Para 14•45 Limited

[Fobos]

A buddy at a local gunstore offered me a Para 14•45 Limited (black finish) today.

www.paraord.com/product/product.html?id=27

I've NEVER liked the feel of a wide grip style 1911 until I laid my hand on this one. It felt great. The ergo's, plus the 14+1 capacity, are making me consider a purchase. He'll let me walk out the door with it for $800.

However, I don't know enough about the gun's (or Para in general) functionality, reliability, etc... Does anyone have any opinions they could share? Does anyone know how this would compare to my Kimber STII?

["DoubleAction"]

Fobos; The Para Ordinance functions as the 1911 with the exception of a wider trigger stirrup for the wider magazine well. The para has been in the business of wide capacity frames for a few years; At one time Les Bauer had the FBI / HRT pistol contract using the para ordinance wide capacity magazine frame. The grip panels on the para are thinner than the standard 1911, in order to reduce the thickness of the grip. One thing though; Their grip screws are not the same as the standard 1911. If it's a wide body frame your looking for in a 1911, the para ordinance is a good choice. Brownell's stocks a wide assortment of parts for the paras.

[Fobos]

Thanks, DA.

I've fondled the Para's in the past, but can't remember liking the grip before. I have small fingers, which means that many handguns feel too bulky in the spot where I hang on to it. (The grip on my Glock 17 is just barely small enough for my hands.) Most of the wide-gripped handguns just don't meet my ergo requirements.

Finding this comfortable Para today was like a breath of fresh air. I think I'll buy it.

I get great deals (you wouldn't believe) from this guy all the time, so I trust that $800 is a decent, or better, price. If I don't like the gun, I can take it back and get a full refund at any time.

["DoubleAction"]

Fobos; Just lubricate the rails and the rest of the listed items and test it by using the right ammunition; I think you'll enjoy shooting it. I would stay away from the Aquila, Seller Bellot, and IMI in the .45 acp; These cartridges seem to have a harder pounding to the frame on recoil.

[Fobos]

DoubleAction said:

I would stay away from the Aquila, Seller Bellot, and IMI in the .45 acp; These cartridges seem to have a harder pounding to the frame on recoil.

It would probably be fed the same thing my Kimber enjoys... WWB and Speer Gold Dots.

[Fobos]

Thanks again for the info, DA.

I took that Para home yesterday and am eager to get it on the range to see how it performs.

[Mountaineer]

Fobos, I have a Para Ordnance P14 with the steel frame that I've had for about 5 years now. I like it a lot, but I haven't shot all that many rounds through it. It took about 2 boxes of ammo. to break it in, but it is still extremly tight now, but very reliable. I think Para Ordnance was the first maker of Hi Cap. frames, and then a few years later started making complete guns. I got mine for $575 out the door with one Hi cap. mag.

[5ontarget]

I'd like to hear how you like it, range report/test. At one point I was looking at the Paras, or the Springfield double stack .45ACP. For some reason, they slipped down on the wish list. I think it was because is was going to be a range gun, and therfore didn't "need" the double stack.