator, I mean really needed it, not just to try.

I've put around 1500 rounds through mine without pulling the gas regulator and I still chuck brass 15 feet on setting 1.

Edit: just took it apart and cleaned in the regulator. Some rock hard carbon build up but otherwise it didn't look bad at all.


The rifle is meant to use T97 mags. AR mags just happen to fit.


The "T97 mag" is a AR mag....

They modified the rifles to be 5.56 and in turn modified it to take AR mags
 
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Anybody have one of these?

11221620_1691050067781036_3020945718213530305_o.jpg
 
I found some .223 stuff (I shot 5.56 stuff initially) for 25 a box at Canadian tire. but I was using superformance, not normal match. dunno how much difference it is.



ive never actually pulled my gas regulator out... I wasn't sure if it was supposed to come out. maybe I should do that lol.


I have the hornady super performance match grade 5.56 NATO. I picked it up at a sports store in Grande Prairie for around $25. I can't remember the name of the store, it was across the street from the paradise hotel.
 
I have the hornady super performance match grade 5.56 NATO. I picked it up at a sports store in Grande Prairie for around $25. I can't remember the name of the store, it was across the street from the paradise hotel.

Barton's Big country store in GP had bricks of that stuff on sale months ago..
 
I have the hornady super performance match grade 5.56 NATO. I picked it up at a sports store in Grande Prairie for around $25. I can't remember the name of the store, it was across the street from the paradise hotel.

I was out today, the .223 shot almost identical to the 5.56.. same groups and point of impact.
 
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