ParaOrdnance GI Expert 1911

I have a deal lined up on a Para "GI Expert" 1911 for $500+ tax, any thoughts / advice /experience with this pistol from list members would be most welcome!

Never owned one, so I can't speak from personal experience. I'd encourage you to go to websites like forums.1911forum.com and glocktalk.com (the 1911 section) to get input before getting it. Very active boards, and some of those collectors own literally hundreds of 1911's.

My research came up with a few negatives, and I bought the RIA Tactical instead. It's been perfect to this point, very pleased with it, and I got it at sarcoinc.com for under $400.

I dont have any experience with one, but I have been wanting one. Should be a great 1911

Well, a bit late on updating the thread, but I bought it about 2 wks ago. Manual recommends a 250rd break-in. So far I have put about 130 rds of factory ball (Fed Champion $16 / 50 @ WalMart) through it without a single malfunction. Using the factory mags, Wilson Combat, and stock GI 7 rd blued mags. Not a hitch. Shoots exactly to POA at 10 yds. I am a rifle shooter, not a pistolero, but I am holding 4" groups when I hold my mouth just right...I think it was a good buy. More after another 150 rds or so.

Congrats. Sounds like you got a good one.

What I've seen they look to be decent pistols for a reasonable amount of money. Is yours stainless or the kind of parked version.

American Rifleman just did a show on Para last week.

Hope the gun works for you...I've always stayed clear of Para

Mine is that black coated "Paracoat". Seems to be holding up well. Put another 50 through it yesterday, no malfunctions of any kinds with 3 different types of magazine.

I've never really heard of a whole lot of problems with the guns themselves, but I've heard of a few CS issues. My fiance's uncle swears by his....even after it put a hollowpoint through his foot!(ha had it in a holster in the side of his truck door, with the hammer at halfcock and the retention strap snapped over the half cocked hammer....one good close and BAM! Good thing he was living across the street from a dr at the time

Enjoy it!! From all indications you seemed to have scored a good one!!

I've had 2 customer service issues with Para, one good, one bad... I have a 14-45, the high capacity version... The gun has performed well and the customer service issues were when I sent it to have night sights put on by Para.... Now the only issue i have is that with the new sights - it shoots low..... I'd actually like to shoot one of the Para single stack 1911's....
One of the first members I met here, Encoreman, loved his and helped influence my decision to buy mine....

I believe I read your topic on your experiences with Para...

I think it was Todd Jarret that did a 10,000 round test with one of these, must be purddy good..............

J.B.

Todd shot for Para....10 thousand isn't that much.

I have to disagree based on the experiences I've seen shooters have in USPSA/Steel Challenge, including myself. They've all but disappeared in competition b/c the won't hold up in the long run. Other brands do.

Read this thread: http://www.msgunowners.com/handguns-f15/another-thumbs-down-for-para-t6434.htm

It tells all.

seems like this is my response to cliff every time we talk about a para lol.... average joe is not going to shoot 10k+ rounds out their pistol. also you gotta talk apples to apples not apples to tomatoes. its not fair to compare your CZ Phantom to a keltec now is it lol
Para is not the best race gun on the market, I will admit that.
Does that mean Para pistols are junk???

I spent a lot of time with Walter Birdsong, the inventor and owner of the Black-T Finish by DuPont. I've known that family since I was a kid.

When the FBI chose Springfield for its 1911, they took his word it was the best. They did so based on what he told them. Springfield ships those guns to his company to have that finish applied to this day before final shipment. They are the last human hand to touch them before going into service.

Before he passed away, I had many, many conversations with him over the years about how certain guns hold up. When they refinish a gun, it's stripped to the white, meaning down to bare metal. He'd looked at frames and slides under microscopes for stresses in the metal.

Para was the worst he'd ever seen. Don't take my word for it, but I'd listen to the old man.

BTW, when the FBI flew Mr. Birdsong in to witness the 1911 torture test for bids in VA...They could hardly get a Para to function. They failed miserably.

Your move.

Mr Birdsong, was truely a wealth of knowledge and a asset to the gun world. I would/do take his word as law. There is not but maybe 10 people in this world that i trust what they say to that degree(cliff is one of them FYI) i just feel that for Joe Blow that will only shoot a box of bullets a month tops that para is a good gun for the money

Thanks for the kind words.

IMHO, if you can buy a better gun for the same money though, why not do it?

And, again...Para's own people couldn't get their box stock guns to function at the bidding test.

I've hand my hands on a Taurus and I'd take a chance on them before I would a Para.