Good product, but needs work
Reviewer: Joe
11/3/2007
I got this product from a gun show dealer in Nashville on 11-3-07 for my Norinco MAK-90 Sporter. The following is not a strike against CTD or the dealer I bought it from, but rather Advanced Technology Inc.
The seams from the molds have not been cleaned up at all on all the parts. They are very rough and I actually got cut on the seams. This requires either alot of sanding or some quality time with a dremel tool and sanding drum. Either way will mar the finish but doesn't ruin the product in any way, other than looks.
On the upper hand guard, I had to shave off a small piece from the end where ATI failed to remove the stub from the parts tree. Also, following the directions to install this part will result in a failed install. For some reason the gas tube didn't want to seat right and prevented the locking lever from locking down, so I had to install the gas tube by itself, then install the upper guard. This is the only possible way to install it since the locking lever is completely covered after installation.
Installing the stock was a serious pain as the instructions said to use a 13/64" drill bit for the MAK90. I fought with this size hole for over an hour, working the original tang screw in and out several times. I even used a hex head bolt and a ratchet to work the hole lose and that still didn't help. I finally went to the next size drill bit, which is 7/32". This worked much better, but still required being worked several times with a hex head bolt and oil. I finally got the original tang screw all the way in without butchering the screw slot too badly. Whoever decided to use a common slotted screw for the tang is a complete moron.
In one of the comments below, someone said you have to find a different screw for the tang on the MAK90. Well, no you don't. Read your directions again and you will see that it clearly says to use the original screw. However, having gone through the serious headache of getting the original screw installed as per the instructions, I would have to recommend to anyone reading this to go buy a new screw with a phillips head, or if you don't mind the looks, do yourself a favor and get a hex head screw instead.
Also, I recommend using a small washer on the allen head screw in the hand grip, since the head of the screw is barely larger than the hole.
Otherwise this is a nice product. ATI just needs to get their act together.