Norinco 1911 9mm vs 45acp

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OnE-CrazY-CoW

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Hi all,

I am wanting to buy my first handgun to shoot and am quite conflicted between which 2 calibers to choose from. I realize that 9mm bullets are a lot cheaper in the long run than a 45, but most 1911s were built for the 45. Would it be more fun shooting a 45 or a 9 mm?

I understand that Norincos are not that good out of the box, but I am buying this gun because it is cheap and I think it would be a good feeler as too if I like handgun shooting or not. The reason why I picked the 1911 is cause I like the design. I know that Norinco does make a cheaper 9mm for around $100, but I really like the 1911 design.

Thanks and any input would be greatly appreciated.

As a side note, I already have a 22lr rifle, so I'm not really looking for a 22 handgun.
 
If the money is an issue, it would be more fun shooting the 9mm. The Norks are generally OK out of the box.
My only 9mm is the Norinco Type 54 with the 9mm barrel swapped in :).
 
Yup, a 9mm 1911 will get you nicely hooked, but be warned they are addictive - before you know it you'll be looking at getting a 45, then you'll be looking at reloading etc. etc. once you've got 'it' there's basically no hope.
 
If you're shooting regularly, buying the gun is cheap part. Ammo is real kicker, I know you said you're not looking for a 22, but seriously consider buying a 1911 that'll take a 22 conversion kit. You're shooting the same gun, but ammo is WAY cheaper. Also, personally, I'd only buy a Norc, if it was Armco tuned, but really I'd rather get a Para GI, or other entry level made in the USA 1911. I have nothing against chinese guns, just ask my Grizzly, and I was one of the original Outlaw owners. I just mainly buy chinese when the original is either not available or prohibitively expensive.

If you're shooting 45, you reload PERIOD. It's $23-25 per 50 to buy factory, and roughly $17-18 per 100 to reload plated or lead bullets, and even cheaper if you cast. 9mm costs about $13-14 per 50, with reloading costs being similar to 45, so you still save $$$ reloading, but not so much that everybody feels it's necessary. 22lr, costs roughly $23 for a bulk box of standard plinking grade ammo, that's a lot more trigger time than centrefire. I usually shoot rimfire at least a 2 or 3 to 1 ratio of centrefire. Usually couple magazines or cylinders of centrefire to get the aggravation out, then the bulk of the session in rimfire, then pull out the big 44 Magnum to finish off the day. You should have a rimfire equivalent of every style of gun you own. Unless you're made of money, that is. Remember guns are always cheap, compared to ammo. Even a Kimber 1911 will have cost more than in ammo than the gun, by the time the first set of springs wear out (factory ammo, anyways)
 
Thanks for all the responses, it really does help me make a decision. Another thing that is bothering me though, would your answers change if you knew that I am planning on buying a Glock or Beretta 9mm next year, as in early Spring.

That seems to be the real issue for me, as in do I really want to 9mm pistols.

How hard is changing the conversion kit yourself? I am not very handy with small tools, is it very troublesome or hard?

As for reloading, I thought about that too. Is that hard to learn and get into? I know it brings down the ammo costs significantly. Right now I go to the range about once a week, but only shooting a 22 rifle since it is super cheap. And still very fun.
 
if you'd get a start shooting with all steel 1911 pistols (ie:single stack) then I don't think you'll be happy when you switch to plastics...diff grips, weight and of course snappy
after experienced a 1911 in 9mm or 45 ....IMO I'd go next for a Beretta 92 FS or SIG P226 with double stack grips in 9mm...my 2cents
 
When you're reloading, you won't save a penny - you will shoot at least twice as much for the same money though. Easy to learn, and as long as you're careful and can follow directions, you'll keep all your fingers - if you're the kind of person who likes to experiment, or see how much over the line you can get, then skip reloading - life's no fun when you need to use toes to count to 10.
 
go with 9mm. a lot cheaper...but if i were you id either wait to get my first gun or get a used one and get quality: sig beretta or a 1911 in 9mm . if you insist and are in a hurry then get a cheap used tokariev and save the rest of your money for another one you want..
norinco makes good stuff but finish is to be improved. btw my first 9mm was a taurus pt 99. then a glock 17. i am starting to lean away from plastic though.it is simple reliable light but doesnt feel as good.

clear as mud isnt it?
 
Thanks for all your answers people. I've decided that the 9mm should do for now. I can always sell it and get a 45 if I still enjoy shooting pistols.
If not, then I could just leave it as part of my collection and just focus on shooting my rifles.

:)
 
The Norinco NP-29 is a good quality 9mm 1911. Unfortunately they are hard to find new these days. If Marstar or another dealer comes up with some, place an order quickly (I will just to get a 2nd NP-29) because they go fast.

The only thing I don't like about mine are the small GI sights. That's easy to change.

I'm pretty sure that you can get most of your money back by selling it on the EE if you don't like it.
 
for a 9mm, i'd sooner grab a Glock, Beretta, or CZ over a Norinco, especially if you KNOW you want a 9mm and you KNOW that you're gonna shoot regularly and it's not just a passing "let's try it and see if i like it" fad. at the prices of the other 9mm, the Norc doesn't make too much sense to me. for the Sig copy, it makes a bit more sense cuz it's 1/3 to 1/4 the price and it also makes a bit of sense if you just need a backup / spare / range buddy gun.

i'm not a huge fan of norc, and not a huge fan of the 45ACP caliber either - at least as far as costs are concerned. if it cost the same as 9mm or was even remotely close, then maybe the 45 could be more feasible - but it isn't, so it isn't.
 
curtmg said:
Some people say 9mm, is just going to piss off any attackers. Personally, I'd assume most of them would just shrug it off.

:p
Click to expand...

9mm Para will kill every violent attacking animal in North America including Kodiak Grizzly.

Shot placement and bullet selection are your friends.

Missing around the edges results in failure to stop whether shooting a .22 short or a .500 Linebough cou:

To answer the OP, there is a reason that the first 1911 type that sells out is always the single stack 9mm ~ on a Norinco the only thing that I NEED to do is change out to a long trigger. Everything else is just personal preference...
 
I have a 45ACP Norc. Never had problems with it out of the box. As for the caliber choice, I think each handgun has its own "proper" caliber and for 1911 it is definitely 45ACP. If the ammo seems a little bit expensive, there is always a solution of reloading and even casting. My cast-bullet loads in 45 ACP cost me cheaper than 22lr.
 
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