Para P14-45: Comments

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I have been readin' the threads. In particular, I have been considering the multiple-guns-of-the-same-make argument. I have many different handguns, but no two are the same. I will start expanding the inventory with my main carry piece, which is currently the P14-45.

I have a stainless P14-45 limited. I have great confidence in it. It is my go-to gun. I have read here that some do not like Para quality. Others argue that the double stack magazine is problematic.

What general and specific complaints do you have? Good or bad experiences? Praise and encouragement?

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Image

 

[Gordon]

I have a P 13 & a P 14 , I carried the P 13 for about 5 years and got the P14 because it was cheap and I have quite a few P14 mags I stuff in the P 13. The P13 has fired 1500roundsn without many bobbles and is very accurate. The P14 hangs up once in a while on hollowpoints and is not quite as accurate(4" at 25yds with good ammo) . I carry a custom Colt Officer's model now and "go to" with a custom Gold Cup 'best grade'.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Gordon,

Was your P13 and/or P14 a limited? Does the limited offer better performance?

 

[Gordon]

Nope they are old early 90's guns, and alloy framed. Thats why I wanted the P series guns,; lightweight and hi volume firepower. My P-13 has had sights changed to Novaks and long trigger and Wolfe springs and reliability package by a good 1911 man. the P-14 is bone stock except I put in a long trigger, which I am used to, I wanted a 'retro looking ' 1911! If you pull the slide back from the front, and don,t want to add your own sights and trigger and hammer I think the all steel limited is a good deal!

 

[12-34hom]

Para P-14ltd.

I have and carry a P-14ltd while on duty.

100% reliable and very accurate to boot.

Modifications i have made, Novack night sites [fixed] 24 lb recoil spring, Houge "wrap around" grips. I also had this gun re-blued awhile back.

With the three hi-cap mags it is an all around excellent combat pistol.

12-34hom.

 

[critter]

l have a P-14 .45 and a P-16 .40. They are both 100% in function and quite accurate. I also recently purchased and Ed Brown .357 Sig barrel for the P-16 and fitted it. Also 100% and SUPER accurater! No problems ever with either one!

I have several mags (hi caps and others) and only ONE has ever given trouble due to a weak mag spring.

Good guns.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Thanks all.

 

[HSMITH]

My alloy P14 was an early "complete" gun. I bought it right after they started making complete guns, prior to that they made "gunsmith kits" that were basically a frame. I had several kit guns also.

My alloy P14 has just over 22K rounds through it, with 3 original hi-caps as the only magazines I have ever had. The ejector is a little loose and should be tightened up, and the rear sight is a little loose in the dovetail. Other than that, all is very well. I had it worked over by Bob Cogan at about 1500 rounds, I wanted to make sure it was a "good one" before sending it and it was to be completely hard chromed so I might as well do the whole banana. I had a "carry" type action job on it with 100% focus on reliability, which was also legal for IPSC limited at the time, and chroming. It looks much like the stainless limited that Para makes now.


It is VERY accurate, will eat any ammo you have, and is dead solid reliable. My only regret is that I did not have the Bomar milled into the slide and a dovetailed front sight installed. All these years and rounds downrange with sights I don't like...........

I am sure Para has made a few turkeys, but to question the quality of their guns as a brand is ludicrous. You will look long and hard for better accuracy and reliability for the same money.

 

[Sean Smith]

Owned one. Didn't work. Never did get it to work. Para blamed it on the ammo... only tried 6 major brands of ball ammo.

So aside from the unreliability, inaccuracy (when it WOULD shoot), poor fit and finish, and cheap materials used to make it, I'd consider it a fine weapon.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

So, I take it the "Smith" vote is split.

 

[Drakejake]

I am a recent purchaser of an unused stainless P14-45 made in the 1990's. I have only fired four or five mags through it. It is accurate, has a good trigger, that is not too light to be safe, has been totally reliable. The finish is very good and I love having 14 round mags. I am very happy with it so far.

Drakejake

 

[marvl]

I've got a P13.45 Ltd, very nice gun. The one thing I *would* change are the springs in any factory hi-cap mag you have. Every hi-cap I've ever owned had really weak springs, but this is easily remedied by replacement with Wolff springs.

One other weak point on the factory gun, IMO, is the cheap barrel bushing. Have a NM bushing fitted.

These 2 simple changes should give you a reliable, accurate gun. But if you want to really go hog wild, sent it to Bob Hunter of Hunter Customs: www.huntercustoms.com . He specializes in Paras and shoots them in competition. He does excellent work. I had him do the whole 9 yards on my P13:

 

[HankB]

Para Ordnance earned a reputation for spotty quality. Back when they were relatively "new" on the market, you could go into a gunshop, handle a few, and EASILY tell which ones were tight and which ones were loose.

Basically, they had little control over quality, so some worked and others didn't (Kinda like Colt. )

By all accounts, Para has made drastic improvements in quality over the last couple of years.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I have a circa 1998 model limited. No malfs, seems very tight. No issues. Eats anything. the crappy 10 rounder it came with has spring wear (cause it is packed) and the 14 rounders I ordered from Para have done fine.

So, I was probably lucky. Conventional thinking is that they are good now? I am looking to expand the inventory.

 

[355sigfan]

I had a P14 lmt and it shot fine. I only sold it because I prefer the feel of a single stack and a single stack is easier to conceal. I have heard that the long term durability of the internal parts are suspect. I only put about a 1000 rounds though mine so I can say anything pro or con in that area. No malfunctions though.
Pat

 

[Smoke]

I have two P14's Limiteds and 1 P13 (not Limited)
I had a P14 LDA. (Decided DAO wasn't for me)

All mine were new with the exception of the second P14.
All are stainless with the exception of the second P14 (....hmmmmm......)

Replaced the mag catch on all of them after I had a failure on the first P14.

Never had any other failure.

I love my Para's. Just get rid of the stupid plasstic mag catch!

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Smoke,

I am listening. What mag catch did you find?

Oddly enough, it seems my mags kinda/sorta come loose when set it down from the holster .

I thought it was just me, or I bumped the release,....ok, so I am in denial

Edited to say that I found the mag catch at Brownell's, and it will be here shortly.

Thanks

 

[Smoke]

Para sells a metal mag catch in their Pro SHop. They just don't put it on their production guns....