So I picked up a new toy today...

[allmotoronly]

UPDATED!!

check out the new pics below



For a while now I've wanted to start collecting 1911 style pistols, and today I got my first one. I wanted to make sure the first one I got could also serve as my daily carry pistol. Its a Para-ordanance .45. The main reason I went with para-ord for my first 1911 because they offer a 1911 style pistol with double stack mags. This pistol holds 13+1. I got a pretty good deal on this gun. The MSRP is $899, but I paid a couple hundred less. When I got home, I shot it about 40 times, then I cleaned it really good and oiled it up ( I know it looks really oily in the pics, but that was before I wiped the excess away). Let me know what you guys think!!!





Here are a few pics of the modifications I have done so far. I polished the barrel, grip safety, slide safety, slide release, as well as the slide rails (inside), firing pin and pin housing, the feed ramp, the recoil spring housing, the inside of the barrel bushing, the top side of the barrel throat, and a few other pieces. I've ordered the stainless mag release, a wolff recoil spring, a set of wolff mag springs, a full size firing pin stop, and a lightweight hammer. I also put a 30 degree radius on the extractor (no pics sorry) to help prevent any feeding issues that 1911's have. Let me know what you guys think.










Thats mostly dust on the feed ramp. Its so polished that the smallest spec of dust looks huge (the 10 mega pixel pics probably dont help )

[Reaper]

badass!

[allmotoronly]

badass!

thanks man. Its definitely a beast!

[koukis14]

Thats a nice ass gun

[allmotoronly]

Thats a nice ass gun

thanks man!!!

[quickdodge®]

That's a very nice looking piece. Were you able to sell your other one? Later, QD.

[allmotoronly]

That's a very nice looking piece. Were you able to sell your other one? Later, QD.

Yea I sold it yesterday for exactly what I wanted to get out of it.

[DJ Raijin]

I've been looking at the Para-Ordnance double stack 1911s pretty hard for a while and I got a couple questions:

1: Have any feeding problems? I've read a lot of reports about people who have feeding problems with the double stack mags as well as problems locating extras due to the fact that the majority of them are double stacks. Did you get the feed ramp polished? Does it come polished from the factory?

2: How fat is the handle? A lot of people also complained that it was very fat. 45 ACP is a rather large round and I can imagine that putting them side by side would make for a very wide handle. Currently I own a Beretta 92FS that I absolutely adore and find nothing wrong with, but a lot of people complain about the thickness of the handle on them as well.

[allmotoronly]

I've been looking at the Para-Ordnance double stack 1911s pretty hard for a while and I got a couple questions:

1: Have any feeding problems? I've read a lot of reports about people who have feeding problems with the double stack mags as well as problems locating extras due to the fact that the majority of them are double stacks. Did you get the feed ramp polished? Does it come polished from the factory?

2: How fat is the handle? A lot of people also complained that it was very fat. 45 ACP is a rather large round and I can imagine that putting them side by side would make for a very wide handle. Currently I own a Beretta 92FS that I absolutely adore and find nothing wrong with, but a lot of people complain about the thickness of the handle on them as well.

The grip is no thicker than your Beretta. Most people say it is fat only because they are comparing it to a single stack 1911, which is really thin. The feed ramp came polished, but I reworked mine anyway. I smoothed out the rough edge at the top of the ramp with 600 grit, then 800 grit, then 1500, then 2000, then used rubbing compound with a polishing wheel on my dremel. I also did the same to the slide rails, and the top of the barrel throat. I also put a 30 degree radius on the lower edge of the extractor. Since doing that, I haven't had a single failure to feed that was do to the gun itself. It always fails on the last round, but I have ordered a wolff mag spring which should fix that problem. I also degreases EVERYTHING and lightly polished all moving parts, as well as the area inside of the slide where the barrel rides. I re-oiled the gun with mobil 1 10w30 (which is what most 1911 experts say to use). The gun shoots 1000000 times better than the day I got it. I dont know why Para doesn't polish the slide rails from the factory. It makes a Huge difference in the feel for some reason.

Along with the wolff mag spring, I also ordered a wolff 18lb recoil spring. The para comes with a 16lb, where as an original colt commander comes with a 18lb. I like the feel of the 18lb better (having shot one before). I also ordered a few factory para parts, like a stainless mag release (stock is plastic), lightweight beavertal, and a few other random parts. I had considered ordering a wilson bullet proof extractor, but I think I fixed the problem when I put the radius on the edge.

If you research online you will find a lot of instructional write-ups about how to make any 1911 perform better. A gunsmith would have charged a rediculous amount to polish those parts and install the springs.

[81911SC]

I love it. I wouldn't CC it but it's very nice.

[allmotoronly]

I love it. I wouldn't CC it but it's very nice.

why not? Its not that big, and it's only 28 ounces. Its the lightweight model with the aluminum alloy frame instead of steel. I'm 6' 210lbs, so It conceals nicely under a jacket when I wear it in my shoulder holster.

[81911SC]

why not? Its not that big, and it's only 28 ounces. Its the lightweight model with the aluminum alloy frame instead of steel. I'm 6' 210lbs, so It conceals nicely under a jacket when I wear it in my shoulder holster.

Barrel is to long for my liking.

[allmotoronly]

Barrel is to long for my liking.

its a 4.25" barrel (commander size), not the full size 5" 1911 barrel (gov't or officer size). They make a 1911 with a 3" barrel, but its so small you can't hold onto it!!!

[81911SC]

its a 4.25" barrel (commander size), not the full size 5" 1911 barrel (gov't or officer size). They make a 1911 with a 3" barrel, but its so small you can't hold onto it!!!

Still. I'm a compact man.

[allmotoronly]

Still. I'm a compact man.

yea I hear ya... I think my next two 1911's will be a kimber ultra-carry II 3" with night sights and a Wilson Combat "protector" 5".

First I have to get my AR-10 though before billary clinton or jihad obama takes them away . Theres a reason why the right to own a firearm is protected by the 2nd amendment, not the 25th or something like that. It's been an essential part of our country's history for over 200 years.

[Julio]

Hows the recoil on it? I heard it was bad.. I never shot one.. I heard it in a group convo..

But since you own one, how is it..

[cpearson]

Sweet piece man! You got a good deal on it.

[allmotoronly]

Hows the recoil on it? I heard it was bad.. I never shot one.. I heard it in a group convo..

But since you own one, how is it..

no worse than any other 1911. Its more than a glock .45 of the same size, but not a lot more. The recoil spring and firing pin stop plate I ordered should lessen the recoil more. Its pretty easy to handle. You can't exactly one hand it and empty a clip on something, but you can two hand rapid fire all day.

[Julio]

no worse than any other 1911. Its more than a glock .45 of the same size, but not a lot more. The recoil spring and firing pin stop plate I ordered should lessen the recoil more. Its pretty easy to handle. You can't exactly one hand it and empty a clip on something, but you can two hand rapid fire all day.

k. thx for the honest respond.

[Ronsam2006]

Wow thats a really nice piece. Dont know too much but that does look good.

[allmotoronly]

I posted some updated pics of a few things I have done to the gun since I got it.

this is the look I'm going after. Its a new model para.

[allmotoronly]

I went and shot the gun today. I put about 150 rounds through it with absolutely no problems (other than the mag spring which I am replacing with a wolff extra power when it gets here). Since tweaking the extractor, the spent shells eject farther out and more to the side than back in my face. I am thoroughly pleased with this gun. A lot of people complain that para's and other 1911's have a lot of feed problems and extraction problems, but with a few hours of polishing work and about $15 worth of parts (mag spring and recoil springs) it will shoot just as well as any glock, springfield xd, ruger, etc. I would recommend this gun to anyone in the market for a new pistol. The 1911 style in general is one of the most tried and tested models made, and it has been around for almost 100 years for a reason. It was well ahead of its time when it was designed in 1911, and has stayed up with the new technology in recent years by becoming avaliable with high cap double stack mags, double action triggers, and enhanced extractors.

[AlliRae]

i like it... very nice...

[GSRteg®]

I like

[allmotoronly]

I like

thanks!!

[kainkauz]

real nice i have a fetish for the 1911 models haha

[BB6dohcvtec]

very nice