Thinking about a Norinco AR

Lessonz

Lessonz

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Hi everyone, hope you had a good weekend.

I'm looking to possibly grab a Norinco AR. I'm aware of the criticisms of the firearm being Chinese. I'm also aware of the positive things owners on this forum have to say about them.

Of all the positives and negatives, the price point speaks out to me. Now I'm wondering for the price (650-700) how much more $$$ am I looking at to trick it out. I'm thinking some magpul accessories, some folding irons or some sort of optics and a hand guard (i got a Daniel defense hand gaurd laying around here that fits on a picatinnary rail I'd like to use).

So I was wondering if someone could tell me how much these additions would cost, and if anyone had some pics they could post.

Thanks
 
Thanks I've checked that thread out. Looks good, that's why I want one. I'm just trying to get a figure how much extra I'm going to spend.
 
You will spend as much as you want to spend. I left mine stock and love it. Front grip 30 to 80 bucks. Magpul or Tapco front hand guard 45 bucks, optics 45 to 1600 bucks, Magpul flip up/down rear sites 65 bucks. Pic Rails for Magpul about 9 bucks a long rail section. Plus anything else you may want, but be careful you can nickle and dime your self to death buying stuff for it.
 
Yeah, there is little limit to what you can buy for your AR. If want to keep the $$$ down, think real hard about what you want and why. Search for deals on EE.

Some stuff is really not necessary but if you want it, go for it. Also don't feel that you have to get everything at once. TB is right. You can end up killing a budget little bits at a time.
 
You can spend as much as you want, "tricking it out".
How much do you need to spend?
There is a major difference between playing Mr. Dressup, and enhancing performance in a meaningful way.
First worthwhile addition would be a decent optic to replace the irons. Get a decent optic, and you won't need BUISs. Get something battery dependent, and a BUIS set is important. Once you have a sight - a low powered variable scope is an excellent option- shoot the thing enough to know what else you really need.
 
I sold my compm4s to a buddy with a norc AR, and once I sighted it in for him, that thing is like shooting a laser beam. Hot or cold, you put the dot on it and you hit it.

Cycles every time, no problems. I'd say it's got over 1000 rounds into it pretty easy, no major noticeable wear points other than the finish is wearing away a bit on the exterior.

I forced the poor guy to use a high end grease in his Norc, and he loves it.
 
IMHO, the Gucci gear for an Ar that matters to you will depend on what you use it for. IPSC 3-gun guys will want different stuff than a bench shooter.

In general, however, accuracy-enhancing mods that are relatively easy to do can include:

- Changing the handguard to some form of free float system
- Either doing a trigger job or replacing with a NM trigger of some flavor
- Getting a decent optic with a solid mount - as a rule of thumb yuor mount should cost at least 50% the price of the optic to be considered "decent".

Everything else you could do to improve accuracy is going to get pricey, for example:

-Fully adjustable sniper stocks
-Monolithic uppers
-Match grade heavy barrels


Now for upgrades that are more for run & gun type action sports. Pinpoint accuracy is FAR less important and you probably don't want a 2-stage NM trigger. Your mods will be more about ergonimics suppporting economy of motion and reliability.

Typical examples would include:
-Tactical latches on your bolt charging handle.
-Ambidextrous controls depending on your shooting style
-bolt actuation devices
-forward grips according to preference
-Typically a 1X parallax-free optical sight of some sort and back-up irons
-Collapsible stock to accomodate the different thicknesses of clothing you might wear
-Some type of muzzle device to lower reset time between shots

I would not spend much money until you have shot the AR for a while and then target the areas that are most likely to complement your shooting needs.
 
I bought a Norinco AR for s**ts and giggles for my wife and it shoots just as well as the Swiss/SL8/Tavor. I was getting 2-1/4" 10 round groups at 100meters with a 4moa dot strikefire off of a bipod.

The trigger feels like 2 bricks falling off a cliff.
 
Before you jump in and "trick out" your Norc or any other bran, you dump about 1/2 case of ammo down range, to get use to or at least get a feel for your rifle first. There are just too many things out there for the AR, lot of them are just personal preferences than actually useful.
 
+1 HBEAN - Buy the latest model you can find (white lettering), and start putting rounds downrange. You can look at modifying it a bit at a time, if you really want to, or keep it as stock.

I have a Daniel Defence single-point sling mount, and a Bushnell 1x ACOG-Like Red-Dot.

The only other mod I made was to unscrew the safety on the right side, and reinstall the selector knob rotated 180 degrees (so it points "up" when the safety is disengaged, instead of down into your trigger finger). More comfy that way.
 
Thanks for everyone for their comments. They are all very enlightening and helpful.

I'm very excited to grab one. I'll just shoot the crap outta it for a bit, then look towards getting some add on's. such as a optics system and mount, maybe a handgaurd and some flip ups.

Thanks again everyone.
 
This post intrigues me a lot

back to the points here, changing the handgaurd to a free floating, how much would that cost. Is that how you attach handgaurds or a dot optic? Is it the same thing as a Picatinny rail?

I'm guessing the uppers and lowers are interchangeable with other manufactures? DPMS or something?

Any other mods i'd like to use for ergonomics supporting economy of motion and reliability as you said.

My last question is from the final section, what is bolt actuation device that can be added?

Cheers
-Lessonz

Claven2 said:
IMHO, the Gucci gear for an Ar that matters to you will depend on what you use it for. IPSC 3-gun guys will want different stuff than a bench shooter.

In general, however, accuracy-enhancing mods that are relatively easy to do can include:

- Changing the handguard to some form of free float system
- Either doing a trigger job or replacing with a NM trigger of some flavor
- Getting a decent optic with a solid mount - as a rule of thumb yuor mount should cost at least 50% the price of the optic to be considered "decent".

Everything else you could do to improve accuracy is going to get pricey, for example:

-Fully adjustable sniper stocks
-Monolithic uppers
-Match grade heavy barrels


Now for upgrades that are more for run & gun type action sports. Pinpoint accuracy is FAR less important and you probably don't want a 2-stage NM trigger. Your mods will be more about ergonimics suppporting economy of motion and reliability.

Typical examples would include:
-Tactical latches on your bolt charging handle.
-Ambidextrous controls depending on your shooting style
-bolt actuation devices
-forward grips according to preference
-Typically a 1X parallax-free optical sight of some sort and back-up irons
-Collapsible stock to accomodate the different thicknesses of clothing you might wear
-Some type of muzzle device to lower reset time between shots

I would not spend much money until you have shot the AR for a while and then target the areas that are most likely to complement your shooting needs.
Click to expand...
 
hbean said:
Before you jump in and "trick out" your Norc or any other bran, you dump about 1/2 case of ammo down range, to get use to or at least get a feel for your rifle first. There are just too many things out there for the AR, lot of them are just personal preferences than actually useful.
Click to expand...

Agree 100 %.:cheers:



Alot of 55gr,FMJBT's ,can get sent down range with purpose, from all positions, for 500 dollars of bling.

When you can load up that 11/59 center with irons at 300 meters, that got to be the most wonderful feeling. I probalycouldn't do it at 100 anymore but if you are young, and have good eye sight, get that experience and satisfaction under your belt at a club where you can shot Service Rifle with your AR.


I like the look of these dressed up Rifles more everyday, and it's your money, but like hbean said, get a "foundation" started to build your rifle and your experiences with it, on.:)


PS missed sulisa's +1 on hbean, so I will go +2!
 
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Lessonz said:
This post intrigues me a lot

back to the points here, changing the handgaurd to a free floating, how much would that cost. Is that how you attach handgaurds or a dot optic? Is it the same thing as a Picatinny rail?

I'm guessing the uppers and lowers are interchangeable with other manufactures? DPMS or something?

Any other mods i'd like to use for ergonomics supporting economy of motion and reliability as you said.

My last question is from the final section, what is bolt actuation device that can be added?

Cheers
-Lessonz
Click to expand...

Free float handguards run from about $50 for a Chinese one on fleabay to $500+ for some of the Larue offerings. You have to shop around and know what you want to spend and what features you want. If you don't intend to mount stuff on it, just get a DPMS or Hogue tubular handguard.

Uppers and lowers are generally interchangeable, though some Norinco AR's are more in spec than others - just a caveat in case yours doesn't mate perfectly to a US made AR part. Generally though, they are fine.

A bolt actuation device is a magpul lever allowing you to close the bolt with the index finger of the right hand if you are right-handed. Troy, Phase 5 and probably others make similar units. If you are a lefty, it might be worth skipping.
 
Once again, thanks for getting back to me.

In regards to mounting stuff, i'd like something for my DD grip to help index my hand so I can get a consistent hold every time. I'd also like something for a light.

How difficult is it to mount a hand guard? Can i do it without tools on a norc?

Is it difficult to also set up a dot sight? Is there anything I would need other than the optic to mount it?


p.s. if you could suggest a hand gaurd that's reasonably priced and does the trick for what i want, can you let me kno. Are they easy to install, could I do it without any metal work/power tools?
Claven2 said:
Free float handguards run from about $50 for a Chinese one on fleabay to $500+ for some of the Larue offerings. You have to shop around and know what you want to spend and what features you want. If you don't intend to mount stuff on it, just get a DPMS or Hogue tubular handguard.

Uppers and lowers are generally interchangeable, though some Norinco AR's are more in spec than others - just a caveat in case yours doesn't mate perfectly to a US made AR part. Generally though, they are fine.

A bolt actuation device is a magpul lever allowing you to close the bolt with the index finger of the right hand if you are right-handed. Troy, Phase 5 and probably others make similar units. If you are a lefty, it might be worth skipping.
Click to expand...
 
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Lessonz said:
Once again, thanks for getting back to me.

In regards to mounting stuff, i'd like something for my DD grip to help index my hand so I can get a consistent hold every time. I'd also like something for a light.

How difficult is it to mount a hand guard? Can i do it without tools on a norc?

Is it difficult to also set up a dot sight? Is there anything I would need other than the optic to mount it?


p.s. if you could suggest a hand gaurd that's reasonably priced and does the trick for what i want, can you let me kno. Are they easy to install, could I do it without any metal work/power tools?
Click to expand...
You will need at least an armorers wrench to remove the barrel unless you go with a 2 piece non freefloating handguard. Some people will tell you that you don't need a bench block to hold the upper receiver but that wasn't the case for me so I now have a benchblock in the mail.
You will also need a good 1/8" punch and a hammer to drift the front sight pins. If you're doing it alone the AR-15 front sight bench block is helpful.

If you're installing a freefloat handguard you may need a low profile gas block and a 1/16" roll pin punch as well as any tools different handguard manufacturers may specify.
Check each manufacturers instructions to be sure.

Go to Brownells and look at the gun tech videos.
 
thump_rrr said:
You will need at least an armorers wrench to remove the barrel unless you go with a 2 piece non freefloating handguard. Some people will tell you that you don't need a bench block to hold the upper receiver but that wasn't the case for me so I now have a benchblock in the mail.
You will also need a good 1/8" punch and a hammer to drift the front sight pins. If you're doing it alone the AR-15 front sight bench block is helpful.

If you're installing a freefloat handguard you may need a low profile gas block and a 1/16" roll pin punch as well as any tools different handguard manufacturers may specify.
Check each manufacturers instructions to be sure.

Go to Brownells and look at the gun tech videos.
Click to expand...

Well everyone, little update.

I Want to first start by thanking everyone for responding to me, especially claven and thump for getting back to me so quickly. Thanks to everyone else, all the input is very helpful. I'm trying to get into black rifles, just learning little by little one day at a time and i must say I couldn't do it without you all.

So I just made my firsts AR purchase less than 14 hours ago. Got the Norinco AR15. I've been doing some research and I'm looking to get a quad rail for it. Thinking about going magpul, or perhaps something else. Looking to mount a vertical grip and light.

Any suggestions? What installs easy without much work? When you say standard drop in rails wont fit the norc, does that include the magpul ones? I also like KAC RIS style hand guards, are they easy to install? I must admit I'm not sure what is a "standard drop in rail" is.

How much more cash or work is it to install a free floating handgaurd compared to a standard drop in. I'm not exactly Mr. Fixit, but I love youtube and have some tools at home. Are these mods something I could do? Or is just easier to take it to a gunsmith?

Once again, appreciate all your comments :redface::D
 
I would suggest that you get Brownells video on building up ARs. Lots of information you would find useful.
 
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