What is your experience with the Kimber polymer or Para P14 handguns?

[WonderNine]

I'm sort of interested in Kimber's polymer models. 14+1 of .45ACP yahoo! Also interested in the Para P14's. Please share your experience with either gun. Are they too bulky/heavy for CCW? Is the Para an aluminum frame? Is the Kimber lighter? How is the trigger on either? Crisp or creepy?

 

[22/22mag]

Kimber

I have a Kimber Poly Pro Carry 14+1 the gun is a great ,shoots better then any other gun I have right to target.Nice size with a 4" barrel + 15 rounds great for whatever.I have 3 Kimbers and service with company has been very good.
One drawback for me with the dbl stack,I have small hands and am not able to hold onto gun that well when i try speed shooting.Don't have that problem with my Sig 220.45 but it dosen't shoot as well as the Kimber Pro Carry and only holds 8.The trigger seems fine . Haven't shot a Para yet,I have heard good things about them.Hope this helps.

 

[HSMITH]

I have had Para P guns for oooooohhhhhh 13 years or a little better now. Getting old, but that is another story.

I have had one of each of the Para's and a couple of some, including a 4 port comp "race gun" and an officers top end on a 14 round frame!. I even had them before they made whole guns, when you got a frame kit and you had to build it with your own parts.

I only have one right now, a P14. The P14 was available in steel or alloy or stainless as of about 2 years ago. I have not been following them lately so I don't know if the offerings have changed. The one I kept is an alloy frame, a pistol I originally built for IPSC Limited and carry back in '93 or '94. My logbook shows 24K rounds through it, a little over 20K has been 200gr SWC @950fps or so. Not big boomers but not powderpuffs either. I sent it off and had it hard chromed and some custom work at about 3500 rounds. The slide stop hole is less than .0005" out of round, and the frame exhibits no wear. It is tight and accurate as can be. It is dead reliable, as have been all my Para's that were bought as complete guns made by Para. The factory guns are also VERY accurate as a rule, better than all but Baers and Wilsons and the like IME. With reasonable treatment they run like a Glock and shoot like a tuned 1911.

I regret never buying/building a P13 sized gun in 38 Super, now THAT would be a carry gun!!

 

[Hot brass]

I carry a P14 Limited 45acp, with steel frame and slide, loaded with Hydra Shocks, 1 in the chamber and 14 in the mag. It has Houge rubber grips(one piece). This gun is as reliable as could be. I have shot HP, HB, and a couple Lead bullets. I bought this gun for carry. I am 6-1, 235#. The weight of the Para does not bother me. It rests in either a Milt Sparks VMII or in a Tommy`s fanny pack. Some times a guy has to tuck in the shirt or Tee shirt, and the fanny pack does not get a second look. I thought of only carrying my SA 1911A1 45acp, but at at the range I saw all the guys and gals reloading after 5,6, or 7 rounds sent down range. Some fumbling with trying to reload the spare mag. The thought of 15 rounds at my side is very comforting. The Para is a quality gun. I bet my life on mine.

 

[IRONFIST]

The above posts reflect my experiences as well with the P14-45. Mine is the "Limited" in stainless steel and it is a great firearm. I would buy another in a minute and have recommended a Para to other folks I like. It does have a slightly thicker grip, but it fits my hands well. I hope you get one... it believe it will do you well.


Michael

 

[WonderNine]

Well I think I've decided I like the Para more than the Kimber polymer. I don't like the trigger guard on the Kimber nor do I like the beavertail or skeletonized hammer. Seems like with the older stainless Para's you can get them with a standard USGI style grip safety. How do you know if the frame is aluminum or steel? Are their markings to look for? Para mentioned on their website that they slimmed up the grips. That sounds great, but how do I know if the USGI grip safety style "older Para's" have the slimmer magwell? Or do they mean that they just put on slimmer grips and that's all?

 

[Hot brass]

Wondernine

My P 14 came with the slim grips. The "Limited" has adj rear sight, beaver tail grip safety, ambi thumb safety, skeletonized hammer, guide rod, etc, etc. It also has the 14 rnd mag, it is as they call it a wide body. I would ask my dealer if the gun was steel or not. You should be able to just pick the gun up and tell by the weight. Good Luck my friend.

 

[Correia]

I have one of the older Kimbers that uses the BUL frame. Excellent gun.

 

[Smoke]

I like Kimbers but have no experience with the polymer guns.

I love Para's. I currently have two P14 Limiteds and one P13.

I had a fullsize LDA when they first came out. Sold it to by my first SA P14.
Now I want one of the Tac 4 or Para Carry, or Companions.

I have heard a lot of Para bashing on this board (this thread exempted) but all that goes against my experience with them. Do replace the mag catch though.

 

[12-34hom]

Para

I also have a Para P-14ltd.

Used as a duty weapon and CCW.

Excellent overall weapon package. = Accurate & reliable.

12-34hom.

 

[Sean Smith]

The P14-45 I had was the worst gun I've ever owned. Incurable jam-o-matic made of rough junk castings. Avoid.

 

[mattjoe]

The P14 limited I've bought has no problems, only problems it ever had was when i tightened the extractor way too much, then it wouldnt feed the rounds in, but that was my fault.
Other than that, it's been entirely reliable.
As have the other 6 I encouranged my friends to all buy.
I'd use it in USPSA Limited division, but I can't tear myself away from my Open Para 38 super for even one match.
Jamming has never been a problem with correctly loaded rounds.
And as mentioned by earlier posts, yes, replace the mag catch, I replaced the mag catch right away. Gotta get a metal one. Something like 20 bucks from dawson Precision.
Mine also no longer has the factory barrel in it, not for any particular reason other than, i have barrels I've won at Major matches through the years, and felt like actually using one.
Got a nice caspian slide and a bull barrel schuemann barrel sitting around that should find a home on an SVI frame. Then the para 45 will collect dust. But till then, it'll keep shooting at non uspsa action pistol matches, because that's what it does.
It just keeps on shooting.
With arredondo base pads, you've got 18 rounds of 45. NOT TO SHABBY!


Alloy frames you can tell the difference because they are much lighter.