Norinco 92 5.56, Opinions please

Anyone had any experience with the model Norinco, MAK 92, chambered in 5.56?
spurgon

The Norinco 5.56 AK's are better than the early Poly Tech 5.56 rifles. The early Poly Tech's had magazine problems that were never completely fixed but they tried by changing the followers. The last shipment of Poly Tech 5.56 AK's went to the Norinco type magazine. The Norinco 5.56 does not use a bullet guide. The barrel gas port is the same size as the 7.62x39 which is oversized for 5.56. Most, but not all, Chinese 5.56 rifles have spring loaded firing pins. The non-spring loaded ones can slamfire. Use the mildest ammunition, if not the cheapest, due to the oversized gas port. most of the MAK92's I've seen have had POly Tech parts. The Poly Tech fire control group, hammer, trigger and disconnector which are harder than the Norinco parts. The Poly Tech gas block (gas chamber) is chrome lined, the Norinco is usually not chrome lined.

allesennogwat,

Thx for the quick reply. Here's the reason for my question. What I've been considering is an AK platform for the 5.56/.223 chambering. This MAK 92 just came up for sale and my indicision began . I had already decided (90%) to go with a Saiga chambered in 5.56. Mainly because I've heard that Saiga made a quality"AK" in sheep's clothing. Ha. And , I think they can be had for around $400. Also, I'm guessing here that parts would be easier to get for the Saiga when breakage occurs vs. the MAK 92. I suppose that I would want to so a compliant conversion on either of the two.

1: How difficult are mags to find for the MAK 92.

2: How hard and mags to find for the Saiga 5.56?

3. What's gonna be my best choice here?

Thx
spurgon

The Norinco magazines aren't too hard to find. There really aren't other magazines that work 100% in the Norinco due to lack of a bullet guide and the bolt design won't allow a bullet guide. The Saiga would have to have a bullet guide added or use Surefire Saiga magazines. The Saiga receiver is thinner. The Saiga gas port is the correct size. The firing pin and spring can wear out in the Saiga and parts aren't too easy to find. The Saiga has an odd shaped chamber to meet Russian law which bulges the case necks when fired to ID them as non-military. This can make reloading tricky. The AK in 5.56 in both the Norinco and the Saiga can suffer from case head separation due to the high chamber pressure and harsh extraction of the AK. Often the Saiga chamber opening in the barrel needs to be chamfered / beveled to feed from high capacity magazines. If you get a Saiga cheap they can be a good deal. If the Nornco has the original Poly Tech type parts and is not too expensive it doesn't require any modifications and might be the best deal.

Good resources
http://www.chicom47.net/
http://stores.polytechparts.com/StoreFront.bok

allesennogwat

Thx again. I might better look the other way on both of these. Part of the beauty of this chambering would be ammo that I'm already chambered for in other rifles. Both of the rifles I asked about seem to be problematic from one stand point or another, or at least not simple/reliable/fool proof like a 7.62x39 chambered rifle might be. Perhaps, the 5.45x39 would "work" better but that's adding another caliber. My best solution might be an AR 15 or the AK 47 in the old world caliber, 7.62x39.
spurgon

Actually the Bulgarian waffle 5.56 mags will work in the Norinco/84s AK's.