Norinco 1911A1 - Police Model - Two Tone any good?
- Thread starter randyhub
- Start date
I had a chance to shoot a fellows new SAM commander last night. With the polished slide it was very sharp looking. I'd never been interested in the commanders before, being a bigger is better sort of guy, but I must say that it felt great in the hand, and the weight savings up front made it somewhat more comfortable to hold on target for those 7 rounds slow fire (I shoot one-handed). Had a couple failures to eject, but it was a new gun with under 100 rounds through it, so understandable.
My SAM omega 6 had a few stoppages too, but has run like a top since putting those first few hundred 9mm through it. I did end up cutting a coil and a half from the main spring because the trigger was so heavy, but it breaks nicely now with no creep at all (though still in the 4 pounds range I'd guess). My SR1911 has a lighter trigger, but definitely has some creep or take up at first (I prefer that for some reason). The SAM shoots high, though, so I either need a taller front sight or an adjustable rear.
Bottom line is I'd buy another SAM if I was in the market for a 'budget' 1911. I see no point to the Norc, given the roughness.
Question for Hitzy: How can you tell that a part is MIM and not cast/forged/etc? I'm sure I'm not the only curious one.
My SAM omega 6 had a few stoppages too, but has run like a top since putting those first few hundred 9mm through it. I did end up cutting a coil and a half from the main spring because the trigger was so heavy, but it breaks nicely now with no creep at all (though still in the 4 pounds range I'd guess). My SR1911 has a lighter trigger, but definitely has some creep or take up at first (I prefer that for some reason). The SAM shoots high, though, so I either need a taller front sight or an adjustable rear.
Bottom line is I'd buy another SAM if I was in the market for a 'budget' 1911. I see no point to the Norc, given the roughness.
Question for Hitzy: How can you tell that a part is MIM and not cast/forged/etc? I'm sure I'm not the only curious one.
MIM and cast parts are not as crappy anymore though...at least with US/Philippines parts. I don't have any concerns with properly made MIM/cast stuff. I question the quality of Chinese MIM/casting processes though as I don't think they have the proper QC in place to ensure a decent product. Same with Chinese aluminium...not up to par with the rest of the world yet.
So a lot of the stuff being tossed around come down to the old prejudices such as cast vs forged, steel vs alloy, metal vs plastic.
The Chinese stuff is an ok beginning for someone new to shooting or new to a platform. If they serve as the gateway guns into a larger world of firearms, then I suppose they've done their job. They do seem a bit cargo-cultish, though. Slap on big extended controls because everyone does, and leave them sharp as ice skates. Put on adjustable sights that don't really adjust, stainless finishes that aren't really...
The Chinese stuff is an ok beginning for someone new to shooting or new to a platform. If they serve as the gateway guns into a larger world of firearms, then I suppose they've done their job. They do seem a bit cargo-cultish, though. Slap on big extended controls because everyone does, and leave them sharp as ice skates. Put on adjustable sights that don't really adjust, stainless finishes that aren't really...
I'd say the original appeal to the Chinese 1911's was that they were cheap, made from decent forged steel, and all small parts were also milled and forged..... Plus the options were very limited. The next "cheap" 1911 ten years ago was probably $1000 to start and went up from there. So you could get a rough Nork and smooth it out, have the trigger tuned, refinished etc and still be under the next cheapest option. Now there are much better options, of much better quality, for not much more $$. That and the quality of the Nork 1911's is going backwards. The older (10 years)NP29 I have is better fit and finished then the new chrome monster I picked up recently. I don't even know if the new ones are still 5100 series steel....considering the MIM parts they probably aren't.
Different strokes for different folks.
I've met guys with top of the line 1911's that couldn't hit the Great Wall of China if it was 5 feet in front of them with Chris Costa pointing them in the right direction. If you want a decent gun that you can use and work on without breaking the bank why not.
I've met guys with top of the line 1911's that couldn't hit the Great Wall of China if it was 5 feet in front of them with Chris Costa pointing them in the right direction. If you want a decent gun that you can use and work on without breaking the bank why not.
