Thoughts on the ParaOrd Warthawg?

[PlayboyPenguin]

I am completely taken with this stainless .45acp Para ordnance Warthawg at my local gun dealer. I already have a full size kimber 1911 in .45acp but I am just in love with this little pistol and have been since I saw it on the cover of a magazine a few months back.

Anyone have any opinions on this item and if it is worth the money?

 

[real_name]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=168670&highlight=warthawg

I own a Para Ordnance Tac-Four which has given me enough problems so I can say without hesitation that I won't be buying another Para gun of any description.
Nice guns, but you will find satisfied and dissatisfied owners in comparably equal amounts.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I wanted one of the stainless Wart Hawgs in the worst way. When they finally made the Massachusetts "list" (don't ask), one of the guys I shoot with bought one and I tried it out. I didn't like the way it felt, I couldn't hit anything with it, and it had some pretty bad reliability problems (mostly FTF's). It is small however.

Needless to say, I passed.

 

[hso]

Make sure that it fits you before anything else. Remember if it don't fit you won't get hits.

The wide body can cause shooters who fit 1911s to not fit Paras (or STIs or Bull or Kimber or...) and shooters that won't fit 1911s won't fit a Para regardless of how kewl it looks.

It fits when the grip angle matches the natural angle between your forearm and a stick in your hand and when the barrel aligns with your forearm all though the trigger pull. If the barrel doesn't parallel your forearm in both the horizontal and verticle plane when your wrist is at it's natural position then you'll have more torquing forces at work than when everything aligns.

 

[torpid]

I was very interested in getting one a while back, but the constant reports of unreliability I was reading about spooked me. There have since opened up more compact 10+1 .45 ACP options since, so I ended up choosing a similarly niched pistol that's been really dependable.

But the Warthog still looks great and just as alluring as ever, so I understand your focusing on it!

.

 

[tegemu]

Too fat and too short a grip for comfortable shooting and concealment.

 

[boing]

I've shot one, and it was surprisingly comfortable to shoot. Low recoil, fast follow-ups, and no trouble with the grip. But reliability was lousy. Before long the frame cracked in three places and the dust cover fell off.

 

[mwpslp]

I had a hawg 9 and the grip was fine for me. My wife on the other hand had a bit of a hard time with it being so wide. I sold the gun to a member here, Walt Sherrill and his only issue with it as I recall was that it favored a hot round in order to cycle correctly.

 

[UncleBob]

Have one on our rental range. Difficult to shoot. Not very comfortable. Unreliable. No thanks.

 

[orionengnr]

I liked the looks of it, but stuck one in my pocket.

Unloaded, size was borderline too big and weight was excessive.
Add 11 round of 45 acp, and I hope you have a belt. And suspenders.

If I am going to pocket carry a 45, it will be my 17.5 oz Kahr P45.

If IWB, my 24 oz Kimber Ultra Carry.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Thanks for all the input. I think you have successfully scared me off this pistol and for that my pocket book thanks you. Just too many claims from reputable people that the reliability is not good.

 

[GunNut]

When Para's first started to appear, I really thought that I needed to have one. Well, I have as of yet ever owned one of the hi-cap guns because of internet lore.

I did one a LDA compact gun for a few days, but I was not impressed by the finish of the gun and sold it before I ever shot it.

You'll probably be happy that you passed on the warthog. Get yourself a Glock 30 or 36 if you want a compact .45acp .

You should have picked up one of those cheap 11-87 Police shotguns yesterday at the gunbroker.....I did

Steve

 

[MICHAEL T]

I had the P-10 pre Warthog (steel frame) was a great single shot pistol with additional rounds stored in grip. Sort of a small surival rifle. Never more

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

You should have picked up one of those cheap 11-87 Police shotguns yesterday at the gunbroker.....I did

I blew all my money on a .44mag Blackhawk and a .380 NAA Gaurdian. Then I went back today and bought a S&W 637 .38spl+P Airweight.

Say hello if you see me there again.