NP34 (Sig P228 Clone) Barrel Scoring - is this normal?

[lipervitch]

I bought a brand new NP34 and just took it to the range today. When I took it apart to clean it I noticed some pretty significant scoring on the bottom of the barrel.
It looks like it is caused by rubbing on the slide. You can easily feel a groove where the wearing is occurring.
Is this normal for Norincos? I realize the finish on these guns can be pretty rough. Will this smooth out on its own? The gun functions flawlessly. No failures or jams in the 50 rounds I fired.

 

[IBM]

check the inside of the slide in the hole where the barrel fits through - is there a rough edge or burr?

Norinco guns normally have incredibly fine machining that rivals swiss watches, except for all the time.

 

[lipervitch]

It is a little rough. Should I try to polish the slide and barrel or just shoot it until it smooths itself out?

check the inside of the slide in the hole where the barrel fits through - is there a rough edge or burr?

Norinco guns normally have incredibly fine machining that rivals swiss watches, except for all the time.

 

[red_bailey]

This is the normal finish wear pattern for Sig Sauer P-series pistols, GREATLY intensified by some rough Chinese machining.

It is absolutely not normal after a single range trip. What you shoot, a hundred rounds?

Smooth out the barrel hole in the slide, and probably everything else, before shooting again. (Or return it?)

 

[lipervitch]

This is the normal finish wear pattern for Sig Sauer P-series pistols, GREATLY intensified by some rough Chinese machining.

It is absolutely not normal after a single range trip. What you shoot, a hundred rounds?

Smooth out the barrel hole in the slide, and probably everything else, before shooting again. (Or return it?)

Yes I thought about contacting the vendor but wanted to get some opinions first. It seemed like a lot of wear for 50 rounds. I’m concerned about how long this thing will run at this rate.

 

[red_bailey]

* Note that it is only the finish on the barrel which will wear like this on a Sig. The barrel steel should not have a gouge, score, groove, ridge, anything you can feel. Especially after only 50 rounds.

The slide is obviously harder than the barrel. Don't know if that's a concern over-all, but it does mean the contact surfaces should be smooth smooth smooth to prevent this sort of damage.

 

[WRH]

This is the normal finish wear pattern for Sig Sauer P-series pistols, GREATLY intensified by some rough Chinese machining.

It is absolutely not normal after a single range trip. What you shoot, a hundred rounds?

Smooth out the barrel hole in the slide, and probably everything else, before shooting again. (Or return it?)

The infamous “Sig smile.” This is the Norinco grimace.

 

[woodenpigeon]

I have a two tone np34 and it did the same thing. I didn’t worry about it and they eventually polished each other off. Barrel has a gouge and the slide is smooth now. It’s got around 1500 rounds through it so far and never a malfunction of any kind. Trigger has gotten smoother with use. It is extremely accurate also.

 

[lipervitch]

Thanks, that’s good to hear. I did find it very accurate as well. I had an M&P that I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with . The NP34 seems much better for me anyway. Maybe it’s the weight vs a polymer gun.

 

[woodenpigeon]

I got some cheap flourescent nail polish at Walmart for the front sight. That helped a lot. My Glock has just sat in the safe since I got the 34. Much less felt recoil imho.

 

[red_bailey]

FYI, here is my Sig 229's barrel, with 8k rounds through it:

You see the wear pattern on the top and bottom of the barrel. If I run my fingernail across, it's just a polished area where the finish is gone.

I coat those areas with a little white grease when I clean the pistol.

 

[Gun123]

My p226 had similar mark after the first range trip.

 

[Meroh]

FYI, here is my Sig 229's barrel, with 8k rounds through it:

You see the wear pattern on the top and bottom of the barrel. If I run my fingernail across, it's just a polished area where the finish is gone.

I coat those areas with a little white grease when I clean the pistol.

Thanks, that’s good to hear. I did find it very accurate as well. I had an M&P that I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with . The NP34 seems much better for me anyway. Maybe it’s the weight vs a polymer gun.

Like Red Bailey said, use white Lithium grease on the barrel and the slide (I even use it on the slide rails of a new pistol); we use lithium "die makers grease" when we install new components in die sets. This encourages the parts to "wear in" to prevent abrasion and galling. and galling. Once it's worn in; go back to oil.

 

[lipervitch]

Thanks for the advice, I’ll start using some grease in it.