Norinco 1911A1 Questions

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QuietOne54

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I'm in Canada and looking at purchasing a Norinco 1911A1 "Sport Model".

1. Retailer recommendations? Marstar or ARMCO or ...

2. Out of the box accuracy? I've had several other well known 1911's of various makerss that wouldn't stay inside 5 inches at 25 yards. How good is the accuracy of Norinco 1911A1? In all my looking I have yet to see Ransom Rest range results for Norinco's.

3. I keep seeing and hearing that ARMCO Machine & Plating is the place to send a Norinco for their Norinco Prep? How good is their prep package? (I've tried contacting ARMCO but as yet haven't gotten an answer, not overly worried I know people get busy especially at this time of year of gift giving.)

ARMCO Website states Norinco's in stock but I can't find any availability or price. I figure if I'm going to buy a Norinco and send it for the Prep package why not buy it from ARMCO? Any idea on what ARMCO's price on a new Norinco "Sport Model"​

4. Any other Smith's doing good work on the Norinco in Canada?

5. I've heard of (and saw one a few days ago) Norinco's beating the lugs totally out of whack. One I saw was a 5 year old Norinco but it has less than 600 rounds through it. (Owner had just opened the 2nd 500 round brick this August 2010) Is this a current problem or on old models only?

5a) If it does apply to Current Production Norinco's? Does the ARMCO (or other Smith's) prep look at this issue and correct it or shall I require a new barre, bushing. and link right off?​

Note I haven't bought the pistol yet and I probably wouldn't "know" how to identify what causes problem if it did exist. Which is a reason for the prep package.
​

6. Safety and grip safety. Keep or replace? Safety on the Norinco I was looking at the other day was strange in that it would drop further with a second push after the safety was originally released.

7. Parts kit recommendations? What pieces/parts break/fail and that I should have on hand for replacement? Springs, pins, etc.

9. Service cycle? I'm looking at probably a thousand rounds a month or better while the temperature is conducive to shooting outdoors. (Mid-April through September) What needs to be done, and when, to keep the Norinco 1911A1 going?

10. Other recommendations?
 
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All I have to say is if your shooting a thousand rounds a month buy a better pistol than the cheapest 1911. I have a norinco 1911 commando. And it isn't to accurate but I find with pistols lots of it can be the shooters problem.
That said I have had no issues with mine and I've put roughly 400 rounds though.
I believe that in most cases you get what you pay for.

Oh and I like the grip safety and I've never heard of a prep package but I am only a few years into the game here
 
mine would be at 500-600 rounds, it's actually a really nice pistol and a I really enjoy it.... I do feel like switching to a bether brand of 1911 now.. I might also only get the DLASK uper assembly.
 
I pretty much totaled a pair of better known 1911 a few years ago in 7000 rounds and a second Mfg. in under 6000) to the point it was almost as much to refurbish it as to buy a new one and these were 1200$ plus pistols 4 years ago

I traded off the first pistol with some cash to acquire the second pistol and then the second pistol to a dealer for a Norinco M14 and it is fantastic, just going and going. Impresses me more than the M1A from Springfield I used to own. So I'm quite willing to give Norinco 1911 a try, the name doesn't worry me. Plus Parts are all over.
 
yup that was the main reason I bought mine (first batch in from marstar), also the fact that I was a student helped whit the budget. I was planning to upgrade it to a descent level, but now this project is not important and I might have done 5% of the planned work.
 
I'd just get one from Marstar and save a few bucks....the new ones are pretty nice out of the box and just need some minor de-horning of sharp edges. If you get one with an issue ( does happen from time to time) exchange it for another one from Marstar.
 
1. Retailer recommendations? Marstar or ARMCO or ...

Armco will tune it, Marstar will sell you the stock gun

2. Out of the box accuracy? I've had several other well known 1911's of various makerss that wouldn't stay inside 5 inches at 25 yards. How good is the accuracy of Norinco 1911A1? In all my looking I have yet to see Ransom Rest range results for Norinco's.

They will out shoot most shooters out of the box. Accuracy can be tuned with a fitted barrel, bushing etc just like any other 1911.

3. I keep seeing and hearing that ARMCO Machine & Plating is the place to send a Norinco for their Norinco Prep? How good is their prep package? (I've tried contacting ARMCO but as yet haven't gotten an answer, not overly worried I know people get busy especially at this time of year of gift giving.)
ARMCO Website states Norinco's in stock but I can't find any availability or price. I figure if I'm going to buy a Norinco and send it for the Prep package why not buy it from ARMCO? Any idea on what ARMCO's price on a new Norinco "Sport Model"

People love gunnar at Armco, but I have heard he can be tough to get a hold of and if you send him your gun you may not see it for a long time. I am firmly planted in the church of Tac Ord's Casey Brouwer. Especially after my second trip to the range with my new norc that he worked on. Just f#$cking amazing.

4. Any other Smith's doing good work on the Norinco in Canada?

See above.

5. I've heard of (and saw one a few days ago) Norinco's beating the lugs totally out of whack. One I saw was a 5 year old Norinco but it has less than 600 rounds through it. (Owner had just opened the 2nd 500 round brick this August 2010) Is this a current problem or on old models only?
5a) If it does apply to Current Production Norinco's does the ARMCO (or other Smith's)prep look at this issue and correct it or shall I require a new barre, bushing. and link right off?
Note I haven't bought the pistol yet and I probably wouldn't "know" how to identify what causes problem if it did exist. Which is a reason for the prep package.

My understanding is the newer the norc the better the quality. They are substantially better then the norcs from 5 years ago.

6. Safety and grip safety. Keep or replace? Safety on the Norinco I was looking at the other day was strange in that it would drop further with a second push after the safety was originally released.

I kept both safeties on my latest build. They both function as they should.

7. Parts kit recommendations? What pieces/parts break/fail and that I should have on hand for replacement? Springs, pins, etc.

Research and buy each part according to what YOU want. Great sources are the ee, brownells, fusion firearms, and many of the dealers above.

9. Service cycle? I'm looking at probably a thousand rounds a month or better while the temperature is conducive to shooting outdoors. (Mid-April through September) What needs to be done, and when, to keep the Norinco 1911A1 going?

Maintain the same as any 1911. From what I understand the steel is even tougher in these norcs then in most 1911s.

10. Other recommendations?

Buy it, if you don't like it than sell it for 50 bucks less on the ee.

Here is a link to my norc, feel free to PM if you have any questions about it:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=547011​
 
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Just got a 1911A1 Sport on Monday. Mine came from Armco, took two weeks from the time I asked if he had any available to having one in my safe. Communication was really good, only a day or two to get the details sorted then I went ahead with it. The cost is $489 for the pistol with his prep package. Mine is nice! The finish quality is getting better and better on the Norcs, she's no beauty queen but it's a decent finish. No rattles, slide is tight, yet smooth. Trigger is excellent, very little take-up. Feels about 5 pounds-ish. Safeties are excellent, very positive thumb safety actuation and great feel on the grip safety.

Only things I think I would like to change are the mags and maybe the sights. The sights are small and the front sight might be difficult for some to see. Personally since I shoot in a well-lit indoor range I don't have a big problem with them, but if I really end up loving the gun I might swap them for something adjustable or more visible. The mags feel a bit cheap compared to nice brand-name stuff. Besides, there's only two of them and they're 7-rounders. I'm thinking a trio of Wilson 8 rounders would do the trick.

Overall, quite pleased. Accuracy report tomorrow.

Link: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5148912&postcount=87
 
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If you're going to have it tuned you might as well get it from Armco. Gunnar checks the pistol out prior to tuning and takes care of things that might cause issues down the road. The slide to frame fit is tightened, the extractor is properly tuned and tensioned, the feed ramp and throat are polished and the trigger is tuned. I'm well over 6,500 rounds through my Norc compact it has been flawless and shows really good accuracy (definitely under 4" at 25 standing unsupported) and very, very minimal wear. The sights on mine have been replaced by high profile Novak competiton sights and matching, staked front - I'd recomend them highly. As far as maintenance goes, I keep it clean and change the recoil spring regularly (3500-4500 rounds because it's a compact - I'd go closer to 5000-6000 in a full size 1911) using Wolffe springs (only). If you're going to change the thumb safety, or trigger train, etc. talk to Gunnar as he has the parts in stock most of the time, and he can do the work before it ships - that way your new gun isn't waiting in a line up for someone to work on it - the majority of 'smiths have more work than they can comfortably handle. Most pistolsmiths will work on Norincos, at least the ones you've probably heard of will; Roger at Dark, Casey at TacOrd, Jo Dlask and Barry at Bits of Pieces all will.
 
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