So... once again I was in the right place at the right (or wrong...) time.
Sue and I were in our favorite gun shop picking up some 380 ACP ammo for her Bersa Thunder in anticipation of some range time. Naturally, we wandered around. And naturally, I found something I wanted...
A customer had traded in a Para Ordnance P14.45. The P14.45 is a fairly standard 1911 (steel frame, SA, grip safety, 5" barrel, fixed sights...) with one major exception. They use a double stack magazine with a 14 round capacity.
I've never owned a 1911 before, in part because I didn't like the idea of a 7 round mag.
The shop owner made me a good deal - $600 for the gun, 2 14 round magazines, a Desantis OWB holster, 100 rounds of FMJ and 40 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense.
First Impressions:
Damn... that's big. Loaded, this is a bit over 3lbs of gun. That's a lot to hang off your hip. This is the first gun I've ever owned that made me think a shoulder holster would be the ideal carry method.
I'm not crazy about the plastic grip panels and fixed sights, but those are easily replaced.
Field stripping and reassembly... A bit of a pain, compared to my other guns. There is a hinged lug on the barrel that has to be in exactly the right position during reassembly. I'm sure it'll get easier, but at this point it takes me 2-3 tries to get it back together properly. Add in the fact that (like most 1911s, as I understand it) you need a tool (I used a small screwdriver) to compress the cap over the recoil spring before you can take anything apart.
It shoots very nicely. The 3-dot fixed sights are pretty basic. By the end of my 100 rounds, I was getting 4-5" 14 shot groups at 50' with fairly rapid fire.
And did I mention that it's big?
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase. I don't think I'm ever likely to carry it much, but it's going to be fun at the range.
View attachment $P14-45.jpg
Sue and I were in our favorite gun shop picking up some 380 ACP ammo for her Bersa Thunder in anticipation of some range time. Naturally, we wandered around. And naturally, I found something I wanted...
A customer had traded in a Para Ordnance P14.45. The P14.45 is a fairly standard 1911 (steel frame, SA, grip safety, 5" barrel, fixed sights...) with one major exception. They use a double stack magazine with a 14 round capacity.
I've never owned a 1911 before, in part because I didn't like the idea of a 7 round mag.
The shop owner made me a good deal - $600 for the gun, 2 14 round magazines, a Desantis OWB holster, 100 rounds of FMJ and 40 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense.
First Impressions:
Damn... that's big. Loaded, this is a bit over 3lbs of gun. That's a lot to hang off your hip. This is the first gun I've ever owned that made me think a shoulder holster would be the ideal carry method.
I'm not crazy about the plastic grip panels and fixed sights, but those are easily replaced.
Field stripping and reassembly... A bit of a pain, compared to my other guns. There is a hinged lug on the barrel that has to be in exactly the right position during reassembly. I'm sure it'll get easier, but at this point it takes me 2-3 tries to get it back together properly. Add in the fact that (like most 1911s, as I understand it) you need a tool (I used a small screwdriver) to compress the cap over the recoil spring before you can take anything apart.
It shoots very nicely. The 3-dot fixed sights are pretty basic. By the end of my 100 rounds, I was getting 4-5" 14 shot groups at 50' with fairly rapid fire.
And did I mention that it's big?
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase. I don't think I'm ever likely to carry it much, but it's going to be fun at the range.
View attachment $P14-45.jpg