ltwguns.com

I've been visiting this site for about a year now, and Ive seen some truly amazing pistols here. Up until recently I've never considered myself a 1911 man, I've always had a fetish for Dr. Gaston's fine tupperware. I truly took glock whoring to a new level, and was proud of it.

On a recent tour to Iraq, I was issued a 1911. Now dont get me wrong, I've always thought they were fine weapons, and I like them, I was just of the mind set that one should choose a single weapon style, train with it, love it, and bond with it. However I ended up with a 1911 as my only choice for a .45 caliber weapon, so I took it.

One year later I return, pick up my trusty glock 21 and 30, head to the range, and well... lets just say I was not happy with the results of my efforts. I borrow a 1911 from a fellow at the range, and the difference is marked. To make a long story short, I've basicly ruined myself for anything else but a 1911, so I've decided to convert.

After much deliberation, I opted to for a widebody 1911, and the para ordinance p13 was what I settled on. I've found a gunsmith in my area who does good work, and has good pricing, and I am just about ready to drop my pistol off to him, but I want to make sure that I do this right. With that in mind, here are my questions:

Bearing in mind that I am a basic, no frills kind of guy, I am not terribly concerned with how "pretty" the weapon turns out (basicly I'm looking for a finished product similar to the MEU reproduction pistol a few posts below, just a stellar working gun). I have some modifications in mind that I want, but I don't really need all the things like slide serations, checkering, ect ect. What I dont know is what are the best parts to use? Here is a list of the modifications I plan to order, I would appreciate some opinions as to what parts will best suit my needs.

1: install match barrel (bull or normal? what brand?)
2: install high ride beavertail grip safety. (what brand?)
3: Install "longer trigger" (Brand?)
3: install novak style sights (is novak the best, if not who?)
4: replace all the internal fire control parts with aftermarket stuff (brand(s)?)
5: Install larger style thumb safety (brand?)
6: Reliability tune.
7: refit frame to slide (its a bit loose, and I am definitly not liking that)
8: refinish in some sort of VERY durable finish. When I visited Mr. Rogers site I saw a pistol he had done in a grey finish, I really like that color, what is that finish?

Thank you in advance gentlemen, any help is greatly appreciated. Also, I know a lot of folks here are professional gunsmiths, and time is money. Not being one to be a mooch, I offer some knowlege of my own in trade. I am an IT professional these days, if any of y ou have computer problems or questions, I will do my best to help you out, and at the very least get you pointed in the right direction.

Bolt

Boltmond,

First, whatever it was you were doing in Iraq, thanks for doing it.

Lessee here.


1: install match barrel (bull or normal? what brand?) Only if it needs it. group it off bags at 25 yards first. Everybody will have their own spec-- I like to see 2" or less but 6" is probably more than good enough. Some folks would say it's dumb to even group it at that distance and almost insinuate that a real man would get closer first .
2: install high ride beavertail grip safety. (what brand?) Yes, whatever brand your guy says will work best.
3: Install "longer trigger" (Brand?) personal pref here. I'm an oddball, I like short.
3: install novak style sights (is novak the best, if not who?) Personal pref again. Get night sights front and rear. Lots of guys like them only in front. I like to tease these guys that by that logic, they need a removable rear sight so they can take it off for day use.
4: replace all the internal fire control parts with aftermarket stuff (brand(s)?) Yes. In a Para, yes.
5: Install larger style thumb safety (brand?) Personal pref..... I don't use them but most guys do.
6: Reliability tune.
7: refit frame to slide (its a bit loose, and I am definitly not liking that)
8: refinish in some sort of VERY durable finish.

6 and 7, I've worked on Paras very little so all I can say is 6 for sure, and regarding 7, I presume a Para can be tightened like any 1911.

But here's the deal on Paras, this is my opinion only. I have seen where guys make something nice out of them, I've read guys' accounts of their Paras that work great, but every time I look at one I am extremely underwhelmed. Now I will admit that this is not based on dozens of samples, but I got turned off from them early on for being rough, loose, and unreliable-- this may well have changed. Since I have admittedly kinda closed my mind to them I have not really looked any over in the last couple years. And it is certainly not like I don't regularly find alarming shortcomings in other brands of 1911. The last thing I want to do is dis your choice but likewise I would not want to with hold my observations if they might help you.

Thanks much for your advice ned, others have expressed the same opinion of paras in PM's.

My brother has a Para worked over by Kings. It is very tight, accurate, and reliable. I don't know the specifics of the work done, because he got it second-hand, but it was extensive. Alas, this one example is the only Para that I have had the oppurtunity to shoot, so for the balance of the discussion, I defer to the Masters.

Todd