The New Marstar Norinco 1911A1 Commander (VIDEO UPDATE)
- Thread starter Riflechair
- Start date
What's a used customized Para worth? Customizing is generally a loosing proposition financially and the extras are rarely recovered on a sale.
I think if it shoots well and RC sold it he would only loose $100$150 from his initial investment plus the time tinkering.....not bad really.
Norinco 1911's aren't investment type guns but they generally shoot pretty good and will always be worth around $250-$300.....if you buy them used($300) they hold their value even better!
For the money it looks okay to me.
First thing I'd ditch is the extended slide stop & the grips. Ad in an adjustable aluminum trigger & it would be set up the way I like 'em.
After that I'd just run a few hundred reloads thru it to smooth it out.
I have a previous series Norc 1911A1 compact, with my set up:
It runs like a champ.
-------------
NAA.
For a Norinco it looks great. I have the Gov model and despite the fact it's not as pretty as most, it goes bang everytime. I would not hesitate to buy a 2nd Norinco.
Good news
Took her out to the range today
150 rounds of sellier & bellow 230gr RN
Zero malfunctions to feed
Accuracy at 25 meters was 10 inches
So not match grade by any stretch of the imagination but plenty good enough for me.
I also found & fixed the issue with the sticky mag release.
It was a 5 minute fix job with an angle grinder.
Works 100% now
Mags drop free from slide lock with zero resistance.
The rear sight (loose) issue was simple to fix. Two set screws were simply loose and not up to tension. I've loctited everything in place and put everyhting up to tension. Nice and firm and no issues. Just needed a little investigation on my part.
So I'm happy.
Took her out to the range today
150 rounds of sellier & bellow 230gr RN
Zero malfunctions to feed
Accuracy at 25 meters was 10 inches
So not match grade by any stretch of the imagination but plenty good enough for me.
I also found & fixed the issue with the sticky mag release.
It was a 5 minute fix job with an angle grinder.
Works 100% now
Mags drop free from slide lock with zero resistance.
The rear sight (loose) issue was simple to fix. Two set screws were simply loose and not up to tension. I've loctited everything in place and put everyhting up to tension. Nice and firm and no issues. Just needed a little investigation on my part.
So I'm happy.
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Huh..."garbage in, garbage out"...but a Para, now there's a 1911...Sir; have you been taking your prescribed medications as directed? I fear that you may be loosing your grip on reality.
Thanks for the vid RC! well done.
Norincos are basically good guns...but they often need a little work.
Once upon a time, nearly every stock 1911 required some degree of gunsmith tuning in order to work really well as a sporting gun, and military pistols were known to be hard to shoot and loosely assembled [and I suspect lots of military guns got worked over too].
Once upon a time, nearly every stock 1911 required some degree of gunsmith tuning in order to work really well as a sporting gun, and military pistols were known to be hard to shoot and loosely assembled [and I suspect lots of military guns got worked over too].
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
Sorry I stick by my earlier comment in this thread..
A little more gets you a way better gun that doesn't need any of that "TLC"!
A little more gets you a way better gun that doesn't need any of that "TLC"!
I have a feeling this forum has seen this particular topic numerous times. That's OK - it's an interesting topic.
I disagree
My philosophy of use is different than yours. In addition my financial ability to buy $800+ pistols is done for probably the next decade. Married with young children
I'm a week end warrior.
I don't shoot IPSC matches but I do have my black badge (they want too much cash and time from me)
I don't shoot IDPA - however if I could I'd be IDPA all the way (although I do try to fit in a club IDPA match from time to time).
I'm the guy that does his own oil changes because I'm saving $80 in labour. I hunt every fall because my freezer is honestly empty.
So a $450 Norinco is what I get and I have a residue of funds left over for ammo. I hope you see where I'm coming from.
I'm a results oriented kind of guy - not a process oriented guy. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate quality rifles and handguns however I often find myself in tight budget situations... However I do get a certain sence of satisfaction when my norinco's and I out shoot other chaps with $1500 + rigs.
Does that make me a bad person?
Undergiver
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sturgeon County, AB
I was hoping that Marstars commanders were the old type like NAA's above, not this new batch. Would have picked one up. I like getting Norcs and doing work on them...This is mine after some TLC. Wilson mag release and sear spring. Duracoated. will probably replace the trigger next.
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
I have a feeling this forum has seen this particular topic numerous times. That's OK - it's an interesting topic.
I disagree
My philosophy of use is different than yours. In addition my financial ability to buy $800+ pistols is done for probably the next decade. Married with young children
I'm a week end warrior.
I don't shoot IPSC matches but I do have my black badge (they want too much cash and time from me)
I don't shoot IDPA - however if I could I'd be IDPA all the way (although I do try to fit in a club IDPA match from time to time).
I'm the guy that does his own oil changes because I'm saving $80 in labour. I hunt every fall because my freezer is honestly empty.
So a $450 Norinco is what I get and I have a residue of funds left over for ammo. I hope you see where I'm coming from.
I'm a results oriented kind of guy - not a process oriented guy. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate quality rifles and handguns however I often find myself in tight budget situations... However I do get a certain sence of satisfaction when my norinco's and I out shoot other chaps with $1500 + rigs.
Does that make me a bad person?
I was never talking about buying an $800 gun.. Earlier in this thread I posted about the SAM 1911 Commander pistol.
Its about $50 more and you don't have to do anything but take it out of the box and shoot it. IMO easily worth $50..
OP/etc,
I bought a Norinco 1911A1C (commander) from SFRC a month or so ago (great deal, $377 to my door) so I think it was most likely the shipment just before you bought yours. I.E. it has the reg GI sights and enlarged controls but no ambi safety. Anyways, I've seen a couple other 1911's briefly and realize that the finish isn't nearly as good but I really can't complain about this thing.
I guess the worst thing that happened is the slide got stuck back the first time I tried to reassemble it but honestly I don't really like instruction manuals and didn't know what I was doing. Other than that, I'm not afraid to cut myself on any part of the gun, the finish was actually free of blemish as far as I could see, the mags have never had a problem dropping free and the thing you said about the slide not wanting to move properly... I'll admit it's not as smooth as my CZ but it's certainly never failed to function and I don't think it's going to seize on me. 200 rounds thru and no failures yet.
I guess what I'm wondering after reading this thread is are some ppl just more picky or is this new batch of Norinco 1911's coming from the factory not as good as the previous batch?
Obviously we couldn't conclude the later based on one gun but maybe other's would confirm or deny the findings?
I bought a Norinco 1911A1C (commander) from SFRC a month or so ago (great deal, $377 to my door) so I think it was most likely the shipment just before you bought yours. I.E. it has the reg GI sights and enlarged controls but no ambi safety. Anyways, I've seen a couple other 1911's briefly and realize that the finish isn't nearly as good but I really can't complain about this thing.
I guess the worst thing that happened is the slide got stuck back the first time I tried to reassemble it but honestly I don't really like instruction manuals and didn't know what I was doing. Other than that, I'm not afraid to cut myself on any part of the gun, the finish was actually free of blemish as far as I could see, the mags have never had a problem dropping free and the thing you said about the slide not wanting to move properly... I'll admit it's not as smooth as my CZ but it's certainly never failed to function and I don't think it's going to seize on me. 200 rounds thru and no failures yet.
I guess what I'm wondering after reading this thread is are some ppl just more picky or is this new batch of Norinco 1911's coming from the factory not as good as the previous batch?
Obviously we couldn't conclude the later based on one gun but maybe other's would confirm or deny the findings?
Potential
Another great Video presentation, Riflechair! I see a lot of potential here as that adjustable rear is over $250 if added to an existing Norc, counting slide rebluing after the machining....I expect roughness in a Norc, in fact I'd make a lot less money if they came out of the factory the way they leave here
Now to see if I can source a few!
Later
Gunnar
Another great Video presentation, Riflechair! I see a lot of potential here as that adjustable rear is over $250 if added to an existing Norc, counting slide rebluing after the machining....I expect roughness in a Norc, in fact I'd make a lot less money if they came out of the factory the way they leave here
Now to see if I can source a few!
Later
Gunnar
My Armco Norc breaks at exactly 4, it has since day one, and it still does 5300 rounds later. Feels like a switch. As for the guy talking about Para? (!!????) I wouldn't trade my 'garbage in garbage out' Norc for a top of the line Para and a case of Match Ball.
I have a feeling this forum has seen this particular topic numerous times. That's OK - it's an interesting topic.
I disagree
My philosophy of use is different than yours. In addition my financial ability to buy $800+ pistols is done for probably the next decade. Married with young children
I'm a week end warrior.
I don't shoot IPSC matches but I do have my black badge (they want too much cash and time from me)
I don't shoot IDPA - however if I could I'd be IDPA all the way (although I do try to fit in a club IDPA match from time to time).
I'm the guy that does his own oil changes because I'm saving $80 in labour. I hunt every fall because my freezer is honestly empty.
So a $450 Norinco is what I get and I have a residue of funds left over for ammo. I hope you see where I'm coming from.
I'm a results oriented kind of guy - not a process oriented guy. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate quality rifles and handguns however I often find myself in tight budget situations... However I do get a certain sence of satisfaction when my norinco's and I out shoot other chaps with $1500 + rigs.
Does that make me a bad person?
I think that's an excellently stated point. I'm of basically the mind as you, but in a different financial situation being single with no kids. I'm starting to build a AR15 and while trying to get mostly Canadian made parts so I can help support the local industry, if I was really tight for money I'd pick up a Norinco so I'd have something I could use and practice with at the range.
That being said I still might pick up the Norinco 1911 so I have something to train and practice with that's similar to the Browning HP without dropping $1000, especially since the CF might be dropping it in the near future anyways. ('Near' being a subjective term when dealing with military procurement)
I like to think of it the same as a car. Sure you'd love to drive a brand new top of the line Mercedes Benz, but if all you can afford is an older civic and you know how to take care of it, it'll still get you from A to B and in the end that's the important thing.
