Para LDA Owners; Please help

[johndoe1027]

I have been dreaming about a LDA pistol for months now. I keep reading this (good) and that (bad) about the LDA trigger (which seems a bit safer for carry). I haven't even pulled the trigger on one but I know that I will like it since I like DA triggers in general. Also, up until now I've been a 9mm freak (even had 2 blasphemous 9mm 1911's ) but I'm thinking about making the jump to 45ACP (and reloading) and leaving my old friend behind.

My question is this. How many rounds through yours and how many problems? I've read nothing but glorious praise about Para's service so that's not a concern for me. Also, I've read all of the Para bashing (that seems to come more from people that dont own a Para) and I do not need to hear it again unless you have (or had) a LDA and you can provide specifics as to how long it took to break, what part broke, etc. I notice that some have had bad experience and others have been absolutely wonderful so I'm on the fence about it right now.

Also, does the LDA make anyone feel a little safer with it concealed? I've always been concerned about the cocked and locked carry and I thought this would be a perfect compromise for me to get the 1911 (my favorite platform hands down) with an extra "safety" feature. I've heard that the LDA can slow follow up shots, is this something that practice can fix? I know that Jarret can shoot fast but I'm talking about people that have day jobs that don't involve free guns, range time and ammo.

I haven't decided on a specific model just yet. I hoped they were offering a 6+1 with a 3.5" or 4" bbl which I did not see at first glance. I like to carry at 3 o clock IWB and the shorter grip helps that a lot but bbl length isn't as big of an issue. Oh well, I'm sure I can find one I like. That's not my concern right now.

Thanks a lot for your help and advice!

 

[fencer1960]

I've been carrying a C7/45, the Black Watch Companion, (6+1, 7+1 with CM SS mags, 3.5" bbl) for almost 2 years. I bought it because I wanted a 1911 platform but was nervous about cocked and locked carry.

1. I've got a couple thousand rounds through mine. The major problem I encountered was failure to feed. This was solved by replacing the Para factory mags with Chip McCormick Shooting Stars. The factory mags are widely believed to be crap.

2. The LDA system isn't unduly fragile, though the extra parts seem to bug some people.

3. Follow up shots may be a tad slower, but I don't think it will make any practical difference unless you get into a gun fight with Todd Jarrett.

4. Yes, LDA did calm my nerves about cocked and locked carry, so much so that I'm now looking for a single action 1911 to use as my daily carry piece.

So, that's my take on the Para LDA. Hope you find it useful.

 

[SIRVEYR666]

I have a LDA Hi-Cap 9 (9mm). It shoots like a dream. The trigger is super sweet. The only thing that I don't like about it, is the double reset of the trigger. You can't "ride the sear" like most DA guns. The reset requires a full trigger stroke.:banghead: This is not a problem for most, but it drives me crazy trying switch back and forth with my Glocks (in IDPA). I have to pick one or the other and shoot it for some time to get the feel for each one.

 

[johndoe1027]

fencer, that was exactly what I was looking for, thanks a million for taking the time to post that! You rock.

sirvey, thanks for the info about the reset, I was wondering about how it reacted. I plan on getting a LDA fullsize too if I make the jump so that I won't have to deal with the change from one style of trigger to another.