Colonel

[C LOW]

Hello
Im new to pistols I like the 1911's. I found a colonel dcx1445e used but like new at gunshop in spec ops green with LDA 14 can get it for 600 is this gun any good I really like it? Heres link http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?id=53


Thanks

[Hawkmoon]

Used? I would definitely ask why.

The Colonel is a fairly new model. Para came out with the LTC, which is their analog to the Colt Commander (Commander as a Naval rank is equal to Lt. Colonel as an Army rank, get it? Yeah, I thought it was idiotically cutesy, too). That's a 4-1/4" barrel on a standard single stack frame, with full 7-round capacity magazines.

But the Para double stacks with the 4-1/4" barrel were slightly shorter in the grip -- the P13.45 and the Tac-Four. This new model adds back the one missing round and uses the same grip frame and magazines as the P14 and 14LDA pistols, but with the shorter slide and barrel of the P13 and Tac-Four. Functionally, there is no reason this pistol should be any different from a Tac-Four, and the Tac-Four has a great reputation. But I am always a bit suspicious when a new pistol shows up as a used pistol. It could be a lemon ... they do happen. Para's lifetime guarantee runs with the pistol, though, not limited to the original owner, so if it has problems I'm sure they will stand behind it.

[jslobum]

I'm not sure what this gun goes for NIB, but a new LTC single stack can be had for about $650. I would look around a bit before I bought.

[SMMAssociates]

C Low:

$600 sounds a little low.... A new Tac-Four is a ton more, and as Hawk said, it sure looks like somebody put a Tac-Four slide on a P14 body, which wouldn't be too "Limited" (talk about expensive)....

I wish I had the beavertail on my Tac-Four, but I think there are frame issues....

My only problem with the gun itself is that a regular P14 isn't a heck of a lot bigger, and all the "bulk" in terms of concealed carry is back in the grip area.

Great range gun, though, I think....

Para's seem to have two major issues - perhaps why this used one is so cheap:

1. IMHO, all Para pre-ban full-capacity magazines have springs that are too weak. Someday they'll run out of those, I hope.... Wolff's got replacement springs, and they're very inexpensive.

2. My Tac-Four had a bad slide stop. Jam-o-matic....

HOWEVER, I attribute all the problems I've had with this thing to being too stupid to send the dumb thing back to Para....

I accidentally found out that the slide stop was bad, and my two full-capacity mags started to work with their original springs as soon as Para sent me a replacement. (I still replaced the springs because they do work better that way, but I already had them.)

To test the slide stop (maybe when the dealer's not looking if you think he'll raise the price :D ), with the slide in it's normal "resting" position ("battery") and the gun unloaded, try to remove the slide stop without moving the slide. You can raise or lower the rear end of the stop a bit and sort of work with it.

If it comes out, it's bad.... "Out" being "moves to the left more than a hair"....

In my case, I noticed a new magazine was sort of pushing the stop out of the frame a bit instead of holding the slide open. (Non-Para mag.) I kept pushing it back in.... That night, I went to put the gun away, and noticed that the stop was about a quarter-inch out of the frame. Pushed it back and went to bed. Next morning, I realized that it was impossible, and tried. Couldn't get it to come out. Then I started fiddling with it and it came out....

The Tac-Four also has a FLGR. A long steel rod and a sort of "plate" screwed to it. Mine came apart, making it impossible to push the plunger in far enough to rotate the barrel bushing. Easy to fix.... First, pop the slide off without trying to get the bushing off and the spring out. Then tighten the two parts to shorten the guide rod assembly enough to get it out of there by way of depressing the plunger. Then some Loctite.... Para offered to replace the assembly, but you can never have enough Loctite....


Does sound like a nice gun - perhaps some of the above explains the price, and, more importantly, how to get around that. :D

Or you can buy it and sent it to me....

Regards,

[C LOW]

rgr ill check it out

[C LOW]

Havent had a chance to talk to them yet but this gun is like brand new It doesnt look like it has had a box ran through it.No play of any kind maybe someone tried the lda and didnt like it?Oh yeah price i said was wrong put it in layaway for 699.99 comes with box extra clip cable lock in plastic and all paperwork.

[C LOW]

Bought it, it was in the used section but brand new(sry my bad)got with box of winclean for 650.00

[jslobum]

Now go shooting and report back. Good luck!

[C LOW]

Shot about 250 rnds through it over the weekend ,love it no ftf with 3 diff types of ammo and very accurate at 25 yrds .Im very happy with it, even my glock buddies like it and there like nazi's. :)