NORC 1911

[PJ Hardtack]

The parents of our up and coming CAS shooter (he's 14) asked what gun I would recommend for him to get into "Wild Bunch". Considering he's also needs dies, etc., I suggested a Norinco.

I expected them to order a plain jane Gov't model, but they ordered the "Target" model with all the bells, gongs and whistles, and I mean ALL! Adj. rear sight, large mag release, extended slide stop lever, ambi safeties, lowered/dimpled ejection port, long ejector, beavertail tang, "bump" on hammer spring housing, ribbed slide top ala "Gold Cup".

Since he also wants to shoot IPSC, this is good, but I had to tell him that he was going to shoot in "Modern" class in WB. He shoots Duelist in CAS.

We stripped it and compared it to my Rem R1 plain jane and it compared rather favourably, save for the trigger pull. Mine came out of the box with a sweet trigger pull you couldn't improve on. His is clean, but a tad heavier than I would like on a gun of mine. This is probably a good thing for a nooby.


I gave him a WB holster and three mags, so he now has a total of five. Also a couple hundred cases, so he's well on his way.

We shot it yesterday in -9C (WC several degrees colder!) and it's a shooter! I really like it, but it's going to take him a while to master the 1911. Took me a few years.

They also bought him a couple of nickled Pietta SAAs in .45 Colt; a 7-1/2" and a 4-3/4". His choice. We shot the 7-1/2" but by then our hands were getting pretty cold so results were not up to par.

This kid is in for great 2020 in CAS!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Yeah! New Blood in the sport.

[PJ Hardtack]

Yes, one of very few that I'm aware of.

The family came from Wyoming five years ago and have made a viable ranch from a run down operation by dint of a lot of hard work. Built a beautiful log house from trees on the property, powered by solar.

The boy shoots daily on the property. Something to be said for living off the grid.

[Professor Marvel]

I expected them to order a plain jane Gov't model, but they ordered the "Target" model with all the bells, gongs and whistles, and I mean ALL! Adj. rear sight, large mag release, extended slide stop lever, ambi safeties, lowered/dimpled ejection port, long ejector, beavertail tang, "bump" on hammer spring housing, ribbed slide top ala "Gold Cup".

My Good PJ -

you might see about getting him set up with a stock GI slide, slide stop, and saftey...
then he could swap back & forth at will!

kind of a Swiss Army 1911 ...

yhs
prof "parts are us"

[PJ Hardtack]

You know, that is a good idea ...     Don't know why that didn't occur to me .... 

The extra parts aren't all that expensive and then he gets the best of both worlds.

He does prefer to shoot with one paw.

[Abilene]

My Good PJ -

you might see about getting him set up with a stock GI slide, slide stop, and saftey...
then he could swap back & forth at will!

kind of a Swiss Army 1911 ...

yhs
prof "parts are us"

Based on some target Norincos I see on a google search, plus PJ's description, I think a lot more would have to be changed than the slide to be legal for Traditional category.  Oversize mag release, extended slide stop, ambi safety, plus the modern hammer and beavertail grip safety.  Not sure about all that, but you get the idea.

[Professor Marvel]

My Good Abilene

you are correct, but to me the swapping is part of the fun.

As a talented amatuer parts swapper and Swiss army 1911 affectionado, allow me to enumerate:

At one time, as a poor newly graduated college student at my first "real" job,
I had one 1911 at the time ( you may remember the old "interarms silver cup"  - they were an essex frame with GI
surplus parts and a Remington Rand slide). When i discovered the parts guys at the "old style" gunshows I
set it up with aftermarket trigger, pachmeyer grips, extended safety, three slides and barrels and etc to put together a

- hardball commander
- a heavy spring bowling pin gun
- a lighter spring bullseye target pistol with an adjustable sight bowmar rib

For the norinco, the only image I can find other than mil-spec is here, cabelas, canada.
probably due to one of the chicom embargo thingies....

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/94874/norinco-m-1911-semi-automatic-pistol



For The
Adjustable rear sight,
lowered/dimpled ejection port, 
ribbed slide top ala "Gold Cup"

all the above will be replaced by a stock surplus GI style slide assembly.
The original Barrel and bushing should be a drop in.

long ejector - will never be seen so can remain in place

large mag release,
extended slide stop lever,
ambi safeties, 
beavertail tang,
fancy hammer
fancy trigger

the above can be easily swapped & replaced with GI style parts.
The mag release is not much more trouble.

"bump" on main spring housing,

not sure if this would matter

most of the GI parts, in my experience, have been drop in, with only minor fitting
required to the occasional trigger or grip safety.

yhs
prof mumbles

[Major 2]

As a tinker I understand the Prof.....
However not to be argumentative I'd respectfully ask ....
would not the assembled parts cost about as much as another plain jane Gov't model ...and have both ?

[Professor Marvel]

As a tinker I understand the Prof.....
However not to be argumentative I'd respectfully ask ....
would not the assembled parts cost about as much as anther plain jane Gov't model ...and have both ?

Ah My Good Major -

to paraphrase Teddy Roosvelt (at least in the movies)
"Why spoil the beauty of a thing with sensibility?"

Another thought process is that one can "go broke slowly"

back in the day, parts were a dime a dozen.
Shoot 5 ( or is it 15?) years ago one could get parts cheap off fleabay...

one should never pay full price for milsurp parts!

yhs
prof fumbles

[Major 2]

Ah !   I think I understand..... its the journey rather than the destination ?   


Remington Rand 1911 Pistol Parts Slide Barrel Safety Trigger Grips Org USGI $600 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Remington-Rand-1911-Pistol-Parts-Slide-Barrel-Safety-Trigger-Grips-Org-USGI/303378611018?hash=item46a2c63b4a:g:164AAOSwBqpd3DZ2

Norinco -Armscor- Rock Island Arsenal - Remington R1 are all under $4- 500  and quite good.

[PJ Hardtack]

All things considered, I would rather buy a 2nd 1911 as opposed to doing a major parts swap for another discipline.

His Norc target model will get far more use in IPSC than WB. With 1911s, it's hard to own just one.

[Major 2]

" With 1911s, it's hard to own just one."

My point exactly     

[Baltimore Ed]

I am enjoying my nickel Cimarron.45 1911 by armscor. A nice rendition of the brilliant Browning 1911 design.

[Major 2]

I have the polished blue Cimarron version I concur with BE

[Capt Quirk]

While I did not shoot the Rock Island, I did do a side by side comparison with the ATI 1911. The action was smoother with the ATI. After a few days, the finish was already showing wear on the slide. Now, I don't own a Norinco 1911, I do have a 9mm. Aside from the funky grip and lack of magazines, that pistol is a shooter. Nice grouping, never jammed. If their 1911 is as good, I will keep my eyes open.

[Major 2]

Rock Island is an Armscor  ( Philipines )
Cimarron, Taylor & Co. are also Armscor

ATI  is different manufactory Armory in the Philipines ...


I bought my Cimarron for WB and to runs very well on Lead ball ammo...and feeds JMJ & hollow points ( Herters Remington Wincherster & Pvri )
I have not used any Wolf or steel cased rounds)

I have two other 1911's one is a Vintage 1945 Ithaca as issued to the P51 Pilot in 1945 and recieved from him.
the other is a Sriringfield Armory NM Milsurp made in Illinois....

[Baltimore Ed]

How are you liking your SA milsurp Major? Which do you shoot better, the SA or the Ithaca? I shot my ww1 1911 heinz last weekend at our BAM match and with it being a grey overcast day and the grey finish I lost those 1911 super fine sights and had misses. I?m thinking that I need to buy another 1911 with bigger but correct sights. Maybe a Colt 1911A1 or a decent copy. I?ve looked at the SA but don?t want the white dots junk.

[PJ Hardtack]

A Sharpie takes care of the white dots PDQ.

[Major 2]

Ed   I really havent compaired the SA & Ithaca ...as to shooting 
The SA is a sweet shooter and the white dots are pretty good sights

The Ithaca is shot on ocasion maybe when I bring the Luger out but not as a steady thing for either one.

I'm thinking of getting one of the  WW1 series 70 COLT 1911's which Colt has brought back ....

[Baltimore Ed]

I bought one of the Colt 01918 1911 repros built by Colt years ago. I love the #1897 sn. It?s a dead on exact copy. I?ve shot it in a couple of matches but the edges are like razors and you take your life in your hands to shoot it. Every time I?ve shot it I?ve cut myself either shooting or cleaning it.