Type 97 in 7.62x39...? Any reason they don't exist??

CobraGT

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So I've always been tempted to buy a T97, as I love bulllpups. But, as I already have a bunch of rifles in 5.56, and as there are better 5.56 bullpups (Tavor, for example), I've held off.

On the other hand, I'm a huge fan of 7.62x39, and there are no 7.62x39 bullpups available that I'm aware of. Given that the QBZ95 'parent' gun of the Type 97 was designed around AK-style pivot-and-lock mag retention, would not a Type 97 in 7.62x39, using AK mags and a mag release like the original QBZ95, be an obvious gun to produce to fill this 7.62x39 bullpup void? I, for one, would be all over one. Especially if it came FTU-style from the factory, like the Lever Arms Puma shotguns, and with the safety relocated to the area above the trigger guard, like the later QBZ95s.

Hell, if they can make a Type 97 in 12-gauge, one in 7.62x39 should be easy!!

Thoughts?


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7.62x39? I would do that in a heartbeat, on the sole condition that the magwell use the Robinson-Arms style 7.62x39 mags... That way you could use their 10 rd pistol mags. Not interested in being limited to a five-round plinker because we're saddled with AK style mags, if that's the case.
 
Id take xcr mags or ak mags to be honest. Based on the straight in mags of the normal T97 I could see a rock in AK mag being an issue though.

XCR seems more likely actually. Ease of conversion
 
7.62x39? I would do that in a heartbeat, on the sole condition that the magwell use the Robinson-Arms style 7.62x39 mags... That way you could use their 10 rd pistol mags. Not interested in being limited to a five-round plinker because we're saddled with AK style mags, if that's the case.

Very good point! (Or very astute observation...)
 
I wonder if norinco would even bother making small adjustments or additions for our market. Id love to see one but the question is do they care enough to make one for us.
 
Maybe talk to Marstar and see what happens? AFAIK Marstar is the importer for Norinco. If John had enough interest, maybe he could get Norinco to make up a few thousand T97's in 7.62x39.
 
Marstar did not import the t97, North Sylva did, they would be the ones to talk too. The Canadaammo t97 still hasn't landed in Canada, but they might be the next viable option.
 
I wonder if norinco would even bother making small adjustments or additions for our market. Id love to see one but the question is do they care enough to make one for us.

Considering we are one of the few countries where civilian T97s are sold, I would assume if there was enough of an order, NS could ask for Type 97s in .300 blackout and 7.62x39, wouldn't really require much re-engineering for either.
 
Oh man - now I'm excited. I absolutely love the T97 with the FTU, I would totally like to get him a bigger brother in 7.62x39.

To that end, I would hope that Frank from M14.ca would be consulted for any design specifications for the T97 7.62x39. I wouldn't THINK that a different bolt face, chamber and barrel would change the external dimensions of the rifle... Barrel thickness doesn't appear to be a factor in the FTU design. Given that Frank and his team are the primary accessory makers for that rifle in all of Canada, I sincerely hope that whoever picks this up (North Sylva?) would make sure that any changes to their commissioned rifles would still be compatible with the FTU. If they use Robinson-Arms magazines, then the magwell is identical and will accept standard AR fitting mags, which should mean compatibility with the LHG as well.
 
Because the original rifle was designed to fire the chinese 5.8x42 round and they adapted it to 5.56x45 for the north american market. If you like the rifle just be happy they chambered it in a round we can buy locally.
 
7.62x39? I would do that in a heartbeat, on the sole condition that the magwell use the Robinson-Arms style 7.62x39 mags... That way you could use their 10 rd pistol mags. Not interested in being limited to a five-round plinker because we're saddled with AK style mags, if that's the case.
The reliability of the AK mag vs all the problems posted online with running the 7.62x39 round in a AR15 type mag far outweighs the magazine capacity issue IMO.

We are now just seeing US manufacturers coming out with lowers that take the AK mags for the very reason I posted above. (MGI Hydra, CMMG Mutant, etc)
 
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