Norinco NP18 (Browning HP) 9mm

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Griffoneur

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Just received my new Norc NP18 from Marstar.
Overall, pretty rough finish. BIG difference from the quality I enjoyed with my NP-40. My NP-40 has a real decent finish on it.

Anyhow, back to the NP18. As you can see from the following pic, there is a chunk of metal missing at the 8 o'clock position on the slide mounted safety.
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Next you will notice that the ejection port looks like it was opened up with a camp axe!
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Next is an overall shot. Keep in mind, this a $279.00 pistol.
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Double action trigger pull is horribly heavy. Single action is stiff although acceptable.

I polished up the feed ramp with a Dremel tool to a mirror finish. I disassembled the pistol and soaked it in solvent to remove the brown crud on the insides. Lubed the parts with BreakFree and reassembled.

I will post a range report next weekend once I get a chance to benchrest fire it.

I get the impression that this is probably "old stock" because the quality of more recent Norc pistols that I have seen, is much better. Smoother finish with less tooling marks.

I have a set of Hogue rubber grips and a spare mag probably arriving this week from Brownell's in the US. I will be testing the pistol with 124gr RN CAST bullets with 4.0grains of W-231.

My only wish is that she be shootable, with a somewhat descent grouping. We'll see this weekend.
 
Im hoping this gun works for you. I was considering one of these Norinco copies for my first handgun & I am curious to see your range report. THanks
 
Definately looks rougher then the rest of their lineup. My NP29 has a nice high polished blue finish, almost a mirror. I haven't read too many favorable reports on those here on the board. Who knows, mabey it will be a tack driver at the range.
 
I think that is the roughest pistol I have ever seen, it's hideous. If I were you I would have sent it straight back.
I recently bought a Nork tokarev, that is very well made and finished, I think you got a lemon.
 
Spencer said:
I think that is the roughest pistol I have ever seen, it's hideous. If I were you I would have sent it straight back.
I recently bought a Nork tokarev, that is very well made and finished, I think you got a lemon.
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I will wait till I've had a chance to fire it. If it shoots well, I will keep it. If it groups like a 12 gauge, I'll send it back to Marstar. The cosmetics aren't a priority for me.
 
Let's hope its a fine shooter, because otherwise it leaves a lot to be desired. My NP29 has well over 1200 rounds through it now and has been an excellent pistol.
 
I think these Norinco pistols are made in different factories; that is why the quality varies so dramatically.

BTW, the gun Norinco "copied" here is a FEG DA/SA version of the HP, it is not the Browning HP.
 
Marstar will take care of me!

DAR 701 said:
Makes the 229 dollar Norinco M77B look like a Kimber in comparison! Thats a pretty rough pistol, I hope it shoots well for you...
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Sent pics to Marstar... They offered to:
1) Exchange it for another one;
or
2) Descent ca$h ugliness discount should I decide to keep it.

So I told Marstar I would decide after I test fire it. If it hits the paper in a tight enuff group, I will keep the ugly duckling and if the ejection port keeps me from sleeping at night, I will use my Dremel to smooth out the rough edges and cold blue it while drinking beer with my rebate money.

That is why I am a return customer at Marstar... if you have a problem with a purchase, they make it right. :rockOn:
 
Well, I couldn't wait for the weekend. I took the afternoon off and went to the range.
2 shooters firing from sandbag rest @ 15yds.
POI 6" LOW.

I sent pistol back to Marstar and requested they send me a NZ-85B which is identical to my NP-40 only its chambered in 9mm.

One of our members showed up with his new NZ-85B and let me try it. I was hitting about 3/4" high at 15 yds... and the trigger pull was as smooth as butter.
 
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I have one of those pieces of junk, I bought it second hand from a friend more to give him much needed cash for an ugly divorce than expecting anything great from it. The fit and finish wasn't terrible, but I just finally took it out to the range. It groups not terribly, but what I was severely angered to discover is the rate at which it jammed. I was using Winclean, 147 gr., and it jammed about 20% of the time, not fully feeding. Easily remedied but nevertheless extremely annoying. I'm going to see if it likes FMJ better, and if it doesn't, I think I'll dispose of it. Time to start saving for something better.
 
The NZ85 is $70 more, and is worth every penny. No comparison between the NP18 and NZ85. The NZ is dead on accurate, trigger pull is very nice in both DA/SA. Very satisfied with the NZ.
 
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