Rate the MAK-90

[fivepointstar]

On a scale from 1-10 (1= Trash, 10=Excellent Battle Rifle)

How Do you Rate the Norinco MAK-90 (stamped Receiver)?


I guess the 10 is a Pre-Ban Top of the line like the PolyTech Legend. and a 1 is a crappy worst build you've ever seen.


Please elaborate!!! Appreciate feedback

[Jimbob2.0]

8 on a general rating. 9.5 on function. Age and time of import radically affect the rating. Assume this is early squared reciever. Add bonus points for milled

[fivepointstar]

Originally Posted by Jimbob2.0

8 on a general rating. 9.5 on function. Age and time of import radically affect the rating. Assume this is early squared reciever. Add bonus points for milled

if you can find a Milled....almost like dinosaurs now.

[leroygibbs]

The Mak-90 is one of my favorites.

If i could ever get my hands on a milled Mak, I'd trade a kidney...

[Bigdtc]

A friend of mine has a milled Mak.. He loves it.

[Jimbob2.0]

Originally Posted by leroygibbs

The Mak-90 is one of my favorites.

If i could ever get my hands on a milled Mak, I'd trade a kidney...

They come up occasionally in the sub 800 range

[sailskidrive]

I paid $179 for mine back in the early 90s, haven't shot it in at least ten years. I used to shoot that crappy yellow box flame throwing NORINCO ammo in it all the time until they banned it from being imported.

The question doesn't clearly identify what we are rating it against. Other AKs? ARs? Cheese sticks? Individually hand crafted figurines suitable as investment grade art?

[Silverlode]

I am far from an AK guru, but I will say this for the Norinco MAK90. A friend has had one for many years and I have personally witnessed him put probably 10K rounds through it and the whole time he never cleaned the thing once outside of an occasional patch down the barrel. I'm talking maybe 3 - 4 times. Thing has run without so much as a hiccup. I opened it up the other day to do break it all down and clean it for him and I couldn't believe the amount of crap in that thing and it just kept on running.

Edit: For the record, this is a square cut receiver.

[fivepointstar]

those who rated 7 and below. please elaborate!!!!

I'm not mad, i just want feedback good or bad. if rated 8-10 thats pretty good in itself but 7 and below I'm interested to know why??

I have a chance to pick up a Mak 90 I just want to make sure!!

[rico903]

OP-get it.

[lee2]

i would rate the mak90 as only good.
i have one it, it had hammer mushrooming after a few hundred rounds.
the chinese did there one thiing as far as ak specs are concerned.
while other ak makers, romanian,yugo etc parts will interchange for the most part, chinese parts seem slightly out of mspec.
your results may vary.

[rj1974]

Love my Mak and Polytech . The Mak has had 1000s of rounds through it and never a hiccup . If you have the chance to get one I would . I love all my Norincos.

[SCARCQB]

The norinco mak90 is really an offspring of the chinese type56 assault rifle . Compared to other akm type rifles, it is one of the best. I really like the stamped receiver as compared to the milled versions. This is due to the ability of stamped receivers to flex a bit, making them more durable as compared to Chinese milled receivers. The trigger on the mak 90 is also very good for a military type weapon. I would rate the type 56 second only to true russian made ams. In fact, US special forces prefer the akm type 56 over any other akm copies. This weapon and it's variants can be seen in all areas of conflict in the world. When people refer to the AKs legendary reliability, they are actually talking about the AKM type 56. Or it's civilian legal counterpart, the norinco Mak 90.

If 10 is best, I would rate the norinco Mac 90 in pre ban configuration a solid 8. Only drawback is that parts will not interchange with European akm variants. But on the other hand, the out of spec parts are beefier. The receiver is also 1.5mm thick . Other variants use a 1mm receiver.

My akm type 56 -1 is my favorite akm. It has the under fold stock and deep blue finish. This is the only one in my collection that has bragging rights of not a single jam. This only applies to rifles that I shoot and have owned for more than 10 years. Even with a steady diet of Chinese and Russian steel cased ammo.

My Dad has a akm type 56 rewet from the Vietnam war. This is a good as it gets. I have several akm variants and the mak 90 is closest to a true military akm. Again, when Vietnam vets talk about the ak.. It's the type 56 .. These were very prolific and still in use today.

[rob-cubed]

The Chinese make great AKs, though they took the original Russian design and tweaked it to their preferences.

The MAK and the older pre-bans are a unique blend of original AK-47 milled parts on a beefier stamped AKM-style receiver--50% thicker more like the RPK light machine gun. IMO the fit and finish on Chinese parts is impeccable and they have some of the best factory fire control groups (replacing with a Tapco G2 is a real shame). The only thing I don't like about them is the hooded front sight.

Both the stamped and milled versions are great buys, although they've almost doubled in price since I bought mine a few years ago. Wish I'd bought more... The milled MAK-91s are basically just neutered Polytech Legends at less than half the cost.

[clandestine]

I gave it an 8. Its one of my favorites and they are still affordable. I just finished one today and it reaffirmed why the Chinese AK's are my favorite.

I only give them an 8 because of the blued finish. Once a refinish is done its a solid 9.5

[guthook]

Love mine. Only drawbacks were already stated here. Mine is a post-ban, neutered, slant cut, BTW. It's never failed on me. Excellent trigger for an off the shelf AK. Smooooth.

I like the HK style sight hood. Thick receiver, fat barrel, what's not to love? ...oh, yeah, the factory thumbhole stock cut from a 2x6.
Can't win 'em all.

I replaced mine with a Fiberforce thumbhole and I actually like it better than a pistol grip. To each, their own.

[fivepointstar]

OK....What would you say is a REALLY Good price for a MAK90?

[clandestine]

Originally Posted by fivepointstar

OK....What would you say is a REALLY Good price for a MAK90?

Stamped Slant Cut MAK $400-$500

Stamped Square Cut MAK $500-700

Milled $800-$1200


I like the NHM91 because they can be had for a little less than a MAK abd the barrel is thicker. They can be chopped and shortened and almost all have a square cut receiver. I only suggest a NHM if you plan to make a RPK Clone or chop it.

[yellowsled]

Hot Tits!

Preban Type 56 caught in customs and neutered into a MAK-90



1993 import with Norinco Scope

[clandestine]

What a MAK can be:










What a NHM91 can be: