Norinco 1911 VS Colt Gold Cup

To make a silk purse out of that particular sows ear, you're looking at tightening the slide to frame fit, machine in barrel, match bushing, trigger job and new sights. You're probably not looking at saving any money, but the Norc frame and slide are far harder than any other 1911 frames and slides that you can get, so over tens of thousands of rounds you should end up only replacing barrels and bushings. Incidently, it won't look better than a GC, but due to the fitting and the control you have over the barrel quality it should shoot better.
 
I am not sure what Gunnar at Armcor is doing to the Norcs, he sells them as Armco tuned or special treatment, I suspect that he makes sure that everything slides nicely and that the trigger is not a 8 or 14 pound trigger. I don't know much about match grade pistols but I have a NP-28 and a 1911A1 Norc. The previous owners did a lot to both guns, changed many parts and made/tuned them into quite nice stuff. For the money, they are great.
 
I owned two Colt Ser80 MKIV Gold Cups, one stainless the other blued.

For some reason, I was not happy with them. Could be that wide trigger that I truly dislike. While they looked good and they were finely finished, the barrel-slide fit was sloppy and so was their accuracy. Trigger was creepy and stiff similar to a stock but slightly broken-in Norkie. The Eliason rear sight's pin would loosen and creep out of its hole. Slide to Frame fit is better on my two Norinco's.

IMO, there are better makes and models of 1911 in the same price range as the Colt Gold Cup.
 
"...Thats like a ford pinto to a lamborghini gallardo..." More like a Lada vs a Pinto.
Gold Cups were factory tuned pistols. Of course, a Norinco can be turned into a top notch target pistol. Wouldn't be cheap and it wouldn't have 'Gold Cup' stamped on it, but it can be done. So can any .45.
"...Originally Posted by Dr. Gary Roberts..." Who?
"...45 ACP is much easier to stop with armor(SIC) than..." And that applies to a target pistol in what way?
 
sunray said:
"...Thats like a ford pinto to a lamborghini gallardo..." More like a Lada vs a Pinto.
Gold Cups were factory tuned pistols. Of course, a Norinco can be turned into a top notch target pistol. Wouldn't be cheap and it wouldn't have 'Gold Cup' stamped on it, but it can be done. So can any .45.
"...Originally Posted by Dr. Gary Roberts..." Who?
"...45 ACP is much easier to stop with armor(SIC) than..." And that applies to a target pistol in what way?
Click to expand...

Am I supposed to remove my signature for threads that are about target pistols? Would you like to look for every sig that is not applicable to the specific thread you're in and question it? That seems like it would take up a lot of your time...probably more time than the amount of research required to find out who Gary Roberts is, anyway.
 
I for one had a CGC 80 series..... I said had..... Untill I bought a Gunnar tuned nork.

The nork I bought new the CGC I bought new.

The nork fed/ate everything, lead, CMJ, FMJ, RN, RNFP, SWC.
The CGC liked LRN & anything jacketed, but wouldn't feed lead SWC, RNFP.

While the CGC was most accurate (I did tests off a Ransom rest) out to 50 y (under 2") both pistols were still MOSP (minute of steel pig) out to 100y. The steel pig in question is about 12" by 18", I was shooting off hand (with a two hand hold) and I was able to hit it more often with the nork than the colt. The norks trigger broke just a bit nicer.

I sold the CGC for a little less than I paid for it. I then took the money and ordered a few things from Brownelles (they will ship if it's under $100) Wilson Beaver tail, Wilson extended mag release, Caspian sights, Chip McCormick mag well etc. etc.

All in all I spent $500 to buy my nork, I then spent $600 on parts & machining/Smithing (for the new sights). Don't even ask me how much time I have in on this project right now...... I'm valueing my time @ nothing...... But imagine if you had to pay someone to do all of this! :eek:

Compare $1100 for a Tuned & customized Nork to $1500 for a CGC........

I'll take the Nork anyday, I like to tinker ...... YMMV

Cheers!
 
A buddy has a Norkie Commander that was massaged by Dave Mc___ here in Vancouver. He spent a total of 750 bucks including the purchase of the pistol. Does 4 inch groups at 25 meters (buddy shooting off hand, I probably would get 12" at that distance), had the sweetest and crispest trigger I've ever felt, novak style with FO sights (can't remember the make), name brand hammer, trigger, beavertail, safety and slide lock that came from Drew's parts bin. I don't think it was refinished or the outside smoothed out, but who cares.

At half the price for a new CGC, my buddy did well IMO.
 
Last edited:
My Norc commander was smooth right out of the box, spankin' new, including feeding Fiocchi 230 JHP's flawlessly. Maybe I just lucked out, eh?

All I've done to it is change the grips, grip screws and put in an aluminum adjustable trigger. No other tweaking.

DSCN0947.jpg


2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
NAA said:
My Norc commander was smooth right out of the box, spankin' new, including feeding Fiocchi 230 JHP's flawlessly. Maybe I just lucked out, eh?

All I've done to it is change the grips, grip screws and put in an aluminum adjustable trigger. No other tweaking.

DSCN0947.jpg


2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
Click to expand...

that looks pretty good to me... maybe I should get a norc too...
 
NAA said:
My Norc commander was smooth right out of the box, spankin' new, including feeding Fiocchi 230 JHP's flawlessly. Maybe I just lucked out, eh?

All I've done to it is change the grips, grip screws and put in an aluminum adjustable trigger. No other tweaking.

DSCN0947.jpg


2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
Click to expand...

nice looking gun!
 
slide blueing was a lot better (dark and shine) when the pistol was new and now looks like it's wearing off after the holster use ...
here some pictures before hard chroming the frame

Nork1911A1C004.jpg


Nork1911A1C001.jpg


Nork1911A1C005.jpg
 
Just polishing and bluing a slide to the same finish as a Colt gold cup, like my series 70, would cost alot, that is, without rounding any edges, and keeping things crisp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom