Wow, a sexy Norinco Polytech "hunter" ak variant

Hiya Guys ...

I know I told myself that I'm not buying any more rifles, because I don't have room in my gun safe for the rifles that I have now as it is until I buy another safe to move some stuff into, however I did want to pick up a couple more handguns for my collection that I did have room for. Well, even though I said I wouldn't and I'm not a fan of the AR platform I wound up picking up a 6.5 Grendel w/ dies that fell in my lap because I do reload for the x39 and I really like the cartridge.

With that being said it looks as though like I'd done it again, however this time things are just a little bit different. When a beautiful Norinco Polytech "hunter" ak variant popped up on the local gun grapevine I just had to reach out and touch bases with the guy that had it because I've done business with him in the past.

I knew practically nothing about the hunter models and I've never really been a fan of the AK platform per se because the ones that I've handled have then somewhat sloppy and not the most accurate rifles on the planet, even compared to my more accurate sks's, so I did a little research on them and researching the current going rates for the other polytech ak's online, I just had to get a Hands-On look at it as a potential investment opportunity & I'm real surprised that no one else got to it before me with the price he was asking on it, so I jumped in the new truck and headed west across the county line and into Nampa to meet up with him and check it out.

All I can say is Wow, this this really really nice. Nice deep bluing , heavy barrel, nicely finished checkered walnut furniture with stainless Hardware & a buttery smooth nicely finished milled receiver with standard AK style sights and 2 heavy guage steel Croatian mags that fit nice and snug in the receiver. I also really like the xtra long stock w/ the factory limbsaver Style recoil pad. It's probably 3" longer than most Norinco furniture & it fits my long arms and length of pull nicely. After fondling this for a few minutes I decides that it was coming home with me because I've never seen an AK variant as nicely finished as this is. If I had to compare this to another firearm in terms of the quality and the fit and finish it would probably be a really nice CZ 75B Omega or that really nice Browning hi-power I recently acquired, it's really purdy' & it's already worth more than I gave for it and it probably won't be long before it's worth close to $1k with the way milsurp and AK prices are climbing with the China / Russia import ban.

And if you're wondering, Miss spoiled rotten furrball approves ...

Ignition Override said:

Very ruggedly handsome overall. Those are quite appealing colors in the wood.

If the barrel is 20", then it should allow a better muzzle velocity and effective range than with all four of my imported AKs.

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Yes , it's a 20" barrel and from everything I've read about them online thus far these are supposed to be extremely accurate, like 1.5" groups or better with good ammo or handloads much like the VZ 58/2008 AK variant I had.

Oops, I forgot to mention this also has a wolf recoil spring and KNS Precision AK non -rotate trigger / hammer pins installed & came with the original pins and spring.

RecoilRob said:

The Norinco Hunter was made in the same factory as Polytech's....but calling it one is kind of like saying your Ford Taurus is a Lincoln (being that they're made by the same company...but not quite the same thing). The Polytech rifles were always made a notch above the Norinco's...though both are very serviceable and durable rifles. The Norinco Hunter is a Chinese copy of the Finnish Valmet Hunter and while of AK origins contains different parts particularly the trigger which pulls almost straight up rather than rearward which some find awkward. Most likely the wood is Chu rather than walnut....so enjoy it as it is and don't try refinishing or you might end up with some really light blond looking furniture and be aware the wood is also very soft compared to a harder variety. Perfectly usable as is.

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I wouldn't exactly say that's an accurate example because Norinco has made some nice firearms although there are some exceptions to that such as the SKS B or the SKS-M Sporter which are both utter crap . As far as this Hunter goes, it's nicer than a couple Polytecs a friend has or my brother's Mak-90.

This is just an observation but there was no vertical scratch on the right side of the receiver from the safety being used until I tested it while making sure everything was operational. I'm thinking that either this was a safe queen that seen little to no use or someone never used the safety for What Little use it may have seen.