why do Norinco's have such a bad rep?

[AB_blaster]

Ill take a Norc over a NEA.

I'll take a smelly sh*t over an NEA, that isn't saying much for Norc.

I've seen less threads about Norinco than NEA rants about quality and function

Most norinco hate comes from their rough finish. I see it a a great way to get into the sport for a newbie. And even then... Buy a 500$ AR and spend the balance you would spend on a higher brand and you can have an AR with 1500/2000 rounds, maybe more depending on the deal, and you will get more out of it than a 2000$ AR with zero ammo.

There's more whining about NEA/BCL because they pretend to offer a quality product and ask quality prices. Less whining about Norc because everyone knows they're buying a crap shoot at best and expect very little from the gun.

I just don't plan to support a company owned by the Chicom government.

I have no intention to support Communism in any way.

Agreed

Yes!
The Chinese government brings nothing good to the planet (from mass export of dangerous drugs, environmental destruction everywhere they land - like destroying coral reefs across the South China Sea to build military installations in international waters - destruction of institutions everywhere through corruption and graft), and I for one will do my level best not to feed that beast.
... and given Norinco are poorly made crap, avoiding them is easy!

Absolutely!

My first firearm was a norinco np22 9mm. It went bang and put a smile on my face. I was somewhat embarrassed with what I brought to the range for months. Then I spoke to some of the ol'timers, they all owned or had owned norinco brand of firearms. Now I use my 9mm to test reloading workups, just in case there is a larger bang. Real Sig feels like butter in your hands compared to a norinco.

They have their place. Barriers to entry in this sport is very high. I like norinco because more people can enjoy the sport. They work, they just don't feel or look pretty... and they are made by communists... but so is your cell phone and T.V. No one complains about those devices!?

You said it, they're crude and poorly finished. And yes, my TV is junk and so is my phone. Sadly there are near zero options outside of Chinese made mass electronics.

Where was the device made, which you are using to post that comment? No escape.

He said he does not INTEND to support China. He never said he absolutely will not. Big difference. Some products are not available outside of Chinese manufacture.

Who says they have a bad rap? All mine work great and were a fair price! Some need a little tuning and trigger work , some don't!

Right, the gun needs work right out of the box to make it run right. That would be the definition of a lemon.

I'm guessing, then, that you have a minimum of electronic equipment in your house and never make a purchase at the dollar stores. Start checking the "Made in........." labels of anything you buy these days and you'll find that your choices are severely limited if you exclude everything that says "China". Good luck if you can stick to your principles but my guess is you won't be able to.

I check every label when I buy products. Where I can I avoid Chinese junk. Then again, I don't buy low end brands so I have less to worry about.

Likewise...ar, np22, three 1911 .45, np40 and one np29...couldn’t really fault any of them...just a couple of razor sharp edges on controls..

Just a couple of unfinished edges, perhaps a broken spring, broken firing pin, very still control. You know, nothing you should expect to work from a brand new product. For the plinker who might shoot 100 rounds a year they work. For anyone expecting reliability and 5 or 6 digit round counts without major parts replacement, you're sh*t out of luck.

 

[Garaldtao]

Not all Norincos are created equal. There are a lot of junk firearms out there and Norinco produces their fair share but for those who full out hate the brand, just do not understand things like why compitition shooters use 1911 frames or m305 recievers as a base for their builds.

BTW... for those who don't know, Deng Xiaoping ended communism in China.

 

[philhut]

hold the same guns side by side, and you will be able to see the difference. Quality is the issue.
-Norinco firearms lack the long term longevity that other more quality arms have in many instances, this means your norinco won't last as long, will rust sooner or break as metal is lower quality and controls are not the same.

- They work, I have a JW25a and it works/shoots great but side by side with better quality manufacturers and the differences are very obvious.

buy the guns you want and can afford. Norinco makes great entry level firearms that do work well, still the low quality controls mean you could be doing touch ups on your guns to get them to operate properly. the long supply chain means warranty service is all but non-available. I own one Chinese gun and it shoots well but the metal is not of high standard and as a first experience with Norinco's I will never buy one except as a cheap blaster that is a throw away down the road. I likely won't be buying anymore Chinese firearms unless the quality situation changes.

Great products can be produced in China, their manufacturing ability exceeds the USA and western world. They could surely produce the finest firearms avail but that is not their market point right now.
'

 

[rkm456]

Likewise...ar, np22, three 1911 .45, np40 and one np29...couldn’t really fault any of them...just a couple of razor sharp edges on controls..

Call me old fashioned, but in my opinion a razor sharp edge, should probably be considered something to fault a manufacturer.

Personally I think there's a time and a place for Norinco's. I appreciate that they occasionally offer things no one else does, and our community owes them a debt for allowing people into a hobby they otherwise may not be able to afford, or at least not justify with no previous experience. That being said, I've encountered at least 50 Norc's at the range this summer and I'm yet to come across one that legitimately didn't have any issues.

 

[Sochi]

I won't argue about about the whole brand "bad rep" theory - I'll leave it to our Internet Experts.
Personally I did my research for inexpensive 9mm 1911 - found mostly good reviews about NP29 and just bought it 5 days ago (record transfer in 4 days!).

I think for $400 you can't get a better deal. Period.
It's solid, shoots well, and who cares about working gun finish??

Time to play! (IPSC Classic it is LOL)

Stay positive folks!

 

[AB_blaster]

Not all Norincos are created equal. There are a lot of junk firearms out there and Norinco produces their fair share but for those who full out hate the brand, just do not understand things like why compitition shooters use 1911 frames or m305 recievers as a base for their builds.

BTW... for those who don't know, Deng Xiaoping ended communism in China.

Sure he did

Ever notice that the Norc fans always mention the 1911 FRAME only? What about their SIG copies, or CZ copies or BHP copies? What about the rest of the 1911 that you claim has such an amazing receiver? They make low end junk. By the time you dress that turd with USGI parts your Norc 1911 costs as much or more than a full US made 1911.

For the record I have no use for a 1911. Outdated dinosaur that needs to die.

Call me old fashioned, but in my opinion a razor sharp edge, should probably be considered something to fault a manufacturer.

Personally I think there's a time and a place for Norinco's. I appreciate that they occasionally offer things no one else does, and our community owes them a debt for allowing people into a hobby they otherwise may not be able to afford, or at least not justify with no previous experience. That being said, I've encountered at least 50 Norc's at the range this summer and I'm yet to come across one that legitimately didn't have any issues.

You must be lying, the Norc fans will tell you the exact opposite. To be fair I've seen a few that ran fine for the hundred rounds I saw go through them during a match, but that doesn't mean they hadn't been worked on or that they hadn't had problems in the past.

I won't argue about about the whole brand "bad rep" theory - I'll leave it to our Internet Experts.
Personally I did my research for inexpensive 9mm 1911 - found mostly good reviews about NP29 and just bought it 5 days ago (record transfer in 4 days!).

I think for $400 you can't get a better deal. Period.
It's solid, shoots well, and who cares about working gun finish??

Time to play! (IPSC Classic it is LOL)

Stay positive folks!

By finish I don't mean the bluing, I mean the finished product as in sharp edges, rough surfaces and poorly fit parts.

 

[nofai]

my staff told me today. a lot of customers call me the fxxking chinese guy . i guess this may be one of the reason ....

 

[Import]

Ab-blaster...can’t agree there...didn’t change a thing...did some polishing..that’s it..solid and reliable for several thousand rounds..actually..np22 did have a spring break..put a sig one in..that can happen with any firearm...even my beloved cz’s..

 

[bobdbldr]

I'll take a smelly sh*t over an NEA, that isn't saying much for Norc.



There's more whining about NEA/BCL because they pretend to offer a quality product and ask quality prices. Less whining about Norc because everyone knows they're buying a crap shoot at best and expect very little from the gun.


Agreed


Absolutely!



You said it, they're crude and poorly finished. And yes, my TV is junk and so is my phone. Sadly there are near zero options outside of Chinese made mass electronics.


He said he does not INTEND to support China. He never said he absolutely will not. Big difference. Some products are not available outside of Chinese manufacture.



Right, the gun needs work right out of the box to make it run right. That would be the definition of a lemon.
Nope not at all, folks tune lots of different firearms, if you don't like them , fine, buy something else, I have different brand name firearms and among them are Chinese made ones, so far, they run as well as the rest! Lots of competitors use the frames from Norc S to start their race rigs!


I check every label when I buy products. Where I can I avoid Chinese junk. Then again, I don't buy low end brands so I have less to worry about.



Just a couple of unfinished edges, perhaps a broken spring, broken firing pin, very still control. You know, nothing you should expect to work from a brand new product. For the plinker who might shoot 100 rounds a year they work. For anyone expecting reliability and 5 or 6 digit round counts without major parts replacement, you're sh*t out of luck.

Again, to each his own, tell us about your bad experience with Chinese firearms,,, or do you have any!

 

[Magellann]

Ive had a couple of Norincos and they have been very dependable, a bit rougher on the fit and finish, but a great value for what you get compared to other brands.

 

[srdiver]

Just a couple of unfinished edges, perhaps a broken spring, broken firing pin, very still control. You know, nothing you should expect to work from a brand new product. For the plinker who might shoot 100 rounds a year they work. For anyone expecting reliability and 5 or 6 digit round counts without major parts replacement, you're sh*t out of luck.

sounds like you just descibed a 300 series SIG

 

[AB_blaster]

sounds like you just descibed a 300 series SIG

I wouldn't own a SIG product either.. Quality has tanked hard in the last decade and their shady attempt to hide the unsafe design of the 320 did it for me.

 

[Gun123]

I have owned and shot my NP34 for two years. This year, I bought a real Sig P229.

I found that the Norc shoots just as well. NP34 is a tiny little thinner and lighter. I think it's because the NP34 is a copy of P228. The double action long pull on the NP34 is a little stiffer than the P229, but the single action is surprisingly cleaner. They are equally accurate.

I also found that P229's finish is not as tough as the NP34. The P229's barrel, slide catch and the decocker show wear more easily than the NP34. After a hundred rounds, the sig already shows as much wear as my NP34.

The P229 is three times more expensive. I like it very much, but really, it's not three times better than the Norc NP34. It's just a little better, in terms of finish, in my opinion.

I also don't judge the gun by cultural or ideological differences of the gun's origin. The Chinese government has lifted over a billion people out of poverty and harsh living conditions in 20 years' time. It deserves some credit.

 

[S1de8urnz]

All of my norincos except for my CQ-A has had a failure cause by either poor QC or terrible tolerance. Im persoanally done forever with Norinco, but i dont regret my purchases. They taught me alot about fixing and maintaining firearms, and provide me with more money for cheap ammo to shoot with them. I have never worried about scratching or abusing them, they were always known as the ugly gun. I really liked them when I had them, but reliability and accuracy are far more important to me now, and Norincos honestly lack in those categories.

Like hell you would ever see race gun winner using Norinco or a professional hunter. I love how cheap they are, and they are great at getting new shooters to the sport. They have a place and role in this industry, one which I've surpassed. I Dont look down on Norinco, and tell everyone I know if they dont have pissing cash and want to try a new shooting sport, buy a norinco and if it doesnt work out take a $50 loss and move on.

 

[delavan]

At every LGS (consignment rack) or gun shows, there is always a few decked-out M-305a for sale. Seems like people are attracted to the low cost, get their "fix" and resell later. some may have experienced a few Qc issues that make then want to sell to buy something else of higher value/quality if they can. If I buy a Norinco, it will be a hand-picked SKS. Old-school Norc!

 

[Spo0nFED]

Anything made for a foreign government seems to be a winner, being a bargain at the price. (NP-34, CQA, etc). Anything else... is a roll of the dice. I have been very lucky with my stuff, and with a bit of tinkering it is still a good deal as they are half the price of anything else.

 

[Canuck44]

hold the same guns side by side, and you will be able to see the difference. Quality is the issue.
-Norinco firearms lack the long term longevity that other more quality arms have in many instances, this means your norinco won't last as long, will rust sooner or break as metal is lower quality and controls are not the same.

- They work, I have a JW25a and it works/shoots great but side by side with better quality manufacturers and the differences are very obvious.

buy the guns you want and can afford. Norinco makes great entry level firearms that do work well, still the low quality controls mean you could be doing touch ups on your guns to get them to operate properly. the long supply chain means warranty service is all but non-available. I own one Chinese gun and it shoots well but the metal is not of high standard and as a first experience with Norinco's I will never buy one except as a cheap blaster that is a throw away down the road. I likely won't be buying anymore Chinese firearms unless the quality situation changes.

Great products can be produced in China, their manufacturing ability exceeds the USA and western world. They could surely produce the finest firearms avail but that is not their market point right now.
'

Well you are entitled to your opinion but on the issue of metal you are totally wrong. Norks are known for their hard steel frames and slides. Ask your gunsmith. He will tell you there is nothing wrong with the metal in Norinco pistols. Last time I checked the Norinco 1911's have spring steel extractors still.

In the US the Norinco 1911's almost have a cult following. Wilson Combat for years offered to do builds using Norinco frames and slides as a base when they did not accept Kimbers. I had Joe Dlask build me a 1911 using the Norinco frame and slide as a base and the gun is quite capable of out shooting most who hold it.

Some here would be well advised to do some research before they comment. For the money most of the Norinco line represents real value.

With a thriving stock market, a large middle class and arguably the largest or 2nd largest economy on the world it hardly is a "Communist" country. A quick inquiry on Google might be useful for some.

Take Care

Bob

 

[khw]

My norinco M305 leaves any brass i shoot out of it unreloadable. Obviously a defect in the barrel.
Took it back to the store it was purchased from and they refused to warranty it because it was "modified" (I had put a scope on it.)
Whole thing soured me on Wild West shooting center and Norinco.

 

[micromind]

My norinco M305 leaves any brass i shoot out of it unreloadable. Obviously a defect in the barrel.
Took it back to the store it was purchased from and they refused to warranty it because it was "modified" (I had put a scope on it.)
Whole thing soured me on Wild West shooting center and Norinco.

what seriously. i have never bought anything from them, I too live in Edmonton, and the only place i have bought anything from in Edmonton was P&D, I mostly buy from dealers on GN.

 

[Ironheart]

Poor quality control just like that SAM garbage