Norinco .223 from China - did I just waste my $$?

[3MTA3]

On the weekend I was shooting 1.25 MOA with Norinco .223 and my target mini-14. Pretty darn good for chicom ammo out of a mini to boot

Were they the incendiary rounds?

[OutdoorPursuitsCanada]

I wish

[3MTA3]

BRAND AND BULLET TYPE AVERAGE OF 5-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YARDS
Federal 55-gr. BTHP* vs. regular Mini-14 Range Rifle 1.304 in. 3.449 in.
Federal 55-gr. Nos Ballistic Tip 1.705 in.
Federal 62-gr. FMJ 1.836 in.
Winchester 40-gr. Nos Ballistic Tip 1.223 in.
Winchester 50-gr. Nos Ballistic Tip 2.564 in.
Winchester 53-gr. HP vs. regular Mini-14 Range Rifle 2.529 in. 3.027 in.
Winchester 64-gr. Power Point 2.261 in.

* smallest group recorded .780 in.

Old test of Target Mini 14- Outdoor life -
Wow

[OutdoorPursuitsCanada]

Pretty good - take that mini haters...

[5.56 Medic]

Another couple hours at the range, today. Here's a group with the Yellow Box. I am really liking this inexpensive ammo.

Norinco CQA 556
25 yard and shooting off a pack.
Magpul BUIS

[OutdoorPursuitsCanada]

Tried the norc ammo in my AR, it did not like it. No mechanical issues but it shot minute-of-pie-plate. The mini 14 still shoots it great though.

[road kill]

Those mini 14's must have the adjustable choke on the muzzle.

[harbl_the_cat]

Don't feel bad, I bought 3 crates for $490, than another for $450. I think some places have it for $420 now (maybe Canam will have it for $400 again).

It shoots reliable and accurate enough to justify stockpiling.

Definitely loading the boat, personally. For me to reload .223 with hours of work I think the material cost is about $0.20/round. The Norinco stuff is headstamped 1993-1995, meaning it's priced with the cost of copper, lead and zinc from those years - all of which have at least doubled to quadrupled since then.

8-9 years from now, you WILL see surplus 5.56/.223 ammo manufactured in 2012-2013 for $1-$2.00/round, with commercial stuff much, MUCH higher.

Ha! This post aged well.

It's been 10 years since I made that prediction, looks like I was spot on.

1000 round bulk packs $1/round.

Match grade, is almost $3/round.

I know in 10 years I'll be as right about the Russo-Ukrainian war as I was about ammo prices.

Prices off Cabela's today...

2023-04-25_13-49-00.jpg

I finished trimming 2200 pieces of Nork Surplus a few days ago and started a new load for my Sterling R18.

I think the biggest problem with the Nork surplus ammo was that the case lengths are often above 5.56 or .223 spec, which caused enough of a pressure spike to cause keyholes, huge velocity spikes and poor accuracy (about 4-6 MOA).

I've probably shot 5k-6k or so and have had a few case failures - but overall, I'm very happy with that purchase.

It ran great in every AR I ran it, and for 3-Gun, most of the time you didn't really need very good accuracy.

It runs great in Norinco T97's as well.

The brass on this stuff is really good, overall length outstanding.

I trimmed my last batch to 1.758" no problem.

What I like about the Nork CJ brass is how easy it is to prime. It primes really smooth a lot like uncrimped PMC brass, RP, and Winchester.

I dislike most crimped .223 brass, although I find FC and LC are consistently short and don't need as much effort trimming.

My R18 test loads shot about 1.5 MOA during test firing, 23.9-24.3gn very old Winchester 748, Federal standard small rifle, CJ brass, 1.74" OAL.

[M1917 Enfield]

Ha! This post aged well.

It's been 10 years since I made that prediction, looks like I was spot on.

1000 round bulk packs $1/round.

Match grade, is almost $3/round.

I know in 10 years I'll be as right about the Russo-Ukrainian war as I was about ammo prices.

Prices off Cabela's today...

2023-04-25_13-49-00.jpg

I finished trimming 2200 pieces of Nork Surplus a few days ago and started a new load for my Sterling R18.

I think the biggest problem with the Nork surplus ammo was that the case lengths are often above 5.56 or .223 spec, which caused enough of a pressure spike to cause keyholes, huge velocity spikes and poor accuracy (about 4-6 MOA).

I've probably shot 5k-6k or so and have had a few case failures - but overall, I'm very happy with that purchase.

It ran great in every AR I ran it, and for 3-Gun, most of the time you didn't really need very good accuracy.

It runs great in Norinco T97's as well.

The brass on this stuff is really good, overall length outstanding.

I trimmed my last batch to 1.758" no problem.

What I like about the Nork CJ brass is how easy it is to prime. It primes really smooth a lot like uncrimped PMC brass, RP, and Winchester.

I dislike most crimped .223 brass, although I find FC and LC are consistently short and don't need as much effort trimming.

My R18 test loads shot about 1.5 MOA during test firing, 23.9-24.3gn very old Winchester 748, Federal standard small rifle, CJ brass, 1.74" OAL.

You should start posting in the stockmarket thread and offering/giving BSD stock pick tips!

[harbl_the_cat]

You should start posting in the stockmarket thread and offering/giving BSD stock pick tips!

I did... I said buy physical precious metals instead of stocks...

I'm pretty sure time will prove me right on that one as well.