A new GAP pistol from Para-Ordnance

[gary newport]

I got my Midway flier over the weekend and was pleased to note a picture of the cover of the June issue of Guns & Ammo indicates that Para-Ordnance has a small 1911 chambered in .45 GAP. Springfield had announced something similar a while back but I don't know if it has been released. Of course, Springfield has released their XD in .45 GAP (as well as .45 ACP).

More makers offering pistols in .45 GAP (even if they are 1911s) is a Good Thing for all GAP owners!

[pds]

This is encouraging news for shooters that like this cartridge like myself. I would really like to see how this cartridge would do in the bullseye shooting world on a 1911 frame put together by a gunsmith who builds match competition guns. Maybe its already been tried I don't follow that circuit enough to know. But either way another gun in this cartridge has to help promote it. Succeed or fail I'm having a blast with my G38.

[Rusty Phillips]

Originally posted by pds
This is encouraging news for shooters that like this cartridge like myself. I would really like to see how this cartridge would do in the bullseye shooting world on a 1911 frame put together by a gunsmith who builds match competition guns.

I have wondered the same thing - would a 1911 in 45 gap be more accurate than the same gun in 45 acp?


ps - the para - here's a pic

http://www.gunblast.com/images/SHOT2006/Day3/DSC08088.jpg

[BrianNH]

Originally posted by Rusty Phillips
[B]I have wondered the same thing - would a 1911 in 45 gap be more accurate than the same gun in 45 acp?


I'll bet it would be more reliable. Those mini 1911's in 45 acp are nothing but nighmares to get running right, and some never do. Wilson Combat wont even build a 1911 under 4" because of this. I think this is another area where the GAP cartridge shines.

[JetPilot]

Brian - that's incorrect about Wilson Combat not building guns under 4" anymore. Due to demand from the CCW types, they've just reintorduced their Sentinel sub compact sized 1911, in the same format as their previous Sentinel, for this model year. It is basically an Officers length and has a 3.6" barrel. They claim it runs reliably. That has not been my experience and personally I won't have a 1911 under 4-1/4" for my CCW uses, and I really prefer 5" barreled 1911's.

Would a sub 4" barreled GAP be more reliable than the same gun in ACP? Knowing that slide speed is the key to reliability and function on the sub compact 1911's, I for one doubt it would make any difference. Now accuracy may be a different story.....

Regarding the new Para Carry, I think they're on the right track here using the 45GAP, although it's still way too heavy for my CCW tastes. At 29 ounces it weighs two ounces more than my Nighthawk Custom Lightweight Bobtail 1911 which has a 4-1/4" barrel in true Commander style format. At a capacity of 6+1 the Para Carry again falls short of my NHC LTW which holds 8+1. Absolutely no comparison.

If a 1911 style weapon isn't a key requirement, and let's face it, this Para is not a true 1911 single action style weapon with it's flush hammer and LDA trigger, the Para is 10-1/2 ounces heavier than my Kahr P45 and has the same ammo capacity. Again, not even a close comparison. Nor does it begin to compare to the Glock G38 or G39 as far as either weight or ammo capacity. While the Para Carry is a "cute" looking sub compact 1911, it would have to be significantly lighter to catch my interest for my CCW uses. YMMV.

I have two 45GAP's currently, a G38 and a G37 and I'm very pleased with both. I CCW with them often which says a lot since I'm a die hard 1911 guy. While I see the logic and flexibility of the 45GAP cartridge, I haven't seen anybody jump up and build a better platform for it than the Glocks so far. The XD's are nice but they came in a bit heavier than the Glocks (and I like XD's, I have both an XD45 Service and an XD45 Tactical, both 45ACP's), and the Springfield 1911 Micro Gap seems to be on hold for now which means it's probably a stillborn idea, though the introduction of the new Para may change that.

For now, until somebody designs something to really take advantage of the GAP dimensions, let all my 45GAP's be Glocks.

[GRR]

Just like Springfield's subcompact non-starter (don't think they ever actually put it on the market), I think Para is making a mistake starting with a subcompact. I'd buy one in a compact size (4" barrel, 7 round mag) in a heartbeat.

[KingEDC]

Originally posted by gary newport
I got my Midway flier over the weekend and was pleased to note a picture of the cover of the June issue of Guns & Ammo indicates that Para-Ordnance has a small 1911 chambered in .45 GAP. Springfield had announced something similar a while back but I don't know if it has been released. Of course, Springfield has released their XD in .45 GAP (as well as .45 ACP).

More makers offering pistols in .45 GAP (even if they are 1911s) is a Good Thing for all GAP owners!


It is a good thing.I doubt I will get one though.But just cause I dont like it doesnt mean someone else wont.If I get a 1911 it would have to be a full size.Which could be had with the acp ,just as with the small frame.I started with GAP so looking at a acp ,it seems like the acp is to big.

[Rusty Phillips]

Springfield is bringing out their small frame 1911 after all - first in 9mm

http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=604610

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-1911-emp.shtml

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/emp/Large/COMPARISONL.gif

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/emp/Large/EMPvsMicroL.gif

has anybody got their hands on one of the small Paras yet?
http://www.internetguncatalog.com/customerpages/details.asp?ItemNum=38856&CustNum=95652
http://www.internetguncatalog.com/pics/12663.jpg