Rough Norinco?

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Frans

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I understand I can't expect the world from a $350 pistol, I just thought I'd check what your experiences are:

I just received a Norinco 1911 .45 ACP pistol.

The mag release catches when pressed completely in, and can't be moved without undoing the screw that holds the spring.

With a magazine inserted I can not, not even with two thumbs, move the slide release. Without a magazine, it can be done with one hand.

Is this what can be expected with these pistols? Do I need to go on an extensive polishing trip? Or is this really what is considered beyond "normal", even for these cheap guns?

Cheers,

Frans
 
It is all about hit and miss, some got decent one but some get lemon. I have seen very very nice one but also some not so good. If you get it from Marstar, call for exchange because they warranty.

Trigun
 
I was out yesterday shooting my buddy's new Norc 226 Sig clone, and was blown away by how good it shoots, and the feel was great. 300 rounds fired and not one fail to feed, or jam! Mag releases everytime perfectly... absolutely no issues with it.
I'm thinking about buying a 1911 because I was so impressed with his pistol.
Sounds like that one has some issues, and you should send it back for another.
 
The main issue I've seen is that the production grime is still in the gun. Take it apart and give it a thorough cleaning. Even in the mag release mechanism (inside the spring and the mag latch retainer), I've seen sandy grit. As far as the slide release goes, I guess as the mag springs take a set it'll ease, but it will never be as easy as a 9mm (nothing on a 45 is). Finally, I would recomend sending it to Gunnar at Armco, for what he charges to clean up a Norc, it's a no brainer.
 
Juster said:
Mag problem?
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Most of the recent Norc mags are actually very reliable (look like sh*t, but work very well indeed). I haven't heard any issues recently, these pistols are evolving, it seems that each new version is an immense improvment on the last.
 
My Norc 1911 has been absolutely perfect, never had a single prblem with it, and it!
A good initial thorough cleaning is most important!
You will hear a lot of sarcastic BS from time to time from the guys that can afford to pay 2000 for their Kimbers, dont worry about it, I personally own 6 Norinco guns, all of them work just fine, I wouldve never been able to afford to have this much fun without Norinco!
 
Frans said:
The mag release catches when pressed completely in, and can't be moved without undoing the screw that holds the spring.
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Have you removed the mag release completely? There could be some of the previously mentioned , construction grit that is causing things to bind.
 
When I received my Norinco 1911 it needed some TLC. After a very good cleaning it has been excellent.
Concerning the slide release, the spring on the stock magazine is very heavy (actually, all the springs on the gun are heavy) and it will make pushing the slide release hard until it weakens in time or you buy a new higher end mag. I just compensated by hitting the mag release first before releasing the slide (too cheap to buy new mags).
Good luck with your 1911, mine has been accurate and reliable.
 
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ian_in_vic said:
The main issue I've seen is that the production grime is still in the gun. Take it apart and give it a thorough cleaning. Even in the mag release mechanism (inside the spring and the mag latch retainer), I've seen sandy grit.
Click to expand...

+1

I have a Norc compact [commander] 1911A1 that I picked up last summer from a local dealer. First thing I did is give it a complete detail strip to remove all the factory gunk & grease inside . I then reassembled it with an aluminum adjustable trigger I had on hand and added a set of double diamond hardwood stocks with hex head screws. Other than that she's all stock. Great trigger pull. Loves factory Fiocchi 230 gr JHP's. And everything else I've put thru it. Curiously, the two factory mags it came with seem to work well, too. I'm totally impressed.

She's a "keeper".......

2007-09-08_213709_zzzNorcC1.jpg
 
My Norc 1911 was a piece of crap. It seems like they are roughly two-thirds good, one-third garbage, depending on which lead paint drinking slave was making them out of melted tractor parts on that particular day.

I have shot three Norincos, and two were utterly dismal. The third was a peach, because the owner invested $600 of aftermarket parts into his $400 handgun.

YMMV,

Neal
 
i picked mine up from cgn'r rusty. great guy to deal with, by the way. Its a np29. It was rough. edges had burrs and machining marks. I just took a fine stone mounted on a dremel, and polished everything till nice and shiny. the np29 I got has a basic bluing finish, so it wasn't too hard to strip down to metal. I also dab loads of metal auto polish paste onto any surface that is metal and metal. then rack and fire. I put in maybe 3 boxes of my reloads through, with the polish on the surfaces. took it home, detailed strip, clean up the gunk, and you have a self-polished gun. =)
don't worry, the tolerances of the 1911/np29 are meant so that it can fire in crappy conditions like gunk in gun.
 
Frans said:
Is this what can be expected with these pistols? Do I need to go on an extensive polishing trip? Or is this really what is considered beyond "normal", even for these cheap guns?

Cheers,

Frans
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I get in #### everytime i reply to a norc posting, but from what i know yes norcs are no good. Really, so you spend what ever it cost to get. You are without your pistol for however long, now spent more $$ on it just so it works, you could have just spent a little more to begin with and got some real quality.

Call me a gun snob, what ever, i just belive things should work.
 
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blasterbailey said:
I get in s**t everytime i reply to a norc posting, but from what i know yes norcs are no good. Really, so you spend what ever it cost to get. You are without your pistol for however long, now spent more $$ on it just so it works, you could have just spent a little more to begin with and got some real quality.

Call me a gun snob, what ever, i just belive things should work.
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Cost of Norc = $350
Cost of Gunnar's work = +/- $120

List of other utterly reliable, smooth, accurate, new, forged frame and slide, 1911's available for $470 ???????????

That's what I thought.
 
ian_in_vic said:
Cost of Norc = $350
Cost of Gunnar's work = +/- $120

List of other utterly reliable, smooth, accurate, new, forged frame and slide, 1911's available for $470 ???????????

That's what I thought.
Click to expand...

+1

I've had a few Norc 1911's from different sources now & I'm happy to report I haven't had a lemon yet. Or one that couldn't be made a bit smoother by a full detail strip, good cleaning & reassemble. But if per chance I did get a 'rough' one I'd certainly ship it to Armco and let Gunnar work his magic.
 
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