Norinco 1911 any good?
- Thread starter casscan2
- Start date
Norinco 1911 has a forged, not a cast frame, like SAM's.
New Norinco's have a very good fit and finish, and much improved trigger pull.
And if I were to buy online, without a personal inspection, I'd take one over a Ruger, anytime.
QC has increased with the Chinese guns, wish I could say the same about the American made firearms.
Better feel than a SIG, IMO, and more accurate, in my experience.
But Norinco's have no snob appeal.
New Norinco's have a very good fit and finish, and much improved trigger pull.
And if I were to buy online, without a personal inspection, I'd take one over a Ruger, anytime.
QC has increased with the Chinese guns, wish I could say the same about the American made firearms.
Better feel than a SIG, IMO, and more accurate, in my experience.
But Norinco's have no snob appeal.
I think they're an excellent frame and slide. Barrel is not bad. Small parts are not great but generally useable. Springs are garbage. Fitting is random but never on par with Colt or Springfield. Of course the price is also not on par with either of those options...
I would rather have a Norinco than any of the $5-600 Philippine specials, myself...but then I am comfortable doing a fair bit of stuff to 1911s and having the Norinco frame and slide is worth more to me than anything else.
I have a pretty good 1911 built on a Norinco f&s with WC Bulletproof internals...runs well, trigger is very clean. But I had to build it that way.
My advice if you get one: throw away all the springs, replace them with a Wolff kit. Check the extractor tension with a loaded round. Give it the usual 1911 safety checks as far as the disconnector, grip and thumb safety, and if it passes those, then go run 500 rounds through it and see if it runs fine. If so, continue shooting it while ordering a new set of sights. I have seen a lot of the factory ones go airborne mid-shoot, so you may as well get prepared with a new one before it disappears on you.
I would rather have a Norinco than any of the $5-600 Philippine specials, myself...but then I am comfortable doing a fair bit of stuff to 1911s and having the Norinco frame and slide is worth more to me than anything else.
I have a pretty good 1911 built on a Norinco f&s with WC Bulletproof internals...runs well, trigger is very clean. But I had to build it that way.
My advice if you get one: throw away all the springs, replace them with a Wolff kit. Check the extractor tension with a loaded round. Give it the usual 1911 safety checks as far as the disconnector, grip and thumb safety, and if it passes those, then go run 500 rounds through it and see if it runs fine. If so, continue shooting it while ordering a new set of sights. I have seen a lot of the factory ones go airborne mid-shoot, so you may as well get prepared with a new one before it disappears on you.
Finding sights to fit my Norinco 1911 was a PIA. No one seemed to have a drop in set so I ended up getting the slide milled to the sight size. Most of the gunsmiths around me (GTA) wouldnt touch the slide due to the hardness of the material. There is something to be said for that. If you do go the new sight route I can not recommend the Ed Brown adjustable sights. Worse piece of crap i've ever bought..
I had a mid 80's colt combat elite and I would say the Norinco is every bit as good of gun. At least 1000 rounds so far and no upgrades other than grips, sights and springs. Springs were not needed but I was trying to compensate for light reloads.
Id buy another one in a second and for a first 45, gives at least another $300 to spend on ammo compared to a name brand. Youll need the ammo!
I had a mid 80's colt combat elite and I would say the Norinco is every bit as good of gun. At least 1000 rounds so far and no upgrades other than grips, sights and springs. Springs were not needed but I was trying to compensate for light reloads.
Id buy another one in a second and for a first 45, gives at least another $300 to spend on ammo compared to a name brand. Youll need the ammo!
Is it new or used? You didn't mention.
There are a bunch of Norinco pistols either at, or on there way to supporting vendors across Canada. While I do like my Norinco 1911, it is also possible for you to get a Sig clone, (NP22 etc), for the same price. 9mm is significantly more affordable than 45. Just something to think about.
There are a bunch of Norinco pistols either at, or on there way to supporting vendors across Canada. While I do like my Norinco 1911, it is also possible for you to get a Sig clone, (NP22 etc), for the same price. 9mm is significantly more affordable than 45. Just something to think about.
you say this like a cast frame is made of sand and crazy glue and forged is not
you should get over this and understand that both are near identical and each has its advantages and disadvantages
but both are apples one red and one green not one apple and one kiwi fruit
a excerpt from said reading material link below
Size and Weight—Steel castings are almost always lighter than their forged counterparts and the redesign from forgings to castings usually results in substantial weight savings. For example, a forged muzzle brake for a cannon anti-recoil system weighed more than 600 lb. The cast version weighed 400 lb and lasted more than three times longer.
a little reading on it
http://www.sfsa.org/sfsa/pubs/cvf/ecs.php
both the norinco and the SAM are very good entry level 1911's
i prefer the SAM
you don't
that is life
neither is better than the other just different
you happen to prefer the one that i don't good for you
really shooting is shooting and it doesn't matter if it's a 1911 a glock or a sig or a ruger or S&W
buy what you like and shoot the crap out of it and have fun
it's what i do
and when asked what it is that i am shooting i proudly tell them what it is and they are more than welcome to give it a try
this always makes for a good day at the range and a good way to make a new friend
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Norks are ok for the price and a good starting point for getting in to 1911's. I've had a few over the years and still have an NP29 9mm. I sold the .45's and replaced with better pieces, and the NP29 will be dumped off soon too and replaced with a Trojan most likely.
The fit and finish is my biggest gripe, loose and rattly, lots of machine marks, and it took some time effort and money to get them shooting to what i consider acceptable. While the 1911 is a simple design, parts geometry and tight tolerances are what turn these from blasters in to very decent shooters.
The fit and finish is my biggest gripe, loose and rattly, lots of machine marks, and it took some time effort and money to get them shooting to what i consider acceptable. While the 1911 is a simple design, parts geometry and tight tolerances are what turn these from blasters in to very decent shooters.
Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My nork 1911 has proven to be less fussy than a SIG P220 and my PT1911... It fed, fired, extracted and continued with ammo that the other guns bobbled with. And, it shoots as well as either of the other two .45s.
Im anxious to try mine... i received it end of january and my range is closed because of a flood. I will post my review the first day i get to shoot it.
So far, all i can say is that the finish is obviously not very nice but for the price I cannot complain. I currently have a beretta 90-two and a 92FS inox and you can tell right away they are in a different league.
So far, all i can say is that the finish is obviously not very nice but for the price I cannot complain. I currently have a beretta 90-two and a 92FS inox and you can tell right away they are in a different league.
