B-West Reciever 5.56x45

[7th Fleet]

I've got an Norinco 5.56x45 Chinese made AK it has BWK-92 sporter on the left side. serial no is 301xxx. On the bottom it is stamped B West Imp. Tucson AZ. Made in China. I have heard that the defective B West guns had American stamped recievers with imported Chinese parts. This was an attempt to get around the ban. The defective guns are susposed to be stamped made in the USA or so I have heard. Does anybody have the straight scoop on the B-west story. This is a really good looking example of an AK and is very well made. It almost looks like a PolyTec inside, the hammer of the gun has that copper colored hue that the Polytec guns have, unlike the Norincos I have seen that have crude looking black hammers in them. This is really a good looking example of an AK and is well finished. Thanks for any information that you can provide to clear up this confusion.

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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.

[Boomer]

I also own a BWK-92 (.223 cal.) and from other sites my understanding is this:


In the begining .... B-WEST imported the complete weapon which was made by the best slave labor a bowl of rice could buy. These receivers were stamped at the factory


B-WEST IMP


TUCSON AZ





MADE IN CHINA


BY NORINCO





On the side it's stamped:


BWK-92


SPORTER





As an 'after thought' 5.56X45 was stamped beside that.


These were the first post ban (the first ban) imports through B-WEST. If you look where the bayonet lug is supose to be you'll actually see the grinder marks where they removed it. Looking at the front of the forearm piece you'll see were they plugged the hole that the cleaning rod used to go into. The IMP in the stamping and the signs of the post ban modifications indicate you have a good one. One of the first post ban imports from B-WEST. Then for some reason (maybe money or the law) B-WEST began importing everything from NORINCO except the receiver as parts. They then had a local machine shop stamp out MADE IN THE USA receivers. These receivers turned out to be garbage and also illegal. The BATF caught wind of this operation and put B-WEST out of business.


The US company who made the receivers for B-WEST didn't know the violent nature of the gas recoil piston in an AK-47 type weapon and used inferior rivets and a thinner metal for the receiver. These receivers would show signs of fatigue after a few thousand rounds.


So it sounds that you, like me, have one of the earlier models.

[JA]

What got B-west in trouble with the atf was there sub contractor that made the receivers didn't have a FFL to mfg firearms. The receiver is considered a firearm by itself by the atf.

[7th Fleet]

Thanks for the information guys on my Norinco B-West. It makes me feel much better about this fine little gun to know that it isn't a pile of crap like the later B-West guns with the shoddy American recievers.

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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.

[7th Fleet]

I would like to pick up two or three extra .223 mags for this Norinco, I've been told that Polytech .223 mags are different. Is this true? Where can I find the proper mags for this Norinco AK .223? Any Ideas? Thanks 7th Fleet

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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.

[recon]

Yes the norinco mags are different than the poly.Check out shotgun news or the gun list there are companys that sell but not cheaply.

[General Ourumov]

>This is a really good looking example of an AK and is very well made. It almost looks like a PolyTec inside, the hammer of the gun has that copper colored hue that the Polytec guns have, unlike the Norincos I have seen that have crude looking black hammers in them.<

Really, I have a MAK-90 that has a copper colored hue hammer in it and also seems to be very well made. Could I have a Polytech/Norinco mix?

[Boomer]

Hey 7th,


Go to WWW.CLIPSNSTUFF.COM (http://WWW.CLIPSNSTUFF.COM) they have 5 and 30 round .223 magazines for the NORINCO.

[7th Fleet]

I now own 12 extra mags for my .223 Norinco, found them at a local gun show for $10.00 each. The guy sold the rifle seperately and I came along and picked up his extra mags at a good price. I guess the deals are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time...7th Fleet

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The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.

[nitz726]

who cares in my experience one of the best aks out the as far as norinco ran 5000+round without failure thats without fireing pin spring didnt know one was supposed to come with the rifle . just know you have a machine that you can count on in a time of need

[7th Fleet]

BTT

[7th Fleet]

Well I just saw my first USA made B-West AK-47 this past week. My buddy had never heard about the problems with the American made recievers so I told him about this post.

Dale this is the one I was telling you about. Save this AK-47 Board to your favorites, lots of good stuff here.

7th

[Dogg of Demise]

Originally posted by General Ourumov:
<STRONG>>This is a really good looking example of an AK and is very well made. It almost looks like a PolyTec inside, the hammer of the gun has that copper colored hue that the Polytec guns have, unlike the Norincos I have seen that have crude looking black hammers in them.<

Really, I have a MAK-90 that has a copper colored hue hammer in it and also seems to be very well made. Could I have a Polytech/Norinco mix?</STRONG>

Both of my MAK-90's have it too?

[7th Fleet]

DD: I once owned a Mak-90 and they appeared to be identical internally to my preban Polytechs. Back during the very early 90's I traded it off in a moment of madness, on another preban. The thing is the Mak, was the same gun that I traded for, except the new one was preban and had the evil features that the Mak didn't have. ;)

The Mak-90 other than the government mandated BS, are great examples of the AKM, at least the ones that I have been exposed to. Personally I would rather have a Mak-90 than just about anyother post ban AKM that I have run across.

7th