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Para Ordnance makes a double stack 1911 which has
a 14 + 1 capacity in .45.

IIRC this qualifies as a 1911A2. Is this the correct name?

What are your thoughts on this pistol? Does it have a grip
which is too fat for average size hands?

Are the internal workings of this pistol just as good as a
single stack 1911, with the plus of higher capacity in rounds?

I believe the list price on this gun is in the $1200 range, which
would seem to indicate high quality.

Do any other gunmakers produce double stack 1911's?

Thoughts, all?

SIA

surprise_i'm_armed wrote: I believe the list price on this gun is in the $1200 range, which would seem to indicate high quality.

I don't know about the Para 1911s, but I do know this: More expensive doesn't always mean higher quality... Just means more people want to buy them. The corollary that lower price doesn't necessarily mean lower quality is also true.

Sia the Paras are fine pistols. I have 4, P models 10-11-12-14 all double stack with Hogue grips. I also have wide hands and short fingers and they are no problem for me. The P14 Ltd has target sights, polished and ramped and a trigger job from the factory(this is close to what you are asking about). They are as good as any others on the market and I expect the single stacks are too. Have had zero problems with them and have owned them for many years. I paid $800 for my P14 several years (15?) ago. I like them very much.

I believe the Para P14 was the basis for the FBI's SRP (Swift Response Pistol), after being worked over extensively by Les Baer. That strongly suggests that they're basically sound.

For quite a while, the QC on Para's was spotty - you could go down the line at the store, pick up a couple of examples, and see which ones were smooth, which were rough . . . which were tight, which were loose. Getting a good one was almost like flipping a coin. As a consequence, guys either loved them or hated them.

I understand they've improved overall and are more consistent now.

As to whether or not the grip is too big . . .that pretty much depends on the size of your hands.

Bought an all stainless P-13 in 1996, it has many tens of thousands of rounds through it.

Never had any problems with it. Naturally...I've replaced springs and extractors over the years....but it is rock solid. (or I wouldn't carry it).

I picked up a used P14 some years back. It is heavy, but that makes target shooting light and easy. It is one of the most accurate pistols at the range for me. I think the thicker grip actually helps me on that.

Mine had a worn extractor which I finally got changed out.

The biggest weakness mine always had was magazines. I have several mags, but they are an assortment of mags mostly bought at gun shows so I cannot vouch for there origin. The one or two I have bought recently online work pretty good. I took apart three mags I bought at gun shows and all three had different length springs in them. I have bought newer springs, but it isn't something I have spent much time on.

Mine is a good pistol. Just be careful where you buy mags.

Thank you gentlemen for your responses.

IIRC, didn't Para used to be in Canada? I believe they
saw a great advantage in relocating to the US.

Their new HQ is in North Carolina.

SIA

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Thank you gentlemen for your responses.

IIRC, didn't Para used to be in Canada? I believe they
saw a great advantage in relocating to the US.

Their new HQ is in North Carolina.

SIA

If I am not mistaken, I believe that they also changed hands, not just location.

My uncle carries a a 4" single stack model that has been very reliable and looks and feels as good as any other mid grade 1911 I have felt. I don't mean to knock it by calling it mid grade, but its not a Rock Island and its not a Wilson Combat...so it falls in the middle. I am not a huge fan of the LDA trigger, but it is smooth and reliable. I like the crispness of the single action on some of the older models. I have been looking into one of their 9mm models b/c I can not bring myself to spend Kimber or STI money yet.

STI does however make some double stack 1911 models and they are made in Texas!

The STI 2011 (double stack 1911s) are awesome and as said above made in Texas. It is amazing how a gun that looks rather large fits such a wide variety of hand sizes. I have a very limited range of guns that I can reach the trigger on and STI 2011 is one of them. Yet my husband that has no issues with gripping any size gun is comfortable with the 2011 as well.

I have a buddy who is a police officer who carries a PXT P14 as his duty weapon. I have not shot it, but he likes it a lot (obviously). It is very large, but manageable. I think you would just have to try handling it to see if it is comfortable to you. I would say that I have average sized hands (wider than average but short stubby fingers) and it felt comfortable to me. My buddies hands are larger and he has really long fingers so the grip is probably very good for him.
If you are in the market for a high capacity .45, take a look at the FNP-45 Tactical. It is not on the FN website, but they don't seem to update too often. There are a few examples on Gunbroker.com. It seems to be very reliable and extremely accurate, but it is not a 1911, so that may be a deal breaker depending on what you are looking for.

STI, Georgetown,TX makes quite a few different double stack .45 .40 and 9mm guns from full out race guns to a really sweet 3.9 inch gun called the " V.I.P.

Mac1972 wrote:STI, Georgetown,TX makes quite a few different double stack .45 .40 and 9mm guns from full out race guns to a really sweet 3.9 inch gun called the " V.I.P.

A bunch but here's one I particularly like. Would fit out with adjustable night sights. Its not cheap but its a competition level gun and made in Round Rock.

http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Eagle5.0/Eagle50.php#first" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Springfield and Kimber make double stacks as well. The Kimber is polymer while the Springer is all steel. The grips were similar in thickness to a Glock from what I could tell. They are not as fat as you might think as the sidewalls of the magwell are fairly thin. The Springers grip panels are this as well. I could take some bottom views side by side of various guns if you like to compare. I got the Kimber used for $550 and it has been reliable so far. The Springer was a little more but is a lot heavier for same capacity. They will almost share mags, the floorplates are different.

>IIRC, didn't Para used to be in Canada?

ParaOrdnance was founded/headquartered in Toronto Canada and has had a US subsidiary for several years based in Florida. Recently they move manufacturing to Charlotte, NC, under the banner ParaUSA.

I haven't determined if the Canadian operation has shutdown entirely or not.