Para ordinance stoppage

Matt_S

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I just purchased a para 40 cal,when tried it out for the very first time i encountered a lot of stoppages,it seems like it's hard feeding rounds into the barrel.Does anyone have some experience with this problem?

Thanks.
 
I had a P14-45 that NEVER malfunctioned. I used 200gr lead semi wadcutters.

In your case I'd first look at the ammunition first.

TJ
 
prproulx said:
Is it new? I had a Colt Gold Cup that wouldn't feed well and a stiffer recoil spring seemed to solve the problem.
It could also be a mag problem. Where does the round get held up?

It's getting held up on the barrel ramp,if you give a little push on the back of the slide it seems to go in it should however feed on it's own.
It could concievably be a mag problem since it's seems more prone to this problem with a full mag.
 
I can answer this one

ITS A PARA,sorry couldnt help myself. First factory or handloads?, para are very fussy on OAL of ammo but tend to run fine with factory 180gr,,,,except hollowpoints. Clip one coil off bottom of mag spring, the problem with the full mag missfeed i havent seen in a couple of years, or since i refused to work on paras.Some older production paras also have feed ramp issues. Having said this i really suspect your ammo,.,,,,,,,,oh ya and its a para

Kelly


A gun is only a good deal if it runs!
 
Para Ordanance generaly maintains much tighter dimensional tolerences than other manufacturers, and this can produce specific problems, such as, when I got my new Para 13-45 it would NOT chamber (slide would not lock in to battery) my reloads that would chamber in all my other .45 ACP autos. I had to seat the bullets .07 inch deeper in order to clear the tight throat in the Para barrel, then no further problems.

If you are getting feeding failures on the feed ramp, that is another issue, and possably magazine related. Also check that cartridge cases slide up the face of the breach and freely into the extractor claw, as this is how the feed process works, the extractor does not snap over the case rim during chambering.
 
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Matt_S said:
It's getting held up on the barrel ramp,if you give a little push on the back of the slide it seems to go in it should however feed on it's own.
It could concievably be a mag problem since it's seems more prone to this problem with a full mag.

I had the same problem with both reloads and factory ammo; it stopped just a hair short of going into battery. Looking at the ramp and breech end I remember thinking that it didn't look dirty but, given the tight tolerances that Para uses, it doesn't take much. I gave mine a good cleaning and it functioned fine with the same ammo. I hope your stoppage is as simple as mine was. Hope this helps.
 
"It's getting held up on the barrel ramp,if you give a little push on the back of the slide it seems to go in it should however feed on it's own."

If all you need is a little push, I'm still thinking a stiffer spring. For a function test dummy rounds aren't always best. I have .223 snap caps that won't cycle in my ar but real cartridges do.
 
prproulx said:
"It's getting held up on the barrel ramp,if you give a little push on the back of the slide it seems to go in it should however feed on it's own."

If all you need is a little push, I'm still thinking a stiffer spring. For a function test dummy rounds aren't always best. I have .223 snap caps that won't cycle in my ar but real cartridges do.

Where is a good source for aftermarket equipment IE:Stiffer spring,and better mags?
 
Matt_S said:
It's getting held up on the barrel ramp,if you give a little push on the back of the slide it seems to go in it should however feed on it's own.
It could concievably be a mag problem since it's seems more prone to this problem with a full mag.

I had a Para 16-40 and had the same issue, bullets getting hung up on the feed ramp.

Simple problem - rounds (especially lead) were digging into the machining marks on the feed ramp. Problem was worst with lead handloads and especially bad with tuncated cone bullet profiles. They are not very big but they do make a BIG difference to feeding reliability.

Simple solution - take the gun apart and polish out those marks with a dremel - careful to get a small diameter abrasive so not to touch any other parts of the barrel hood etc. I started with a 400 grit and worked through to the 6 micron lapping paste (jewelers rouge). Start with the 400 grit and you might ahve to work a bit to get the marks out but you will not change anything dimensionally with the feed ramp.

You end up with a mirror finish and no more failures to feed.

The central portion of the ramp is where the bullet nose touches so don't worry if some small marks are left on the sides of the feed ramp.

I'd try this before mucking about with the mags.

FYI - if you want more mags try ProMag, all steel 10 rounders. You can get them through Brownells much cheaper than original para mags. E-mail brownells and ask then to special order you the mags and they'll do just that.
 
Simple problem - rounds (especially lead) were digging into the machining marks on the feed ramp. Problem was worst with lead handloads and especially bad with tuncated cone bullet profiles. They are not very big but they do make a BIG difference to feeding reliability.

I did notice an inconsistant finish around the center of the feed ramp that looked suspect.i will try this first and see if it helps.

thanks
 
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