Help me with my Norc 1911

[boresnake]

Hey all, I just bought a Norc NZ-85B and took it apart and cleaned it, and realized how much nicer all the parts were on the new gun than on my Norinco 1911. The fit and finish, etc.

What do you guys who have this gun do to it as in aftermarket parts, to make it nicer? I have a hogue grip coming I bought off the board here, but I'm thinking about springs, trigger, barrel, etc. Is this stuff a relatively new person to tinkering with guns can do, or do I need to go to a smith to get it done?

I'm just looking for some ideas, because my Norinco 1911 is nowhere near as nice as the NZ-85B I got, even though it was smoothed out by armco and shoots pretty well.

 

[The Hippie]

why fix what aint broke?

 

[Rudy H]

If your trigger goes not suit you (too long or too short) you can change that. As far as changing internal parts just because you don't like the finishing, I wouldn't bother. If there is a bearing surface that needs to be smoothed then do that, otherwise just leave it alone and shoot it. Spend your money on ammo, good ear muffs, beer, etc.

On second though, you should strip all the original parts out of it. Replace them with some name brand high end parts, and send me the old ones. I'll properly dispose of them.

 

[boresnake]

the trigger kind of "clicks"...it's wierd. Also, trying to get the recoil spring plug and barrel bushing back in the gun is a bastard to do...I have to whomp on the barrel bushing with the handle of a screwdriver to get it to turn to the left so it locks back into place. I keep the spring compressed to its limit with a punch, but there isn't enough room there to turn the barrel bushing without a lot of force. It comes out no problem though. it's little things like that that make me want to tinker with it

 

[Colin]

The new 1911 Commanders are as nice as the NZ-85b. The NZ is fairly close in costs to the CZ so it does not make a lot of sense to upgrade big time. I would replace the springs and grips, possibly the sights. My extractor is not as beefy as the CZ one and I will replace it in awhile, but as it is now my spare gun there is no rush. I wish Nork would just make the finger groves in the slide deeper!

 

[Rudy H]

the trigger kind of "clicks"...it's wierd.

even though it was smoothed out by armco and shoots pretty well.

I would talk to armco about the clicking. I would think they should have caught that. Replacing parts may or may not get rid of it. It depends on the cause.

Also, trying to get the recoil spring plug and barrel bushing back in the gun is a bastard to do...I have to whomp on the barrel bushing with the handle of a screwdriver to get it to turn to the left so it locks back into place. I keep the spring compressed to its limit with a punch, but there isn't enough room there to turn the barrel bushing without a lot of force. It comes out no problem though. it's little things like that that make me want to tinker with it

Get a bushing wrench. They make them specially for the 1911. I would put some valve lapping compound on the mating surfaces between the bushing and the slide then turn back and forth a couple hundred times. Should smooth up. Replacing the bushing only may not help that much if the rough spot is in the slide.