Which Para to shoot in IPSC?

KiwiMatt

KiwiMatt

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I'm looking to take my black badge course later this month and I would like to buy a Para for my IPSC gun. I was wondering what Paras people are using for IPSC. I'm thinking of using the S16-40 Limited. Does anyone have any experience shooting one of these in IPSC? Pros, cons?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Matt
 
My brother used to shoot one in IPSC...I can't remember which model it was tho!

Good on you for going with a Canadian gun!!
 
KiwiMatt said:
I'm looking to take my black badge course later this month and I would like to buy a Para for my IPSC gun. I was wondering what Paras people are using for IPSC. I'm thinking of using the S16-40 Limited. Does anyone have any experience shooting one of these in IPSC? Pros, cons?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Matt
Click to expand...

Matt,

I shoot an older modified P14-45 limited. If you're definately got your mind set on a Para I would definately go with a .40 cal rather than .45

There are occasionally some pretty good deals on the exchange forum for a used P16-40, sometimes with all the mods done (fiber optic front sight, magwell, etc). You may also want one of the older used Para's without the Para Power Extractor. I don't have personal experience but I know some people have had problems with it.

Good Luck and enjoy the Balck Badge Course.

- Andrew
 
I started with a P16 40 LTD (not sure what the S series is but I assume it's the same model with a new name)

That was in 2000...and it was a no brainer back then. The 2011's (STI / SVI) were just way too expensive and the Para's were a pretty good price (about $1150 plus tax) The S_I's were well over twice the price (about $2900)

These days...the para's are $1500 plus...and the STI's are about $2250.

There's nothing wrong with Para's...but you will eventually want to get some work done to it (which brings it closer to the price of the S_I's):

With the S_I's, you pay more upfront but they require less initial tuning...and the mags are better. They are also much more ergonomic...

You're choice...

If it we're me (and I had to sell my 2011's) I'd be looking at (depending on your budget)

(1) Tanfoglio vs a Para...or
(2) STI (with a few mods) vs an out of the box SVI

On the upside...you can get some great deals in the Equipment exchange on P16 40's...
 
Consider one of the LTD ( adjustable sights) in 9MM ( cheap to 'feed' and way easier to shoot well than 40 S&W), and with the LDA (double action) trigger.
Shooting an all steel gun in 9MM, in Production, will give you a less expensive,
easier to shoot well 'intro', to IPSC...
You can always 'upgrade' to a different firearm/class once you've had a chance to get your feet wet.....
I have been shooting in IPSC for years, and have settled on Production class, using (not hard to guess!) a stainless LDA LTD in 9MM...
Relatively cheap buy in, 'inexpensive' ammo, light recoil and more accurate than I am....What's not to like!?
 
Looks like a game gun from the Pictures. A couple of folks shoot them at our matches and are quite happy. However there are folks that shoot Colts, Glocks, Sigs, beretta, Norinco, browning, STI, Kimber, Smith and Wesson and Heckler and Koch. (Did I miss any?) yes CZ lots of CZs and all seem quite happy.
 
Para's were all the rage untill the STI's went down in price. While the STI/SVI's do out number the para's in overall numbers, there are still some steel frame guns on top with the Pro's Todd Jarrett wins with his para and Leathams hicap springfeild is the same type of frame. I still have my tweaked out Para and would not have any issues racing with it if need be. That being said I would add a steel mag button, and a magwell at the bare minimum. A highrise beaver beaver tail would be next on list.
 
Thanks for the replies. Definitely some food for thought as far as caliber goes but I am leaning toward .40. It seems that most people like the Paras but feel they need some upgrades.
I am set on the idea of using a Para and I see that Para have put out a model (SX1640J) that has a few upgrades designed by thier sponsored competitive shooter Todd Jarrett. It comes with Novak adj. rear sights, f/o front, and a magwell. Has anyone shot this model? And if so, was it worth the extra $$$ or is it a better idea to have custom work done on by a gunsmith if I decide to upgrade the gun in the future?
 
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Para's are good pistols to get into the ipsc game with. they are reasonably affordable and ok quality wise. There are probably better pistols out there but for the money I dont think you can beat them. I have 3 paras myself (as well as colts and glocks) and all have had some tweaking done to them but not so much that it will send you to the poor house. I like your choice of caliber (I have a 40 as well) if your going to shoot ipsc you want be shooting major for max score and 40 does that. IMHO the Jarrett SX1640J is a bit overpriced, it looks like a good pistol but for the same scratch I would buy an STI/SVI. I dont think you would go too far wrong buying a Para LTD in 40 add a steel mag release, magwell and fibre optic front sight and your good to go. To really tune it up a new trigger and a trigger job, again not too expensive, and that gun would take you as far as you care to go in ipsc. Save some money buy the Ltd, do a few upgrades go buy lots of ammo and practice, which means shoot the crap out of it. Have fun, welcome to IPSC
 
I would look at Tanfoglio Custom Ltd

Quigley said:
These days...the para's are $1500 plus...and the STI's are about $2250.

There's nothing wrong with Para's...but you will eventually want to get some work done to it (which brings it closer to the price of the S_I's):

(1) Tanfoglio vs a Para...

On the upside...you can get some great deals in the Equipment exchange on P16 40's...
Click to expand...

I am with Quigley on the Para and Tanfoglio. Sorry guys if I'd say negative things about Para (mind you, I own one :redface: ), but I am doing this comparisson base on my own personal experience.

I have not own a Tanfoglio YET, but I have done a lot of research on the Tanfoglio LC and I currently in the process of buying one. YAYYYY :D

If you opt on buying a brand new Standard IPSC gun, I would rather recommend you to buy a Tanfoglio Ltd Custom. Here's why IMHO:

Brand new SS Para Ltd 16-40:
> Cost will be at around $1500.00 (BUT the $1500.00 will not be enough to make the gun IPSC ready - you will spend MORE....) :(
> (This is my pet peeve) :mad: Comes with 2-crappy factory magazine that disintegrates into pieces when dropped on the ground during mag changes or will not fit the magazine hole when loaded 10-rounds because the plastic base is unable to hold the full mag tube in place.
> You will need to buy 3 to 4-extra magazines to shoot IPSC (extra expense):D
> No fibre optic front sight, but it comes with a stock front sight that keeps on moving/wiggling :mad: (dont know why Para cant make it stay in place) - another expense :D
> Does not come with mag well - You will need to buy a mag well THAT WILL WORK/FIT the magazine with a decent basepad for your Para. (more expenses):D


SS Tanfoglio Ltd Custom
> Cost just under $2000.00
> Comes with 6-magazines (stainless steel full tube magazines it is) with competition base pads
> Comes with a magwell
> Comes with a fibre optic front sight
> Ajustable trigger
> You are basically purchasing a IPSC Standard ready gun on the go from the box without worrying about any missing necessity to shoot Standard division.

Why do I know these? Because I have been there before, bought my son a Para Ltd 16-40 and spent just about the same money you will spend on a quality S_I Ltd handgun after all the upgardes. :eek:

Why do I recommend the Tanfoglio Ltd Custom? Because I did the comparisson; YOu can do the math yourself DOLLAR for DOLLAR and let the bottomline dollar figure convince you to decide, which one to buy.;)

My conclusion, I highly recommend the Tanfoglio Ltd Custom. You will not be disappointed optio-wise and dollar-wise. :p

Good luck deciding :)
 
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Thanks for the great info guys. As I said earlier, I am set on getting a Para for my IPSC gun but I do appreciate the advice on comparable guns by STI/SVI and Tanfoglio. I like the idea of shooting a Canadian made gun and I figure it will be a worth investing a few dollars in a higher end model.

At this point I think it is a toss up between getting the Ltd 16-40 and adding upgrades as ottoman suggested, or buying the Jarrett model with the upgrades from the factory. I would like to hear from anyone who has shot the Jarrett model(SX1640J) or who has heard any reports on the performance of this gun. My google searches have not returned a lot of info on this gun.
Todd Jarrett USPSA Limited Edition .40
SX1640J.jpg
 
Another vote for the Tanfoglio. And something else to consider is the fact that these guns will shoot the cheapest plated bullets accurately. Paras won't. Long term that amounts to a huge savings.
 
Accuracy

relliott said:
And something else to consider is the fact that these guns will shoot the cheapest plated bullets accurately. Paras won't.
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Is this from personal experience, or from friends that shoot the paras? I have'nt heard of this issue before. Can you elaborate on why this is the case?
 
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it has to do with the type of rifling, the tanfoglio's use poligonal rifling which doesn't cut into the bullet as much as a the rifling of a 1911 barrel
 
KiwiMatt said:
Is this from personal experience, or from friends that shoot the paras? I have'nt heard of this issue before. Can you elaborate on why this is the case?
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Personal experience with both guns. I am now shooting the Tanfoglio LC. 50 meters, 20 rounds, all A's with Excel 180 grain bullets. The polygonal barrel doesn't etch the plating like button rifling does. Etching the plating or in some cases, cutting it, ends up stripping it off and the bullet either tumbles or wobbles in flight.
 
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