Need Help & Advice: Norinco MK90

Rock and Glock · June 27th, 2006, 12:21 AM

I have a chance to buy a Norinco MK90, in 7.62X39. 3 30 round mags, 200 rounds of ammo (unknown brand) for $350 or a bit lower. I have not looked at it yet, but the seller tells me there are no scratches in the wood, and the blueing is in good shape.

I have never owned a centerfire rifle, and know virtually nothing about them! LOL!

Are the MK90's reliable?
Accurate?
Fun?
A PITA?
Worth having?

I dunno what I'll use it for - just sounds fun!

Would you recommend it for a first centerfire rifle?

Thanks for the input, folks!

srfl · June 27th, 2006, 12:40 AM

I have no practical experience with an MK90 (I have a Saiga 12 AK shotgun and WASR2 in 5.45 x 39mm)...but it is an AK....so:

Reliable? To a fault....it's an AK

Accurate? Not like an AR, but you should be able to exact minute-of-babushka (oops...it's Chinese-made so I meant to say "minute-of-The Great Wall of China") groups out of it from about 12"....but then again accuracy isn't an AK's strong suit....after all....it's an AK

Fun? Absolutely....it's an AK

PITA? Depends, if your sample has a slanted front sight and experiences triggerslap...then yes, it can be a PITA....but hey, it's an AK

Worth having? Well....yes....and you know what the rest of what I'm gonna say.....

Buy it and enjoy!

JT · June 27th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Get it. MAK-90s are very good versions of the AK. They are very solid, and also have one of the best AK triggers. $350 is what you will pay for a Romanian. No offense to the Romanian versions, but I would take a MAK-90 over them.

JT · June 27th, 2006, 12:51 AM

I just noticed you are in North Texas. If you decide not to get it, let me know. I'll take it.

P95Carry · June 27th, 2006, 01:19 AM

These days that price is well acceptable - yes indeed an AK in slightly different furniture but AK just the same.

I would go for it if you can - even if first centerfire rifle.

Come back then with any questions - but go get it! The way Wolf ammo etc has gone up of late, heck that ammo is $30+ right there!

'75scout · June 27th, 2006, 05:17 PM

I almost bought a Norinco AK a few months ago. The price was $400 and it was in great condition. It felt like a real quiality AK. I personally find AKs to be a very fun rifle. A great rifle for range fun and self defense situations. That is what I need and I am now looking for an AK aswell.

Rock and Glock · June 28th, 2006, 12:15 AM

Hey everyone - THANKS for the input!

Yee Haaa! Bought it tonight. Jeeez...I got a great wife. All serial numbers match. Stock with strange thumb hole. No scratches, nice furniture. Four clips, plus milsup ammo. Can't wait to shoot. Yea...

Sorry..no pics.......yet.........

RSSZ · June 28th, 2006, 02:39 PM

Hell yeah !! Sorry that I didn't see this thread before,but you got it and thats all that matters.

I have a couple of AKs. The MAK-90 is my favorite. They are real shooters. Let us know if you need any "help" with it.

There are 5,9,20,30,and (IIRC) 40 round mags out there. Also the Beta type mags that will hold 100rds. I would reccommend the 20 rounders for their length. I have a AK style brake on mine. Also the thumbhole stock. I have also done some trigger work and the trigger came out pretty good.

Also would reccommend that you put a recoil buffer from Buffer Technologies in it. It cuts down of the metal to metal "slam".

The price that you mentioned was great also. I feel that $500 would be close to normal,especially with mags.

The ammo that feed the weapon is still pretty cheap. Would suggest that you buy it in 1000(or so) round cases. At a gunshow if possible(save on shipping).

Factory ammo will come in 122gr. FMJ and HP,and 154 gr.Spire Pt. The military FMJ stuff will penetrate like a SOB. The HP's will also but not quite as deep. The 154's are a great killer of deer and (even)the medium sized hogs.

There are lots of sellers of AK associated stuff. TAPCO is one of them. You might need a front sight tool also.
What you got there is pretty much a auto loading .30-30 as far as the power level.
Enjoy your new addition to the family. ----------

Doc Holliday · June 28th, 2006, 06:42 PM

I got a MAK and I love it! Not a tack driver but it is a fun shooter. Plus it is chambered in something a little heavier than .223 which I LIKE.

Phil Elmore · June 28th, 2006, 09:14 PM

I can't agree with the addition of recoil buffers in any weapon. These are mechanisms designed to slam together; a recoil or shock buffer simply increases the chance of a problem by introducing a potential point of malfunction.

June 27th, 2006, 12:21 AM	#1
Rock and Glock VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado at 9,500' Posts: 3,806	Need Help & Advice: Norinco MK90 I have a chance to buy a Norinco MK90, in 7.62X39. 3 30 round mags, 200 rounds of ammo (unknown brand) for $350 or a bit lower. I have not looked at it yet, but the seller tells me there are no scratches in the wood, and the blueing is in good shape. I have never owned a centerfire rifle, and know virtually nothing about them! LOL! Are the MK90's reliable? Accurate? Fun? A PITA? Worth having? I dunno what I'll use it for - just sounds fun! Would you recommend it for a first centerfire rifle? Thanks for the input, folks! __________________ Richard NRA Life Member "This world is not a playground where children at play are pampered by friendly nannies," Wendelin Wiedeking

June 27th, 2006, 12:40 AM	#2
srfl Senior Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: FL Posts: 6,432	I have no practical experience with an MK90 (I have a Saiga 12 AK shotgun and WASR2 in 5.45 x 39mm)...but it is an AK....so: Reliable? To a fault....it's an AK Accurate? Not like an AR, but you should be able to exact minute-of-babushka (oops...it's Chinese-made so I meant to say "minute-of-The Great Wall of China") groups out of it from about 12"....but then again accuracy isn't an AK's strong suit....after all....it's an AK Fun? Absolutely....it's an AK PITA? Depends, if your sample has a slanted front sight and experiences triggerslap...then yes, it can be a PITA....but hey, it's an AK Worth having? Well....yes....and you know what the rest of what I'm gonna say..... Buy it and enjoy! __________________ USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

June 27th, 2006, 12:50 AM	#3
JT Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,099	Get it. MAK-90s are very good versions of the AK. They are very solid, and also have one of the best AK triggers. $350 is what you will pay for a Romanian. No offense to the Romanian versions, but I would take a MAK-90 over them. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1 Si vis pacem, para bellum

June 27th, 2006, 12:51 AM	#4
JT Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 1,099	I just noticed you are in North Texas. If you decide not to get it, let me know. I'll take it. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1 Si vis pacem, para bellum

June 27th, 2006, 01:19 AM	#5
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	These days that price is well acceptable - yes indeed an AK in slightly different furniture but AK just the same. I would go for it if you can - even if first centerfire rifle. Come back then with any questions - but go get it! The way Wolf ammo etc has gone up of late, heck that ammo is $30+ right there! __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

June 27th, 2006, 05:17 PM	#6
'75scout Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,165	I almost bought a Norinco AK a few months ago. The price was $400 and it was in great condition. It felt like a real quiality AK. I personally find AKs to be a very fun rifle. A great rifle for range fun and self defense situations. That is what I need and I am now looking for an AK aswell.

June 28th, 2006, 12:15 AM	#7
Rock and Glock VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado at 9,500' Posts: 3,806	Hey everyone - THANKS for the input! Yee Haaa! Bought it tonight. Jeeez...I got a great wife. All serial numbers match. Stock with strange thumb hole. No scratches, nice furniture. Four clips, plus milsup ammo. Can't wait to shoot. Yea... Sorry..no pics.......yet......... __________________ Richard NRA Life Member "This world is not a playground where children at play are pampered by friendly nannies," Wendelin Wiedeking Last edited by Rock and Glock; June 28th, 2006 at 12:24 AM.

June 28th, 2006, 02:39 PM	#8
RSSZ Distinguished Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,847	Hell yeah !! Sorry that I didn't see this thread before,but you got it and thats all that matters. I have a couple of AKs. The MAK-90 is my favorite. They are real shooters. Let us know if you need any "help" with it. There are 5,9,20,30,and (IIRC) 40 round mags out there. Also the Beta type mags that will hold 100rds. I would reccommend the 20 rounders for their length. I have a AK style brake on mine. Also the thumbhole stock. I have also done some trigger work and the trigger came out pretty good. Also would reccommend that you put a recoil buffer from Buffer Technologies in it. It cuts down of the metal to metal "slam". The price that you mentioned was great also. I feel that $500 would be close to normal,especially with mags. The ammo that feed the weapon is still pretty cheap. Would suggest that you buy it in 1000(or so) round cases. At a gunshow if possible(save on shipping). Factory ammo will come in 122gr. FMJ and HP,and 154 gr.Spire Pt. The military FMJ stuff will penetrate like a SOB. The HP's will also but not quite as deep. The 154's are a great killer of deer and (even)the medium sized hogs. There are lots of sellers of AK associated stuff. TAPCO is one of them. You might need a front sight tool also. What you got there is pretty much a auto loading .30-30 as far as the power level. Enjoy your new addition to the family. ---------- Last edited by RSSZ; June 28th, 2006 at 04:58 PM.

June 28th, 2006, 06:42 PM	#9
Doc Holliday Distinguished Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,351	I got a MAK and I love it! Not a tack driver but it is a fun shooter. Plus it is chambered in something a little heavier than .223 which I LIKE. __________________ Give Doc the shotgun. They'll be less apt to get nervous if he's on the street howitzer. Why, Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave. I have two guns, one for each of ya.

June 28th, 2006, 09:14 PM	#10
Phil Elmore Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NY Posts: 305	I can't agree with the addition of recoil buffers in any weapon. These are mechanisms designed to slam together; a recoil or shock buffer simply increases the chance of a problem by introducing a potential point of malfunction. __________________ - Phil Elmore 浪人 315.391.1626 Publisher, *The Martialist™* For Those Who Fight Unfairly

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