[mjc]

Mr. Camp, do you or anyone for that matter have any comments or info about the Para Ordinance Wide Body 1911? Thank you.

 

[Guest]

I'm not exactly sure what information you are looking for. My first 1911 that I bought several years ago was a Para Ordnance P-13. FWIW, I have acquired several other 1911s since then. Compared to the standard, single-stack frames, my P-13's grip does not feel comfortable to me at all. To be frank, it is my least favorite 1911 because of the grip girth. YMMV.

 

[derek]

I have an early example of the Para LDA. The wide grip suits my hand fine and 14+1 rounds of .45 are comforting however I have never gotten use to the LDA double action trigger and do not shoot the piece very well. Also, the safety is a bit superflous on the LDA as it cannot be carried cocked & locked. I have not fired any SA Paras so can not be of much help there.

 

[mjc]

Thank you Catbird and Derek. I'm trying to find out anything I can about these pistols, good, bad, or ugly.

My knowledge of 1911's is very limited. As stated in the thread I started below I have been looking for a 1911 style pistol for under $450.00.

Last night a family member offered to trade me a Para Ordinance wide body frame with a Remington slide for some items I have. I would have right at $400.00 in this deal so I'm thinking it is a good deal for me.

There seems to be a lot of solid info on this forum given in a friendly manner so I always come here when I'm needing info.

I'm hoping my family members take the several BIG hints I've dropped and I get Mr. Camp's 1911 book for my birthday in May.

 

[Bob Reed]

Hello,

I personally don't care for LDA Para Ordnance's, and the few folks that I know that has owned them got rid of them for more than one reason.

If you really want a double stack 1911, take a look at the new double stack GI .45 Product#PW9701L from Springfield Armory www.springfield-armory.com you'll find it in their "GI" Series... And best of all, it's a true Single Action Automatic.

Hope This Helps,
The Sockman

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I have shot a few PO pistols. Some worked fine and others did not feed reliably. My main reason for not owning one is that they're supposed to be exceptionally difficult to detail strip.

Best.

 

[mjc]

This is just the kind of info I'm looking for. Thank you!

 

[Guest]

I've never actually fired one of the LDAs, but the triggers on those that I have dry fired have been very good. I know a deputy that bought one to use as his duty gun. I'll ask him about it the next time I see him.

 

[Guest]

Hello I have a PA wide body 14+1 in 45 ACP in the LDA. I have found it to be easy to strip and clean and very accuate. However after shooting single action 1911's the double action trigger does some getting use to and you do carry it C & L the diff being the trigger is not all the way back as in the singles it actually looks like it is in the first notch like a single. This is just my 2 cents worth and you can take it for that hope you like what ever you get and be safe out there.

 

[jimhigginbotham]

First off, any Hi-cap or wide body is NOT a 1911.

That may sound officious but the point is that they don't feed the same way as a 1911. Even the Polymer Kimber and Wilson KZ pistols are not exactly the same though they do have a sort of feed ramp in the receiver rather than all in the barrel.... still they are not 1911s.

This is not a criticism. I have a couple of Para's. While some of my more knowledgeable friends have some criticisms of the pistols, I cannot say that they have given me any problems (I did work on several early ones that did give problems). Use quality mags (I find Mecgars are actually better than P.O. in quality and material) and they should be just fine.

I agree that the LDA is in truth a "concealed" single action...they gun is indeed cocked, the hammer is just hinged to disguise it. It seems a bit fragile and it is indeed really complex to *detail* strip. It is not complex to field strip. However, I figure if it fools the guys who make up silly rules about "cocked and locked" then I am glad they are around.

Press on,
Jim

 

[Guest]

Anit that the truth LOL

 

[Guest]

For years after they first came out, they had serious feeding issues because of magazines. That finally get fixed? I haven't handled one in probably 10 years.

 

[zeke]

Have a P14 Limited. Only problem was fixed by beveling rear of barrel hood. Pistol is very accurate and dependable, grip takes some getting used to. Chamber is on small side of dimensions, showing a distinct preference for shorter COL, to keep bullet from jamming into rifling (considered when handloading).

A friend has a P14, that has constant feeding problems.