SIG P226 and the Norinco clone how close are they

[MRCLARK]

I am looking to do some armourer training(taking #### apart and putting it together a million times) and dont want to mess with a nice 1000 SIG and was wondering about the Norinco copy. Are the parts the same as the SIG in design and or looks.

I want to study the gun so I know it right down to the last pin and thought maybe the Norinco might be the best route for the money. How close is the gun to the SIG? Anyone know?

 

[Winz]

Actually there are quite alike. Particularly in the case of the NP22 and P226 for size. It is to be noted that the NP22 is based on the original P226 however. The P226 has since gone through some changes in the way the springs work, along with grip changes..

Action wise, the single action of the trigger of the NP22 doesn't seem as crisp and light(for a combat trigger) as the Sig, but the one I fooled around with was brand new. Double action isn't so hot, but then again, it works.

Can't personally say about durability(though Redleg from TSE has noted that it wears out quite fast, unlike some Norinco products that are built to last out a nuclear attack from the cold war and continue working). Apparently the frame rails get pretty eaten regardless of lube.

For the price, I would say from handling it(not owning and long term use) and others' experiences, it probably isn't a bad deal for the $350 or so. Personally, for the same money, I'll go for a Norinco 1911 and tinker with it as a project. Or for slightly more, a Ruger pistol for a tank of a combat pistol(kind of interested myself in a 345 or a 94). For a significant price more but still in the lower priced gun category, that Zastava Sig(just under $600) copy seems interesting if you want a SIG-like pistol. In that range you then open up yourself to the eastern block hehe(eastern european brands) because you have CZs, Grand Powers, ...

 

[Mike_R23A]

I would pick up a re-manufactured or used real Sig

 

[SLANTO]

I would go for the genuine SIG. I have done all of my own armorer work on the SIG myself and it is not that complicated. I bought an Armorer course DVD from brownells for $25 and it is easily done with the video offering a visual guide. It is worht the money.

 

[Icefire]

I would go for a 1911 or CZ/CZclone for around that price, many report of broken frame on the sig copy..

 

[omen]

many report of broken frame on the sig copy..

He's talking about getting one to take it apart, and learn from it. Not shoot 10,000 rounds of factory ammo...

 

[Globetrotter]

Broken Norinco Frames?

I would go for a 1911 or CZ/CZclone for around that price, many report of broken frame on the sig copy..

Besides having my own older SIG 226 where rails cracked and also
slide damage after about 8000 rounds, I bought a Norinco P22 last year
and fired since then about 5000 rds. through. Not even wear marks on the rails,exactly like my 226 before. No damage whatsoever , anywhere.
A few people mention cracked or broken frames and/or rails.
I asked for description or pics. No one has come forward yet. I would like to see that and not just hear it. I really would appreciate that !
I

 

[Scarecrow]

Besides having my own older SIG 226 where rails cracked and also
slide damage after about 8000 rounds, I bought a Norinco P22 last year
and fired since then about 5000 rds. through. Not even wear marks on the rails,exactly like my 226 before. No damage whatsoever , anywhere.
A few people mention cracked or broken frames and/or rails.
I asked for description or pics. No one has come forward yet. I would like to see that and not just hear it. I really would appreciate that !
I

Not everyone saves pictures for the next noob to come around with one. I have seen 3 posted on this board with the rails cracked.
Personaly I dont trust the Chinese for aluminum. Best option is there steel guns which are excellent material.

 

[Colin]

Here is mine, I had to add the red line as the crack did not show up in the photo's. I am a big Norinco fan still.

 

[Winz]

Besides having my own older SIG 226 where rails cracked and also
slide damage after about 8000 rounds, I bought a Norinco P22 last year
and fired since then about 5000 rds. through. Not even wear marks on the rails,exactly like my 226 before. No damage whatsoever , anywhere.
A few people mention cracked or broken frames and/or rails.
I asked for description or pics. No one has come forward yet. I would like to see that and not just hear it. I really would appreciate that !
I

On your SIG, what kind of loads were you using? Did you change over your recoil spring after about 5000rounds? Did you keep the rails properly lubed?

Apparently the Norincos seem to have a lot of broken rails(Redleg and other ranges can step in here as they will likely see higher round counts and abuse than the guy who cleans and checks everything after each range visit). Chinese steel works are very good though. Aluminium may need some work...I don't know.

 

[Colin]

I decided to wait a year or so on the NP-22,34. If the problem was a batch of guns then it will be a small portion of the total, When mine cracked, both Lever and Marstar told me that they only had a few returns on over a thousand guns. So I figure the majority of them will be reaching the 3-5,000 rd mark and we will see what happens. I also heard a rumour that they were redesigning them, and since they upgraded their 1911C's I suspect this is also a possibility. I have seen early NP-34 and the quality of them compared to the later ones was quite different, with the later ones improved. Regarding the numbers cracked, the internet does have a way of inflating numbers as a number of people will report seeing a cracked gun, but it may be the same gun they all see, but you have 5 different reports not linked, so the average reader might think the number is 5 times higher than it is.

 

[Globetrotter]

Norinco Frame /rail cracks

Here is mine, I had to add the red line as the crack did not show up in the photo's. I am a big Norinco fan still.

Thank you Colin.
I appreciate your picture. Now I will be looking carefully
at the frame and rails of my Norinco after every firing session.
I have nothing on mine yet after 5000 rds, but if this happens,
it will go right back to Marstar for replacement. They will.!!
from your picture it looks to me that the left rail is separating,
and probably will fall off sooner or later. Did you contact Marstar already?
You should get a new one.

The rails on all SIG Sauers and Norinco's are too thin on the inside.
One Milimeter thicker would have avoided all rail problems since
introduction.
Please see the pictures of what I did on my SIG Sauer frame (right rail fell off) to make the frame useful again. SIG won't help me, but Marstar will replace at least the whole gun. Please let us all know Marstar's action.
Thanks again!

pictures at:
page 7...under cracked Slides etc. .Luckily you do not need to !

 

[Globetrotter]

Recoil Spring change and lubed rails

On your SIG, what kind of loads were you using? Did you change over your recoil spring after about 5000rounds? Did you keep the rails properly lubed?

Apparently the Norincos seem to have a lot of broken rails(Redleg and other ranges can step in here as they will likely see higher round counts and abuse than the guy who cleans and checks everything after each range visit). Chinese steel works are very good though. Aluminium may need some work...I don't know.

I did not change the recoil spring on my SIG, just stretched it now and then.
I did not see any instructions of changing springs in my manual (1982?)
Must be now, I guess. A 90% of my loads were cast 125gr. bullets at 1050-1100 fps. The other 10% or so ,were jacketed 95 gr.hp bullets with amazing accuracy. The rails were always lubed lightly and also with Vaseline when
very hot weather. In the winter time I used graphite powder. (Minus 10-15C)

 

[Winz]

Well on the note of thin rails, that may be true to some degree as the Sig Pros or new nomenclature err... SP2022(?) do in fact have thicker rails(albeit shorter). It's a shame it'd cost so much for long barreled versions for them to sell here because in the US, they are cheap and great duty guns(ok Glock fans will say the same).

Haven't said that, while the Sig Pro is the pistol of the French police, the 'classic' SIGS by way of P226s, P220s (and P225, P228, P229 to lesser extents) are still the most popular of SIGs and used by armed forces around the world.

 

[Colin]

The gun actually came from Lever who did help me with a credit, which was good of him since I got from the guy who bought it from them. I noticed the crack on the right side first and then the left, the silver paste caused by oiling was the first clue.