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I have been looking for a 1911 lately. Today I found a used Para at Cabelas. Double stack mag. Very nice looking gun. Fit my hands really well.

How is the quality on a Para. Anybody have experience with them. They are asking 499.00

Only Para I own is a compact older one. Have had no problems of any variety with it over a number of years and a bunch of rounds. Workmanship is good as far as I can tell. Feeds whatever I give it, goes bang every time. Mine is single action like a normal 1911. I have not been impressed with the LDA series mainly because the trigger reach is to far for my hand to be comfortable.

I have a shooting buddy who has 2 Para's. He is quite happy with both of them. I just purchased the new Para Carry 9 last weekend. Took it home and cleaned an lubed it for a trip to the range this weekend. Finish and quality seems to be very good. The LDA trigger on mine is nice and crisp right out of the box. Certainly a good price for what you are looking at as I normally see them starting at $599. I would say comparable to a Springfield 1911 in quality.

Good luck in you decision.

I have a single stack compact model from Para Ord. They are a bit rough on the machining side of things, but fit and quality is there. I really like mine and it is NOT on the market. If the $499 is in good shape, it sounds like a deal.

I would recommend the stainless finish, if you get one. The finish on the black ones does not hold up well.

I owned one a few years ago, a P15-45. It was a fine handgun and I had no issues with it, but I sold it towards a Kimber purchase.

When I first considered purchasing it, I spoke with someone who was quite a Para Ord historian. He said that when the company first started making guns, the QC wasn't as tight and there were a few lemons. However, starting around 1999 or 2000 (I don't remember exactly what he said), Para went through a complete company overhaul that tightened up the QC, and the guns are as reliable as you could possibly hope for.

Lost of great responses. thanks guys. Anything in particular that I should look for on this gun?

Toadie wrote:I would recommend the stainless finish, if you get one. The finish on the black ones does not hold up well.

Agreed.

In fact, the coating is mockingly called "Para Paint" by some folks (including me). As you say.... it is something less than durable. It seems to hold up better on slides...than on frames (if the frames are aluminum).

jdh2580 wrote:I have a shooting buddy who has 2 Para's. He is quite happy with both of them. I just purchased the new Para Carry 9 last weekend. Took it home and cleaned an lubed it for a trip to the range this weekend. Finish and quality seems to be very good. The LDA trigger on mine is nice and crisp right out of the box. Certainly a good price for what you are looking at as I normally see them starting at $599. I would say comparable to a Springfield 1911 in quality.

Good luck in you decision.

My daughter loves her's. It has about 2,000 bobble free rounds through it now (not a single stoppage).



It doesn't care if you feed it 115gr., 124gr., 147gr. or empties.

Not everyone has been that lucky...but the one she has is excellent.

I have owned 2 para complete pistols and, years ago, 2 pistols built on the frames they used to sell. I have been very happy with the quality and reliability.

I shot a Para Ordinance double stack mag, full size .45 this weekend. I really liked it. Having small hands, I had to really work on a grip that was comfortable but I liked how square the grip was for this. It allowed me to feel like I was "holding" on to it eventhough my grip wasn't "traditional". I don't know if I would own one myself for anything other than range shooting for this reason but I did like the way it shot. Sorry I can't help with the quality question as I don't know but I have heard a lot of good things about Para and I did like shooting it.

tboesche wrote:I have been looking for a 1911 lately. Today I found a used Para at Cabelas. Double stack mag. Very nice looking gun. Fit my hands really well.

How is the quality on a Para. Anybody have experience with them. They are asking 499.00

I own three Paras and all shoot well. I have a 3" .45 that I carry with in my car, a 3" 9mm that's in the saddlebag on my bike and a 5" double stack. All are 1911 and all go bang every time I squeeze the trigger. Since they are all double stackers none of them take standard 1911 grips or mags.