Sneak peek at Para Ordnance GI Expert

I'd buy one!!!

John,

I'm willing to bet you had some input into to the features on that pistol.

It does look good by the way. Good work ParaUSA.

Oh John why must you torment me so?!

Very nice indeed , may consider one if i can't get an A1 Milspec soon... its torture when you have the permits and money and can't get what you really want. When are they going to have this on the market?

It looks like one of those "just right" guns.

DVC

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JTQ

John,

I'm willing to bet you had some input into to the features on that pistol.

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While me and George have discussed in length how a basic pistol should be, I certainly can't claim any input to the design of this pistol. I guess someone at Para saw the light and decided that such a pistol is exactly what most users want.

I would have gone with a solid trigger (plastic, so that it isn't too heavy), a round Commander hammer (instead of the oval) and an arched mainspring housing, but I think the folks at Para got this one right.

As for when it hits the market, something tells me that the first samples (about 1500 of them) will be on the shelves before New Year, while full production will start after the SHOT Show.

And yes, you can watch our E-zine for a full review, we secured one of the first samples for testing.

I vote for an arched MSH and a beavertail.... While the GI "tang" conceals a little better, the beavertail's a lot more pleasant to shoot.

(The arched MSH is just me :). I put 'em on everything.)

Wonder what the price will be.... My PX745EM (which is pretty much the same gun in blue paint with Novak-style sights and a beavertail) was about $700. Springfield's got some "GI" guns that are half that....

(I'm also a proponent of the PXT, but if it'll sell....)

Sure would be nice if they could leave off the drop safety, but even if made here in the US, there are states where they may have problems selling the thing without it. Some manufacturers are using special firing pins and springs, but I wonder....

Regards,

No way, no way I want to see a beavertail on this pistol!!!!

You know me, I am ... a minimalist some times. That grip safety is eliminating hammer bite and as 1911Tuner said, it's a great aid in .... subliminal learning of the position of the gun in your hand (I have to find that thread, it's somewhere in here). A beavertail will destroy the beautiful lines of that pistol.

I agree for the arched MSH, it's .... mandatory. Hear that Para???

Price? You will be surprised (but don't expect to fall off your chair). I know, but I won't tell. :p

If you discount the angled cocking serrations, here is my latest toy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...B/DSC_1731.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...B/DSC_1730.jpg

Isn't it amazingly similar to the Expert?? Yeah, I know, it needs a tear-shaped thumb safety, but I find this one to be working OK, so why bother. It came with it, if it works, I like it.

John:

That Colt's beautiful....

Even with the fool tang safety :D....

(I expect it had something to do with the other issues with my old Commander, but I got to the point that I hated shooting the thing until I put on the beavertail....)

I expect that the new Para would accept a rounded hammer easily enough, and arched MSH's aren't a problem for full sized guns either.

(I think I'd want to lower and relieve the ejection port, too, like your Colt, or even more so. If you're going to cut out the port in the first place, how big it is, within reason, really shouldn't change anything.)

I like the thumb safety to stick out just a little more than the teardrop. Doesn't have to be "extended", just real easy to get your thumb on it.

But, anything you can swap back to "stock" in about five minutes is OK.

And, don't get hung up on accuracy. Putting a full magazine into about a 6" circle at 30' is plenty good enough for a carry gun, and with reasonable skill levels, that'd be a really bad day's shooting.

Joe and I like to put a few magazines worth downrange from 60', and then move up to 30'. The "bull" looks like a garbage can lid by then....

Regards,

The ejection port is lowered and flared as it is. Look at the second picture in the first post.