Norinco 1911 range report

[SouthronBoy]

Took my new (to me) Norinco 1911A1 to the local indoor range today. It's my first 1911, well at least since I got out of the Army and didn't have free guns, anyway.

My Norc is pretty accurate, actually it may be the most accurate of the seven handguns I own. I don't claim to be a great, or even a good shot, and the Norc put more rounds where I wanted them than any of the other guns do.

It was comfortable to shoot, although I noticed a slight case of hammer bite when I got home. I think it's had a trigger job, the pull was very light and crisp, with little takeup and a smooth break.

I took a hundred round box of WWB and another of Remington 230g JHPs. I had the magazine that came with the pistol and two brand new Colt mags from Brownell's. Most of the WWB went downrange with no problem, but I had a failure to extract the last round toward the end of the box on one of the Colt mags.

When I switched to the Remington JHPs, things got a little more interesting. The Norinco magazine didn't want to feed the hollow points. I kept fiddling with it until the first round would feed, then had no problems for the rest of the magazine. I consistently had FTE problems with the one Colt mag with the JHPs, always on the last round.

I like the gun, but I've got some mag and ammo issues to work out before it replaces my Mak as my bedside gun.

 

[possum]

glad to hear that it is accurate, but sorry to hear that you are having some issues. i hope it gets straightened out. i know how you feel, i am the guy that started the 18 faliure to feeds in one range trip thread!

 

[yongxingfreesty]

that gun is accurate. 100% reliable

 

[wally]

Too much these days, rarely see them for much under $450 which I think is too much. No warranty either. I think the new RIA TActical is a better gun for less money (paid $380+tax for mine). Now if the Norincos were wtill $225-250 like they were when I got mine they would be hard to beat.

--wally.

 

[TheotherMikeG]

Yongxingfreesty

Full retail in my area seems to be in the $400 +/- range. I carried mine around the gun show last weekend to test the waters. Dealers offered me $350 and one guy on the floor would have bought for $400, had I been willing. This corresponds to the prices I've seen on Gun Broker, et. al.

At the same show, an acquaintance of mine had one at his table for $1k, customized by a local smith (now deceased) of high reputation. As you might imagine, no bites or counter-offers.

Southronboy, sorry to hi-jack your thread. I've found that the original mags from Norinco are the most reliable in my gun. Try Marstar. They're the Canadian distributor for Norinco. They can't ship guns here, but perhaps mags. Good luck!

 

[MarshallDodge]

The Norinco was my first 1911 as well. Got it new in 1993. I use the Shooting Star mags from Chip McCormick and have shot round nose, semi-wadcutters, and hollow points in mine without a problem.

If I were to do it again I think I would go with a loaded Springfield only because I don't care for the out of the box sights and trigger on the Norinco.

 

[GunNut]

I'd buy any Norinco 1911 that I see for $350 or less. I don't think they can be beat for a basic gun or the basis for a custom job.

The last one I bought was $250, but that was 2-1/2 years ago at a pawn shop.

The FTE's were probably from the magazines, invest in some Wilson Combat 47D's or Chip McCormick PowerMags.

Steve

 

[combatantr2]

Its been awhile since I have last read a NORC report. Had three before, 1 commander, 1 standard milspec and 1 standard factory enhanced - all in box stock condition. All are great and extremely reliable even with the factory mags. Bought additional CMC mags for spares and these were great too. Never fired so much though, with hollow-points as I was more a HARDBALL FOR 1911s. Had to let go of the commander and the milspec as I was in a tight cash bind before :banghead: Very much regretted it. Tried to buy back the commander but the owner would not resell. The milspec went to a rich man's bodyguard as his personal carry on duty weapon.

Im never letting go of my current NORC, its my go to gun and my carry piece. By the way here in RP NORCS outsell the RIAs and ARMSCOR combined.

Good decision with your NORC.

 

[Mad Magyar]

Glad to read that you like your Norinco, or at least partially....I recently went to a gun show with a few pistols for trade bait looking for one; but it was a small show and didn't find one Norinco...I can recall seeing at least one or two per show; now kind of scarce, at least in my neck of the woods....

 

[Richard]

SouthRonBoy, Send the 'rinco to me at once before you become addicted and end up with one like mine (see below). Enjoy your new toy and file lots of range reports. Regards, Richard

 

[Plank Road Farm]

What kind of grips...

Richard:

end up with one like mine

Nice looking grips! Where did you get them?

New owner of a 1911 Norinco with plastic grips.

 

[Richard]

Those are Speigel grips and I bought them from Cylinder and Slide some years ago. Regards, Richard