Slim Grips for Norinco?

[RichardW]

I have wanted a 1911A for a while, and last week I finally got my almost new in box at a gun show in San Antonio. I had done my research and made my decision based on best value for money. SA Milspec was 2nd choice, RIA a distant 3rd.

If I go with slim line grips I'm assuming I have to use shorter screws. Where or what should I get?

Also, any recommendations on night sights requiring as little modification as possible?

Thanks!
Richard

[Chuck S]

Click on the AlumaGrips icon at the top of the page. I have these on four (4) different M1911s. All are thin. Require thin bushings as well as short screws. The bushing driver is worth the extra couple buclk.

But if you're going to start customizing the pistol I'd start with the Springfield MilSpec as it already has decent sights and a lowered, flared ejection port. For a nostalgia pistol the SA WW2 or Norinco are good replicas of WW2 and later vintage US military pistols, but they're going to be expensive to bring up to modern standards.

I think you can get factory tritiums on the SA MilSpec.

-- Chuck

[robertbank]

HI - Your Norinco bushings are taped with metric threads, the only none standard part on the gun. If you go to replace the bushings you will have to have someone tap the frame to accept standard threaded bushings. I have three Norincos, two of which have been worked on. Great shooters out of the box but for my eyes the sights had to be changed. Also the guns shoots easier with a trigger job. If you like the mil-spec sights one thing I have done on my Norinco A1 that hasn't been worked on was to paint the front sight with red fluorecent paint. Makes picking up the front sight a lot easier. Pics of the two Norincos I had worked on are on the thread for pics of the Norincos.

[RichardW]

Thanks for the responses. The red paint is a good idea. Maybe I will just leave the sights alone and try the paint method.
Didn't know you could get factory tritium with the Milspec!
Do you think the Norinco and Milspec are about equal in accuracy?

[robertbank]

The "Mil-Spec" I was referring to were the sights on my third Norinco. Careless owns both the colt repo and the Norinco and says the Norinco is the better gun. all my Norincos were extremely accurate out of the box. I only changed the sights to ease pick up. If you use the paint apply some of your wife's/girlfriends clear nail polish over the paint. Adds to the shine and protects the paint. Really does work. Let me know how your gun is a s a shooter. Recce can put 10 shots into a 2 in. circle at 25 yards with his with the original sights. I'm not that good, at least my eyes aren't!
Regards and stay safe

[RichardW]

I would consider mine to be very accurate. I haven't measured any groups at distances, but I will.

I put some red paint on my front sight to contrast with the rear white, but I found it harder to see than the white! Went back to the white. I''m thinking of getting some night sights. What does it cost to have the slide milled for the front? Any recommendations who to send it to?

[USMC0231]

Greetings,
I had some trijicons installed on my 'rinco, and I just love them. They sit kind of high compared with some of the other sights out there, but for low light conditions, they are outstanding. I have had some trigger work done and the feed ramp polished, but aside from that, it is stock. I have put 2" groups at 25yds consistently. In my opinion, this is one fine firearm.

[Thud]

I just bought my Norinco 1911a1 and am planning to change the grips. I just wanted You guys tell me if the 'standard' Colt grip screws are bigger in diameter than the ones the Norinco's come with. Thanks beforehand. THUD.-

[RichardW]

The screws themselves are the same but if you want to go to a slim grip you have to change the screw bushings. The Norinco bushings are metric so you you have to tap new standard threads in the frame.
Does anyone know what size tap should be used for the frame holes?

[Noah Zark]

The screws themselves are the same but if you want to go to a slim grip you have to change the screw bushings. The Norinco bushings are metric so you you have to tap new standard threads in the frame.
Does anyone know what size tap should be used for the frame holes?

Standard bushings have a frame thread size of 0.236" - 60 NS-2

Oversize bushings have a frame thread size of 0.255" - 60 NS-2

Both bushings have ID threads to accept a standard grip screw thread of 0.150" - 50 NS-2

"60 NS-2" means 60 threads per inch, National Superfine thread profile, Class 2 fit.

HTH,

Noah

[apothet]

I felt no remorse of buying my norinco 1911 .45 acp. actually, i just bought it through grapevines that it is a good handgun, but after "surfin & surfin", I was satisfied. only thing is, i have to try it because i never fire a single bullet in my whole life so as my new norc that yet to fire...