Chinese AKs in 5.56?

Came across a Norinco in 5.56 at a gun show last weekend. Similar to a Mak90 but the caliber was 5.56. Guy had one mag, gun was around 95% condition and he was asking 1k for it. Really liked it but couldn't bring myself to pay a grand for an AK (even a Norinco). Saw about 2 on Gunbroker and they were both over 1200. Did I pass up a good deal, and can anyone enlighten me on them?

Did the ones on GB sell for that much are were they like many others on GB that were listed for that much and no takers?

I really don't know much about .223 AKs since I've never had an interest but I know I wouldn't pay a grand for a post ban AK no matter what caliber it was. If it were preban then that would be a different story.

I am no expert on them either but I saw several this past weekend at our local show that were well over 1K. Underfolder that was $1300. Saw them on Saturday and they were still on the tables Sunday afternoon. I recall someone here picking up one for $800 I believe.

For that price I believe it would have to be in very nice condition and I would have to want it very badly. Worth what you are willing to pay I guess.

$800 would be a great deal. $1000 wouldn't be too bad if it were in perfect shape.

You can get post ban converted ones for about $400-500.

Saw one at the RK show here last weekend for $800?

It was pre ban since the guy had owned it since the early 90's. Yeah the one's on gunbroker weren't being sold.

If it was early 90's it wasn't preban. The ban went into effect in '89. Your comment that it was like a MAK-90 lead me to believe you were looking at a ban era rifle which would have been imported somewhere between '89 and '94, would have had a thumbhole (unless it was converted) and would have had the bayo lugs and cleaning rod holding provisions removed.

Like I said earlier, there is no way I would personally pay that sort of money for a ban era AK regardless of caliber.

If it was a preban then yeah, it would be selling in the price range previously discussed. In fact there is a preban .223 Norinco 84S-1 underfolder, with bayo, original box and manual, 4 mags and accesories, on GB right now starting at $1000 with no takers.

And yeah, when looking at gunbroker for an idea of prices you need to look at the closed auctions to find what they actually sold for. A lot of sellers list auctions at unrealistic prices so you can't go by the asking prices.

Really? I usually see them in the 700-800 range, converted.

You didn't pass on a great deal. Depending on which model you actually might have over paid slightly. Now when I say over paid I am basing this on what I see them sell for here!!
I would think a fixed stock preban Norinco 84s would bring about $800 maybe more if it is in minty condition.If it was a ban era .223 Norinco then you would have paid alot more then it was worth.

Probably best you passed on it if you weren't quite sure what you had in front of you.

Now if it was a Norinco 84s-5A then you missed out!!

Picked up a .223 Norinco about three years ago with the wood thumbhole stock. It was 400.00 and some change. Condition was similar to the OP, about 90-95%. Only recently found and bought a chicom FSB on the EE to replace the neutered one that was originally on the gun.

The chinese (norinco) 223 rifles are great. I have a bwk92(223 mak90) and love it. The pre ban version is the 84/84s, I am looking for one these too. The only down side is mags are expensive and hard to find. You should use norinco 223 mags, I found that my smoked slr106 mags work too, the black ones don't fit with out some dremeling. Wieger mags don't fit either. I like the norincos because the mags are cheaper then the 223 polytechs. I have friend with one of those and when he can find a mag for sale it is at least $100, norinco mags are 40-50. I got my bwk92 for 450 on gunbroker a year ago, still looking for an 84/84s with a bunch of mags lol.

I just stopped at a pawn shop today after work. They had what I thought was a MAK-90 on the rack so I asked to see it. Turned out to be a BWK-92 and it was marked $495. Since I didin't have an interest I didn't try to bargain or find out what their best price would have been. But the last Norinco I bought was marked $549 and I bought it for $400 OTD, so you just never know.

I got my pre-ban Norinco 84S-1 (underfolder) w/ two mags & Chinese drop case for $750.00 in Nov/Dec 2008. This was at the beginning of the "get your guns before Obama does" scare. At a time when it was selling for $1300.00 - to $1500.00, what a score. It's worth what folks wanna pay for 'em. So that's why you see these same rifles on GunBroker with starting bids of $1300 plus collecting dust because, people realize the scare was a scam, and some sellers still didn't get the memo. Even worse, you have sellers trying to unload post-ban tacti-cool Bubba'd rifles for $1200.00. What do these sellers smoke??

I would say that $1000.00 may have been a deal (not a steal) if it was a great condition pre-ban.

I'm going to start keeping my eyes out for a bwk92 as I can't afford to buy another 84S, I bought my 84S with 11 mags for $600 about 7 or 8 years ago. I haven't shot it much over the years but I do enjoy shooting it when I do take it out.

Have tried the black 106slr mags and have also found they do not fit without some work. Will try the smoked ones.

Also the ProMag .223 AK mags work great with some filing on the front and rear locking lugs. You may also have to open up the rear of the mag feed lips to allow the bolt to clear the lips when it strips a round off.

I too am interested in a 5.56 AK. I found a Polytech spiker in 5.56 at a gun shop last week, price tag was $1399. I questioned the dealer how many mags it had, he replied 1 30 rounder. Told him I might make an offer if it had additional mags, that I knew the gun has a proprietary magazine that is almost impossible to find. Typical dealer response of "I'll find you some more mags". Too bad it didn't have at least 2-3, I would love to have it.
This from a dealer that had Federal American Eagle 9mm fmj for $23 a box early this summer.

They are very accurate AKs .

84s

Just thought I'd throw in some gratuitous Norinco 84S porn. This is an 84S-3 which I restocked with wood from a Romy SAR-1 (I still have the original plastic furniture).

Here is a nice one with correct furniture and some 922 parts.
Norinco BWK 92 223

Ok..I'll admit I am not into AK's...I own two...a Mak-90 and a newish WASR. If I had my druthers I like shooting my SKS more.

Why are 'pre-ban' models still selling so high???? I just picked up 2 'pre-ban' M11's for $240 each. These were new....and about a year ago they were twice that much. When I asked the dealer/LGS he said "Yeah...that whole pre-ban thing has died out and I am unloading these" or something like that. I know they are nothing more than big 9mm pistols but they seem to be falling off the back of trucks now since the Obama Scare has died down. I am not knocking AK's...but they are milsurp weapons DESIGNED to be inexpensive. I could see paying $800 plus for a sub-moa target rifle or a very well set up AR15....but a bone stock chicom AK???...really? Maybe I fall into that "..but it's just an AK..." crowd but even in .223 I am still not impressed. My $229 SKS easily shoots to the limit of my rapidly diminishing eyesight. The AK...ah...it's "OK"...but not a tack driver. Both my Colt and DPMS AR can outshoot it....so...I am asking this not as a troll or a flame starter...but why the HIGH DOLLAR love for AK? Why, beyond serious collectors, are any 'shooters' buying pre-ban AK's when the current and MUCH LESS expensive models are basically the same weapon? Does it being older make it a better weapon? I have purchased an SKS and two Mosin Nagants that are supposed to be 50 years old and they were basically new...not used and refinished...but I mean you open the breach and there is NO WEAR inside. The white metal bolts have NO WEAR marks. The barrels are like mirrors....and they were VERY inexpensive and VERY accurate. Yeah, I know...apples and oranges...but I am using them as example. Just asking...is all. I can understand paying $300-$500 for a nice AK milsurp...but $1000??? The last gun show several guys had S&W MP AR's for $925 cash....much rather dump the $1000 on that and some ammo. Maybe I don't understand pre, ban, and post era thing very well..just collectible value?

I just wanted to know and I echo CRZAPY quotes above...

Thanks

Jay

Preban Chicom rifles command a premium because the ones in the country are all there ever will be. No more will ever be imported (unless Hell freezes over). Plus, being preban, 922r doesn't apply to them.

Also realize that there have been several different "bans" over the years. So, when talking to different people about AWBs it can mean different things. For example, the most recent national AWB made new production ARs not have bayo lugs and FHs, and be labeled "sporter" (among other things). When this ban sunset new production rifles once again came out with these features intact. So during the AWB a preban AR with all of the "evil features" commanded more money, but once the ban was over they really didn't any longer because new guns were back to the way they were before the ban went into effect.

When dealing with Chicom AKs, pre-ban refers to pre-1989 when they were banned from importation in their original configuration. This gave rise to the thumbhole stocked MAKs with no threaded muzzles or bayo lugs. Most people that want an AK want an authentic AK, not some neutered abomination with a stock designed for an alien species. To put a MAK back to its original AK configuration legally (922r) requires quite a bit of money and effort as well as replacing a certain number of original parts with US made components.

Then in 1994 they were banned from importation altogether (including the neutered MAKs), so unlike the example of ARs I used above, no more will ever be here.

People prefer pre-bans because of their rarity as well as the fact they can retain all of their original components and still be legal, and they don't require an "conversion" to start with to get them in a true AK configuration.

Chicom AK are regarded by many to be the best ever imported. The original Chinese FCG is also regarded as one of the best used in any AK, but when converting a MAK back to a true AK configuration the FCG is often replaced with lesser quality US components to help get the required number of parts correct for 922(r) compliance. With a pre-ban none of that exists.

I agree with you about the prices of pre-bans but the market sets the price, the supply is limited and fixed at its current level, and there are enough people out there that value them enough to elevate the price to the current level.

I hope this makes sense and helps clear up your questions.

$1000 is way over priced in my opinion in this economy, unless it came with a lot of mags ( they are expensive if you can find them ). I live in a ban state and there is a Pre-89 norinco in .223 in a local shop for $800 in very nice condition. And it has been sitting there.

Thanks Imposer...it did clear up why there are some price swings. Only...if the chi-coms are good...why would you WANT to convert them? My MAK-90 (with cornholio stock :) ) shoots very well, not super accurate, but it'll eat anything I feed it and go 'bang' when I pull the trigger. I wouldn't mind a synthetic stock, grip, forestock, colored keyed mags..etc (tapco setup)....but like you said......I would wind up with $180 in dress up on a $275 gun. Ah...I just thought about that statement...I have a $500 Eotech on a $370 rifle...so that shows you how goofy I am.

The question I still haven't gotten my mind around...and I am having trouble saying it without causing some grumbling....but....AK's are 'supposed' to be inexpensive but reliable. Good models, can and do, bring a premium....but....when I look at all the good quality versions out there now in the $400-$800 range they are some VERY nice ones. On the upper end you have milled receivers, shorty synthetic stocks, reworked triggers, etc...(Black Gun AK in NC is at a lot of the shows) and they have really nice stuff in the $600-$800 range. Then, like you guys have been talking about, you can walk to the next table and see a "plain jane" pre-ban .223 for $1000 plus...with no upgrades and one mag...???? I get 'colletible' but why would a 'shooter' be getting these and modding them (to a 'true' ak look ?!?!?) and shooting them ? That's what I don't get. (and there are a lot of them on here and other sites). I guess it's like buying a Rock River AR and loving it...but your buddy just HAS to have the 'REAL COLT' AR....he paid more but you both enjoy shooting. I don't know...maybe I should just keep my thoughts to myself. It just hit me funny while reading this thread.

Cheers!

Jay

Some might say these are way overpriced but it only costs alittle more to go first class.

gratuitous PolyTech 84S Porn... Mags are not interchangeable with Norinco....

I bought a pre-ban Norinco 84S that was unfired, with no box and one mag and sling for $500. Condition was 100% new. I put 20 rounds through it, cleaned it and put in the safe. Since that time (about a year ago) I have collected about 8-9 more mags.

Nice shooter.

At Dallas Market Hall? If so over priced.

Preban Chicm 5.56's are great, get them while you can!!

84S-Beautiful wood. Flings the steel!! People were moving their SUV's



84S NIB Flawless!



84S Shooter-Excellent condition

hi im In Big D I have a norinco 223 actually 556 stamped on barrel NEVER BEEN FIRED with 3 mags...2 thirty round mags one 5 rounder for sale for $650...ill bring it to market hall in Jan if someone wants it...lemme know

regards Wash

My first 5.56 Norinco AK and super deal. The metal is a but uncared for but runs like a champ.

Had to clean her up a bit but it was worth it...

That is a nice weapon. What did you pay?

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