Source for cheap Sistema's?

P

pvanosta

New member
I've been visiting this man's website:
http://www.roderuscustom.tzo.com/

And I'm bitten by the same bug.
I'm looking for a cheap sistema colt 1911.

However, PVTRyan got his Sistema's at $299 a pop. I can't find any Sistema for less than $350 . That's close enough, but how do I determine whether I got a good one, or one with crappy, arsenal- refurbished parts?
 
Gun-Tests magazine just tested one, along with the Balister Molina. They gave both a Do Not Buy. The Sistema had an 8.5 lb trigger put and the best groups it shot was 4.7". Others have said that the Norinco is a much better M1911 clone for the money. FWIW, I've never fired one myself.
 
Like WG said find a Norinco 1911. I picked one up last week at a pawn shop for $260. Thats the best $260 spent, the thing is totally reliable and super accurate so far. The only problem I have had is brass hitting me in the forehead.

Steve Mc.:D
 
1. If you buy from cruffler, call them and make sure they have pistols in stock.

2. The sistema is a good buy. Mine is having a few feeding issues, but this is nothing I did not expect. It is an ancient gun.

Mike
 
There are very few Norinco 1911's around for anything close to $300, which is what you can get a very nice Sistema 1927 for. The Norinco is a good gun, but it's not readily available anymore, the Sistimas are still readily available.
 
The Norinco my brother had worked great at first, but the reliability got worse over time. I forget the details, but something kept burring and would get better if smoothed out, then burr again. He blamed the soft steel. Sold it to a shop.
 
Soft steel isn't a trait common to the Norinco, you must have gotten an odd one. Many custom builders liked to use the Norinco as a base for their pistols, that speaks volumes about the quality of the steel to me.
 
Sistemas are in Shotgun News for $299.00 if you have a C&R collectors license. Gun Tests screwed the pooch on their test of the Sistema. Don't those dolts realize that the Sistema is a 1911A-1 built back in the 40s and 50s. They would say the exact same thing about a GI 1911A-1, which is basically what the Sistema is. Gun Tests lost a lot of credibility when they printed that tripe about the Sistema 1911 and most 1911 guys know that too. If you want more information on them check out this link...


http://www.1911forum.com/forums/


7th
 
7th Fleet, did you read the article? That's exactly what they said about M1911A1's. The Balister Molina shot a lot better and cost $190, but there's no upgrade path. They shot groups from a bench rest and measured the trigger pull just like they did with any other gun. Some people want to believe that they can buy a $300, 50 year old pistol made in the 3rd world that will be as good as today's M1911's. What is it about an 8.5 lb trigger pull and 4.7" groups that's desirable?
 
Thanls for the 3rd World comment! Given our present situation, that sounds like and impressive UPgrade....:D

The Sistemas were all build with the same machinery used, licensed and approved by Colt. The fact that they're still around after 60 years does speak by itself.

I currently own a Ballester Molina, the guns are still highly respected in their country of origin (and not for lack of a better thing).

NB
 
I wouldn't place a bit of faith in Gun Tests. I used to have a subscription, but their scientific process stinks. Worse than stinks. I'm glad they're into guns and not cancer research. They'd pan everything out there because it makes you sick, or that the patient they tested happened to die.

More comical, Gun Tests has picked and panned the same pistol, a Walther P99, I believe, in two different issues. Now come on, you can't tell me that last year's Walther should be bought but this year's should not?

Oh, and by the way, Argentina in the 1940's was every bit the 1st world country we were. I'd go with the Systema just on principal over the Norinco. If I'm going to own a 1911A1, I'd just assume it not be made by our enemy.
 
I think it's fair to fault Gun Tests on some of their buy decisions, but they seem to work pretty hard on the testing - haven't seen any other bench tests, although I have seen owner reports confirming the things they complained about with sights, trigger, and accuracy. I doubt they're worse than the issue .45's I had to qualify with.

The Norinco is popular as a "base" because it has a forged frame. I'm actually thinking about getting a Sistema myself because I have a C&R license, and new M1911's aren't currently available in MA because of our "Consumer Protection" gun law.

Sorry if categorizing 30's Argentina as "3rd world" is unfair - I don't know anything about their history
 
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