Springfield/Para 1911 experiences?

[Kaos]

Does anyone have any experience or comments on springfield or para 1911's?

Quality? Cost of magazines etc?

Im highly considering switching to a 1911 for carry and IM still gathering intel.

Thanks!

[fonz]

I have a Springfield Mil-Spec. Great gun, no problems. Came with two mags and I bought 2 more from midwayusa.com for I think 14 bucks each. I have a Galco NSA IWB holster for it but its too damn heavy for regular carry as far as I'm concerned. I've been thinking about a better holster/belt combo but havent bought anything yet. I think I have 300-400 rounds through it and no issues.
Good luck

[c.sander]

springfield makes some damn fine 1911's i carry one almost every day, and if not that one im carrying another 1911 or sometimes more than one 1911. for the price springfield makes a nice 1911 you can rely on no problem... and i dont find 1911s to heavy either, you just need to find the right type of holster and the right holster and carry it in the right spot

[VMJade]

I absolutely love the Para P16 in .40....after all the crap I gave my best friend for buying a 1911 in .40.

.40, 15+1....in a 1911. Heaven.

[radnor]

I have a pair of Paras. Love em. I have a DX1445E (14+1 45) and a CTX189B (18+1 9). Both are LDAs.

ONLY issue I have is with the 9.... When the slide locks open and you drop the mag, slide rams home. Called Para they said to send the mags back which I need to do.

I carry the 45 in a Mitch Rosen holster purchased from Dillon (did not want to wait....).

[Mity2]

I had Para PX745S which I recently traded(and kicking my ass for doing it).
It shot VERY good, and fed HP good, and was very accurate.
Only thing I didn't care about my Para was that trigger, and MSH is made of plastic, and grip safety, safety, slide release, barrel bushing, and firecontrol group(I think) was made of MIM. Some slack between slide to frame, but not bad.
But it shot really really REALLY well...
My dealer still have them on shelf. I'm thinking about buying it back($$$ permitting that is)

(controlled shot from 25yds using 230 WWB)


I had Springfield 1911 loaded recently too.

But my experience with them were not good one. I think I just happened to end up with bad example...
We think tang where barrel link would fit was not fitted right...
Overall quality was not good IMO. Like flat serface was not quite flat, and slide to frame fit was no different then GI 1911 by SA

(This was shot at 15yds, using CCI brazer 230gr)

My very first 1911 was Springfield GI 45.
It was cheap, and shot well. I think grouping would have been better if I knew how to shoot. back when I got them, I was new at whole shooting handgun, and I was just yanking on trigger. Sight was too small, and slide to frame fit was... Well, at least you don't have to worry that small rock binding it up.
If you willing to spend some time, and money to add things most everyone wants(Highride grip safety, extended safety, better sight, lowered/fleard ejection port, little lighter trigger), it'll be decent gun. But then if your gonna do that, might as well buy mil spec or loaded

(I think that was done with Federal Hydrashock at 15yds... Its been a long time. I don't remenber....)

I'm not sure what your price range your looking at. But if your thining around $800~$900, and specially for CC, may I suggest DanWesson CBOB? It generally goes for about $900, and for the money, its ALOT of gun...
I recently picked one up, and I can't be happier!
Fit/finish is about perfect. Frame/slide fit is tight. No rattle at all. sights are big and dead on, comes with all high end components(wilson combat control, Wolff spring throughout, trijicon sights, match grade barrel, bush, sear...)


(25yds, CCI blazer, controlled shot)

[General Geoff]

I absolutely love the Para P16 in .40....after all the crap I gave my best friend for buying a 1911 in .40.

.40, 15+1....in a 1911. Heaven.

I thought they were 16+1?

In any case, I want a P16-40, and a 10mm Auto conversion barrel.

[QuakertownRich]

I love my Springfield Loaded in SS. Very accurate and is cool as all get out. Wouldn't trade it for anything and highly recommend them. I bought mine for $699. I got the extra mags on gunbroker for cheap, too.

[Exbiker]

You will never go wrong with a SA.

[Skullz]

I have a SA TRP. It's an awesome gun. Runs everything and I use it for IDPA.

I also have a Para LTC. The alloy makes a difference in carry weight, if thats what you're looking for. I easily forget ot's on my belt. However, I'm not impressed with the alloy frame for something I used to shoot a lot. The feed ramp started to peen over a little bit after a couple thousand rounds. I've never had a FTF or any other problem, but I've stopped shooting it often.

I've recently moved over to a Sig GSR as my daily carry. It's a full size and stainless, so its quite a bit heavier than the Para - but it's more accurate and runs like a top. I've put about 3k down the pipe with no issues.

If I were going to buy one 1911, I would go with a full size, and after my experience with the Sig, I'd buy it over the SA. It's about $600 less than a TRP, just as accurate, runs just as well - just no where near as pretty.

I haven't had any experience with Para USA's customer service and haven't heard any horror stories either. I have heard nothing but praise for SA's customer service though, same for Sig.