Norinco 1911 9mm Before and After

Ganderite

Ganderite

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Farm south of North Bay
Last week I posted a report that my new Norinco 1911 9mm did not group well. Many tests with about 10 different hand loads all gave the same result. A very tall group that became a figure 8 if I fired enough shots. This suggested the barrel was not locking up properly.

19119mmBeforeandAfter3.jpg


The barrel slugs out at about .357” and has some vertical wiggle when locked up.

Roger Kotanko took the pistol and a cheap replacement barrel I had purchased and tightened up the frame, did a trigger job and fitted the barrel. The result is a pistol that shoots as well as my other good 9mm pistols.

19119mmBeforeandAfter4.jpg

Only detail left to change is a curved mainspring housing.

Total investment:
Pistol $359
Sights $90
Barrel $50
Grips $15
Gunsmithing $160
TOTAL $674

The pistol will be used in CQB. It is very heavy. My handload is a 135 lead round nose at about 950fps. Recoil is modest.

This pistol shoots as well as my CZ, which only got a new sights and a trigger job. The CZ cost about $200 more.
 
I very politely, and honestly, ask then that knowing what you know now - would you have paid the difference got (lets say your example) the CZ, or repeated the process with "fixing" (use this word lightly) the gun you bought in the first place.

I'd be all for improving comfort, looks, accessories, but to buy a gun that I felt required correcting out of the box? I would compare that buying a new Cadillac that ran like a pick-up and needed a tune-up since the day I rode off the lot with it?

I will compliment the results. It has to be refreshing that since your first post (which I recall reading) you recognized there was at least on problem with the fit and/or finish of the components that hampered its ability to perform.
 
Humm. I got my 1911 STI Spartan 9mm used (barely) for $625 and it is a great gun. Came with FO front sight and adjustable rear. Plus the frame to slide fit is very tight and the barrel has no issues.
 
A few around here bought NP-29s & plan to turn them into 38 Super & so will be making changes anyway. An NP-29 is cheap starting point. I bought one but I'm doing the 'wait & see'..
What sights did you put on yours Gan?
 
After doing a little research, the Norinco's are a little rough around the edges so to speak but generally shoot well enough out of the box. Ganderite it seems found one that needed some TLC from the get go. As I stated in another thread, I have never owned a Norinco and probably never will.

For only a little more cash, I feel the Rock Island Armory Tactical (9mm or .45) is a better value. A STI Spartan is just a little more again. BTW, Armscor makes both pistols.
 
#### my norc 1911A1 .45 with all the ambi controls shoots like a laser for 350$. The barrel has some wiggle but the groups are better than with other guns. trigger is not tuned either. the weight is excellent though and really helps get subsequent shots on target. LEts go old rail road steel.

-chris
 
Re modded Norc NP-29....

Looks like it's shooting very well now.

But it makes me think for ~ $150 more you could just buy an STI Spartan 1911 in 9mm.

Just sayin..... :p

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NAA.
 
NAA said:
Looks like it's shooting very well now.

But it makes me think for ~ $150 more you could just buy an STI Spartan 1911 in 9mm.

Just sayin..... :p
Click to expand...

100% correct. Everyone is different. Some guys want to buy a custom factory gun.

Some guys would rather build their own. In my case, if I wanted a custom gun in the 600 dlr price range, I'd stay with the Norkie. I am after the better steel in the Norkies.

Tap the steel on all other 1911 frames and slides with a small hammer, and compare to the tap sound from a Nork. The ringing sound is different...on cast steel frames and slides you hear a dull sound. Those from forged slides and frames like Colt have a softer ring than Norkies.
 
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All good..... I've owned a few different Norc 1911's. Never had a lemon yet.

I still have a Norc NP29 9mm [one of the earlier series with some mild mods]; a Norc 1911 compact .45ACP [aka commander] and a bit of what I call, a Norc-in-stein 1911, in .45ACP [Norc 1911A1 frame, myriad of small parts; Colt S70 slide & barrel..... [shoots like a champ].

And I've handled the new series NP29's. Absolutely nothing wrong with them, especially for the money.

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NAA.
 
Got out to shoot my np29 today for the second time. Another 200rds(350 total) without any malfunctions. Range is 2hr away, so I don't get to it much.
Front sight is loose though. Don't like those sights at all though, good riddance. What sights are you using Ganderite?
 
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