Norc NZ 85B Info
- Thread starter NLGunner
- Start date
My entire slide was out of spec and ejecting barrel bushings. However Canada ammo warranties it and got me a whole new slide. Works 100% now.
Grips aren't a direct replacement, different thread. But you can make it work.
Grips aren't a direct replacement, different thread. But you can make it work.
I love mine; stock grips are too slick and too thick for my hands so I found an old set of CZ75 military grips; a bit thinner, and a lot more aggressive grip wise ($10.00 at a gun show). They required a bit of filing on the back to fit the grip contour; screw holes lined up perfectly. I to have had some minor issues, and I will list them in the order of occurrence...
- Out of the box I noticed that the lower portion of the slide was rubbing on the inside of the frame. I used red lead to find the high spots, and sanded them down with a 1/2" sleve sander on a die grinder; then reblued.
- My frame is blued, my slide satin chrome (sure looks nice) however, where the frame contacts the chrome slide, the Chrome flaked away.
- The roll pin that holds the front sight on broke lengthwise. I loctited it together while Canada Ammo sent me a replacement (no questions asked),
- Extractor broke off; I took pictures and sent them to Canada Ammo, and again, they graciously sent me a replacement. I was able to rework and file a new hook and clearance into the old one, and was able to get back to the range while I waited for the replacement. BTW, the replacement needed fitting as it would not engage the rim as received; works perfect now.
- Finally, a more serious issue. It started out gradually with a misfire every 20-30 rounds caused by the hammer catching on the half #### notch, and not striking the pin. This gradually got worse. Again I requested assistance from Canada Ammo, and they sent me a whole mit-full of parts. After changing everything out, one part at a time, I was unable to determine why the issue was happening, and unable to fix it. The next step would have been to try replacing the hammer assembly. After sppeaking with them again, they suggested that I send them the pistol and they would exchange it for a new one. They recieved it after being lost in the mail for three weeks yesterday, and sent me a transfer reference number for the new pistol today.
My Contact at Canada Ammo is Daniel Ryan; the level of professional, friendly and courteous service should be the standard of the whole industry. There are other dealers and distributors that are just as good, but there are also others that fall short. If you buy one, buy it from them and they will look after you!
I had an upcoming center-fire pistol match at our club, and had been counting on using that pistol because it shoots so well, and made me look better than I am. I was so happy with it that I decided to get a Norinco 1911. I contacted them and they were sold out of the long barrel version with the target sights, or I would have bought it from them too. Seems everyone else was sold out, and I found a lightly used one. Like all Norincos, it needed some TLC. I think that the previous owner got rid of it for two reasons; they could not figure out how to unlock the rear sight to adjust it; and the slide would not hold open. The sight was easy, the slide issue easy enough with a bit of TIG welding on the end of the mag-release and reshaping, that problem was gone. I managed to get a few hindered rounds through it, and that was enough practice to win the center-fire pistol match (it likes 230 gr). Love that gun too!!!
I also won the .22 rifle "Scoped" class with a Norinco JW15 with a cheap Tasco pronghorn 3 X 9 scope; and the .22 open sight class with a Norinco Scorpio fit with a Williams peep and an old front globe sight out of a gunsmiths junk tray.
With the NZ85B, by the time I had 300 rounds through it, I was able to put almost all of my shots in a 6 X 6 square at 20 yards; not bad for a combat pistol. It shoots better with 124 gr. home-loads than it does with 115 gr. factory stuff.
Buy one, and buy it from Canada Ammo!
As for parts interchaneability, I think if you entirely gutted the norinco parts out of it you could run cz75 parts. They use a different size pin through the hammer. I have kept the norinco components in mine but swapped the springs for cz75 springs. After stoning and polishing the sear and a few other parts the trigger is much nicer than on my cz shadow shadowline. They will fit either tanfoglio grips or cz Hogue wrap around grips. Front site is the same cit as a cz75 the rear cut is smaller than a cz but I had a gunsmith open mine up to fit cz rear sights. I really like mine a lot. Very accurate pistol.
Does it matter when they work out of the box and have no issues?
That's what $150 difference buys you. Something you don't have to send back for replacement within 100 rounds, something that doesn't need "work" to work properly.
I've bought lemon guns before, and when they go back to the dealer it's for a refund and not replacement, I'm not a sucker for punishment lol.
I have a pair of them. Excellent pistols. Very accurate. Now sport CZ fibre optic front sights.
They have a leaf spring in the handle that puts pressure on the magazine, so it won't drop free. If you remove it, or bend it out of the way, mags drop cleanly.
Out of the box, I would say the best Norcs are the CZ clones and the new 45 ACP 1911s
They have a leaf spring in the handle that puts pressure on the magazine, so it won't drop free. If you remove it, or bend it out of the way, mags drop cleanly.
Out of the box, I would say the best Norcs are the CZ clones and the new 45 ACP 1911s
Darn.. where was this post when i contemplated between NZ 85B and NP 22??
Now i have to get an NZ too ..
