Great review. I love this gun and honestly the one and only thing I would change is the front sight post. I prefer them a bit thinner. The mag tubes are the same as the Para P14 which RIA double stack .40's also use, you can buy them from Eagle Imports or RIA's web store and Dawson Precision sells base pads for them that take your mag capacity to 20.
The basepads on the RIA mags should be almost identical (the polymer one that seats in the magwell) to the ones on the 3011 factory mags here is the link. advancedtactical.com/products/magazines/.40sw/ria-full-size-1911-a-2-magazine-high-cap-P16-40sw-10mm As far as the DP extended base pad installation it literally take less than one whole minute, they slide right on. I really highly recommend the Arredondo extended spring and follower with it. dawsonprecision.com/basepad-hicap-for-para-extended-tool-less-design-by-dawson-precision/ I bet that will make a good segment.
Since this is meant for competition you mentioned you will need more magazines. Will magazines for other wide bodied 1911's (e.g. STI) fit? What about holsters? Will holsters for the regular 1911 do?
Hey Ptaruc63, with our experience your standard 1911 holster will not work. We had a custom one made from a friend. As far as magazines, you will need a specific type of magazine as well. The typically magazines for the STI's do not work. Check out Greg Cote's website or search for a magazine that is meets the requirements of the Para Ordnance.
Just picked up one of these and noticed that the slide is very difficult to rack back, almost as though it is snagging on something internally even with the hammer manually cocked back (making it virtually impossible to press check). After I am able to forcibly rack the slide it does not always want to fully return to battery without a good smack on the rear of the slide. Has anyone else experienced this, if so, does this go away after running some rounds through it? I plan to fire it for the first time tomorrow to see if the problem persists, but would love some feedback... otherwise, this is a fantastic looking firearm.
Hey JL, we have experienced similar issues with this gun. Although, most 1911 style guns, if the hammer is not locked back it can be difficult to rack the slide back. This isn't entirely a bad thing in my opinion as it means it has a tight slide to frame fit. I have noticed it won't go forward the entire way if I try and release the slide rack, but if I use the slide release I have not had any problems. Hope this helps.
I appreciate the reply. I am a newbie to better quality 1911's and after googling around, realized the tight fit isn't a bad thing. I ran my first 150 rounds through yesterday without a single issue. The gun is an absolute joy to shoot, very happy with this purchase.
How many rounds have you had through it? Any malfunctions? I have a Para. It's junk don't buy one. Failures to feed at least every other magazine. And something is wrong with the trigger parts because I keep getting a trigger that won't fire. And their warranty won't fix anything after I sent it in they said I must be limp wristing it. And said they couldn't replicate my FTF. Back in the day Travis tomasie used to work on the forums and kept fixing customer issues. But now that Remington bought Para their customer service is a joke.
Hey! This is one of my competition guns so I have quite a few rounds through it. I'd say several thousand. I have not had issues with failure to feeds nor have I had any trigger issues. Only complaint is that the magazine release doesn't work due to the magazine catching on the inside of the magwell and makes it difficult to release the magazine. Aside from this, no issues to report!
Well I guess I got the only lemon from Para. A lot of people raved about the Para Limited. And it doesn't change the fact their customer service is a joke for refusing to fix it.
You guys are great if only you responded to questions.
great review guy. keep up the good work.
Great review. I love this gun and honestly the one and only thing I would change is the front sight post. I prefer them a bit thinner. The mag tubes are the same as the Para P14 which RIA double stack .40's also use, you can buy them from Eagle Imports or RIA's web store and Dawson Precision sells base pads for them that take your mag capacity to 20.
Thank you! With regards to the RIA double stack magazines and the metal basepads, can those be removed to install Dawson Precision basepads?
The basepads on the RIA mags should be almost identical (the polymer one that seats in the magwell) to the ones on the 3011 factory mags here is the link.
advancedtactical.com/products/magazines/.40sw/ria-full-size-1911-a-2-magazine-high-cap-P16-40sw-10mm
As far as the DP extended base pad installation it literally take less than one whole minute, they slide right on. I really highly recommend the Arredondo extended spring and follower with it.
dawsonprecision.com/basepad-hicap-for-para-extended-tool-less-design-by-dawson-precision/
I bet that will make a good segment.
Thank you!
Thanks guys, great and balanced review.
Excellent review gents. I added grip tape to the front of the grip. MAC has new mags and the Para p16 bases fit to extend the mag bases.
Since this is meant for competition you mentioned you will need more magazines. Will magazines for other wide bodied 1911's (e.g. STI) fit? What about holsters? Will holsters for the regular 1911 do?
Hey Ptaruc63, with our experience your standard 1911 holster will not work. We had a custom one made from a friend. As far as magazines, you will need a specific type of magazine as well. The typically magazines for the STI's do not work. Check out Greg Cote's website or search for a magazine that is meets the requirements of the Para Ordnance.
What holster works with this gun having a problem finding one
Just picked up one of these and noticed that the slide is very difficult to rack back, almost as though it is snagging on something internally even with the hammer manually cocked back (making it virtually impossible to press check). After I am able to forcibly rack the slide it does not always want to fully return to battery without a good smack on the rear of the slide. Has anyone else experienced this, if so, does this go away after running some rounds through it? I plan to fire it for the first time tomorrow to see if the problem persists, but would love some feedback... otherwise, this is a fantastic looking firearm.
Hey JL, we have experienced similar issues with this gun. Although, most 1911 style guns, if the hammer is not locked back it can be difficult to rack the slide back. This isn't entirely a bad thing in my opinion as it means it has a tight slide to frame fit. I have noticed it won't go forward the entire way if I try and release the slide rack, but if I use the slide release I have not had any problems. Hope this helps.
I appreciate the reply. I am a newbie to better quality 1911's and after googling around, realized the tight fit isn't a bad thing. I ran my first 150 rounds through yesterday without a single issue. The gun is an absolute joy to shoot, very happy with this purchase.
So happy to hear it! It is a very great gun!
Would that gun be considered open class
How many rounds have you had through it? Any malfunctions?
I have a Para. It's junk don't buy one. Failures to feed at least every other magazine. And something is wrong with the trigger parts because I keep getting a trigger that won't fire. And their warranty won't fix anything after I sent it in they said I must be limp wristing it. And said they couldn't replicate my FTF. Back in the day Travis tomasie used to work on the forums and kept fixing customer issues. But now that Remington bought Para their customer service is a joke.
Hey! This is one of my competition guns so I have quite a few rounds through it. I'd say several thousand. I have not had issues with failure to feeds nor have I had any trigger issues. Only complaint is that the magazine release doesn't work due to the magazine catching on the inside of the magwell and makes it difficult to release the magazine. Aside from this, no issues to report!
Well I guess I got the only lemon from Para. A lot of people raved about the Para Limited. And it doesn't change the fact their customer service is a joke for refusing to fix it.
Para guns are production guns, Metroarms pistols are fitted by a gunsmith.
Just tried emailing Mac and their emails don't work. Not confidence inspiring.
Piece of garbage. Ordered one sent it back..