Para Problems!

[The Goose]

So on Friday 1/26 I purchased a new Para Ordnance SSP 19911 full size. On Saturday I took it to the range and put 125 rds through it. It functioned flawlessly. It was really a great gun to shoot. It pointed very naturally, great trigger and neddless to say, way more accurate then me. When I got back home I field stripped it to clean it only to discover that the slide stop pin that goes through the barrel link was sheared in half. There was just barely enough to hold the barrel link in place. I have to think that this was not a particularly good thing.

On Monday I called Para and of course they are sending me out a new part. I have dealt with Para before and there customer service seems pretty good. Still, the whole experience is just kind of annoying. This is my third Para pistol and my third experience with a defective part within a day or two of purchase. I guess I am a glutton for punishment.

There is something just not equitable about the whole situation. I pay a LOT of money for a new pistol. There is a broken part. I get to wait for a new part. When the part finally arrives I now have what I paid for in the first place, a gun that shoots. No apology. No expidited shipping. No little gift to pretend that they care. No mention of the serious safety concern. It just does not sit right and the fact that they are 0 for 3 does not help matters.

The service representative said; " We will get this out to you as soon as possible. It will go out regular shipping. If not today then hopefully tommorrow". Oh well, I guess I get to vote with my feet.


2/6/07
So yesterday I received my new slide stop from Para. The first thing I noticed was that it was black and not stainless like the original. I figured screw it I can live with it and excitedly started to put my SSP together. No go. The slide stop pin would just not go all the way through. So I tried it on just the frame, still no go. I retrieved the broken stop and found that it fit flush. The angle of the new one will just not permit it to go in flush. So I figure it is either the wrong part or it is defective. I have emailed Para with photos and requested a call back today. We'll see what happens. Nothing so far.

 

[kentucky_smith]

Huh, the new one looks bent. Just bought a LTC in Regal on Saturday and am so far loving it after 100 rounds. Traded my 1991 Commander for it. Much better sights and MUCH more accurate than the Colt.

My dealer loves these things. He's had a field day or two with a Para representative and has been pushing these since he's personally had problems with Kimber and Springfield.

 

[HSMITH]

I don't know any way to say this nicely so bear with me and please try not to take offense. Para uses a bunch of cast parts and MIM parts. Parts made using these processes are usually really consistent and repeatable, and they cost a LOT less than parts made by other more involved processes. When you use cast or MIM parts there will be some that pass the inspection processes (that is another subject and could get REALLY long) that just plain and simple are not good parts. Those parts will break in short order, as your slide stop did. This doesn't mean that all cast or MIM parts are bad, only that there are some cast or MIM parts that pass all inspections applicable that are absolutely junk.

I would recommend that you continue to work with Para for the time being, call and get someone on the phone and be sure to explain EXACTLY what happened, what their response was, what you recieved, and what you expect. To hold them accountable they need to know what you expect to recieve, right?

If the next slide stop you recieve doesn't work let me/us know and me/we can talk you through getting this taken care of.

Don't fret much about how much you spent, there isn't much on the market that you could have bought that isn't using cast/MIM parts and subject to the same odds of failure as your new Para.

 

[The Goose]

Update. George Wedge from Para called me today. They are replacing my SSP with a new one. Mr. Wedge tells me that he personally guarantees it's proper functioning. Sounds good to me. I will keep you guys updated.

 

[Alan Fud]

I own 4 para's and I've been less than happy with their quality as well. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment as well.

 

[AnthonyRSS]

Well dang. Good to hear that they stand behind their products.

Anthony

 

[atblis]

Wow

Somethun don't look right!

Get that thing running and unload it on somebody else.

 

[Nosidda Zneas]

Just bought a SSP-SE1 and have put more than 500 rounds through it and have no probs i hope it's just one of "those cases"