CanadianSoldner
New member
- Location
- QC/Eastern Townships
I have my eyes on one, just wanted to know if it was a good 1911 to acquire for my first 1911 buy.?
Para ordnance gi expert
- Thread starter CanadianSoldner
- Start date
I like mine, but if I were to buy again, I'd go for something else. It was my first 1911. The price makes it attractive, but if I were to turn back time, I'd get an armco tuned up nork for roughly the same price (maybe a little less).
Frankly, no. I currently own and have owned a number of Para pistols, including the GI Expert. Para makes a good gun but not a very good gun IMHO.
I experienced a number of problems with FTFs, FTEs and early wear problems with their guns, and while I would like to support a "former" Canadian-based gun manufacturer who subsequently fled south where the bigger market lies, I can't truly recommend their pistols to you. More importantly, their warranty service is horrible.
Learn from us old timers who have gone through the mill with buying and selling all manner of firearms over the years. Put your hard earned money into a good quality first-time 1911 pistol in .45 ACP calibre (if that is what you want) and buy a STI Spartan or Trojan. Kimber, Colt and Sig are other options.
This board seems to have quite a few negative comments about the Para's (I don't own one so I can't vouch)
I bought a Sig Sauer 1911 through Questar and it's operated flawlessly (and it's pretty
)
If it's a gun you are going to own for a long time I would recommend spending a little more for something quality. .45 ammo is going to be your real expense over the long hall.
just my $0.02
I bought a Sig Sauer 1911 through Questar and it's operated flawlessly (and it's pretty
)If it's a gun you are going to own for a long time I would recommend spending a little more for something quality. .45 ammo is going to be your real expense over the long hall.
just my $0.02
- Location
- Lower Mainland BC
better buy a 1911 made by:
Kimber, STI Trojan, Colt on a 1000-1200 budget
or
SA GI, RIA, Remington R1, STI Spartan, Regent R100 on 600-900 budget
anyway try first at yr local dealer and see/feel the gun before you buy !
wish you a safe shooting!
Kimber, STI Trojan, Colt on a 1000-1200 budget
or
SA GI, RIA, Remington R1, STI Spartan, Regent R100 on 600-900 budget
anyway try first at yr local dealer and see/feel the gun before you buy !
wish you a safe shooting!
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
I don't think there is too many good reviews of Para these days. My main issue is the finish on these guns. I have seen several with chips out of them, and once it starts it only gets worse. For the money they seem like a decent gun but there are better options.
For a little more money I would seriously look at the STI Spartan. Freedom Ventures sells them for a very good price!
For the money though you can't beat the RIA that Kodiak Outpost has been selling!
They get some good reviews all arounds and the prices are fantastic! Even FREE SHIPPING right now!
I am just waiting for the 9mm Tactical version to come in and I am buying.
For a little more money I would seriously look at the STI Spartan. Freedom Ventures sells them for a very good price!
For the money though you can't beat the RIA that Kodiak Outpost has been selling!
They get some good reviews all arounds and the prices are fantastic! Even FREE SHIPPING right now!
I am just waiting for the 9mm Tactical version to come in and I am buying.
I agree with these sentiments. RIA makes a good quality 1911 for the price but you should also check out the Iver Johnson 1911's sold by Lever Arms in Vancouver. They're consistently rated as excellent quality for the price, and are manufactured to the US company's specs in the Philippines by Sporting Arms Manufacturing. Here's a very good review on the Iver Johnson Trojan 1911 .45 ACP model:
http://ezine.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=30
I agree with these sentiments. RIA makes a good quality 1911 for the price but you should also check out the Iver Johnson 1911's sold by Lever Arms in Vancouver. They're consistently rated as excellent quality for the price, and are manufactured to the US company's specs in the Philippines by Sporting Arms Manufacturing. Here's a very good review on the Iver Johnson Trojan 1911 .45 ACP model:
http://ezine.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=30
Heres some pictures of the factory where they are made
http://lilomag.com/2010/09/28/filipino-gun-factory-vs-usa-gun-factory/
Ive never fired one. But my buddy sent his back to the factory twice and got so mad he traded it in on a spartan. Just sayin. Ive been tempted to buy one because they look damn good for the money, but I just can't because my own buddy got a dud. Mind you he got them RIGHT when they first came out so he must of had an early production model.
Dexter Morgan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I like the look (and price) of the Taurus 1911.
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_3_195&products_id=656
http://www.theammosource.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_3_195&products_id=656
Taurus makes a good quality 1911 pistol. I've owned a number of them and I'm eagerly awaiting the 1911 AR SS .38 Super model I bought from a dealer in the US last March. It's taken this long to get it imported through Prophet River Firearms in AB.
CanadianSoldner
New member
- Location
- QC/Eastern Townships
I had the chance to feel it, and I liked the way it handled. Yes it was chipped on the slide release button. The seller says it condition is 95% good, and it is 740$ CDN. there is also a springfield armory 1911 A1 for the same price, but what drew me to the para is the ''Made in Canada»'' underneath it I put a cash down on it, so I have a month to look up peoples feel of it...
I put a cash down on it, so I have a month to look up peoples feel of it...
I had the chance to feel it, and I liked the way it handled. Yes it was chipped on the slide release button. The seller says it condition is 95% good, and it is 740$ CDN. there is also a springfield armory 1911 A1 for the same price, but what drew me to the para is the ''Made in Canada»'' underneath it
Good on you for not buying chinese
Good on you for not buying chinese
What? Norinco (Chinese) makes some of the best base-guns on the 1911 platform. Not buying something simply because of where it was made, eventhough the product has great quality, is just ignorant. If you go by that mindset then you will have a hell of a time finding anything that's NOT made outside of Canada.
Also, if you're refering to Springfield Armory, most of their 1911s are assembled in Brazil or the US, not China.
oh, and the Phillipines is not part of China, therefore not "Chinese made".
1, Not buying something simply because of where it was made, eventhough the product has great quality, is just ignorant.
2, If you go by that mindset then you will have a hell of a time finding anything that's NOT made outside of Canada.
3, Also, if you're refering to Springfield Armory, most of their 1911s are assembled in Brazil or the US, not China.
1 Not supporting your countries economey every chance you get is moronic look how many Canadians are out of work why f*ck over more by buying chinese while Canadian made options are all around you. Im guessing you work in an office or possibly at wal-mart
.2 Since I started caring about COO I cant believe how many things we still manufacture here in Canada and in the US. The products are out there you just have to care enough to look for them. The quality is better and your keeping Canadians working (you are a Canadian right?)
3. Since when was this about springfield????
1 Not supporting your countries economey every chance you get is moronic look how many Canadians are out of work why f*ck over more by buying chinese while Canadian made options are all around you. Im guessing you work in an office or possibly at wal-mart
2 Since I started caring about COO I cant believe how many things we still manufacture here in Canada and in the US. The products are out there you just have to care enough to look for them. The quality is better and your keeping Canadians working (you are a Canadian right?)
3. Since when was this about springfield????
1. Because most of these Para-made 1911s have a bad reputation for poor quality and reliability when compared to other 1911s made by the Chinese, the Americans, and whoever else makes them? Blindly buying something for patriotic reasons is well, blindly patriotic. I work in an office, yes, and your point is?
How else do you think a company will improve their products? That's right, when people stop buying them.2. I buy Canadian whenever I can, but in this case, knowing that Para has poor reputation and reliability, why would I still buy it when I already know that I'll end up with a product that I will not be happy with? Also, nice try with that "you are Canadian, right?" quip. It's too easy for someone to pull that card out in an attempt to devalue someone else's opinion. But hey, I am Canadian, does that make my opinion more credible now?
3. It's about SA because the OP said that he passed on a SA 1911 due to its origin of manufature (not made in Canada), to which you replied with "good on you for not buying Chinese". Simple reading comprehension, no? If you were referring to the RIA or Iver Johnson 1911s that someone else recommended on page 1, to which you also provided a link (the source of the link is questionable too - an entertainment website? very credible!
) that's supposed to show that all Philippines-made firearms are made by lowly skilled workers in huts, then yes, you got the country wrong, and I corrected you on that (Philippines != China ) Look, I don't want to get warning points from the mods because I can see where this is going, and it ain't a good place. PM me if you want to continue with this conversation. You seem to have an agenda in bad mouthing anything that's not made in Canada - a simple search of your previous posts had 6 out of 10 of them bashing Chinese-made products... bias much?
To the OP - if you are not 100% tied down on that Para 1911 and can still back out of the deal, you should probably check out the STI Spartan (~$800) or Springfield 1911 GI (~$850). Both cost a little more but have way, way better owner feedback and general reviews. I agree with what others have said - invest a little more now to get a better gun because at the end of the day, when ammo cost for .45 rounds are factored in, the price difference of $50~150 will seem insignificant.
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