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Noreen BN36

13K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  Zeronine 
#1 · (Edited)
Noreen BN36

is this rifle worth the expense? I know that is a relative question but I would like some feed back from anyone who owns one or has used one. I like the 30-06 round and noticed it has not diminished in supply as some others have in recent times.
If not this semi auto what would be some suggestions?
 
#2 ·
My friend and I each bought this rifle about a year ago...

First, it would not extract....

so we adjusted the gas system....and it worked... extractor was OK..

but then it would not eject!!....

Had to clean the excess grease/oil out of the bolt carrier and bolt face..

Then it worked.....

but after the eighth round it blew up....

The ammunition was Winchester standard 30-06 commercial and not reloaded...

(150 grain, HPBT) ...

My rifle blow-up only damaged the firing pin and the bolt handle having jammed the bolt into the stock....

After I got it disassembled, the gas key had took a chunk out of the upper receiver....

I just haven't replaced or repair it because of the cost and having to pay off Christmas for the family....

My buddies rifle blew up and completely destroyed the plastic magazine (12 pieces were recovered) and jammed the bolt into the stock.... I was standing about 30 feet off to the right of him and a large piece of the magazine hit me right it the chest.

He has not even tried to repair it until I do mine.

Now.... does this mean the it is a bad rifle?????

No... but I would be really cautious....

When I get it fixed... I report back to you....
 
#5 ·
I have looked and the Lapua and since it is a bolt rifle, it actually looks to be stronger than the AR models....

Its my opinion that the AR models have too much "Slop" in the way the bolt carrier moves in the channel of the upper receiver.

When you disassemble the upper from the lower and take out the carrier, just before you remove the carrier, wiggle it around a little and see how much latitude the carrier has to move around in the channel.....

Then do that to the BN36.... Mine has a LOT of wiggle in it and I think that is why it might have gouged the upper when it blew.

But... I an still looking at other causes.

And again, I think the bolts are stronger

out........
 
#8 ·
Doesn't sound like this is going to be a good purchase I'll look at something in a .308.
Have 30-06 and didn't want to expand ammo cache but there doesn't seem to be any choices in 30-06 in that format.
 
#9 ·
Wow! I've never seen one before, but that's one durable looking gun! If you want a reliable semi-auto in .30-06, and don't need the 20 rd magazine, I can tell you that I've never had a single glitch from my Browning Safari BAR. I bet a good gunsmith could make a 20-rd magazine for it, too. In fact, I may do that myself - they want something like $80 for a spare 4-rd mag, and I'm not rich.
 
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#11 ·
They look good on the web but from the responses here don't perform well. The Noreens that is. I've considered the semi auto hunting rifles but want the magazine capacity of the m4 type. There is one company remaking the original BAR in semi auto but they are really expensive. Nice firearm though, there is a review on utube.
 
#12 ·
I saw the Noreen at our local sporting goods shop. Looked nice in person, but these Internet write ups are a bit frightening. However, the salesman said he has never seen any return for problems. That may be an item to see how they do,over time. Perhaps another AR 10 will come out in 30-06 to open up the market.

What do folks think of the BAR? I hear good and bad reviews on that one. But if the BN36 truly gets its act together, can you imagine 20 rounds of 30-06 as a woods gun? The BAR is only 4+1. Will have to watch that one over the next year or so. The concept is exceptional if only the performance can match that expectation.
 
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#13 ·
Ummmm guys, Remington 742 and 7400..... Semi auto, chambered in 30-06, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, plenty of upgrades and stocks for it, and takes a 10rd box mag ($30 ea give or take) that I'm sure a gunsmith could turn into a 20rd easily.

plus you dont hear about them blowing up LOL
 
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#14 ·
I still have my eye on the BN36 in 30-06. Perhaps I am intrigued most by the concept of a 30-06 in an AR platform. My local gun shop keeps selling them and tell me no one is bringing them back.

I just saw this video from Noreen dumping 40 rounds as fast as possible. If the rifle is going to work as that video, I am still cautiously intrigued.

https://youtu.be/8j777MGk-dY
 
#15 ·
Iam also still curious. The semi hunting platform is what I was considering when I ran across the Noreen and BAR. They are less expensive and have a great record of not blowing up. Some are known to jam but that isn't as bad as a blow up. I'll keep looking and listening. Thanks for the feed back.
 
#16 ·
The problem with the BAR is how difficult it is to take apart to,clean. It is not a 10 minute job. The ARs are easy to field strip.

If the Noreen is going to work like the one on the video, then it is still in the running.
 
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#17 ·
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Hi all, I thought I'd update on the BN36 as this thread died some time ago.
I purchased the BN36 in 300 win in May 2016 and began testing factory loads in it looking for best overall accuracy and Velocity for long range hunting. Utilizing a Swarovski 3-18 scope I began my work. To summarize, this rifle is awesome and does everything the manufacture claims - but you MUST follow instructions and you MUST learn/study adjustable gas systems before you go out and begin turning the gas adjustment screw. I tried several manufactures and bullet weights and I settled on the Nosler ABLR 190gr due to its 200 yard accuracy and its steady M/V that hung right around 2910fps. Once I had decided on my cartridge and all barrel break in was complete, I decided to start stretching my legs a bit. With my ballistic reticle I was able to easily calculate and then verify my hold overs out to 650 yards maintaining sub-moa accuracy the entire time. It is somewhat of a shocker when you can consistently ring a 14"x16" gong at 650 with pretty rapid follow up shots out of a semi-auto magnum rifle. I was impressed!
After some good practice and outfitting with the right bipod and sling - in this case a Viking Tactical due to its ease of adjustment I was ready to hunt with it.
I took it to two different favorite western hunting destinations and it did its job for me. I took a nice Miley 4x5 at a smidgen over 450 yards with a single well placed shot. On the next trip I took a nice 6x7 whitetail that is my best whitetail buck to date at 410 yards running. The whitetail had broken from thick cover and I had no idea he was there until I saw him running all out straight away from me going uphill. I ranged where I first saw him afterward, it was right around 250 yards. As he ran I raised the rifle and started throwing what felt like well aimed shots at him and I could see the splash in the dry ground from my missed shots. As he gained elevation I held slightly low and on the 5th shot (FIFTH SHOT!) I struck paydirt and landed a nearly perfect Texas heart shot that dumped him right then and there. Ranged the shot at 410 yards - he had run 160 yards in the time I got those 5 shots off. I know for certain that I would never have taken him had I been standing there with my Remington 700 mountain rifle - it doesn't even carry enough rounds not to mention the fact that there is NO WAY I'd get 3 rounds well aimed rounds off out of my bolt gun in the time that I got 5 off out of the long range assassin.
Simply put, the proof shows up on the proving grounds, and here this rifle gave me two nice bucks - the first I'd had with any of my favorite bolt guns, but the 6x7 whitetail would've been a fading memory by now had it not been for the semi-auto advantage I had with the BN36. I will say that this rifle is HEAVY (though not really in comparison to others like it) mine weighs around 12 lbs with scope/mount/bipod/sling/loaded mag. The Viking Tactical sling made it nice to carry, and I'll definitely take it to the field again next year and for many to come I'm sure.
I am not a salesman and have no affiliation with Noreen. In fact now I will tell you the bad stuff: at around the 120 round mark I had a broken bolt-hold-open lever and it needed replacement. I called Noreen and they apologized profusely stating that there was a batch that didn't get hardened good enough and they suspected that none made it out to the market - mine was obviously an exception. They shipped me a new one in 3 days and I was back in business. More recently I was cleaning/inspecting my rifle after putting some more rounds through it and having an intermittent cycle problem. I discovered that the gas key on the bolt carrier was actually loose to the touch! I called Noreen right away to report the problem and I was told that while the screws are staked, they still sometimes find a way to work themselves loose. I was told to lock-tight it and go back to shooting and so I will - BUT I will be keeping a CLOSE EYE on the gas key as I'm not a fan of placing my safety nor my investment in the hands of a "sometimes works like it's advertised to" thread adhesive. The loose gas key happened as I am approaching the 400 round mark.
I will update this thread again as i shoot more and upgrade to a Steiner Military M5xi 5-25x56 scope soon.
 
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