If you had to do it all over again......

Vadman said:
knowing what you know now, how would you approach your first pistol purchase.
Click to expand...

My first pistol was a Norc NP-34 (SIG 228 clone) in 9mm. Second was a Ruger 22/45. If I was to do it over again I would buy the .22 first and spend a lot more time shooting it to learn the basics. If you want a 1911 as your first pistol (there is nothing wrong with that, it is an excellent platform), I would suggest a GSG 1911.


Mark
 
My first was a gsg 1911, super fun and cheap to shoot. Second was an m&p 9, its not bad. Third was a girsan mc regard 9mm, nice gun, good quality for the money. 4th was a norinco m1911a1 enhanced in 45 acp...its rough, but damn its fun and accurate. Your best bet is going into a store and actually handling them. If I was to do it again, I would buy a jericho 941 in 9mm I stead of the m&p 9...metal frame is so much more comfortable to shoot, and easier to learn on due to the easy recoil control. My 45 in a 1911 feels like it has the same recoil as my m&p 9....most of the time (not all) people who answer threads like this will give you their fanboy opinion, your best option is to get out and try some for fit and feel...and shoot some if you get the chance.
 
Everybody keeps mentioning Norinco's. What's the deal with these? I've never heard of them until coming here. Are they good, cheaper guns or just cheap. They don't have much of a look to them, but it seems like they are fairly reliable. Any more info on these would be appreciated.
 
Vadman said:
Everybody keeps mentioning Norinco's. What's the deal with these? I've never heard of them until coming here. Are they good, cheaper guns or just cheap. They don't have much of a look to them, but it seems like they are fairly reliable. Any more info on these would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

It depends on which gun you are talking about. Norinco is an export company and sells guns made in different factories all over China, they do not manufacture their own products. Some of the lines are very good, some OK, some not so great. The 1911's and the SIG clones are good, solid guns, the CQ-A AR15's are excellent rifles (and the best Norinco product, IMO), the M305's (M14 clones) are iffy, with very inconsistent QC, the Homeland 780 pump shotguns (a sort-of 870 clone) are terrible.


Mark
 
I bought a 9mm, then 45, then a 22. (Ruger MKII 22/45)

My shooting ability sky rocketed after getting the 22. It probably has to do with the ability to easily/affordability shoot 500rnds vs 50-100rnds in a session.
 
Well my norinco 1911 m1911a1 enhanced came a bit rough around the edges, but solid and accurate. Most norinco pistols in 9mm and 45 are pretty decent first purchases ($370 approx). They are inexpensive and not bad quality, the girsan is top quality for around $500. The ruger sr9 is a great starter in 9mm for around $500 if you can find one. My suggestion...buy a gsg 1911-22 and shoot the hell out of it for a few months, then buy your next pistol based on your experience (ie: too heavy, too light, too big, too small etc.) To learn to shoot and practice sight picture, breathing, and trigger control there is no better platform than the gsg 1911-22.
 
mmattockx said:
It depends on which gun you are talking about. Norinco is an export company and sells guns made in different factories all over China, they do not manufacture their own products. Some of the lines are very good, some OK, some not so great. The 1911's and the SIG clones are good, solid guns, the CQ-A AR15's are excellent rifles (and the best Norinco product, IMO), the M305's (M14 clones) are iffy, with very inconsistent QC, the Homeland 780 pump shotguns (a sort-of 870 clone) are terrible.


Mark
Click to expand...

Would you be able to name a few dealers that sell Norinco's? I see Canada Ammo has a few on here, how are they to deal with?
 
Standingtall said:
Well my norinco 1911 m1911a1 enhanced came a bit rough around the edges, but solid and accurate. Most norinco pistols in 9mm and 45 are pretty decent first purchases ($370 approx). They are inexpensive and not bad quality, the girsan is top quality for around $500. The ruger sr9 is a great starter in 9mm for around $500 if you can find one. My suggestion...buy a gsg 1911-22 and shoot the hell out of it for a few months, then buy your next pistol based on your experience (ie: too heavy, too light, too big, too small etc.) To learn to shoot and practice sight picture, breathing, and trigger control there is no better platform than the gsg 1911-22.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It seems the more people I talk to, the more I'm leaning towards a 22 or at least 22 capabilities via a conversion kit.
 
To be clear, Norincos are Chinese guns, I know you're aware of this but worth stating flatly. Western manufacturers make better products you'll actually be proud to own, and you won't be sending your money to the communists; you buy, you vote. Kimber makes excellent .22 / .45 1911's and is where I'd start if I were you. My first timer advice remains buy quality the first time, and something you're proud to own and that can be your new baby for a good while. For me, Chinese goods don't do that, they're made in a country that doesn't even allow the people making the firearms to possess them. Para-Ordnance still has 1911's that are manufactured in Canada, if you're into supporting the home team and the sport in Canada. A lot harder to ban things when it means shutting down jobs in Quebec.
 
Vadman said:
Would you be able to name a few dealers that sell Norinco's? I see Canada Ammo has a few on here, how are they to deal with?
Click to expand...

I have never dealt with them, but a buddy found they were slow to ship once he had bought. This was a while ago when they had some big specials going, though, so maybe they have caught up again. Some other dealers are SFRC, Marstar, Frontier Firearms and many more. I have bought a couple of Norcs privately, my CQ-A from Frontier and my current 1911 from Armco. I can't recommend Armco any longer, they have fallen off the trailing edge of customer service with a long list of complaints and unhappy customers in the last year or so.


Ardent said:
Para-Ordnance still has 1911's that are manufactured in Canada, if you're into supporting the home team and the sport in Canada.
Click to expand...

Wow, I would never recommend a Para over a Norc 1911. The litany of issues with Para is far, far longer than anything we have seen from Norinco. The finish on the Para's is nicer, though.


Mark
 
OOooooo .
if I had to do it again Hhhmm.
not sure exactly ...
My first hangun was a glock 17 ....
Thought it was the greatest thing in the world, at the time, I got board with it, I sold it to fund different guns, and a lot of others too ...
I have allot of different handguns now and I like them all ... .
if I had to do it over again the only thing I would do differently is I wouldnt sell any of them, As I miss them all, even thought they were nothing special .... that is my only regreat.
Now working on getting them all back ... as well as trying to get all the new stuff that comes out is very expensive and time consuming.
 
my very first gun was a glock,i might dive into the same decision in a heartbeat ; i now owns 5 glock pistols still counting. bought other guns along the way as well,a tactical sport in 40 (which is a real tack driver) and a shadow ,even have a 686-6 on the way , but i'm a die hard glock fan for their reliability,precision and overall value of these guns . if you can master a stock glock well,you can then get good results with any plateform , not talking about all the quality performance parts available out there. i builds myself very nice custom glocks which is another cool factor. i use a G17 in ipsic production since 3 years ,never had any malfunction,except the usual maintenance. quite a testament .
 
.22lr is a good choice because of cheap ammo and you will develop skills with out learning bad habits. When you are ready, HK No Compromise.
 
I started with a Ruger MKII Target , great gun. I bought and sold many pistols over the years.
I wish I had bought my Smith & Wesson 41 , And Colt Gold Cup allot sooner. Save up for a great pistol.
Cry once at the price, then smile for the rest of your life.
 
mmattockx said:
Wow, I would never recommend a Para over a Norc 1911. The litany of issues with Para is far, far longer than anything we have seen from Norinco. The finish on the Para's is nicer, though.


Mark
Click to expand...

How many Paras have you owned Mark and what was wrong with them? :)

They are victims of the same internet rumour mill that makes black rifle guys wretch at the Mini-14, or the guys all assuming Kimber rifles are inaccurate. Para makes far better guns than Norinco, Kimber and Colt are far better even yet. You also pay more for them, and rightfully, they're made by free people in our own and biggest ally's countries. Buying a Canadian or American made firearm has benefits that go far beyond quality, you're making a political choice and breaking from the everything from China sickness. We used to make everything here, we're losing manufacturers one by one to China, lets make sure that doesn't happen in our sport as it's toxic.

Angus
 
Ardent said:
How many Paras have you owned Mark and what was wrong with them? :)

They are victims of the same internet rumour mill that makes black rifle guys wretch at the Mini-14, or the guys all assuming Kimber rifles are inaccurate. Para makes far better guns than Norinco, Kimber and Colt are far better even yet. You also pay more for them, and rightfully, they're made by free people in our own and biggest ally's countries. Buying a Canadian or American made firearm has benefits that go far beyond quality, you're making a political choice and breaking from the everything from China sickness. We used to make everything here, we're losing manufacturers one by one to China, lets make sure that doesn't happen in our sport as it's toxic.

Angus
Click to expand...

I've never personally owned a Para gun, but I will say in all the IPSC, IDPA, ODPL and multi-gun matches I've ever attended, I've anecdotally seen Paras have more issues than any other type of gun I see shot. A Para is also the ONLY gun I have ever seen fail so badly that the shooter had to discontinue mid-course and drop out of the game because his firearm couldn't be repaired on-site.

I know this isn't particularly damning evidence against them as a brand. I'm aware of the internet echo chamber effect on some negative reviews and complaints that get repeated until they're inescapable (like the idea that Ruger GP-100s are designed for re-entry from space and S&W K-frames turn to dust if you shoot more than four .357 Magnum loads out of them). I also understand your point on trying to avoid purchasing from far-foreign markets that engage in suspect labour practices. That said, I wouldn't buy a Para at this point. I just don't trust them.
 
Ardent said:
Para-Ordnance still has 1911's that are manufactured in Canada, if you're into supporting the home team and the sport in Canada. A lot harder to ban things when it means shutting down jobs in Quebec.
Click to expand...

This, according to Para is an incorrect statement of fact. All Para pistols are made in North Carolina. Incidentally, I don't need to buy a Yugo/Fiat/Pinto to know they suck either.
 
I'll jump in here, too....

If I had to do it all again, I'd likely go the same route, it's been a fun journey.

On 1911's.... Have owned easily over 100 different ones in ~ 30 years. Including lots of Colts. Still have some..lol.... On that, I have never owned a Para & likely never will. I have seen more than one with "issues" and have personally seen people [including a gunsmith] frustrated over lack of response regarding warranty etc. I have also seen some Para owners who seem to love theirs. Apparently, the ones that do work are quite accurate. I just don't care to wade into the Para pool. I would own a Kimber though, just haven't found one that has inspired me enough to buy it yet.

However, I have also owned a few different Norc 1911's. And still have a few of them, too....lol... I must be an anomaly, though, as I have yet to have a 'lemon' in the Norc 1911 department. I have no illusion that they are 'just like' Colts, Kimbers or any 1911 you pay a whole lot more $$ for. But bang for the buck they are a sleeper for sure.

Anyway, that's my 02

:canadaFlag:
----------
NAA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom