Anyone with experience on Para Ordnance .45's?

[JR719]

Our department has approved the full size Para's in LDA (double action only for us), but not the limited. I am debating on purchasing one in .45 to replace my Glock. I am currently looking at the RX1445S, stainless with a light rail, 14+1.

Anyone have one of these? Good / Bad words about the Para's? I am aware of having to keep the mags clean for proper functioning. Anything else I should know to decide on to purchase or not?

This will be for duty carry so it will be out in the elements. I do baby my weapons and keep them very clean. I only carry my personal weapons, not issued by our department.

Thanks in advance,

JR

 

[SuperNaut]

I've got a Nite-Tac, I've put about 1000 rounds through it.

Pros:

I haven't experienced a single malfunction of any type.
The grip is the most comfortable double stack grip I've encountered.
It is more accurate than I am.
Unloaded it is suprisingly light, but of course once you load it, it ain't light anymore.
It has run any ammo I've fed it.

Cons:

The LDA trigger takes a little getting used to.
The grips are a bit loose even after I tightened the screws all the way.
The blued finish on my sights has already worn off from holster wear, not a big deal, but I'm really reaching for cons.
I wish the grip safety were a little tighter in the frame.
Mags are spendy.

That's all I can think of.

 

[sugarbritches]

para

My para 14.45 LDA likes round nose ammo only. works like a swiss watch without a hitch, but use hollow points and trouble begins. I used only hornady 45 auto 185 gr JHP/XTP ... Than asked a Cabela's gun guru about it and he said the 1911 was designed for round nose and not hollow points. It seemed to make sense, as my 9mm 1911 Springfield won't even chamber a single round! The para would go through a few clips before it jammed up.

 

[JR719]

Thanks SuperNaut.

Did you use Loctight or anything on the grip screws? The grip is really minor as I'll more than likely put on Hogue or Pachmire (sp?).

I really don't want to spend that amount as compaired to the Glock, but I am sick of my Glock. I've also thought of going back to my S&W 686. Two of our administrators have LDA's and though I've never fired them, they feel so much better.

I guess I'll have to order one after the holiday.

Thanks,

JR

 

[JR719]

Round nose only? I was planning on Cor Bon or Gold Dot hollow points. Have you shot any of those thru it?

JR

 

[SuperNaut]

The screws are fine, it's just that the grips rattle a bit. Really minor, but a con nonetheless.

I ran Gold Dot with no problems, but haven't tried Cor-Bon. I've heard that some have experienced problems like sugerbritches mentions, but not me.

 

[JR719]

Ok,

Thank You.

JR

 

[tegemu]

Perhaps a little bit of tape under your grips might resolve the rattle.

 

[johns961]

I have a Para SSP single stack .45 pistol. I have shot many different kinds of
ammo in mine. Most 230 grain. It has never jammed. Now, Para does have
a deserving reputation for their poor magazines. I rebuilt mine as soon as I received them. And I use Wilson Combat mags also. Mine is a sweet shooting pistol and I can recommend this model.

John!

 

[orionengnr]

I have a blue P-14 LDA

(actually, it's more black than blue). I bought it about two years ago. I put a few boxes of assorted (FMJ and JHP) ammo through it, no problems.

I really like the LDA trigger.

PM sent with more info.

 

[PoPo22]

Para LDA

I carried a P16.40 LDA ss for a little over 5 years and it was and is a very reliable accurate weapon. I also carry a Para LTC (.45, single stack) sometimes in "plain clothes" or as a "back-up", it too is very reliable and accurate. I have med. to small hands and find the "double stack" a bit thick for my taste, but definitely usable.

I prefer the "single-stack" for the ergonomics but like the "High-Capacity" for obvious reasons. Good weapons, I like them

 

[JR719]

Thanks for the input everyone. Now I suppose it's time to buy. Taking the kiddo's to Sea World next week and will buy when I get back.

Thanks again,

JR

 

[NateG]

Not the specific gun you mentioned, but...

I picked up a used P12-45 for cheap (if you credit the magazines and holsters at retail price, then gun was only $100 or so. Or something like that. ) a while back. It eats everything I've fed it so far. Winchester white box, hornady hollow points (both 185 and 200gr), winchester 230gr hollowpoints. I think I've run some lead semi wadcutters through it. This gun is, however, well broken in. The guy I bought it from said it had about 4k rounds through it. But it has held up quite well. And, because it actually has sights on it, I can shoot it more accurately than my springfield GI 1911.

So, count me as a fan of the Paras.

 

[CWL]

Have owned a P-13 for close to 10 years. It's had some reliability work as well as hardchroming by V. Tripp. My only suggestion is to be paranoid about replacing the magazine springs and to be very sure of the type of ammo you use. Paras can be picky about what they want to feed.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I've got a 14.45 LTD, SA.

It's a solid, reliable gun that has never failed.

Fit and finish is a bit rough on the inside, where no one can see it.

Fully loaded, that sucker is HEAVY. 15 rounds of .45acp weighs more than you'd think.

Be aware that the LDA is light and sweet as advertised, but not really a double action trigger. It's really a hammer down single action trigger.

The mainspring is tensioned by the slide recoiling, but the hammer is disconnected from it.

 

[12-34hom]

Para

I've carried a P-Ltd - excellent overall weapon. The factory sights were junk, replaced with a fixed set of Novak nite sites. With two hi-cap mags and one in the weapon it is a little heavy to tote around on a duty belt with all my other gear.

Mine had no mechanical issues, excellent accuracy out of the box. I shot alot of Triton 450smc thru it after changing recoil springs [24lb]. Never had a problem. I would have no problem recommending Para products for duty use. I would do some serious testing differing ammo and or whatever your department issues before use on the street.

I just bought a P-16 in 40 caliber and it is one sweet shootin iron. I plan to qualify with it for duty when our next set of quals comes around. I've had nothing but good luck with Para products.

Your milage may vary.

12-34hom.

 

[pete f]

I have several, a p 12, a p13 limited. a p14 40, a p14 .45 lda and a p12 lda. and a 6.45 too. All have the ramped barrel. the gun guru at cabelas is a moroon if he said it was made to run rn only the big push for Para's was the ipsc rush of hicap's shooting SWC leads, they shoot HP's just fine...If your is not. call Para. it is either a dirty or rough ramp on the barrel, or a bad mag. if the ramp is not mirror like, then a polishing with a cratex stick will make them feed anything. Bad mags do occur and Para is great about making things good.