Father Knows Best
Member
I have a Para SSP that I bought brand new two or three years ago for $595. It is still my favorite 1911, and I own Kimbers, Colts and SA's, too. From day one it has been 100% reliable, and is also among my most accurate 1911's. It feeds, fired and ejects everything from 185 to 230 grain, and from ball to HP to SWC, with no problems of any kind. The trigger was near perfect out of the box, breaking cleanly at a consistent 4.7 pounds.
In fact, I was so impressed with the SSP that I went out and bought a Para CCW (CCO pattern, LDA trigger) to replace my Glock for CCW use. The CCW was just as good as the SSP in terms of performance, but I eventually sold it because I wanted something lighter (the CCW is all steel) and with a traditional single action trigger. Since Para Ordnance didn't make an alloy frame CCO pattern 1911, I bought a Colt Gunsite CCO. The Gunsite CCO cost me $500 more than my SSP, and wasn't anywhere near as good. The Colt needed almost $200 worth of reliability and trigger work before I could get it to run and shoot reliably enough that I would feel comfortable carrying it. I'm still not sure that I trust it as much as my SSP.
I will note that as with all 1911's, magazine performance is critical to successful functioning of the gun. I have never been a fan of Para Ordnance mags. I use nothing but Wilson and CMC mags in all of my 1911's these days. My Para mags are still in the wrap in the box the gun came in, and that's where they'll stay.
In fact, I was so impressed with the SSP that I went out and bought a Para CCW (CCO pattern, LDA trigger) to replace my Glock for CCW use. The CCW was just as good as the SSP in terms of performance, but I eventually sold it because I wanted something lighter (the CCW is all steel) and with a traditional single action trigger. Since Para Ordnance didn't make an alloy frame CCO pattern 1911, I bought a Colt Gunsite CCO. The Gunsite CCO cost me $500 more than my SSP, and wasn't anywhere near as good. The Colt needed almost $200 worth of reliability and trigger work before I could get it to run and shoot reliably enough that I would feel comfortable carrying it. I'm still not sure that I trust it as much as my SSP.
I will note that as with all 1911's, magazine performance is critical to successful functioning of the gun. I have never been a fan of Para Ordnance mags. I use nothing but Wilson and CMC mags in all of my 1911's these days. My Para mags are still in the wrap in the box the gun came in, and that's where they'll stay.