Darker Loaf
New member
So, I just happened upon a Norinco AK chambered in 5.56. I've been looking for a gun like this for a long time for a Definitive Arms conversion for AR magazines. I was originally looking at Saigas and Arsenals, but I didn't have the money before the ban came up, and I could have this Norinco for under $500. It is used. The outside is well-worn and painted black on wood furniture, now worn away. But, when we popped the top-cover and checked the bore, it looked perfect. The bolt looks clean and seldom-used. The trigger/hammer surfaces look polished, clean, and perhaps hardened. The trigger is actually nice; it is long but breaks lightly and smoothly. I don't know that I'd feel the need to swap it out. I should add that I might just leave the finish as-is, too.
At most I'd thread the barrel, change the furniture (though I kind of appreciate the hard-worn look of the wood)--certainly the pistol grip, and then finally do an AR magazine conversion when Definitive Arms finally is accepting custom work again.
So, I've had experience with Norincos only with SKS's, and they seem nice. I've heard good things about Norinco AK's in general. But I still feel the need to ask about a 5.56 Norinco AK:
1) Are the magazines reasonably available? I might be "stuck" with the stock magazines for a while, and so I might want to invest in a number of them to play with the gun. Do the magazines work well in the platform?
2) Does the 5.56 run well in a Norinco? I'm presuming that the 5.56 would work because the 5.45 is not far off, but feel the need to ask since it is a non-standard AK round.
3) What are your general impressions of Norinco 5.56 AK's?
At most I'd thread the barrel, change the furniture (though I kind of appreciate the hard-worn look of the wood)--certainly the pistol grip, and then finally do an AR magazine conversion when Definitive Arms finally is accepting custom work again.
So, I've had experience with Norincos only with SKS's, and they seem nice. I've heard good things about Norinco AK's in general. But I still feel the need to ask about a 5.56 Norinco AK:
1) Are the magazines reasonably available? I might be "stuck" with the stock magazines for a while, and so I might want to invest in a number of them to play with the gun. Do the magazines work well in the platform?
2) Does the 5.56 run well in a Norinco? I'm presuming that the 5.56 would work because the 5.45 is not far off, but feel the need to ask since it is a non-standard AK round.
3) What are your general impressions of Norinco 5.56 AK's?
