I own a Norinco, well, until recently. I am not a competition shooter, just a range blaster with decent accuracy. I am not really into gun modding, nor do I buy solely due to budgeting. if I want something, I buy it. I also have a Kimber Gold matchII stainless. The buddy I shoot with most often had a Para, and 2 others at the range I frequent have Paras. My buddy's to the best of my knowledge is pristine, no mods, the others have all been to professional gunsmiths for triggers, throating, polishing and slide lightening. The Paras all had feed or eject issues. my buddy's pristine one had really bad feed issues and 2 blowouts. in both cases the bottom of the case ruptured just above the rim, blew backwards into the magwell and destroyed the magazine. Some people love Paras, I have only seen ones with problems, but all were bought used. Some great guns get sold, ALL crap guns get sold. A gun with feed issues right out of the box, should go right back in and back to the store.
On the Norinco, I bought the 350 dollar off the shelf version and did absolutely no mods to it. Mine seemed to be a short run model made in 2012 with adjustable sights, skeletonized trigger, ambidex safety and oversized mag release. it was visually rough, but mechanically sound. I put a few hundred rounds through it and was amazed at the accuracy and feel of the gun. I enjoyed shooting it more than my Kimber, only because I could put holes in the same groups, and didn't care if the Norinco got rained or snowed on or dropped in a mud puddle. Again, visually the gun was rough, needed a vigorous cleaning out of the box due to the thick grease-like oil they ship them in, and WILL RUST QUICKLY if put away damp. For a cheap range gun, or a training pistol, you cannot beat it. My only issue was with the adjustable sights. the adjustment screw stripped itself with the recoil of the gun after about 200 rounds and it was going to cost me 200 bucks for a smith to fix it. I tried for months to get a replacement rear sight under warranty, gave up and gave it to my range buddy who does a lot of new member training.
lastly, my Kimber. yep, close to $2000. it is what it is. Pretty, accurate, precise, smooth and elegant. A single purchase I will own until I drop dead. My only regret is that it is a single stack, but in truth, it is so pretty to look at I couldn't bring myself to put it in a holster for the little competitions we do at our club. I'll use my CZs for that.
if your local gun shop will let you, grab a Norinco and field strip it. Give your fingers a chance stop tingling. Now take a Kimber apart, you will see my point. Even using a Norinco in a competition, is rough on the thumbs. The safeties and mag release buttons are all rough edged. Some people enjoy taking sandpaper to their new guns. Id rather pay someone else to do it at the factory. Chocolate and Vanilla.
On the Norinco, I bought the 350 dollar off the shelf version and did absolutely no mods to it. Mine seemed to be a short run model made in 2012 with adjustable sights, skeletonized trigger, ambidex safety and oversized mag release. it was visually rough, but mechanically sound. I put a few hundred rounds through it and was amazed at the accuracy and feel of the gun. I enjoyed shooting it more than my Kimber, only because I could put holes in the same groups, and didn't care if the Norinco got rained or snowed on or dropped in a mud puddle. Again, visually the gun was rough, needed a vigorous cleaning out of the box due to the thick grease-like oil they ship them in, and WILL RUST QUICKLY if put away damp. For a cheap range gun, or a training pistol, you cannot beat it. My only issue was with the adjustable sights. the adjustment screw stripped itself with the recoil of the gun after about 200 rounds and it was going to cost me 200 bucks for a smith to fix it. I tried for months to get a replacement rear sight under warranty, gave up and gave it to my range buddy who does a lot of new member training.
lastly, my Kimber. yep, close to $2000. it is what it is. Pretty, accurate, precise, smooth and elegant. A single purchase I will own until I drop dead. My only regret is that it is a single stack, but in truth, it is so pretty to look at I couldn't bring myself to put it in a holster for the little competitions we do at our club. I'll use my CZs for that.
if your local gun shop will let you, grab a Norinco and field strip it. Give your fingers a chance stop tingling. Now take a Kimber apart, you will see my point. Even using a Norinco in a competition, is rough on the thumbs. The safeties and mag release buttons are all rough edged. Some people enjoy taking sandpaper to their new guns. Id rather pay someone else to do it at the factory. Chocolate and Vanilla.
