[.45Guy]

Well seeing as I'm laid up for awhile, I decided to dissect the new Norinco 97. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a buggered up carrier, and much unecessary labor! (Sorry Clement Clarke Moore, I couldn't help myself.) But I digress. This is the first major problem I've had with a Chi-Com firearm, and it vexes me to no end. Ah well, I need something to keep me busy while I'm laid up...:cuss:
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/aguy123/Norinco001.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/aguy123/Norinco003.jpg

[Spiggy]

wait what happen?

[SASS#23149]

they look better on the outside than they do on the inside.the same can be siad obut a lot of 'cheap' Italian cowboy guns.

[.45Guy]

Looks like it was milled too thin, and the teet on the action bar did a number on it somewhere along the line.

[Hoppy590]

hey, you get what you pay for. il keep that in mind when i take down my model 12 ( circa 1913) ;)

[.45Guy]

Caveat Emptor, darn you and your logic Hoppy!:o

[Spiggy]

Hummm! now I wanna take my 97 apart... ugh where do I start...

[.45Guy]

This is a pretty good start: http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Model97dis.html

[Spiggy]

awesome link, thanks .45guy!

EDIT!

Got it apart, the piece is about the same, milled really thin; however no damage- save for some nasty chunky oil

[Baba Louie]

Perhaps a replacement carrier from Numrich would, maybe, actually work in lieu of the mfg version?

[evbutler462]

45guy, you stated that you were laid up. Advise as to how you are getting along. I am more interested in your health than I am in your guns. You can get more guns but your health is more important.

Keep us up to date. We will have you in our prayers.

[.45Guy]

Baba Louie, I just ordered a solid frame carrier from Numrich.

[.45Guy]

Evbutler462, my condition is more humorous than serious. In fact my upcoming surgery has already made me the "butt" of a few jokes.

[evbutler462]

45guy, I am thinking that you have an old football problem. I had one from sitting on the bench so much. Here is wishing you better days.

[dewidmt]

I looked at a couple of the Norinco 97's earlier today. One was the standard and the other was the "Trench Gun" lookalike. I wasn't very impressed with the quality of either of them and the cowboy shooters around here shy away from them also. They don't have a very good reputation round these parts.

[.45Guy]

Well, I got home from the hospital and found my new carrier in the mail box. Looks like she'll do the job. Now all I have to do is attempt to strip the old one while laying on my stomach on oxycodone. This could get interesting.;)

[.45Guy]

I'll be damned, The Chi-coms did a decent job copying the carrier. The Winchester replacement I ordered from Numrich works.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/aguy123/WinRinco001.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/aguy123/WinRinco002.jpg

[.45Guy]

Slowly but surely she's coming together. Only a few pins were slightly off in dimension, which will be an easy fix. With probably another month or two of downtime, I'm almost glad there are some complications!

[Dave McCracken]

Good luck and keep us posted.....

[.45Guy]

Got her together today, and she's working slicker than cat poop on linoleum so to speak. I have to pull the carrier one more time and see what's going on though. At this point, unless the carrier stop screw is backed out a tad over one turn she hangs up when feeding. Nothing major though.

[.45Guy]

Well, I shaved a hair off the carrier stop and she works fine. I think this little gem will be my new knock around/trunk gun. I'm satisfied with it, and it gave me something to do. Now on to the next project!:D

[Dave McCracken]

Great!! When you can, how about doing a T&E? Thanks....

[raubritter]

Fantastic.

[.45Guy]

Well, we stopped at my in-laws this weekend. While I haven't taken the time to pattern the sucker yet, it went through a box of Winchester "Super Speed" 7 1/2 's no problem. Heck at 25 paces it has no problems knocking starlings out of the raspberries. Later today I'll set up a sheet and pattern it with som OO, and 7 1/2's. More to follow.

[.45Guy]

At 25 paces, the Hornady TAP 00 put 9 pellets into a 10" circle. The 7 1/2 was a bit beyond being measureable.

[Dave McCracken]

Good buck performance. Try different birdshot loads, you can do way better ...