the Clinton ban on Norinco firearms

[neomentat]

does the ban on Norinco firearms have an expiration date?

I've been eyeing the Norinco M1A clone @ $399 and the 1911 clone @ $325, it pisses me off that we can't get our hands on these well made firearms for cheap.

Can we ever get Norinco again in the U.S.?

[tankerman]

I don't know about well made. The last Norinco I shot was an AK that shot 10" groups at 50 yards and had a thumb hole stock that looked like it was carved by a Caveman.

[xenophobe]

All of the early Norinco imports were actually great. The Norinco AK-47 marked AK that I owned would get 4-6" groups at 100 yards. The Poly-Tech Legends and National Matches were great rifles with milled receivers. Really nice stuff.

The SKS's were a mixed bunch, the early military ones were all really nice, the later commercial market ones were crap.

The MAK-90's started off pretty nice, but the quality went downhill pretty fast.

As for when they'll ever be allowed back in? Probably never.

[fun2none]

Clinton banned the importation of Norinco "non-sporting" arms using an executive order. So it take another executive order to rescind one from the previous commander in chief. Ain't gonna happen.

[LAK Supply]

I think the current Norinco ban is the one that started in '03 under Bush. It wasn't for firearms reasons... it was an embargo against Chinese weapons IIRC. Norinco also makes other stuff which I think is now blacklisted as a result of the restriction as well. Not sure when it ends, and not sure about you observation on "quality." Most Norinco stuff that I've seen is of questionable quality.

[jumbopanda]

I just want to see Chinese 7.62x39 ammo imported again, but that's probably not going to happen. I've never handled a Norinco firearm before, but I've seen a really nice looking Norinco Dragunov (not PSL) on gunbroker and wouldn't mind having a few of those coming in.


Wee 1800!

[rksimple]

I don't know about well made. The last Norinco I shot was an AK that shot 10" groups at 50 yards and had a thumb hole stock that looked like it was carved by a Caveman.

The m14's have forged receivers. Thats more than can be said for Springfield. They are great rifles that can be used as a base to build up an amazing m14. The only problem with them (both polytech and norinco m14's) is that the bolts were made of a softer metal. The headspace opened up pretty quickly with them. With a GI bolt swap, many believe the resulting rifle is as good or better than SAI.

[Tweak338]

I want some cheap Norinco ammo, fireballs from hell.
Also wouldn't mind a $400 M14S..

[Mssr. Eleganté]

There are so many different bans that effect Chinese firearms that it is very confusing.

First there was GB I's 1989 ban on the importation of "non-sporting" firearms. This is the one that caused the creation of the MAK 90 and lead to SKS's being imported with the bayonets removed and M14's being imported with fake flash hiders and no bayonet lugs.

Then there was the 1994 AWB which ended the importation of MAK 90's.

Then there was the 1994 "clarification" of munitions importation restrictions which said we were not supposed to be importing munitions from countries to which we banned the sale of munitions. Since exports of munitions to China were already banned, the State Department said that we could no longer import munitions from China. So most firearm and all ammunition importations from China stopped. This is stopped the importation of the neutered M14's. Black powder firearms and "sporting" shotguns were exempt from this ban. That's why the Norinco shotguns still kept coming in.

Then under GB II there was a ban on the importation of all Norinco products because they violated some arms trade rules. This stopped the importation of the Norinco shotguns for many years. Supposedly the Norinco ban has ended. I've also heard that it was extended.

So even if Bush II's ban on Norinco expired/expiress, Norinco M14's will still be banned by Clinton's ban on Chinese munitions. And even if that ban is ended the Chinese M14's will still have to come in without flash hiders or bayonet lugs to comply with Bush I's ban on the importation of "non-sporting" firearms.

[Stanze]

Here's an interesting read regarding the Clinton importation ban on Chinese guns and ammo.

http://www.mega.nu/ampp/china/j28.html

[triggerhappy]

I don't know about well made. The last Norinco I shot was an AK that shot 10" groups at 50 yards and had a thumb hole stock that looked like it was carved by a Caveman.

Isn't this referred to as "minute of barn door"?

[simonov]

Clinton banned the importation of Norinco "non-sporting" arms using an executive order. So it take another executive order to rescind one from the previous commander in chief. Ain't gonna happen.

Yeah, not until we get a pro-gun President in the White House.

The current buffoon just pretends.

[daskraut]

My norinco AK in .223 shoots 1 inch groups when I pay attention, it is real accurate.

[gose]

I want some cheap Norinco ammo, fireballs from hell.
Also wouldn't mind a $400 M14S..

I don't. I bought 100 rounds of Norinco .223 a few weeks ago to see if it was any good. The first 45-ish rounds were good, but the 46th case ruptured and threw a nice cloud of smoke in my face.

No more Norinco ammo for me.

[EricCartmann]

Everything Norinco makes are good. I will even go one step further and say Norinco M14S receivers are even better than LRBs.

[Lashlarue]

There are several on gunbroker as we speak.I put several thousand rounds of copper washed steel core through my $99 Sks before I sold it during the ban for $350