New Hawk(Norinco) 870 clone

[huduguru]

I picked one up(the 982 with GS sights) a few days ago at Big 5 on sale and it's great. I had one about three years ago and got rid of it(although it was great also) due to the hype about it being Chinese. Well, I'm going to shoot the heck out of this thing and see if it really is inferior to the 870. The 870 Express would have cost me about twice as much. The last Express I had was very rough and had extraction problems so I figured I'd try one of these out again. I've only fired about 60 rounds of 00 buck and slugs out of it
so far. Observations:

-It has a machined extractor compared to the MIM part on the Express

-The mag spring is weak like the Express. Heavy recoil slugs make the rounds
in the mag jump forward resulting in a lack of shell release to the carrier
during quick firing(just like the Express I had). Wolff, here I come!

-It has an aluminum trigger guard!

-The ghost rings are awesome, much better than a bead in my opinion.
I do have some doubts about the brazed on front sight being durable enough
(is this how they are all installed?) though.

-Even though the shell carrier(lifter) is non slotted, if a shell is intentionally
released between the lifter and the bolt, it will still feed(smoothly)
without smacking the butt on the ground. This might be due to a slightly
different lifter shape(?)

-It is parkerized, not "rough" blued like the Express. It is a good looking SG.

-The ghost rings came from the box sighted pretty good for the Wnchester
Super X slugs I was shooting.

In summary, I'm pretty happy with it so far, and confident enough to
load it for the house.

 

[MAX100]

They are excellent shotguns. One thing you didn't point out is the mag tube setup is better than the one on the Remington 870. There is room on the Norinco to put a mount on the mag tube above the fore end not so on the Remington 870. With a mag tube extension it has a 7+1 capacity and the tube is shorter therefore a stronger setup than the long extension tube on an Express 870. If you could get an Express with a set of GRS like came on the Norinco 870 it would have cost you three times what you paid for your Norinco 870. The brazed on front sight is very durable. I haven't had a problem with it or heard of anyone having a problem with it. These are very durable well made shotguns and a step above the Remington 870 Express.

I have had one for a about 4 years and the action on my gun is very smooth and it was when I bought it. I make magazine tubes extensions for these shotguns and here is a picture on my Norinco 982 Tactical model. It came with GRS, heat shield and a tactical fore end. I added a Vang big head safety, Laserlyte Tri-Rail Mount, one of the mag tube extensions I make for them, 7+1 capacity and coated it with a rust resistant ceramic paint. The mag tube ext I make will also fit the Pardner Pump Protector which is also made by Norinco. If anyone is interested in a mag tube ext for your Norinco 870 Email.








GC

 

[nathan]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_288/products_id/91401

They have 8 left the rep said.

 

[Slater]

I've got the IAC Ithaca 37 clone. These were/are pretty hit-or-miss as far as QC goes, but I guess I got a good one. I do like the steel construction (even a steel trigger guard) and the whole thing feels pretty solid. It came with the heat shield, Parked finish, and sling swivels.

 

[MAX100]

You and many others must have ended up with a good one. I use to sale both and still do when I can get them. I have never had anyone come back with problems with any of them and thats out of around 75 guns sold. I had one customer who took one of the of the M 37 shotguns apart and lost the extractor spring and it wouldn't extract the shell after that. I have read about a few with minor QC problems but the QC is excellent considering the retail price with all the added features is $180. The Remington Express has it's QC issues also at around twice the price. There was member posted a thread a few days ago with a New Remington 870 Police that the parkerized finish was flaking off in places. That is a $550 pump gun and one of Remingtons top of the line 870s.

I like the Norinco 870 so well I kept one for myself and I could have any HD tactical pump gun I want.

GC

 

[huduguru]

Max100, that is a good point about the mag tube having room for accesories. I might want to mount a light on it. I am impressed enough with these shotguns I might pick up one of the '97 trench gun copies. I would rather
buy American, but my experience with the "real thing" has been dissapointing.

I was actually going to pick up one the the H&R Protectors but the ghost
ring sights on this 982(for the same price) sold me. I think the GR sights will
come in handy for shooting slugs(I like to beat myself up)

I am surprised nobody has chimed in yet on the political aspect of buying
Chinese goods. I don't care much for the government of China but have to
admit that every Chinese made weapon I have owned has been at the worst
a servicable piece. I have owned Poly M-14'S, Norinco M-14's, AK'S,
Norinco 1911's, Tokarevs, Makarovs and have all been solid weapons.
I wish the cheap AK'S, Makarovs and M-14'S would come back, I would
buy at least 5 copies of each....

 

[nathan]

People frown on CHicom guns bec of their political views on China . Theres no doubt they (Chinese) make good and bad ones. The same goes here in the USA. We hear a lot of good and bad reviews too. BTW most guns here are not make in the US but are imports. So its moot to say Chicom made is of inferior quality.

 

[MAX100]

I don't like to mention China because it will get something started. I don't rate guns on where they are made but how well they are made. My thoughts on China are the same as yours and others but that is our own governments fought and ours because of who we elect. This is not the political section of THR. Those issues should be air in that section.


GC

 

[Slater]

Regarding the Ithaca 37 copies, my understanding is that the actual Ithacas have a single action bar while these clones have dual action bars. Any real imnprovement or just a "nice to have"?

 

[MAX100]

Dual action bar is a stronger setup than a single one, Period!


GC

 

[Leadhead]

I'm pretty happy with my new Chinese 870 clone

 

[mseiferth]

Max100, PM Sent (you have turned off email function).

Need a mag extension...

 

[Desert 45 Rat]

If anyone is interested in a mag tube ext for your Norinco 870

I'm interested.

 

[nemrac]

Max100 email sent regarding tube extension. thanks

 

[jpatterson]

They come with ghostrings? Sign me up!

 

[Tomac]

A few years ago I picked up a couple of the Hawk-brand Norinco 870 clones as starter/beater shotguns for my son & his best friend. After years of abuse & everything from 3" magnum slugs to the WallyWorld lowbase my 870P would choke on, they're still going strong. Impressed me enough to pick up an NEF Pardner Pump Protector for myself and so far it's as 100% as the Hawks.
Tomac
Here it is w/a 4-shot Sidesaddle, TLR-1 taclight, fiber optic bead & the +2 mag tube extension:

 

[ElPasoWrangler]

I just bought a 982 at Big5 for $199. I am very pleased with it. Saw a Partner at Academy for $189 but no GR sights. The sights are dead on at 35 yards for my gun. I wonder why it took me so long to buy one?