Para Carry C6 45 Lda
I first saw the Para Expert Carry .45 ACP in the gun bar at the business where I work. I was looking at another gun, and saw the Para {on clearance} marked down almost $200. I calculated that price plus my associate discount and while I bought the gun I came in to look at, the Para Expert Carry didn't leave my mind.
I went back over to the gun bar a couple of days later and bought it. The combination of the attractive firearm and low retail price for the new .45 was too much to resist.
Downside to that is I didn't do any of the normal intensive research I do on any gun I buy. That's knowing I'll be reviewing it, and not really wanting to buy a bad gun. Each gun I currently purchase has to be one I or my wife or daughter will use in practical fashion for effective self defense.
Para Ordnance has a long and somewhat colorful history that is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say Para has put out some innovative 1911s with features not offered by other companies. But their quality control is a mixed bag that ranges from excellent to sub par handguns.
Para Carry C6.45 Lda
Complete assembly of the para lda Link to the disassembly: Links to some of the products I use and recommend: 8 P. Recommendation: The Para Ordnance LDA pistol is recommended as a primary sidearm only when a double action trigger is mandatory. This review will address neither cosmetics nor sights. This review is based on 5 months of shooting this pistol culminating with a three-day FIRE Institute training exercise, 5-7 June 2004, where approximately 800. Firing Pin,.45 Cal., Series 80, Stainless (Cut For Firing Pin Block Plunger) Manufacturer: PARA-ORDNANCE / PARA USA. Model: P10, P12, P13, P14, C6 LDA, C7 LDA.
But I like to shoot, and like most handgun shooters, no matter what I favor for carry, I like 1911s.
My Para C6.45 is a great gun that I've been carrying daily (IWB appendix carry) for seven years. Yes, it is heavy, but that's a sacrifice you have to make to enjoy the 'weatherproof' properties of stainless steel.
So, all things considered including the ridiculously low price for the clearance offering combined with my discount prompted me to take the plunge.
At a glance, the gun comes with a pretty standard package: Two mags, a gun lock, a manual, a case. It dismantles pretty much like a traditional 1911 except it does not require the removal of a barrel bushing with a wrench or damaged fingers to get one out.
After an initial take down and minor clean and re-lubricating, we took it off to the range.
[NOTE: This troubles me about any production gun: A recommended break in period. Para recommends a procedure for shooting their guns, cleaning, shooting, re-cleaning, ad nauseum until you reach 500 rounds. Then it's supposed to shoot right.
Bull.
Any tactical handgun should perform flawlessly right out of the box after a cursory cleaning and lube. That's with factory ammunition if quality control is not a recognized weakness of the manufacturer. 500 round 'Break Ins' for production guns are absurd.]
That being out of the way, starting the gun was encouraging. Feel, sight alignment, target acquisition, and accuracy were all excellent.
The gun was a dream to shoot. One of those firearms that seems to aim itself. The target shown is one of several that were shot from 30-35 feet, quick-firing with the Para Expert Carry. While you expect a .45 ACP with a barrel this short to require some intense aiming, not this one.
The gun will fit most people's hands, regardless of whether for a man, woman, teen, or older child. It is a standard length, slim, 1911 grip.
Above is the gun in my two handed grip.
This is the gun in my daughter's hands. She is just under 5' 2'.
Para Expert Carry 1911 Failures to Extract
But an unfortunate clue sprung up in the first box of factory ammo shot. A couple of failures to extract.
In a subsequent range session, every 2nd or 3rd round from either magazine failed to extract. The ones that did extract and eject hit me in the forehead. About 80 rounds proved the gun was not extracting.
It was undeniably faulty.
And even buying it from my employer, dealing with the warranty would be dealing with the firearms manufacturer.
Not hardly.
Not with a 1911.
No matter what I imagined initially, what I knew was that if a 1911 does not extract the spent cases, the problem is the extractor.
Not something else.
I looked for the solution and found it in this article that is now over 15 years old. But as far as basic structure, 1911s have not changed since their origins.
I then found this video that visually demonstrates how to correct a 1911 extractor that is dropping the case.
I did what it instructed a couple of times for multiple adjustments. Then I took it out and shot it.
The Para Expert Carry 1911 turned into the fully functioning tactical handgun it was meant to be. I fired off five 8 round magazines as fast as I could fire, drop a mag and start again.
All cases extracted, ejected, and while eratic, all were spit out without any failures.
Problem solved. Mostly.
Carrying The Para Expert Carry With 3' Barrel
I'm not putting pictures of the gun in a holster here because any number of holsters will work for this gun.
That includes inside the waistband or belt holsters. What has to be understood is the barrel length is not what makes these guns easier to conceal. The grip is a standard grip for a 1911 eight round magazine.
A full size magazine. In a full size grip.
That means the gun will not carry easier than a commander size or full size 1911. It may just help you sit down with it in the holster a little more comfortably.
Important Para Expert Carry Stats:
.45 ACP
3” Match Grade Barrel
2-Dot Rear, Green Fiber Optic Front
Stainless Steel Slide & Aluminum Frame
Oversized, Flared Ejection Port
Beavertail Grip Safety
Skeletonized Match-Grade Trigger
Black Nitride/Anodize Finish
Polymer Grips
Two 8-Round Magazines
Bottom Line Summary: I like this gun, but bought it for one of the lowest new gun retail prices in the nation. It has a great feel to it, but so does every other 1911 in existence.
It is a great shooter as far as sight alignment, target acquisition, aiming, accuracy. But the fact that I had to disassemble the slide and go through the extractor correction process negates that. Other guns are great without having to fix what the manufacturer failed to address.
This review is preliminary to really testing the gun for concealed carry or home defense.
If I had to recommend a good 1911 to carry, I would have a lot of choices to point someone to other than this one. Choices that would probably be more dependable than one put out by the colorful, but questionable Para firearms company.
NOTE: At this writing, the Para firearms company has been out of business for 3 years. It was purchased by Remington. The Para name is no longer being put out on guns, but many of the guns with the Para logos are still in retail stores around the country.
Remington will pick up the 1911 production of Para, but under Remington's brand.
Current owners of Para firearms may get service for the lifetime warranty from Remington.
Through the years the basic 1911 platform has not been altered much. Sure, more effective sights were installed, more resistant finishes were applied, more comfortable controls were fashioned, but the pistol itself functioned the same as always. Paraordnance has been a consistent provider of 1911s that possess an inovative approach to needs for the 1911 shooter. Paraordnance appeared with a 13 round 1911 frame and magazine in 1988, and in 1990, became a major player in the 1911 arena by making the entire high capacity 1911 pistol itself. Suddenly, the 1911 was a competitor in the wondernine era again.
Then in 2001, Paraordnance overturned the 1911 applecart. Seeing that CCW was a sweeping trend across the United States, Paraordnance decided to tap into that market. The 1911 platform has always been an excellent one for concealed carry. No handgun carries flatter on the hip, and gets into a fight quicker. The problem of the potential legal entanglements afterwards always remained, however, not to mention many potential pistol packers simply get the willies thinking about cocked & locked carry. Rather than deny these limitations, Paraordnance resolved to attack them head on.
What resulted is possibly the best concealed carry gun yet designed. The C6.45 LDA (Para Carry) has what Paraordnance calls their Light Double Action Trigger. It is a DAO action, but with a trigger unlike any other. The LDA system uses two hammers. When the slide is racked, the outer hammer carries the inner hammer with it, and cocks it. The outer hammer then follows the slide forward and rests just off the firing pin. The pivoting trigger works by way of a drawbar to then pull the outer hammer back under very light resistance. Once the outer hammer is again fully to the rear, increased resistance (approximately 6.5 pounds) is felt without creep just before the sear releases the inner hammer, firing the weapon. This allows the same trigger pull for each shot, as well as giving the ability to stage the hammer in use. The trigger really has to be used to be appreciated. The only drawback to the action would be in the event of a misfire. If a misfire were to occur, a tap, rack bang response would get the pistol back into action.
Para Carry C6 45 Lda Magazine
The Para C6.45LDA has three safeties. The firing pin safety uses an inertia firing pin and a spring loaded plunger, which keeps the firing pin from going forward until activated by the trigger's drawbar. The thumb safety can only be activated when the internal cocking cam, and the slide, are fully forward. When the thumb safety is pushed up and engages the slide lock notch, the slide is prevented from moving rearward and the drawbar is disengaged, preventing the hammer from moving rearward even if the trigger is squeezed. In use, it functions exactly like a standard 1911 thumb safety. The grip safety prevents the rearward travel of the trigger and the slide unless the pistol is gripped firmly with the shooting hand depressing the grip safety. While the function of the LDA grip safety is similar to that on a standard 1911, it accomplishes the same task by blocking the hammer with the grip safety lever instead of by the trigger bow as in a standard 1911.The C6.45LDA was designed from the ground up as a concealed carry weapon. Because the external hammer does not allow for manual cocking, it is shaved off to little more than a sliver. Since the shaved external hammer cannot bite the shooter's hand, the pistol does not require a beavertail. What results is a rear profile on the weapon that eliminates any snagging on the draw. While a spur hammer and beavertail may not present a problem with a holster on the hip, limitations are discovered when one tries to draw such a weapon from deep cover. The pistol comes with low profile three dot sights that are serrated and ramped on the rear, again preventing snagging on the draw. The gun is small. It is a similar size to any other micro 1911 on the market. The grips are very nice cocobolo, and are about as thin as could be cut and still maintain structural integrity. Unfortunately, the screw placement is unique to the pistol, making replacement grips a difficult proposition. The C6.45LDA uses a proprietory recoil system of two captured springs on a full length guide rod. The C6.45LDA does not use a barrel bushing. Lock-up is accomplished by two locking lugs on the top of the barrel, and a standard bull barrel arrangement. The barrel is fully ramped with a concave crown. The trigger is rounded and polished smooth.
I obtained my Para C6.45LDA as a prize in a Pistol League competition. I likely would not have bought it myself. Afterall, 1911s that are shorter than Commander length have a reputation for problems. I wasn't sure I would like the LDA trigger, and how accurate could a four inch sight radius be? Still, it was a pretty interesting 1911, and as a freebie, I gladly accepted it.
After a good cleaning, lubing and familiarity check, I took it to the range with a bucket of 230 grain hardball. My first shots amazed me. At 15 feet, this pistol was a one hole shooter. I ran the targets out to 25 feet. My slow fired groups stayed under two inches. I noted that the recoil was greater than a Government model, but not uncontrollable. Quick follow up shots would be possible with a strong controlled grip of the weapon. My pinkie finger rested below the magazine, lessening my grip. I borrowed some skateboard tape and applied a strip to the plastic mainspring housing. Viola! I could maintain weapon control. After 400 rounds of hardball, I had no failures, but my hands were needing a rest.
Later that week, I showed up at the range again with the Para to try out some hollow point ammo. I shot Federal HydraShoks, PMC Starfire, and Winchester SXT, all in 230 grains. All fed without problems. All were accurate, shooting consistent groups under two inches. This pistol was looking like a definite keeper to me by this time. Once home, I went to the Smith & Alexander website looking for a checkered MSH for the pistol. I found none, but on calling S&A, I was told that a P12 MSH should fit, and if it did not I could return it for a full refund. I placed my order. There is something about a plastic MSH that bothers me. A plastic MSH with skateboard tape on it is even more unappealing. A few days later, the stainless steel MSH arrived from S&A. It fit the pistol, but extended past the rear corner of the frame more than I liked. It also had some very sharp checkering. I broke out the files and went to work. A short time later, my pistol had a metal MSH that would stay locked to my palm.
I continued to train with the pistol using 230 grain hardball, and after 1000 rounds I noted that the thumb safety barely contacted the slide on recoil, and had peened it under the serations. I filed down the upper corner of the thumb safety to keep it clear. Also around round 1200 I began to have some issues with the pistol jamming. The extractor and ejector looked fine. On examination of the barrel/frame fit, I saw that the sharp edges of the barrel ramp were cutting into the frame, raising a small burr on the frame and slowing the barrel on recoil. I took out my jeweler's files and Dremel and gently radiused the edges of the barrel ramp and smoothed up the inside of the frame. The problems disappeared. It was around this time that I replaced the recoil assembly. Paraordnance recommends replacement of the entire recoil assembly every 1500 rounds or so. They sent me my first replacement pro gratis. I remain convinced, however, that the jamming problems were caused by the barrel ramp edges biting into the frame of the pistol.
After putting over 2000 rounds downrange with this pistol, it became my primary CCW pistol for a year nor so. I learned that a full capacity Wilson Combat magazine will lock into the pistol and feed without any problems. Thus, eventhough the C6.45LDA came with a spare magazine, I carried it with a 6 round magazine and Wilson magazines as spares. I figured if I had to pop in a second magazine, I will probably need the extra ammo in the Wilson. I carried the pistol in a couple of ways. If I had the luxury of a covering garment, I liked a Don Hume JIT. The Colt Commander sized holster fits this pistol like it was made for it. If I did not have the luxury of a covering garment, I prefered a SmartCarry holster. The C6.45LDA carried very nicely, with no gouging or painful reminders a gun is there.
There are only a few things I would have liked to see different. I believe the pistol should have come with night sights. I would also have liked to see it come with standard grip screw spacing and a standard recoil system. Paraordnance has resolved these issues already, with the C7.45LDA, Companion Carry pistol. These improvments come at the cost of a slightly larger pistol though. As a result, we take our choices. This Paraordnance mini-cannon met my needs as a carry gun. It was small and comfortable enough to stay concealed all day long in hot weather. It had the takedown power and accuracy to remove a threat with a minimum of shots fired. After a bit of work it became solidly reliable. It effectively adressed the issues many have about carrying a 1911 in the civilian world. It did all this while remaining a stock pistol. Because of the jamming problems I had, I cannot whole heartedly recommend the C6.45LDA, but I was confident enough in my particular example to stake my life and freedom on it.
The astute reader will note that the last paragraphs are written in past tense. I quit carrying this pistol. Why would a man stop carrying what he felt was the best CCW pistol designed? I began to hear rumors then see photos of Paraordnance mini-pistol's slides cracking. Whether the cracking occured because the recoil assembly was not being changed regularly, because of hot ammo, or other abuse did not matter to me. I train with the gun I carry. I train hard with the gun I carry. If the pistol cannot stand up to the pressure and round counts of my training, it's not up to the job of riding on my hip. Regrettably, I retired the Para C6.45LDA after I saw several cracked slide pictures. My own pistol has not shown any signs of cracking, but I know it will be worthless if it does. Perhaps, at some point, I will trade it off. Time will tell. The ParaCarry C6.45LDA was a fantastic idea, brilliantly designed, but apparently poorly manufactured. That is a shame.
Labels: Carry Guns, Paraordnance, Range Reports