Opinion on whether, or not to upgrade my Norinco 1911-A1 45 ACP

[Old Man River]

My intensions are to carry this either in the field while hunting, in the car, and at home. I don’t want anything to hang, or snag onto something when I need to use it in an emergency. I’m not interested in looks as much as I’m interested in its performance. It still has the original white dot rear sights that he will dab some bright orange on those dots and on the front sights this weekend. We’re going out to the ranch and do some shooting with several of his, and my gun...he has a Norinco too.

I’m looking for advice on whether replacing the trigger, or hammer would benefit me any more than what I have now. According to my friend who sold it to me, he told me it would devourer any ammo I want to feed it and it has been sighted in and it groups fine. (He is a gunsmith and was a former dealer/owner of a brick building guns and ammo store.) His advice is to leave it as is. What say you?

I’ve posted these before. Here they are again.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/pattengr/My%20Cars%20and%20Toys/MyNorincoModel1911A1-0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/pattengr/My%20Cars%20and%20Toys/MyNorincoModel1911A1-1.jpg

[John]

My general advice in cases like this is:

Shoot it first and then see if something needs to be changed.

Personally, I would change the grip safety and hammer as soon as possible, I can't use a 1911 without getting hammer bite, with this setup. I would also get some taller sights, maybe like those the Springfield Mil-Spec has. It maintains the original 1911 looks, but are much more useful than these tiny ones. Finally, I would replace those rubber grips with some wooden ones.

But that's just me and my likings. YMMV.

[Old Man River]

Thank ya John.

I have a nice set of wood grips for it. Though I love wood on my guns, I prefer the wrap around Pakhmayr Griper grips for their quality of gripping it while shooting.

I’ll give some thought on the sights, but as I said, I don’t want anything to snag when I need to grab for the gun. If I needed to grab for it, it most likely would be close quarters needs.

I may change my mind on the grip safety and hammer, but while in the Navy back in 54 I carried their 45 and I did some shooting with it, and when I owned several Colt 45s, I never experienced hammer bite. I’ll give this some thought too. It may be that I’m a small man and have small hands; I don’t know.

Like you’ve said, I’ll know more when I’ve used it more. If the weather is good this weekend, I may get some shooting in.

[JDL]

I have had two of these pistols and I'll be the first to say your gunsmith friend is correct. I never experienced any type of malfunction of any sort with either of the Norincos. They loaded and shot anything that I asked them to. As for changes to the gun, I might do something (as John mentioned) to the sites. They are quite small but if you can hit with them don't touch em. As for hammer bite I never had the problem. My upgrades included grips and a mag well. And yes, I painted the sites with bright white dots. I'd shoot it a while to weed out the problems. Don't hold your breath waiting to find any though, Norincos just work, they are funny that way.

[MNeedham73]

Could always go with these Pachmayr's. Best of both worlds, IMO. Been looking real hard at them myself to replace the Hogue rubber grips I currently have.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=604649

[Old Man River]

Thank ya JDL.

I wish I had two too. Like John said, I’ll shoot it some and see what comes next, if anything comes next. You might think about bright orange on the front sight. I need to try both coolers; I’m blind in my left eye and I have to try many things.

-------------------------

Thank ya 73.

You will find those wrap around Pachmayr's ‘Griper’ grips are fantastic. See if you can find one to just hold it to try the feel. I think they are much better than my wood grips. Most police in my area fit these on when upgrading their personal weapons.

[John]

Most police in my area fit these on when upgrading their personal weapons.

I am truly sorry to say that, the fact that police uses them, doesn't mean much. Most police officers are not very much into guns, so they just go with the stream.

Whatever is written below, comes from someone who was fanatic about Pachmayrs. I had them on my pistols for years, and I was really sure that they were excellent. Here are a few things that helped me decide to get rid of them.

- One summer evening, I was out with some friends, and a girl came to me and said "John, your broken rib shows". She knew that I was carrying usually, but she didn't know that I was packing that evening. I asked her, how do you know? And the answer was that the t-shirt I was wearing was catching on something and didn't follow the movements of the rest of my body, right at that point where the gun was. Un-needed attention.

- I also thought that these grips were helping me hold the pistol better. Well, do an experiment, if you can. Go down your neighborhood skateboarding shop and by some skateboard tape. Put some of it on the front strap of your pistol and then some more on the mainspring housing (to simulate a checkered front strap and a checkered MSH). Then put some wooden grips or even plastic grips on the pistol and try it. You 'll see what I mean.

It's those two surfaces that play the most significant role on your gripping ability, not the sides of the pistol. These contribute very little. If these two areas are rough enough, the grips can be perfectly smooth, without affecting your grip, they actually may improve it.

Rgds

[OD*]

I'd agree with John and your gunsmith. ;)

[Old Man River]

If, and when I was to carry it, it would be in a strap-on pack either on my side, or in front and in full view. I may be wrong, but I feel that to see someone packing a gun insures that those bad guys will not mess with you.

I haven’t decided to carry a concealed weapon yet. I don’t see the need to yet, but I will properly carry one in my car and have one available in my home. I’m going to get my CCW as soon as I can get the funds for one.

I’m still forming my opinion on the need for that, even though my dad was left for dead during a home invasion and robbery.

Sigh, there I go again, rambling on and on.

[Puffy]

http://tk.files.storage.msn.com/x1pUr2osLO3XWi1tUr0rXNOkX6ond4H7xIxP_QIiFE02A8_Bu7960DCW3IO91Z3hV72BDl7CyazZb-3Tm4-RJtvirzWf9SLnfiGsGNlFKCY4DCIN-fBBeWPCj3Y5qkWgOZ_

I love these! I have them on all three of my .45's but John really dislikes them. Its a matter of choice. But if you like finger grooves this is where the buck stops.

Heres the best price on the net for them; http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=70713 $20 bucks US. Beat that!

[Old Man River]

The look of that wood on those grips is fantastic. I love wood gunstocks and grips, but...I already have mine installed when I bought the gun. You’ve given me a hard decision to make...do I, or don’t I?

John can have an opinion as all of us do too. I’ve considered what he has said, and I will know more after a bit of shooting and then I will contemplate what John has said.

That’s a nice looking gun you have. I love the 1911-A1s.

[Puffy]

Only cost you a small amount to find out. If you don't like them, return them.
I feel I have the best of both worlds. Hard sides and the great feel and look of wood and the shock absorbency of rubber fingers.

Don't know till ya try it. :D

FYI; Leather by Andrews.

[Old Man River]

Darn yah Puffy. I did add that link to my favorites in the Norinco folder for the Internet link. Don’t want to pimp out the Norinco too much. Yes, I like the leather too, but I think I’ve decided I would carry it in a zip-bag, or case while I’m in the car. I’m unable to holster it in Florida, even with a CCW license. I may want to holster it if I were to go hog hunting, I’ll check on that as soon as I can. It’ll be on a ten thousand acre ranch my buddy has, or I may get lucky and head on into Alabama. I’ll use my main gun, a Remington Magnum 870 Wing Master 12 Gage and carry the Norinco, or a S&W 357 mag with me. I haven’t been hunting in more than fifty years. I think I will find a lot of changes.

[robertbank]

Hi

You got a fine looking shooter there and your friend is right. That gun will digest anything and everything you can find that calls itself a .45acp cartridge. That said you can get yourself a set of Heinie sights fitted on that gun that will sit as low or lower that the mil-spec sights you have on the gun. Novak even makes an adjustable sight that is snag free and looks like a fixed sight. The one Norinco I have that I left stock is dead nuts accurate as it but I must admit I can't pick the sights up near as quick as I can using my other three guns.

If it were me I would leave the hammer, sear and trigger alone and just have a good 'smith smooth out the parts that are there and set your trigger to the way you like it. You don't experience hammer bite so going to a ring hammer and beavertail doesn't do much for you. Besides when some guy comes up and goes on about your "cheap" mil-spec plain Jane Chinese Norinco you can always set up a target and show him just how "bad" a gun it is. LOL

Nice piece.

Stay Safe

[Old Man River]

Thank ya Bob,

You’ve answered most of the questions I intended to ask at a later time. I’ve been wondering about the hammer replacements I’ve seen on here and why they are made as they are. (Thus, the relief from hammer bites, huh?)

I think I will stick with the stock hammer and trigger, but I’ll think harder on those adjustable rear sights though with my eyesight as it is now, my signature tells the story well: “I'm not as good as I once was, but I was good once, as I ever will be.”

I just hope I can at least find a trophy tree stump, or see the target. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon6.gif

[robertbank]

Yes time has an effect on us all and I suspect we may have not have been as good as we now think we were. ;) . Certainly if you plan to do any paper punching or playing IDPA or IPSC with the gun newer sights be they adjustable- not sure why - or a good set of fixed, my personal favourite, then new sights probably are in order. For defensive purposes inside of 10 yards, you won't likely even get around to seeing the sights in a real threat situation and the ones on the gun are certainly adequate for that. Here is my A1 with Heinie sights. Notice how the 'smith set them low into the frame. These are virtually snag free and a huge improvement. The only mistake I made is I put night sights on the front. Having the front sight so equipped does make it much easier to pick up the front sight in darkness but this gun isn't used as my bedroom gun so installing this particular sight was kind of guilding the lily.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/robertbank/Firearms1/Norc11.jpg

[Old Man River]

Today, I have my performance report on shooting targets at the police Hall Of Fame gun range here in Titusville.
http://www.aphf.org/

had a couple of hours at the range and while shooting the Norinco 1911 .45 and a Taurus PT22 22LR automatic and using a one foot by 2 foot silhouette target, I can see the white silhouette much better than the black circle type target. Black sights on black target are not good for old eyes, plus I’m wobbling and shaking too much.

Shooting the Norinco 1911 45:
Seven rounds at 10 ft in a standing aim (squatting & a bench rest) it groups six in center red and one just outside the red.

Shooting the Norinco 1911 45:
Fourteen rounds at 20 ft in a standing aim (Rapid fire; No bench rest) it groups seven rounds just outside the red center and the rest were scattered on the silhouette target in center red and one was just outside the red.

If I were young once again, I could have done the same at 33 yards (100 ft). At least I’ve found I’m still able to defend myself with the Norinco and most any other gun. But with blindness well set in on my left eye and a cataract developing on both, I’m not as good as I once was and that is a bit disappointing to me.

Shooting the Taurus PT22 22LR automatic:
I’m all over the place. It’s indescribable, plus I’m too dumb to keep my thumb out of the way of the slide. LOL

The little 22 Taurus is a nice little point and shoot; close quarters gun, but... I will say it is a fun little gun to shoot and it serves some small purpose. The Norinco is a blast! Its performance was more than I could ask for, though I either need to orange paint the front and rear sight, or replace the rear sight. John was right on the gun sights.

Robert, those sights of yours are nice. Is there a like to these sights, if you don’t have a link, then I’ll google it.

[robertbank]

Hi

I found the sights on Ebay actually. If you go to the Heinie web page you will se them there or try Brownell's online catlaogue.

http://www.heinie.com/1911sights.php

If you poke around their site I am sure you will find what you are looking for.

If you decide to paint the exisiting sights here is a tip I got from a friend in Texas. He used refridgerator touch up pain (White), as a base coat on the sight. Once it dried he then applied red/orange flourescent paint over the base coat. He seems to feel the fluorscent paint bonds better that way. I am going to try it next time I have to touch up my front sight on my Norinco A1 that I have left stock. HAving the orange fluorsecent paint certainly makes the front sight easier to see and pick up.

Sounds like you are finding out what alot of us have and that is the Norinco is quite the 1911. Just as a matter of interest the Phillipine National Police use it as there side arm. Norinco calls the model their Police Model. We don't get it in Canada but from the pictures I have seen it looks like a pretty nice basic gun. Did the 5,000 round torture test I am told. Jok is a Phillipino national on this forum and he can tell you more about that model than I. He is quite a nice fellow and I am sure he would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Take Care

[jok]

Jok is a Phillipino national on this forum and he can tell you more about that model than I. He is quite a nice fellow and I am sure he would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Thanks Bob for the the kind words. I can't wait to get my hands on my 2nd Nork. I guess I still have to wait a little more until the suspension (as discussed in the Filipinos thread) is lifted.
Old Man River
Nice shooting on the Norks. As much as possible I will try to leave my Norks bone stock except for the grips. As Bob said, Norks are great shooters and I definitely agree with him. Thanks
________________
jok

[Old Man River]

Bob,
Thanks for your efforts and the Heinie web page link you’ve provided.

I think any sights I use while shooting in an inside gun range that is painted black (all over) with an incandescent spotlight illuminating the target will be my problem, a big problem.

I’ve decided to paint the existing sights and will find some of that white refrigerator touch up paint and then apply the orange fluorescent paint.

I wish I could find just a tritium dot to place on my existing sights. I think I will do much better on an outside range nearby; at least I can see the sights in full sunlight.

Sigh, oh to be young again. LOL

Yes, I’ve met both you, and jok on my threads. Nice to know ya all, such a helpful bunch of friends on this forum, I’m glad I’ve found this place.

--------------------------------------

jok

I think I’ve pretty much made up my mind, for now. I too think I will try to leave my Norinco bone stock, except for the grips. I love my grips.

Yes, this one probably is a great shooter too. I’ve been told it was gripped in a vice, aimed at a target I think that was 100 feet away, and I think he said it grouped within an inch.

[OD*]

Old Man River,

Depending on how wide your front sight blade is, Trijicon Inc. will install the single dot on fronts sights.

http://www.trijicon.com/home.cfm

[robertbank]

Hi

The rear mil-spec sight on the Norincos are pretty narrow. The problem with a Trijicon night sight for the front is they don't help much shooting indoors with artificial lighting. That and the fact the rear sight is very low mounted which dictates a very low front sight. By colouring his front sight with orange paint he will solve the problem for indoor shooting against black tartgets and the solution works for outdoors as well.

Having gone through two custom jobs on an A1 and Commander I have come to the conclusion that it is nice to have one gun with Trijicon night sights in some iteration for the bedside but unless you are a LEO installing them on a 2nd gun to carry or for playing the games is just a waste. But that is just me I am sure of thing in life if we all thought the same thing there would be one happy lady in this world and a whole lot of disappointed ones.

Stay Safe

[Old Man River]

Thank you Bob,
That’s exactly what the gun shop dealer told me where I’ve just picked up both the white and the bright Orange gun sight paint. His additional advice was to allow 36 hours to dry thoroughly for each color; that’s three days downtime before I can take it out to play. Sigh!

I’m thinking of painting the two dot rear sights with the final color of bright orange in addition to doing the same with the single dot front sight. I hope I’m not wrong in doing so. I will do this painting on Friday; I have to take a trip to Daytona tomorrow.

[robertbank]

Hi

Just one suggestion. You might want to try just having your front sight painted first and leave the rear sight black. Sometimes I think having all three dots posted makes it a little tougher to quickly pick up the front sight. What the heck, if you still think doing the rear is better you can always wait for a a couple of days of rain. Since you are goin gto be painting the front sight dot white anyway you can always try the white first as well, you might like it just being bright white as well. My Para has the three white dots and they are easy to pick up against a black target. My Norinco A1 has an orange front sight as well as the rear.

Good luck and take care

[Old Man River]

LOL

Okay, I will do that. I think somewhere I’ve failed to mention that my rear sight has had two dot whites on it all this time; I’m unable to see them. For all I know, they could have used white-out when they painted them, or they could have been original from Norinco. They’re somewhat dirty now. I may just give them a little white paint to brighten them up and try the sights out Friday, or another day.

Thanks, Jerry

Oh! While I was picking up the paint, I was explaining my predicament to the gun dealer wile a young man was there with his wife and picking up a cheap pump shotgun. He broke into my conversation querying me in a thoughtless manor: “If ya are that bad off, you might want to sell me your guns.”

The intrusion and the tasteless comment sort of ticked me off a little and as I looked at him and studied his smirk, I then said, “Hi.” as I waved at him and carried on with my conversation.

I didn’t want to cause any ruckus there with owner, who I know, and I didn’t want to cause any discouragement with his wife, she didn’t look happy with the way he conducted himself. The owner thanked me for that.

Though the young man looked to be in his early twenties, the next best thing I could have done was to tell him that he should not make light of another’s misfortune in age. That he may experience that same misfortune later on in his life...but I didn’t.

[robertbank]

Well there two things in life that you can't avoid. Death and taxes. The young lad might be so lucky as to live to an age when he can learn how little he knows. So do...some never do.

Yea the Norincos have the white paint on the rear dots. Think it is put on by Sea Gulls from high heights. I can tell you what you can spend way more for a 1911 but at the end of the day you won't find any that should more reliable and at defensive ranges inside 25 yards none shoot any more accurately.

Let us know how you make out with the sights.

Stay Safe

[jok]

Bob/Old Man River,
After seing your discussions in painting the front and rear sights, with your permission, I went ahead last night in painting the front sight of my Nork with a bright white nail polish and finished it of with a clear gloss nail polish. Well it looks pretty decent but the wife was really staring at me when I borrowed her nail polish :) And here's the thing, before she went to bed I told her, when she goes to the supermarket this weekend can she please buy me a bright orange nail polish :) Cheap thing to do but at least when the white one gets dirty I could always paint it with a nail polish, just don't know how long will it last. Thanks
________________
jok

[robertbank]

LOL - man we maybe setting a trend here. The nial polish works Jok but you may find it wears off fairly fast. If you can get to a hobby shop the fluorescent paint really works better than the nail polish I found. I haven't used the refridgerator paint application yet but intend to next time I replace the paint on my Norinco. Jerry is goin gto be our tester. I am sure it will work fine as my buddy in Texas says it did.

Take Care all

Bob

[Puffy]

Im just glad to see your enjoying your Norc. Theres something about running some rounds down range that makes these old bone feel a bit younger. :)

[Old Man River]

Jerry is going to be our tester. I am sure it will work fine as my buddy in Texas says it did.

OMG!
I must confess; Bob, I didn’t want to brave the parking problems in the big refrigerator/appliance store, so I bought both the white and orange paint at the guns & ammo store.

I bought the Lake Oswego, Origin “Bright Sights” high visibility gun sight coatings: bright orange and bright white. It comes in a small and thin bottle about an inch and a half high, a half-inch wide. (A little smaller than my pinky finger. I figure at a little over 3 dollars each, I would save time in buying it there. They had the same brand in a ‘glow-in-the dark kind that was a very light pale green, I bypassed that one, I didn’t think it would help me any.

“Dip these in and fill the pocket up.” He told me as handed me two six inch long thin toothpicks with a pointy end and a blunt end. I hope to do better than the Norinco’s Sea Gulls from high heights did, but with my shaky hands and wobbly feet, I have visions of a flock of penguins who have accidentally found flight capability.

Yah, I’m going to be youz’ guys tester hah? It will be at lest into next week before I’m capable of doing that. I’ve got to run to Daytona tomorrow on another gun of mine, an old Remington Magnum 870 Wing Master 12 Gage pump Shotgun, (front and rear sights) a smoothbore deer gun. I’m also going to see if they still have a bench pillow that was filled with shot, so to keep it in place. I am terribly curious on that 22LR pee shooter of mine; I want to see how it groups at ten feet. I can’t hold it steady.

I may also want to take a fifty year old long bow of my late dads and have it restrung.

----------------------------

jok,

You’re a bad boy for sending your wife out to buy Orange fingernail polish. I’d of’ gone myself and had fun with watching the expression on the salesgirls face. That would’ve been almost as much fun as target practice and hunting.

You’re all too funny on here. Are we supposed to have this much fun posting on here?

----------------------------

Puffy,

My old bones feel tired after standing on hundreds of rounds of ammo in my flip-flops for two hours the other day, my legs wobbled all the way home driving my car.

Ya all take care now. See ya later.

[jok]

You’re a bad boy for sending your wife out to buy Orange fingernail polish. I’d of’ gone myself and had fun with watching the expression on the salesgirls face. That would’ve been almost as much fun as target practice and hunting.
That would be the day Jerry! That would be the day! I could already imagine the expression of the salesgirl if she would see a stocky guy infront of her and buying a bright orange nail polish with a 1911 .45 ACP stock on my waist.

LOL - man we maybe setting a trend here.
I hope not Bob. People might think that they are on a wrong forum when they see that were discussing about cosmetics. Darn, last night it was the nail polish, today it was the hair dryer. What's next, a nail file (the thing with a sand paper on both sides)?
I can't imagine myself going to the range with a cosmetic kit bag on my shoulders for my tools. At least the wife is one of my shooting buddies and I already have an excuse that the bag belongs to her when ever we go to the range, OMG.

You all stay safe.
_________________
jok

[John]

A couple of words on Bright Sights.

The standard paint works OK and it is quite hard to come off. I whole-heartedly recommend it.

The glow-in-the-dark ones are nothing to write home about. First, they have to be activated (and ambient room light is not enough, you have to have them under a bright lamp) for something like 3-4 hours in order to provide about one hour of illuminated dots. And these are no where as bright as tritium. More like the glow found in the hands of an old watch.

As for shopping for nail polish, gentlemen, I have shopped for much worst things than this. And it's a nice way to start a conversation, with some, ahh hmmm ..... very interesting, sales girls, if you get my drift. :)

[Old Man River]

jok,

With me, she’d see an old pot belly, white haired, bearded man wearing flip-flops, cut off fishing jeans, and a blazing multicolored Hawaiian short sleeve fishing shirt hanging down over my beltline resembling a kaleidoscope, and packing an AMD 64 bit laptop bag on my shoulder...DDRAM loaded. Not quite the Grandfather image, and she would probably either turn her head and giggle, or present a clinging allure.

Most People reading this, and other threads are from every corner of the world. They would think that they were reading informative, but humorous conversations between ourselves while passing advice, ideas, tips and tricks. You would be surprised at what interest a forum such as this one will draw.

Here is one of my threads on a similar forum such as this. It is fishing, hunting, and guns and ammo related. Many members there are members here. I hope I can post a link to it here. This thread on that forum is how I found your forum. You may notice some very familiar people responding to my thread such as:
Dan Chamberlain, a sports writer and Bob Hunter from Hunter Customs who had this to say.

“I know some people get bent out of shape when you talk about buying products made in China.
But one must give credit where credit is due; the Norinco 1911 guns had darn good steel in them.
Also all the ones I built custom guns from were in spec, which made them a good base to build from.
Regards
Bob Hunter”

Florida Sportsman, OutdoorsBest Forums-Generl Shooting Information thread of mine.
http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=446407


--------------------------------------------------------------


jok/John,

Whenever you invade the feminine territories unescorted by a female, set the stage. Try to maintain a posture of confidence, a picture of stability, but don’t finger the delicates.

Tell em’ you’re testing AMD's new Opteron 2.8 GHz Dual Core 64 Bit computer CPU and the fingernail polish will be used as your stamp of approval; you haven’t the time for slow drying lacquer to set in.

If the young pretty thing is a ‘GAIMER’, you will be an instant hit...especially if she’s in her early twenties, or less.


--------------------------------------------------------------


It has been a busy and hectic day for me and I’m going to try to get some sleep so I can accomplish painting those sights.

[robertbank]

Well fellows I got bad news.

Today at the the range I broke the little swival link on the bottom of my barrel on my pet Norinco. So I got to send my gun down to Dlask to get fixed. Fortunately it is just the little swival link so I imagine it will be gone for a couple of weeks. depending on how long the post office tiakes to go between here and Vancouver. I won't need a now barrel, just just the swival.


Take Care

[John]

The question is why did the link break in the first place?

[jok]

Well fellows I got bad news.

Today at the the range I broke the little swival link on the bottom of my barrel on my pet Norinco. So I got to send my gun down to Dlask to get fixed. Fortunately it is just the little swival link so I imagine it will be gone for a couple of weeks. depending on how long the post office tiakes to go between here and Vancouver. I won't need a now barrel, just just the swival.


Take Care

Sorry to hear that Bob. Hope every will be okay with your Norinco soon. I'm sure your going to miss her, at least you could give more attention to your other Norincos. Thanks
_______________
jok

[Old Man River]

I’m sorry to hear that Bob. What would cause something like that to break?

[robertbank]

Well guys I have no idea what caused it to break. anything mechanical can and does fail. Aside from tieing up the gun for a couple of weeks to get it fixed it is more a nuisance than anything. It awas kind of weird in a way. I was firing off a string when I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Looked at the gun and the hammer was in the half cock position and the slide was in battery. Thought it was strange and not suspecting anything I pulled the hammer back and pulled the trigger. Nothing. Went back to the truck, removed the mag and pulled on the slide. I mean pulled. Thought darn I got an extractor problem. Well after some effort out popped the empty round. Still had no idea what had happened. Put one round in the mag went back to the range and fired the gun. Same thing, hammer in half cock. Well at this point clever me decided what ever was going on wasn't going to get fixed where I was so I switched over to my Commander Nork and continued on with my practice. Went home thinking it had been awhile since I had cleaned the gun and maybe the chamber was just dirty. Took the gun apart on my bench and out popped the bottom part of the swinging link. Oops that is not good and it was then I realized my Nork need some tender loving care at the 'smith hospital. I am going to have him replace the link. Thought about installing a match grade barrel but then this gun shoots as well or better than I can so I will leave well enough alone. Thus ends my range saga.

Take Care

[Old Man River]

Well Bob,

I’d say you’re lucky to have the knowledge to assess and attack the problem and to have the Commander Nork available and not tying up your range time.

I haven’t yet that ability. I’ve looked all over for my schematic for my Norinco and haven’t come across it yet, so I can pinpoint the part that is broken and it’s purpose as a part. Good luck with getting it fixed.

[robertbank]

Hi Jerry

It is the little swing link at the bottom of the barrel that you insert your slide lock pin through. Jut broke in half. I am waiting for my 'smith to get to work and I'll phone him to see if he wants the whole gun back or just the slide and barrel. 6:25 a.m. here. Darn dog woke me up at 5:00 by licking my face. Her way of saying get up twit I got to go outside...

Take Care

[Old Man River]

I know dogs well Bob, I have had plenty of them, but I no longer have one now.

In preparation of painting the sights last night I noticed the rear sights seamed to differ in brightness quite a lot, remember my eyesight is not all that good. One dot was quite brownish and the other seamed a bit cloudy, not the stark white one would expect.

So, under a bright light with a toothpick, I scratched at both dots on the rear sight and dug out a whole lot of dirt and grime while uncovering a stark white and original paint. With a Kleenex napkin and a dab of alcohol, I dabbed a little more at the two and it came even clearer. I don’t think paint would have adhered to that very well. Thinking the front sight would need its pocket cleaned, I uncovered a stark white dot by dabbing in the same manor.

The front and rear sights were all painted originally a stark white!

So, with an unsteady hand and the dexterity of a very happy drunken chimpanzee, I placed a dab of bright Orange paint on the front sight only. It is now drying. While it was drying, I darkened the room and snuck a look down the sights at the TV and this seemed to help my eyesight quite a lot. My plan now is to leave the rear sights white and the front sight bright Orange.

My thoughts are: first, clean the sight pockets and then paint. Cleanliness is important.

[robertbank]

HI Jerry you now have exactly the sight picture I have on my Norinco A1. For what ever reason the white dots seem to get dirty over time. I think you will like that combo. Remember to line the dots not the top of the sight when shooting if your front sight is set up like mine is and I suspect it is. It is so counter intuitive and when I shoot our defensive matches I have just resigned myself that I will be shooting high in the A Zone. In a real live situation whether you hit the guy at the bridge of his nose or in the forehead on balance won't make a darn bit of difference I don't think.


On another forum, there is a thread going over five pages on relative stopping power etc. What a load of wasted spit. I have long since moved to the side of practicality. Saves spit and money at the same time. Enjoy those sights and let us know how you make out at the range.


Take Care

[Old Man River]

I’ll let yah all know how it shoots when the range isn’t so packed with people on the weekends. Perhaps I might take it out the beginning of next week. Mind you though, more in likely it will shoot somewhat like the others and the accuracy will depend on whether I’m able to stand, or sit on firm ground instead of standing on a pile of spent shell casings in my flip-flops wobbling to and froe. Lighting is a big issue on the indoor range at the police hall of fame range. http://www.shooting-center.org/
The pictures show more lighting than I remember and in the new setup, the bench/table seems to be much higher than it is in the pictures.

It’s too dark, the rolling automatic target sets are mounted too high for a pot belied man to reach over the rest, or table that you load and shoot from, and they use a thick rubber free swinging target mount that you have to reach out with both hands to hold the bottom, the target, and place whatever pin to poke into it to place the target on. the target is well lit, but there’s not enough light behind you to see your sights. Two hours shooting and I’m worn out. I like the outdoor range and I want to try it out when I can get to it. http://www.titusvillegun.com/

It is so far out in the country and on a 10 thousand acre ranch where I might even have a wild hog, deer, or even a gaiter show up to pay me a visit.

Yah get a little cranky and opinionated when yah get old. LOL

Relative stopping power hah? Here is my quote in the other forum, at the bottom of page one: http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=456004

I’ve owned a handgun in almost ever round there is and I base my choices on caliber to what my favorite gun came with and what I can afford to own and shoot.
That’s all, there is no optimum take down round out there in my mind; I think there have been more deaths caused by a 22 then there has of cannon fire, but I may be wrong. However, if I need to take someone down and had the choice of round I own, it would be the 45; of those that I’ve owned would be the 44 Magnum.
The longest running argument in history has been the 9mm verses the 45. I can remember that ongoing argument when I was a kid. It’s a fun argument, but there’s no joy in the pursuit of winning.

[Old Man River]

Bob,
Keep us informed on your shipment and fix of your Norinco.

[robertbank]

Will do. Dlask carries five different sizes of links for the 1911 so he should be able to mate one to the gun. If he can't I may have to install a Brilly match barrel on the gun with a new bushing. Hope not because a new link and pin is about $9.00 Cdn. A new barrel will set me back about $185 Cdn and another piece of change for the fitted bushing. Gun is my favourite as it has been customized to some degree, hammer, sear, trigger FMSH, crisp 4# trigger. I have a Para SSP that certainly is more gun and maybe even more accurate but I do like my Nork. My Nork is my play gun for IDPA/IPSC. My Para is more of a serious type shooter. I am to old to be to serious about playing the games. Darn young RCMP constables I shoot against have better eyes and chinary only goes so far....but I can my hold my own against most of them.


Take Care

[Old Man River]

They will find one if they don’t have it. They’ll order it and when it arrives, fit it on, and ship it off to you.

Good luck.

[Old Man River]

Bob,

Have you heard anything back on your gun?

So far, I haven’t gotten out to the outdoor range I wanted to use to try mine out again. Nine AM is a little early for me to push off for the range when I’m usually up all night. It’s about that time when my eyes close and my head rolls off my shoulder.

[robertbank]

WellI have bad news and good news. First the bad. The link broke because the barrel was machined out of spec so when the gun recoiled the link to the full force of the recoil as opposed to the frame. 1911 Turner described it best as did my gunsmith. The end result is that I had to replace the barrel/bushing. Dlask has fitted a match grade Dlask barrel on the gun. To call it a Norinco is a bit of a misnomer now as the only parts that are Norinco are:

Frame
Slide
MSH - flattened and checkered by Dlask
Disconector
Guide Rod & PLunger (When I don't use my two piece FLGR)

At some point I will have the gun dehorned and reblued by Dlask. I am told the gun will now shoot to 2" at 50 yards - not in my hands - like who can see a target at 50 yards??? I'll report back when the gun returns home late next week. The sad part is I still cannot bring the gun down to the STates for a Shoot due to the Clinton Ban.



Take Care

[Old Man River]

I’m sorry to hear that bad news.

Fifty yards! I don’t think I could hit a barn that far away. I might even have a hard time hitting a barn if I were inside it. LOL