I looked at one today and they are junk. Fit and finish were ok but function stinks. I had to wiggle the forearm to keep it from locking up as I racked it and the heat shield would eventually cut your thumb. The guy wanted $500 for it with a Bayonet. Not twenty feet away a guy had two real 97's one for $400 and one for $450
Report on Norinko Mod 97
- Thread starter Horsesense
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I just picked up my new Norinco 'Coach gun. Not bad for $150 + FFL & shipping from SOG. But I too feel that the '97 is WAY overpriced for a Norinco, when, as you mentioned, you can buy the real thing for just a little more, if not less sometimes. I'm impressed with the little double barrel gun. Can't wait until I get it to the farm on Saturday to test it out.
It may depend on what generation that Norinco is. The 1st and 2nd gen ones are supposed to be shoddy. 3rd is better.
Horsesense...
Was the Norinco new or used? iamkris is correct, the latest ones are much better, although still a bit rough inside, and the stocks are much higher quality walnut.
What condition were the Winchester 97s you saw? If they were in good condition then $400/450 is an OUTSTANDING bargain for original 97s. The problem is that many people are loath to keep shooting these fine old guns. But the Norinco is defintely a shooter while you keep your Winchester on display for occasional shooting.
Was the Norinco new or used? iamkris is correct, the latest ones are much better, although still a bit rough inside, and the stocks are much higher quality walnut.
What condition were the Winchester 97s you saw? If they were in good condition then $400/450 is an OUTSTANDING bargain for original 97s. The problem is that many people are loath to keep shooting these fine old guns. But the Norinco is defintely a shooter while you keep your Winchester on display for occasional shooting.
The Norinco was new, but it could have been an earlier run, he told me that he got it from SOG.
The original 97 priced for $450 was a very good deal, while the one for $400 showed heavy ware. If only I had the money, I would have got a new toy. I want a shooter and don’t mind shooting an old gun as long as it is sound.
The way things go I will have a pocket full of money, at the next show, and not see a deal like that one.
On the $400 mod 97 the hammer was worn smooth, on top, and everything else was loose, do you reckon it was a prison gun?
The original 97 priced for $450 was a very good deal, while the one for $400 showed heavy ware. If only I had the money, I would have got a new toy. I want a shooter and don’t mind shooting an old gun as long as it is sound.
The way things go I will have a pocket full of money, at the next show, and not see a deal like that one.
On the $400 mod 97 the hammer was worn smooth, on top, and everything else was loose, do you reckon it was a prison gun?
Post on Norinco coach gun range report
Today I finally got to take the new Norinco out for a spin around the farm. Happy to say that I only had one small problem. The wood on the stock was a little thick behind the right side hammer and this caused some drag. This was causing light hammer strikes that would require two or three strikes to finally set off the shell. After a quick fix in the field with my pocket knife, no problems.
I blasted a targed from about 30 yards with some 00 buckshot, and to my suprise I had two holes in the center of the target and 3 more just a little to the right ( on the first shot). Now I have to admit, I was flinching like nothing you have ever seen, and I was pulling to the right on my flinch. Just not use to that 00 buck!
For the first time in my life, I tried shooting some skeet. I actually hit some, when I remembered to cock the hammers.
Returning home, I just had to disassemble the receiver to reshape the stock where I whittled it in the field. Can't figure out how to get that thing apare to save my life. I did at least get the side plates off so I could sand the high spot down. Also discovered the "American Walnut " is just stain. Underneath the stain is the same crappy yellow wood that came on all the norinco SKS's way back.
Would I buy this Coachgun again? Yes, it is a lot of fun for $150 +
FFL fees and shipping. ($185 all together)
Today I finally got to take the new Norinco out for a spin around the farm. Happy to say that I only had one small problem. The wood on the stock was a little thick behind the right side hammer and this caused some drag. This was causing light hammer strikes that would require two or three strikes to finally set off the shell. After a quick fix in the field with my pocket knife, no problems.
I blasted a targed from about 30 yards with some 00 buckshot, and to my suprise I had two holes in the center of the target and 3 more just a little to the right ( on the first shot). Now I have to admit, I was flinching like nothing you have ever seen, and I was pulling to the right on my flinch. Just not use to that 00 buck!
For the first time in my life, I tried shooting some skeet. I actually hit some, when I remembered to cock the hammers.
Returning home, I just had to disassemble the receiver to reshape the stock where I whittled it in the field. Can't figure out how to get that thing apare to save my life. I did at least get the side plates off so I could sand the high spot down. Also discovered the "American Walnut " is just stain. Underneath the stain is the same crappy yellow wood that came on all the norinco SKS's way back.
Would I buy this Coachgun again? Yes, it is a lot of fun for $150 +
FFL fees and shipping. ($185 all together)
Thanks Scotts,
I guess that’s a pretty good price, all things considered. Not as many moving parts on a coach gun so less opportunity to goof up in the manufacture. I guess the SKS was made under different circumstances, Military V's mass market. I cant say for sure but I'm likely to pick up a norinko coach gun if I run across a good deal & privet seller (I'm trying to stop doing the paperwork on guns I'm likely to get rid of).
Have you ever seen the mini shells? They are 1/2 the length of a 2 3/4 shell and less of everything shot, powder etc. they may be more enjoyable shooting.
PS: Would you say that the bulk of the pattern, from both barrels one at a time, was hitting where you aimed?
I guess that’s a pretty good price, all things considered. Not as many moving parts on a coach gun so less opportunity to goof up in the manufacture. I guess the SKS was made under different circumstances, Military V's mass market. I cant say for sure but I'm likely to pick up a norinko coach gun if I run across a good deal & privet seller (I'm trying to stop doing the paperwork on guns I'm likely to get rid of).
Have you ever seen the mini shells? They are 1/2 the length of a 2 3/4 shell and less of everything shot, powder etc. they may be more enjoyable shooting.
PS: Would you say that the bulk of the pattern, from both barrels one at a time, was hitting where you aimed?
Both Barrels at once?!?! 
I don't have the kahunas to do that with only a T shirt on! Might just have to give it a try soon. Maybe next weekend?
I don't have the kahunas to do that with only a T shirt on! Might just have to give it a try soon. Maybe next weekend?
ScottsGT:
Is that the Model 99? Does it have external hammers? I think Big 5 is
selling that one here for $199.
Is that the Model 99? Does it have external hammers? I think Big 5 is
selling that one here for $199.
From someone who hasn't started looking for one yet, how do you tell a first- or second-generation from a third-generation?
--
Mike
longeyes,
The borchure that came with it has a part number of L12-SPM-1.
$199 is a good off the shelf price. I paid $150 + $11 s&h and $25 for FFL transfer. And it does have the two external hammers.
The borchure that came with it has a part number of L12-SPM-1.
$199 is a good off the shelf price. I paid $150 + $11 s&h and $25 for FFL transfer. And it does have the two external hammers.
Detritus
Member
the way to tell that, involves knowing the Ser# ranges for each batch(the "generations" are really more akin to import batches). the EASY way to make about 95% sure you get a good one is to get one of the guns with the "american walnut" stock, these are the "4th generation" (translation 3rd generation "functional parts" with darker stocks) ALL the trench guns are "4th gen" btw.
there have been a few scattered reports of 1st and 2nd "gen" guns showing up re-stocked to "walnut", these are very rare and as with the specific ser# ranges i've been "out of the loop" (read as, way from my fellow cowboy shooters) too long to remember if the concensus on the restocked early guns was that they were re-worked as well or still in need of massive work.
just a note on "walnut stocks" these very well may be the same crappy wood, stained a darker color, and as Scotts states in his case it WAS exactly that. but all teh examples i've come across show two distinct changes from the old "orangy-yellow" finished (what my local shops call "apple crate #3") stocks. one, they show decent grain instead of looking like stained or painted Balsa, and two, they do not seem as prone to dents, dings, and having the finish chip if yo look at the thing funny, as the earlier versions. if that's el-cheapo "chinese pulp wood" under that stain, then the first stock must really HAVE been made of balsa!! (that first stock they had n the 97's was a relative POS)
I have one of the Norinco mod 97 "trench guns" and it is pretty nice. Paid about $350 for it. "Supposedly" Norinco just got barred from import due to the Chinese selling stuff to Iraqis or something, so get one while you have the chance (not sure if this is real or just a rumor).
Anyway, the fit and finish is excellent. A friend has a real 97 and the Norinco has all the same markings and parts, with the addition of "Made in China" in small letters. When you consider that the bayonet lug sells for almost $100 by itself, the shotgun is quite a bit cheaper than a real 97. Doesn't stop me from wanting the real thing though! You have to be pretty forceful with the slide or the shells will hang up in the ejection port, I'm told this is a characteristic of the 97s in general. I also hear that you can stick a BB under the ejector to eliminate this "characteristic". Me and a friend both have Norinco trench guns and they both pattern very tightly, much tighter than my Mossberg 9200, with Federal #4 buckshot and some birdshot. I'm not sure what kind of choke these guns come with, but it works well! About my only beef with the weapon is that the edges around the feed ramp are sharp enough to cut flesh if you get careless when loading shells. Might just take a light file to that area and touch it up with a blueing pen. Overall, very satisfied with the purchase!
Anyway, the fit and finish is excellent. A friend has a real 97 and the Norinco has all the same markings and parts, with the addition of "Made in China" in small letters. When you consider that the bayonet lug sells for almost $100 by itself, the shotgun is quite a bit cheaper than a real 97. Doesn't stop me from wanting the real thing though! You have to be pretty forceful with the slide or the shells will hang up in the ejection port, I'm told this is a characteristic of the 97s in general. I also hear that you can stick a BB under the ejector to eliminate this "characteristic". Me and a friend both have Norinco trench guns and they both pattern very tightly, much tighter than my Mossberg 9200, with Federal #4 buckshot and some birdshot. I'm not sure what kind of choke these guns come with, but it works well! About my only beef with the weapon is that the edges around the feed ramp are sharp enough to cut flesh if you get careless when loading shells. Might just take a light file to that area and touch it up with a blueing pen. Overall, very satisfied with the purchase!
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