5,000 plus rounds, failures of any type: Zero. Accuracy, above average (full mags into the head of a B27 from 25 yards, standing unsupported). I'd suggest getting one from Armco, because the very little extra he charges goes exactly where you'd want it to go - and Gunnars trigger work is worth the price of the whole package. We need to get over the idea that there are "junk" guns, every legally owned firearm is one more on our side - I don't care what you can afford, or can't afford, if you're out shooting on the weekends, I'm going to consider you on my side when it comes to keeping my guns.
Is the Norinco 1911 as good as it looks?
- Thread starter banjaboy
- Start date
I have owned a Colt 1991A1 and now own a Norc 1991A1. Both are accurate for bare bones guns without modification out of the box. The look and feel of my Norc is the same as the Colt. The parkerizing is not as good but I intend to fix that. I am going to change the grips someday. And get Colt mags. And better sights.
But for now it will hit what I aim at out to 25 yards and that is all I ask of it.
But for now it will hit what I aim at out to 25 yards and that is all I ask of it.
Awesome. Just awesome.
I have been shooting handguns in a service environment for 20 years. I teach in a service environment now. I think my opinion is as valid as yours. The Norcs I have PERSONALLY OWNED have been less than stellar, or downright garbage. I freely admit that many folks have good experiences with the brand, but I have NOT had that experience. Quality control does seem to be the big problem with them.
I have never criticized the people who buy them and like them, merely stated what my experience has been.
So, thanks for calling me an idiot.
Aren't we all supposed to like guns here?
again, no anecdotal evidence, just condemnation- you fail to relate exactly as to what was wrong with them, that they were just pure garbage- i'll give that norc MAGAZINES are somewhat troublesome, but the mag is an easily replaced part- if it was a lousy trigger, say so-even the reverd colts and kimbers get a lemon once in a while- the differece is that they have WARRANTY depots onshore, whereas only marstar warranties product- if you got it from gunnar, i'm sure he would make it right as well, but the rest????
Actually, I said less than stellar, OR downright garbage. Don't put words in my mouth.
The downright garbage one was brand new. One mag fell apart when loaded the first time. I kept the second one, although it never worked... But neither did the CMC mags I tried, either. Trigger felt like pulling a locomotive on gravel. Failed to feed more than two rounds in a row... EVER, from any magazine. Cut myself repeatedly on the poorly finished mag well / front of grip area. Fired the pistol once on a rainy day, and it was rusting in the firing pin tunnel by the time I got it home to clean it (because I pull the firing pin every time I clean).
I gave it away. The person I gave it to traded it towards another pistol. I don't know what the third owner did with it.
I did have a friend who had an awesome Norc 1911A1... after he spent close to $600 on parts for it.
Other than that miserable pistol I had for a while, I was slightly less disappointed by a Norc SKS, and M305, but don't own them either.
That has been my EXPERIENCE with Norinco.
I have heard reports from lots of y'all that you have nice ones. Good for you. Three strikes is sufficient for me to spend my money elsewhere.
Have a great day, shooting friend.
The downright garbage one was brand new. One mag fell apart when loaded the first time. I kept the second one, although it never worked... But neither did the CMC mags I tried, either. Trigger felt like pulling a locomotive on gravel. Failed to feed more than two rounds in a row... EVER, from any magazine. Cut myself repeatedly on the poorly finished mag well / front of grip area. Fired the pistol once on a rainy day, and it was rusting in the firing pin tunnel by the time I got it home to clean it (because I pull the firing pin every time I clean).
I gave it away. The person I gave it to traded it towards another pistol. I don't know what the third owner did with it.
I did have a friend who had an awesome Norc 1911A1... after he spent close to $600 on parts for it.
Other than that miserable pistol I had for a while, I was slightly less disappointed by a Norc SKS, and M305, but don't own them either.
That has been my EXPERIENCE with Norinco.
I have heard reports from lots of y'all that you have nice ones. Good for you. Three strikes is sufficient for me to spend my money elsewhere.
Have a great day, shooting friend.
I can think of a few examples:
-Hi-Point
-Lorcin
-Jennings
-RG
-Clerke
-etc.
The reason that Norinco 1911s aren't junk is because it is possible to make something good out of them for a reasonable overall cost, even if they are sometimes a little rough around the edges out of the box. The same cannot be said for the pot metal abortions listed above. There are inexpensive alternatives that get people into the game that aren't junk. Why buy a Hi-Point when you can have a surplus Walther P1, to name another example.
incorrigible
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- stubble jumper
Kind of off topic, but I fawking loved that movie, as you may tell from the sig!!!
easyrider604
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Greater Vancouver, BC
C'mon guys. If you continue heaping praise on these POS Norkies, the demand and naturally, prices will go up and many including myself, will not be able to afford them anymore. Bad for all of us.
Can't you see, one guy had a bad experience out of hundreds or even thousands,...man, that is horrendous quality control, tsk tsk tsk. Totally unacceptable.
I really hope to see $200 Norkies for sale on the EE now.
Can't you see, one guy had a bad experience out of hundreds or even thousands,...man, that is horrendous quality control, tsk tsk tsk. Totally unacceptable.
I really hope to see $200 Norkies for sale on the EE now.
you can add essex arms to that list as well- off centre holes, and rails that COME OFF as in seperate from the frame after a few FACTORY LOADS- so bad that essex recalled them and melted the works back down- on the other hand, i was there when that front sight popped off one of our own PARAS- and the owner wrote para, who basically to him to go take a hike -i've got a so-called "lemon:" that i use regularly as well- it's a COLT mk4/series 70- the one with the "finger bushing"- that's SUPPOSED' to break and leave me hung up- well, THAT hasn't happened - yet- but it DID break a slide stop so that the slide wouldn't remain back allowing me to change mags- i've also got one of THOSE chinese m14s- the ones with the "growing" headspace, and that's still as tight as the day i bought it- point is that ALL companies make lemons from time to time
Thanks for your input guys, gave me lots to think about and the guys that sent the emails, I appreciate that too. I think I'm going to take a chance if the yanks use the frame for custom builds they cant be that bad. I also seen some pretty nice pigs with lipstick on too lol!!
Wow, what a depth of knowledge[and emotiona]. I'm going to get hold of Marstar, not sure how they mail firearms around the country but I'm sure they will tell me. you know, I like the idea of the roughness spoken of here. I'm sure the literally millions of original 1911's were almost as rough. I love, love my tactical Remington 870, rough as a bears ass but thats the beauty of it really. So thanks guys and gals, sorry if my question got a little controversy going but hey, we are all here because we love this hobby whether we shoot Berettas or anything else. Thanks again guys and keep posting.
Back when I was into guitars, a single shop in Jersey was selling Korean made copies of a Gibson Les Paul. They were going for around $300 (compared to $2k for a Gibby) and - like the Norcs here - they were all the rage. I bought three and only one had real mojo goin' on, the others were good but only went nice after you swapped a few parts. Even then, they were good for the dollar but not GREAT AMAZING GIBSON KILLERS.
These Norcs seem to be the same - good if you plan on swapping parts on them cuz the stuff you toss isn't worth much, but bone stock they leave a fair bit to be desired. My friend's S&W 1911 which costs 4 times as much felt at least three times as nice as the Norc. Given that, is the Norc the better gun, or not really that much?
I'd say if your funds are limited or you just want something additional in your range bag, the Norc is fine. Otherwise it would probably make sense to check out something that's better right out of the box.
These Norcs seem to be the same - good if you plan on swapping parts on them cuz the stuff you toss isn't worth much, but bone stock they leave a fair bit to be desired. My friend's S&W 1911 which costs 4 times as much felt at least three times as nice as the Norc. Given that, is the Norc the better gun, or not really that much?
I'd say if your funds are limited or you just want something additional in your range bag, the Norc is fine. Otherwise it would probably make sense to check out something that's better right out of the box.
I have had two 1911's, a nork 1911a1 & a trojan. The only complaint after 2500 rnds with the nork was hammer bite. My only complaint with trojan was I paid three time as much for it & it didn't shoot any better. Had a highpoint in 45 too & it would hit a 20" plate at 100yrds with rnds I had to feed one at a time cause they where too long for the mag. I sold them all & the only one I want back is a nork. I change & modify nothing, it either works or it don't & so far they have all worked.
I have an np30 and I love it
My np30 feeds fires and extracts perfectly. At seven meters it makes one ragged hole. it shoots well enough that I shot 1080 at my first PPC match with it. Not one malfunction of any kind after shooting 600 rounds without cleaning in a day. Oh the parts I replaced, the hammer and sear. I have less than 500 in this pistol. and the only way it is leaving my hands is hot and empty. Best 350 ever spent.
My np30 feeds fires and extracts perfectly. At seven meters it makes one ragged hole. it shoots well enough that I shot 1080 at my first PPC match with it. Not one malfunction of any kind after shooting 600 rounds without cleaning in a day. Oh the parts I replaced, the hammer and sear. I have less than 500 in this pistol. and the only way it is leaving my hands is hot and empty. Best 350 ever spent.
My $0.02
I have two complete guns and two frames that are waiting to be built.
Heres 1911A1 that I had build into my idea of combat 1911.
I have another 1911A1 that I fitted with EGW fire control kit / repro long spur hammer and I'm in the process of removing the markings and perkerising using it as USGI look alike shooter.
The two gov frames I have will be build into identical 1911's with Caspianslides and light rails one in .45 and one in 9mm
Next I'm going to find a commander either frame or complete gun and build a 9mm Commander with another Caspian
I guess I like norinco 1911's
Sweet looking piece! Just wondering how does one go about removing the markings? Is it a complicated process? I would like mine to look that smooth!
Thanks!
Sam
There is no controversy in my mind, but some folks on this board do seem to slag opinions contrary to their own as being "incorrect". I wish you best of luck with whatever you purchase, and if you get a great Nork, I'd love to give it a try - I shoot at PCDHFC in Poco, so we're practically neighbours!
Neal
T-Star;
" whereas only marstar warranties product-"
You hit the nail right on the head....
Yes we warranty everything we sell, we have since we opened in 1984
In the case of Norinco ITS BECAUSE we have far more stringent quality control requirements than many importers.... We have people at the factory on a regular basis, we set out standards that are acceptable to us, we know what we are getting....
As for other importers, they could do the same, if they really wanted to. They choose to accept whatever the factory ships....
What I am trying to say is don't compare products purchased either years ago or from other importers curerntly, with Marstar imports.... Major differences.
John
" whereas only marstar warranties product-"
You hit the nail right on the head....
Yes we warranty everything we sell, we have since we opened in 1984
In the case of Norinco ITS BECAUSE we have far more stringent quality control requirements than many importers.... We have people at the factory on a regular basis, we set out standards that are acceptable to us, we know what we are getting....
As for other importers, they could do the same, if they really wanted to. They choose to accept whatever the factory ships....
What I am trying to say is don't compare products purchased either years ago or from other importers curerntly, with Marstar imports.... Major differences.
John
+1 I love my Norc
Thanks again all, I just sent an email to johnone at Marstar, I'm going to put myself in their capable hands and get them to send me tricked out 1911. I valued all your opinions and I will be back. Thanks again guys and gals.......................
