Para 45 GI Expert?
- Thread starter msarazin
- Start date
All Paras have cast frames and slides (which have a tendency to peen and crack). If you want a GI-style 1911, get a Springfield or Colt.
P.S. who puts a three-hole trigger and skeletonized hammer on a gun that has "GI" in its name?
- Location
- Off the "X"
I think that thing is beautiful! For the price, I'd definitely get it, but I've already got a para .45. Good price for a para, good gun.
- Location
- Southeastern Michigan
capp325, how many Para frames have you seen crack? Are There more Paras with cracked frames than cracked frames on Colt Lightweight Commanders?
darko, you say: "Para is garbage." How many Paras have you owned and what makes them garbage? Take a look at my two Paras, that have never missed a beat, should I put them in the hopper?
Regards,
Richard
Para 14:
Para 12 LDA:
darko, you say: "Para is garbage." How many Paras have you owned and what makes them garbage? Take a look at my two Paras, that have never missed a beat, should I put them in the hopper?
Regards,
Richard
Para 14:
Para 12 LDA:
- Location
- Southeastern Michigan
and
These are both opinions without giving any information; I do not like Taurus and I plainly say it is because they have no customer service. Regards, Richard
Everybody is entitled to an opinion aren't they?
Anyhow I handled / shot few paras and they ware malfunctions after malfunctions small sample size of 3 but that is my opinion on Para Ordinance.
I also like Norinco 1911's
Anyhow I handled / shot few paras and they ware malfunctions after malfunctions small sample size of 3 but that is my opinion on Para Ordinance.
I also like Norinco 1911's
FWIW, I have/had a Para SSP. All in all, my Para SSP has been accurate and reliable. I was very disappointed with their 'customer service'. The gun shot low out of the box and I was told that Para didn't send out pistols that shot low. Perhaps they didn't read the Guns and Ammo review that complained of the same issue. Anyhow, aftermarket rear sights solved that problem. Next was the slide peening issue which Para kept insisting is 'normal'. They offered to 'dress' the slide but not replace it because the pistol is functional. They'll replace it when/if it ever malfunctions. Lots of complaints about the slide peening issue on the 'net but they have never corrected the issue. The only acknowledgement they'll give is that it is 'normal'. Yeah....normal for a Para. Okay, I guess I shouldn't beef too much because the gun is reliable and accurate. I will say that, IMHO, there are better 1911's out there than a Para for the same or less money. You pays your money, you makes your choice. My future choices definitely will not include a Para Ordnance product....YMMV.
I have a Para $1200+ gun accurate but has never worked right from day one.I have done the Para service or should i say Para service merry go round.As for Norinco i have two might not be pretty but they work like a clock right out of the box and they cost far less than what i paid for the Para.
Shelldrake
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Right behind you,,
So what is your point?,, that all-steel pistols are inherently more durable than the alloy?,, that cast is more durable than forged?, that Norinco's never have problems?
Even GLOCKs crack up.
Shelldrake
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Right behind you,,
As for peening,, this is from the GLOCK FAQ. So, Para isn't the only one to state that peening to some degree is normal, and if it ain't broke, then don't fix it.
http://www.glockfaq.com/maintenance.htm
What are the shiny wear marks/divots on the bottom of my slide?
Those wear marks are called "slide peening". They occur when the top of the locking block contacts the bottom of the slide when firing. Slide peening occurs primarily and most noticeably on .40 caliber models. It is perfectly normal and it will wear to a certain amount and then stop. These wear marks will not have any effect on the gun's reliability or accuracy. If the edges are too sharp you can smooth them out with a file or stone
http://www.glockfaq.com/maintenance.htm
What are the shiny wear marks/divots on the bottom of my slide?
Those wear marks are called "slide peening". They occur when the top of the locking block contacts the bottom of the slide when firing. Slide peening occurs primarily and most noticeably on .40 caliber models. It is perfectly normal and it will wear to a certain amount and then stop. These wear marks will not have any effect on the gun's reliability or accuracy. If the edges are too sharp you can smooth them out with a file or stone
Shelldrake
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Right behind you,,
Whatever. Nobody seems to pooh pooh Caspian?,, or Dan Wesson. Even Ruger has cast frames, and I don't think anyone can say their frames aren't durable.
This is the 21st century, and casting has come a long way from the old days. I have even heard that current Brownig HPs have cast frames.
Thankfully I haven't owned a single one! I have had direct and extensive experience with 3 Paras though, 2 LTC commanders and one SSP. The finish on all 3 guns was literally peeling and cracking off, the slide/frame fit was absolute garbage (not smooth at all), and the triggers were stiff and choppy. Factory magazines were garbage as well, both LTCs required me to actually yank on the mags with some force to get them out.
They just didn't look and function like quality 1911s should. Compared to my old STI Ranger and Dan Wesson CBOB the Paras were like Norincos.
So yes, Im of the opinion that Para is complete garbage. Perhaps you got lucky, or the models you own were better built... but when my experience with 3 separate Paras is that all of them suffered from the same issues, I sure as hell wouldn't spend my money on one.
Yes, peening to some degree is normal. I have a G17 that's seen over twice the rounds through it as my Para SSP had and the peening on the G17 is almost non-existent when compared to the peening on the SSP's slide. It must be due to the fact that the SSP is a 'big bore' round.
Also, why doesn't my Colt exhibit such peening after seeing close 10,000 rounds? I know 'normal' when I see it and now I know "Para-normal".......
I believe the peening on the Para relates to the slide stop. When the gun cycles the tip on the slide stop is pushed up by the following round causing the slide stop to push up slightly against the slide and the slide stop notch. You can see wear on the bluing of the underside of the slide just before teh notch on my SSP. I am going to do some filing on the slide stop and see if I can get this issue resolved on my gun before it gets worse.
All that said the gun is dead nuts accurate and reliable. My sons P 14 Stainless LTD shows no such peeing. Seems to be a problem with the Single Stack guns and in particular the ful size .45acp's.
Take Care
Bob
All that said the gun is dead nuts accurate and reliable. My sons P 14 Stainless LTD shows no such peeing. Seems to be a problem with the Single Stack guns and in particular the ful size .45acp's.
Take Care
Bob
Castings are more porous than forgings, which makes them weaker and more likely to crack or peen. Cast frames are usually fine, as a typical pistol frame is not a heavily stressed component, and most people never shoot enough rounds through a single pistol to take advantage of the forged frame's longer service life. Many companies, including reputable ones like FN/Browning and STI, use cast frames.
Cast slides, on the other hand, are a totally different issue. Virtually no one other than Para makes guns with cast slides - and for good reason. Slides are subject to much greater stress than frames and are therefor more likely to crack or peen. In other words, you are comparing apples to oranges when you suggest that there is nothing wrong with Para's cast slides because no one seems to "pooh pooh" Browning/Dan Wesson/Caspian cast frames.
"Cast slides, on the other hand, are a totally different issue. Virtually no one other than Para makes guns with cast slides - and for good reason"
Yes, aside from FN with their Hi-Power. Spartan and a few others. FYI, FN went to casting because their forgings weren't strong enough on the Hi-Power when they chambered the gun in .40cal.
You might do a little more investigating before chirping out your "expertise" on casting. Then of course there are the Rugers which are totaly cast. When was the last time you heard of a Ruger Blackhawk coming apart at the seams. Do you really think a 1911 slide is subject to any more focres than a .44mag frame?
Take Care
Bob
Yes, aside from FN with their Hi-Power. Spartan and a few others. FYI, FN went to casting because their forgings weren't strong enough on the Hi-Power when they chambered the gun in .40cal.
You might do a little more investigating before chirping out your "expertise" on casting. Then of course there are the Rugers which are totaly cast. When was the last time you heard of a Ruger Blackhawk coming apart at the seams. Do you really think a 1911 slide is subject to any more focres than a .44mag frame?
Take Care
Bob
