Norinco 1911s - worth it?

Until the Angels Fall

Until the Angels Fall

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First off hi to everybody as I am new to this site. I own a a variety of rifles of shotguns but havn't got around to getting a pistol but do have my restricted. I really love 1911s but I don't love the high price tag on them. I know of Norincos from Marstar.com and I like them and tehy seem like a good gun but they NEVER have them in stock. I know they are not top of the line like Kimbers, or Springfields and that the Norinco isn't as pretty as tho guns because looks alone don't make a good gun and I plan to duracoat it anyways. Its also a bouns I believe that the Norinco can have parts swapped for Colt parts so I can slowly work on tunning the gun up when I am more money. Your thoughts?
 
I have been treated very well by Norinco 1911s, although my favourite is currently down with a seriously ringed barrel (not the gun's fault).

Anyway here are my thoughts on if I were going to buy a Norinco 1911 right now:

Top left hand corner of page: Armco

New Guns page features: $449 Gunnar-tuned 1911s. They will perform as well as any 1911 you will find.

This thread is now over!
 
Lots of people here have bought Norks, and swear by them.

The 1911 I bought was an utter piece of garbage, as was a Norinco SKS, and Norinco M305 that I tried out. I think I was fair with giving them three tries before deciding that I would not spend any more money on North China Industries products.

Again, your mileage may vary, but my experience was not good.

Cheers,

Neal
 
I shot my friends tuned Norc and had a group the size of my hand. I put it down and picked up my Kimber with the same ammo and clover leafed 3 of the 5 rounds at the same distance. You usually get what you pay for. A Norc would be a good start and you won't have to worry when you scratch it taking it apart the first time. Buy what the buget allows.
 
Until the Angels Fall said:
I know they are not top of the line like Kimbers, or Springfields and that the Norinco isn't as pretty as tho guns because looks alone don't make a good gun and I plan to duracoat it anyways.
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First of all, I don't think Springfields and Kimbers are "top of the line" guns. Far from there. They are just mass production guns, especially the lower priced basic models.

Second, buying a gun with the plan to "modify" or "tune" or "dress" it will eventually cause you to spend much more money than just buying something that suits your needs right out of the box, unless you have talents to be a home gunsmith and enjoy tinkering.

Third, there are many areas on a Norinco that will make you frown, or curse. If you have grown up with the fine craftsmanship on classic European or Amercian firearms, stay away from Norincos. However if you are already used to the comm-bloc rough products and enjoy prettying them up, then go ahead with the Norinco.

4th, some Norincos are rock solid and shoot great. Some are problematic right out of the box. There is a risk factor in there, too.
 
well I am not expecting MASSIVE things, just a work horse and I plan to swap out alot of parts for colt ones after the break in. My only concern is ammo....I have 300 rounds of sellior and bellot 230grains FMJS that were given to me. I know this ammo isn't the best but still better then Wolf,are the grains are a lil high for a norc? Or should that not really matter at all?
 
Paulinski said:
I like Norinco 1911's both .45 and 9mm.
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+1

Been in the 1911 game for ~ 30 years. In that time I've owned a few different Norc 1911's. Maybe just been lucky, but I haven't had a bad experience with one yet. So, worth it? I'd say 'yes'.

If I was going to buy a NIB Norinco 1911A1 .45ACP I would get one already tuned from site sponsoring dealer, Armco. If you want to spend more on a higher end 1911 with some nice mods have a look at the STI Spartan on the Armco site.... ;)

BTW, 230 grain FMJ at ~ 850 fps is a standard .45ACP load for the 1911A1.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
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NAA said:
If I was going to buy a NIB Norinco 1911A1 .45ACP I would get one already tuned from site sponsoring dealer, Armco.
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Good advice. I think Gunnar offers a 1 year warranty on the ones he tunes up, so you have that to fall back on if you somehow end up with a lemon after he has tweaked it.

I have an NP-29, which is the 9mm 1911 (albeit tuned by Dlask) and it is an excellent gun, functions 100%, fantastic trigger and shoots much better than I do.

Mark
 
230 is the standard ball round for a .45 ACP...

I own a number of Norc's 1911's, SKS's and M14's I've got one SKS I don't love but I'm working on it... and the others have been good for what they were bought for...

If I wanted pretty I would have bought pretty.. I wanted a working gun and the chinese guns have been find...

On the 1911's you may need to replace some of the springs a little sooner and may want too anyways.. but it will work out of the box and you have a decent starting point to build on..

So go for it..
 
Until the Angels Fall said:
First off hi to everybody as I am new to this site. I own a a variety of rifles of shotguns but havn't got around to getting a pistol but do have my restricted. I really love 1911s but I don't love the high price tag on them. I know of Norincos from Marstar.com and I like them and tehy seem like a good gun but they NEVER have them in stock. I know they are not top of the line like Kimbers, or Springfields and that the Norinco isn't as pretty as tho guns because looks alone don't make a good gun and I plan to duracoat it anyways. Its also a bouns I believe that the Norinco can have parts swapped for Colt parts so I can slowly work on tunning the gun up when I am more money. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Which 1911 For Me?

1911 style, single stack recommendation

Norinco grips

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Which night sights would you choose?
 
Since this was a Norinco 1911 related thread: I (and my gunsmith) were impressed with the Norc frame quality .. It is a solid shooter and can easily become the basis for a better and smoother gun....
Good basis for Duracoat, Chip McCormick beavertail and thumb safeties, sights, triggers, hammers, guiderod & internals, backstraps, grips etc. etc... I still haven"t burned the barrels out but once they get swapped out these will be far more accurate!

2009-08-10532.jpg


I like the higher end (not Kimber or Springfield) but STI and others. Im partial to the single stack and will probably buy a USA Made 1911 in stainless as the next one. Colt if Im lucky ;)

IMHO - 45ACP is best shot through a 1911.
North Chine Industries makes a good Copy.
2009-08-10540.jpg
 
I would put my Norc up against any other 1911 gun at the range. Mine shoots great. Cycles fine and the accuracy is right up there. If your in SW Ontario, theres always Roger Kotanko as hes local.
 
Norkie 1911s are the best value in 1911-type guns if you do not intend to upgrade, meaning you are satisfied with the trigger (pull) and fed good ammo, they operate reliably as they should.

Some say they are not as accurate as Kimbers or STIs. That is a given but accuracy of the Norkie, rather its perceived inaccuracy, is really a function of the stock trigger pull. Mechanical accuracy may not be as good as one with a match barrel but most Norkies I have seen are fitted properly, i.e., slide to barrel, barrel to bushing, slide to frame, and have delivered decent groups with good shooters. This is even with stock triggers.

If you wanted the best value in a Norkie, get a tuned 1911 from ARMCO, like previous posters have said.
 
Norincos seem hit and miss when it comes to quality.The Norinco that I had was awful.Couldnt group better than a foot at 25 yds and didnt feed anything other than roundnose.Terrible trigger pull,rattled like crazy etc etc.However,having said that,some guys are really happy with them and if you are lucky enough to get a good example thay are great value.I think that going the ARMCO route is worthwhile,in that if you get e lemon,Gunnar could help you out.

Personally,I think that getting a Norinco,and then spending a whole lot of time and money customising it,is a waste of time.Rather start off with a STI,get a gun thats well made from the start,has all the mods you will need.You will also be ahead money wise(and also not having to wait 6 months for a smith to do the job)
 
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