To buy a Norinco 1911 or Para G.I. Expert at over twice the price ?

blueflash

blueflash

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
29   0   0
Location
S.W.Ontario
I own a couple handguns, which are both quality guns made by a quality company. However, looks are not my #1 goal in buying a new 1911...its function.

I have scene many people shooting Norinco 1911's at the range and everyone says they are great guns for the money, and for a little bit of money and a little bit of work, the norinco 1911 can have a decent shooter and aside from fit and finish, and overal looks, that the gun rivals $1000+ 1911's in accuracy and dependability. I am not really concerned about the looks of a 1911 if it will shoot as good as a gun costing over twice the cost. If looks were my main goal in buying a 1911 then I would get a newer tactial version of the 1911 with a rail, like on some of the $2000+ Kimbers.

I have made up my mind to buy a inexpensive 1911, however I'm not sure if I should buy a $350 norinco and give it a trigger job or to just spend twice the price from the get go, and buy a entry level 1911 made by a more reputable company, such as a Para, Ruger, or Remington 1911?

My main questions are, if I buy a $600-$900 1911 am I getting a gun thats twice as good as a norinco with already a decent trigger and no further upgrades are required to make it a dependable, accurate, good gun ?

I like the idea of spending $350 on a norinco, but if I need to spend a couple hundred dollars more to give it a good trigger, then I might as well just buy a entry level mase in usa 1911 like a G.I. Expert. If it only costs $50 to do a cheap trigger job on a norinco, and the only difference it these guns are the looks, then I am fine with that so I can buy ammo, holster, pouches, mags, etc, for the norinco....

So....whats a cheap trigger job consist of & cost for a norinco 1911 ? Can I get a crisp 3-4 lb trigger just by getting a couple springs (which is all I did to my CZ shadow to lighten up an already good trigger)

And...If a Norinco is the way to go, which models are the best, and nicest looking ? I already know I want a full size 5" barrel, and prefer 8 round mags if they work properly in it.

And...are there any stainless norinco's ?(not 2-tone, because I think they look cheesy...atleast from pics I have scene)...Is there any norinco's that have a rail to mount items such as a light ?

What are the opinions of buying used ? I dont see the point of a used $300 norinco, when new ones are less than $100 more, but I wasnt sure if you can find a new $650 G.I. expert for $450-$500, which would make it cost around the same of buying a new norinco, plus tax & trigger job the roughly same price of the G.I. expert (assuming the G.I. expert does not need a trigger job also from a stock gun to be light & crisp) What do used entry level made in usa 1911s cost roughly ?

And Finally....If I should just buy a more expensive 1911, which entry level is the best ? I was thinking about a stainless G.I. expert, but it does not need to be stainless...I just figured if a stainless costs only $100 more then I would get one...but like I said, its not a requirment. I have no problem with a parkerized or matte black type finish.

P.S. Any ideas of were the best deals on Norincos & the other guns can be bought from, I appreciate it. I was thinking of a norinco from marstar if they have the model I am seeking in stock.
 
There are Stainless Norincos, I believe they are called "Norconia" or something like that. Nice looking pistol, but I doubt you will find one for 350.
The Norinco Triggers are unbelievably bad, so a trigger is a must if you are looking for a good shooter. I would say if you are looking for a really nice everyday shooter, spend a little more money.
Having said that, my self, I would buy both. Wait until after January, the prices seem to come down after Christmas. Not a lot of stuff seems to move for the 3 months of winter, as people are catching up on Christmas spending. The Norinco guns are an EXCELLENT value for the money. There will be a lot of them floating around and for sale, with the CANAM guns flooding the market. Most guys only bought them for the ammo....
 
While its virtually impossible not to buy stuff made in China on a daily basis, I've made a personal effort not to buy Chinese guns.
Besides a personal choice not to support Commie regimes, I simply dont equate made in China with "quality product", and I'm not willing to risk my life on a gun made in a country with a well-known disregard for quality or safety. (that goes for car tires made in china too..)

If you have no issues with chinese made guns, then, yes, they do fit your criteria for an inexpensive gun.
 
Banthafodder said:
While its virtually impossible not to buy stuff made in China on a daily basis, I've made a personal effort not to buy Chinese guns.
Besides a personal choice not to support Commie regimes, I simply dont equate made in China with "quality product", and I'm not willing to risk my life on a gun made in a country with a well-known disregard for quality or safety. (that goes for car tires made in china too..)

If you have no issues with chinese made guns, then, yes, they do fit your criteria for an inexpensive gun.
Click to expand...
You should see the quality of garbage coming out of the US these days. Buy a Ruger...lol
 
Anyone know what a trigger job costs on a norinco ? Do you just need to replace a couple of springs & a little bit of polishing ? I'm just trying to see what my total cost of a norinco 1911 will be after a trigger job and if it is still much less money than a entry level made in usa gun, then I will likely buy the norinco in one of those ammo combo specials.
 
blueflash said:
Anyone know what a trigger job costs on a norinco ? Do you just need to replace a couple of springs & a little bit of polishing ? I'm just trying to see what my total cost of a norinco 1911 will be after a trigger job and if it is still much less money than a entry level made in usa gun, then I will likely buy the norinco in one of those ammo combo specials.
Click to expand...

The current production Norinco 1911s are much, much better guns than the old guns in the CanAm deal. I have several of both types. If your are buying just the one, buy a new commercial one. Fit, finish and accuracy will be good.

As for a trigger job, give it to Rodger Kotanko at the Burlington Club. He does a nice job and it cost about $50.
 
All the Norc bashing notwithstanding, personally I'd take a Norc 1911A1 over a Para any day of the week.

:canadaFlag:
----------
NAA.
 
Saw a new Norinco 2-tone last Sunday. Nice fit and finish. Shoots reliably too. Too much noise about Para's quality, reliability and Cdn warranty. Also, my cousin from an AB gun range discourages anyone who is interested in getting a Para. One shooter bought a Para hi-cap in .40 cal even after hearing issues against Para. A week later, he came back with FTFs, FTEs asking to try the gun. An hour later, he came to the sales desk asking to return the pistol. They in turn asked their in-house gunsmith for help. He can't do it within reasonable cost. They ended up sending the pistol back to Para. Not sure how long it took Para to fix the problem. End of the story, he sold the pistol losing few hundreds after receiving it back from Para.

I am not bashing Para. I do not own one, though I shot a few of them. They are good if it works. Norinco is cheaper and do not expect the finish of a Para on a Norinco.
 
ffolkes said:
Has anybody tried the SAM 1911s made in the Philippines? Wolverine has some great deals on those.
http://www.wolverinesupplies.com/products/firearms/handguns.aspx?brand=SHOOTERS+ARMS+MANUFACTURING
Click to expand...

I bought an Omega 6 in 40S&W, only because Norinco doesn't make a readily available one, in a single stack.
Not up to Norinco standards in fit and finish(IMHO), and it has feeding issues because of the magazines supplied(they're 45 clipsBTW), but accuracy is very good.
 
I bought the CanAm deal, and I am 300 rounds in. It's my first .45, and aside from myself being a poor shot with .45, the gun has been great. No jams or FTF or anything. The trigger isn't the greatest, but I did some light polishing and removed a coil on the mainspring and it seems to have helped. I can see in the future changing some internals just to play around with it. I have 2 Dlask stainless 8 rounds mags and they work great in my Norc too.

But that said, I don't get to shoot my pistols enough. I also generally prefer to shoot 22 pistols. That said i would not hesitate to buy one, or the deal if it was still for sale. I have been throwing around the idea of listing it and 500 rounds for sale or trade for a rifle, since I use rifles more.

IkSYaFAh.jpg
 
Hmmm im seeing Para bashing but how many of u owned one, my GI Expert was a well made gun with no FTE or FTF.

Im found out i wasnt a 1911 guy or i would still have it
 
I happen to own a Para and the Norinco
Paid 4 times more for the Para and like it at least 100 times more.

My Norinco has 150 through it with only one jam, so apparently it is useable.
Holding groups is not the fault of the pistol, but feeling the trigger grind its way down the grove surely doesn't help with accuracy.
 
I have a new norinco gov like the one pictured above. It's a spectacular deal for a 1911. The finish is good, but it's not a kimber. Much nicer than the police/two tone models i've fondled. My trigger is awesome but heavy at around 7lbs (which i don't mind much) and breaks clean. The sights leave much to be desired. However... My next purchase will be an m&p. The range kit is pretty much an unbeatable combo for a stellar gun that feels almost like a 1911 in my hands.
 
Barry F said:
There are Stainless Norincos, I believe they are called "Norconia" or something like that. Nice looking pistol, but I doubt you will find one for 350. ....
Click to expand...

* there are NO stainless steel Norincos ...Narconia models had a nickel finish (not stainless steel)
Narconia was a small batch made for Germany and was rejected because the poor nickel finish that let to rust under grips and grips front strap.
I've seen myself at least 3 Norconia guns with deep rust pitting and flaking the nickel finish !
 
You'd be surprised at the amount of electronics and other gear that's coming out of china. Pretty hard to avoid. Bought my daughter an new Ipad last Christmas and ordered it from the states but shipped directly from china and had it in three days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom