Para LDA experience
- Thread starter Wil J
- Start date
A friend recently bought a new Para LDA for shooting IDPA here locally. So far we have both been pretty underwhelmed with it. It's accurate and the LDA trigger is very smooth but poor functioning and broken parts seem to plague the gun.
For starters, it tends to stovepipe on ejection about 4 or 5 times out of a box of 50. We've tried two different extractors and three different magazines now with no improvement. It's just unreliable enough that you can't trust it in an IDPA match, and having a hi-cap .45 that wouldn't require a mag change was the whole point of the exercise.
During the first 200 rounds the mags started falling out of the grip. Eventually we found that the plastic mag release (plastic!?) was broken. A Brownell's stainless replacement was ordered and that problem got solved.
200 rounds later the barrel bushing cracked in two and launched the recoil spring and recoil plug down range. Never did find the recoil plug.
To their credit, Para-Ordnance did offer to replace the parts but only if the gun was shipped to an authorized repair facility. It was cheaper to buy the replacement parts from Brownell's than to pay for the shipping.
Needless to say, the gun is now on the block and my friend is looking at the new Springfield XD 45 as a possible replacement. The Para-Ordnance is a great design but they seem to be having some issues with either their parts suppliers, their metallurgy, or both. Plastic mag release, indeed!
-Zimms
For starters, it tends to stovepipe on ejection about 4 or 5 times out of a box of 50. We've tried two different extractors and three different magazines now with no improvement. It's just unreliable enough that you can't trust it in an IDPA match, and having a hi-cap .45 that wouldn't require a mag change was the whole point of the exercise.
During the first 200 rounds the mags started falling out of the grip. Eventually we found that the plastic mag release (plastic!?) was broken. A Brownell's stainless replacement was ordered and that problem got solved.
200 rounds later the barrel bushing cracked in two and launched the recoil spring and recoil plug down range. Never did find the recoil plug.
To their credit, Para-Ordnance did offer to replace the parts but only if the gun was shipped to an authorized repair facility. It was cheaper to buy the replacement parts from Brownell's than to pay for the shipping.
Needless to say, the gun is now on the block and my friend is looking at the new Springfield XD 45 as a possible replacement. The Para-Ordnance is a great design but they seem to be having some issues with either their parts suppliers, their metallurgy, or both. Plastic mag release, indeed!
-Zimms
Last edited:
Busta Capp
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Town of the Blue Mountains (ON)
Well, looks like I am the lone poster who actually really, really likes the Para LDA. I think it is a great gun for IPSC/IDPA. It has a great weighting, good sights (although F.O. would be prefered) and the trigger pull is really smooth and light for a double action.
I have had this firearm for about 6 months (1000+ rounds), and have had no failure to feeds or issues with quality of any kind.
That being said, I would agree with Musky Hunter, that both Bullseye and PPC are better suited to a single action. Is there a particular reason you are looking for this type of firearm?
I have had this firearm for about 6 months (1000+ rounds), and have had no failure to feeds or issues with quality of any kind.
That being said, I would agree with Musky Hunter, that both Bullseye and PPC are better suited to a single action. Is there a particular reason you are looking for this type of firearm?
I also really liked the gun. It was smooth and accurate. It just had too many problems. It was humorous to watch friend Harry try every way in the world to justify keeping it. It was the last straw though when the barrel bushing broke. Really took the wind out of his sails.
All the correct elements are in place with the Para Ordnance guns; they just need to get their execution right.
-Zimms
All the correct elements are in place with the Para Ordnance guns; they just need to get their execution right.
-Zimms
I have owned a Para LDA Ltd in 9MM for 4 -5 years, and maybe 5,000 rounds.
I replaced the plastic(!) mag release from the getgo and have only 'tuned' the
extractor once, and done a couple of spring replacements....
The thing is easy to shoot well, has been very reliable, and is the perfect unit
for my occaisional forays back into IPSC in Production.
It's one of the few 'keepers' in my constantly changing assortment...
I replaced the plastic(!) mag release from the getgo and have only 'tuned' the
extractor once, and done a couple of spring replacements....
The thing is easy to shoot well, has been very reliable, and is the perfect unit
for my occaisional forays back into IPSC in Production.
It's one of the few 'keepers' in my constantly changing assortment...
