Para GI Expert 1911

[Quoheleth]

I'm looking to get back into the 1911 platform in the near future.

What's the current opinion of the Para GI Expert? I've been reading reviews and they seemed, originally, hit-n-miss. More recently I'm seeing comments to the effect of "best bang for the buck" and "best entry level gun."

So, for current owners, what do you think? I'm asking because no one locally carries it so a purchase means sight unseen via transfer.

I'm willing to spend a little more, but really need to stay in the $600 or less range. The GI comes in well under that price point and leaves me room to do an arched MSH and a shorter trigger if I need (the Para seems to have a medium-length trigger which might be OK for me. I have short fingers so longer triggers in a 1911 don't work as well - I wind up pushing my shots off-center).

Thanks for opinions - or suggestions!

Q

 

[amd6547]

I bought my GI Expert after finding them on sale ($449) at a GS...I had just sold another pistol to fund a Rock Island Tactical. I was unaware of this model, so I went home and did some research, finding generally positive reviews. Went back and bought it the next day.
Very impressed by slide/frame/barrel/bushing fit. Barrel seems to be very high quality. Trigger pull is just about right for me.
I have put about 250rds through it so far. Not too impressed with the two Para mags that came with it, and I had one jam each in the first 150rds. With good mags (I use shooting star 8rd, Novak 8rd, and Checkmate hybrid lip 7rd) it seems to work great, and fed the couple types of JHP I have tried.
Accuracy is very good.
I like the features this 1911 has like the basic but decent sights and standard GI guide rod and no ambi safety or front slide grooves. And no giant billboard.
Here is a pic of mine. I replaced the plastic grips (which seemed a little slippery) with Para cocobolos:

 

[malakili]

Overall quality seems good, but the one I used to own (traded for a Glock 36 recently) jammed more than six times in the first 800ish rounds. Not acceptable. First jam was FMJ with stock magazines, the others were with FMJ on Wilson Combat mags. For some reason the JHP I put through it never jammed.

I could possibly have made it reliable by testing it with different brands of magazines to see what worked, but I didn't feel like gambling with that much cash.

Too bad, because it was one of the most fun guns I've ever owned.

 

[rkammer]

I think I'd go with the Remington R1.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

I got one almost a year ago. Since then it has had a different trigger put into, a beavertail grip safety and some minor work on the barrel. It would not reliably feed hollowpoints so I just filed a little off the throating to round it and since then it feeds even resized empties. It's a great value and a good gun.

Damian