Anyone with experience with the Para Warthog in .45 ACP?

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Troy26

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I might have a chance to buy one of someone pretty cheap. I was wondering if anyone here knew much about them.
 
Have you ever shot one? I have done some research and learned about the great warranty. I'm curious as to how they perform.
 
I wanted one in the worst way. When they finally became Mass compliant, I shot one at the range and really really wanted to like it. However, It just didn't feel right in my hand (too small) and I couldn't get used to it. I suspect that if I hadn't had the opportunity to try it first, I might've bought one and would now be looking to sell it.

They're beautiful guns and the one I tried (one of my buddies owns it) functioned without a hitch.

If it feels right to you and the price is good, get it.
 
I've been very happy with mine. It shoots better than you'd guess for its size, and had a great trigger right out of the box. The only problem I've had with it is that after 150 rounds through it the recoil spring assembly busted. Para sent me a replacement in a few days no questions asked and I have 700 faultless rounds through it since then. In a high noon holster It has become my main carry pistol.
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Edit to add: Discussing this has made me realize that I'd been neglecting to shoot it for a while. Shot it last night at my league and have another 150 rounds through it without a hitch.

Nonq
 

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Until you shoot it, it feels like the bottom corner of the MSH will gouge your hand under recoil, but the gun rotates in such a way that it's quite comfortable. Recoil control is excellent for a .45 of any size, much less an alloy sub-compact.

The one I fired (not owned by me) was never adequately reliable for personal defense.

The frame eventually cracked in three places, after a few months of shooting by the second owner. The dustcover actually fell off in the repair technician's hands. Para replaced the complete lower half under warranty.
 
I want one, and had a chance to try one at a 'shooting fair'. Only got to shoot 10 rounds.

I still like it, but I never even hit the 4" target at 15 feet. Since it was a clay pigeon I couldn't tell where point-of-impact was, so I couldn't correct anything.

I'd buy one if the price was right.
 
Why doncha...

If at all possible, take it to the range and put 100-or-so rounds through it.

That'll tell you a whole lot about the gun...and yourself
.
 
If we ever get the dam handgun laws repealled in my country, that will be the first compact pistol I purchase, used one on your side of the pond and loved it. It's the idea gun to me, small package that leaves a big hole:)
 
I had the P-10 steel frame version, Excellent warrenty but I never fully trusted for a carry even after the rebuild.Still had at least 1 jam every box of ammo. even ball. Normally failed to extract fired round. This and other problems was reason for rebuild.
 
Well... I looked at two Paras today.
A Carry and the Warthog.
The Warthog came home with me. Though I really like the LDA, I wanted another 1911 type, and the Carry just seemed very heavy (being steel vs. alloy).
 
My Warthog had three big problems, right out of the box:
1. Would not reliably feed rounds (at least one malfunction every magazine
2. Grip safety would not disengage to allow the trigger press unless it was fully pressed into the frame (my hands don't normally DO that when I shoot)
3. That MSH did cut into my palm, unlike some others here (you lucky guys, you)

Hell-bent on making this my primary carry weapon, I poured a bunch of money into custom smithing. The MSH was replaced with a metal one and the sharp point was rounded. The grip safety was built up more and tuned, so now it works right in my hand. The feed ramp was worked, the extractor was tuned and the trigger was also set at a crisp 4.5 pounds.

I just got it back this past week. Despite the smith forgetting to re-insert the rear sight set screw, I still test fired the thing. It is sweet now. All the problems are gone, and I can shoot more than 20 rounds through it without bleeding from the palm.

I tried the following ammo in it:
Federal AE 230gr. hardball
Federal Hydrashoks 165gr. JHP
Remington Golden Sabres 185gr. JHP
Winchester SXT 230 gr. JHP

The ball worked flawlessly, which is more than it ever did before.
The Hydrashoks also worked well (but they worked well in it before I sent it out).
The Golden Sabres gave me three failures to extract with a spent case stuck in the chamber - caused type 3 malfunctions that were worrisome. I haven't seen enough yet to decide if it was only this ammo, or my gun. I'll watch this.
The SXT worked best of the JHPs. It's also most like ball in the weight and shape of the slug. I'd be interested to know how it performs in ballistic gelatin testing. It is right now the front runner for my carry ammo.

Hope this helps. I tried reading every thread on the internet about Warthogs before I bought mine, and I didn't ever find this kind of post. It seemed that people would either say, "It didn't feel right" or "I love it." Not very objective.

Well, okay, I now can say that I love mine. After a couple more range sessions, I expect it to take its place as my primary carry weapon.
 
Thanks for sharing your experiences with this pistol. I read good and bad (bad with lots of details), prior to buying my Warthog. I selected it anyways.
I have had no issues so far with the Blazer 230gr ball and Golden Saber 185. I'm going to try some HS 185's next. And yes, after each range session of 50 to 100 rnds, I have an MS imprint on my hand! A bit sharp to say the least..
If I'm satisfied with the reliability, I'm looking at Milt Sparks VMII leather.
 
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