DrThunder88 912 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 I was just doing some shopping before picking up a pistol at one of my favorite gun stores when I came across this rifle. I'd never heard of a Norinco Hunter before, but a cursory glance suggested it, like my Saigas and SSR-85c, was a bona fide AK Bush-whacked into an embarrassing "sporter" configuration. I did my homework and decided to put it on my low-priority "to-get" list. I was at the store a few months later and saw the rifle hadn't sold. I decided to play cool and get a few bucks knocked off the sticker price. I asked to see the rifle. "Sure thing," the salesman said, "Just so you know: it doesn't take standard AK magazines. My buddy came in to buy it yesterday but decided not to when he found out." Now I had him! I knew it would use a regular AK mag, but if he thought it didn't I could use it as leverage. I made small talk about it and indicated I was familiar with tinkering with AK magwells and would be in a good position to judge how much of a hassle it would be for me to do it myself (and consequently how much that work would be worth to me). This gives him the idea to show me that the mags don't fit, so he grabs an empty surplus mag from the box. Click. It fits. He decided it must've been a fluke so he grabs another. Click. It locks in too. "Maybe they don't feed, and that's what the problem is," I suggest, trying to segue into having to install a bullet guide. "Let me check," he says as he grabs a box of Wolf and disappears through the back door to the range. BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM I don't know if I hosed myself on it or if the salesman saw me coming a mile away, but it was about $400 out the door. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arik 565 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Norinco hunters were saigas before there were saigas. If that makes sense Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted July 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 I initially thought it may have been an early Saiga. It does indeed makes sense. I forgot to post pictures: 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arik 565 Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 (edited) For $400 that would be my in a heart beat. I usually see unconverted hunters go for that price. The salesman's friend probably thought they were like Polytechs. Polytech AKs have their own mags and only those will work. Edited July 22, 2011 by Arik Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deussne 38 Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I initially thought it may have been an early Saiga. It does indeed makes sense. I forgot to post pictures: Sweet looking rifle! Good work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2ndAmendican 23 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Damn you got a good deal on that. It's beautiful !!!! Arik, I have never heard that Polytech AK's required their own special magazines, like the Saiga or VEPR? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volkov 318 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Wow.. I didn't realize norinco hunters had galil looking recievers.. Damnit, I need one now.. crap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arik 565 Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Yep they do, unfortunately. Im not sure about the x39 but the 223 is 100% proprietary mags Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volkov 318 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Share Posted July 28, 2011 Nah, the whole point in going for the norinco instead of the galil is to get the x39, otherwise I'd just got a galil.. Looks beautiful Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Thanks for the kind words! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2ndAmendican 23 Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 (edited) Arik, I misunderstood. I thought you meant on the x39 mags. Didn't know that you were talking about .223 since the OP was about a sweet a$$ x39. Dr.Thunder, after looking at the pics again, I think I am drooling even more now than I did the other day. That thing just flat out rocks. ESPECIALLY because it's a x39!!! Have you tested it yet??? Nevermind. I just watched the second video. Very nice work! Edited July 29, 2011 by 2ndAmendican Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smartbomb 133 Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 jeez thats hot! you will find it out shoots everything you have. i still have the original rear flip sight on mine and can bounce tennis balls across the range at 75+. they are very well made. hmmm, i've got one more laying around that may get your treatment!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 While wearing a new type of contact lenses that seemed to impede my ability to focus on the front sight, I decided my gun needed a red dot. I've since gone back to my old contacts, but an optics mount seemed like a good idea. This setup doesn't co-witness, but I'm not too worried about it. I'm working on a QD solution for the red dot. Though I think my method is a bit different than his, this was inspired by smartbomb's quad-rail solution. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZj39xwqgFs 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gasper44 3 Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 I'm in love, awesome buildup. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zfields 3 Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Great looking rifle! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks, guys! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uzitiger 193 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 I've seen the Norinco Sporter which is a Chinese version of the Saiga. The one I saw was sporterized like the Saiga but used AK magazines. It's asking price was about $400. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 This one, to the clerk's surprise, used AK mags too. Sounds like the price was within the normal range. I did find a pre-conversion picture I took of my rifle while going through some old photos: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted February 12, 2012 Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 That actually looks pretty good as a sporter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
haugpatr 972 Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Are all of these Norinco hunters milled. One appeared locally for $525 OBO and it is described as milled, don't have a milled AK yet, maybe this should be the first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JEX1 2 Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 Thanks to DrThunder88 and his great videos I have started my own conversion. I just ordered the rest of the parts I needed to complete job. I have attached some pics will see if it worked. this is what I started with. I will post more pics as time progresses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JEX1 2 Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 I had a machinist buddy of mine fabricate a receiver block, and it fits like a glove. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JEX1 2 Posted April 3, 2012 Report Share Posted April 3, 2012 And this is where I am with it now: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 Love the build, But what happened to that good looking wood? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted April 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 Looking good so far! I need to get a machinist friend. Your receiver block looks great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JEX1 2 Posted April 4, 2012 Report Share Posted April 4, 2012 Thanks DrThunder I just hope it turns out as good as yours. here is a better picture of the receiver block my machinist friend really likes what he does . GOB, I still have old furniture and hardware, solid pieces but could be re finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woodzie65 3 Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I just picked up a hunter type 2 i believe, I paid 375.00 looks like it has been a in a closet.I would like to a svd type build I have a machinist friend that can mill me a adapter would you have the measurements from yours still , and for the muzzle break is there enough meat to thread on or did you cut it back and thread it and repin the sight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 The barrel on mine was of sufficient thickness to thread 14x1mmL directly behind the muzzle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JEX1 2 Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 Woodzie65, I just took my buttstock to my friend and he did the rest from there. I just told my guy to go 1/8 of an inch past the upper part of receiver. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
woodzie65 3 Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 Thanks for the info guys I will just give my friend the stock like you said Jex1 then he can copy it .So what kind of groups you guys getting out of this rifle from what little info i have been reading seems to one of the more accurate ak style rifle,Do you think this is just as good as the Veper rifles . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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