Para carry failure to feed issues

[frankie_the_yankee]

I have had failure to feed problems with my Para 6.45 LDA. What happens is that the round gets hung up on the feed ramp. Rapping the back of the slide would usually drive it forward and into battery. Given the ramped barrel design, this is the last thing I would expect from any Para. But as the saying goes, "it is what it is".

While experimenting to identify the cause, I found that I could get good feeding using my Wilson Combat magazines instead of the ones that Para supplies. The only problem is that the Wilson mags are somewhat longer than the compact style grip frame of the Para, so they would stick out past the grip frame by quite a bit.

For the heck of it, I tried swapping the Wilson springs and followers into the Para mags. (The Wilson followers are shaped a little differently than the Paras.) With the Wilson parts, feeding was flawless. So, figuring the problem was solved, I ordered some Wilson springs and followers and installed them in my Para mags.

With this setup, I got through an IDPA match with no problems. So I figured I was good to go.

Lucky for me, I had read a lot of stuff on the Para Forum about the alleged short service life of the recoil spring assembly of the 6.45 LDA. I have chatted with Para's Service Dept. about this, and they said the assembly should be replaced every 1000 rounds or so. So I ordered one from Brownell's right away. It was back ordered and took about 4 weeks to come through.

So it was sitting in my gun box when, at Saturday's IDPA match, the failure to feed problems resurfaced.

Needless to say, on the way home form the match my Commander was pressed into service as my carry gun. Luckily, it fits the Galco Royal Guard holster I use for the Para just fine. (The end of the barrel sticks out [abbreviated profanity deleted] the holster a bit, but not enough to make me buy another one.)

Today, I field stripped and cleaned the Para. When I went to install the new recoil spring assembly, I noticed two things right away.

1) The main spring on the new assembly was about 1/2 inch longer than on the old one.

2) The new spring was much, much stronger than the old one. I could barely get it installed. And after the gun was re-assembled, it took much more effort to cycle the slide.

I suspect that the new spring has enough "oomph" to overcome rounds sticking on the feed ramp. But I won't know for sure until I put some rounds through it.

Now I am curious as to whether my old spring was shorter and weaker because it was worn out, or if Para has upgraded the springs they supply now to eliminate failures to feed.

I noticed today that Brownell's now stocks replacement springs as seperate pieces. (No need to buy the whole assembly.) So I bought 3 of them. With two assemblies, I can always have a fresh one for carry and use the other one for practice and competition.

Anyone else have any experiences along these lines?

[carlson1]

Frankie this will be the best advice given for you.

[frankie_the_yankee]

Frankie this will be the best advice given for you.

Too bad they don't make one with an LDA trigger.

[carlson1]

In one of the low points of my life I bought a Para. I could never get to used to the trigger. I have problems with the DA/SA also. I am sure your problem will be solved before long. Good luck with it.
Carl

[frankie_the_yankee]

In one of the low points of my life I bought a Para. I could never get to used to the trigger. I have problems with the DA/SA also. I am sure your problem will be solved before long. Good luck with it.
Carl

I love the LDA trigger, especially for a carry gun.

But it has to be reliable.

[Kalrog]

Frankie - I had similar issues with my 7.45 LDA. I also had a similar solution, but I messed with the extractor first and that helped a bunch as well. I don't think that ParaOrd's QA is quite up to where I want it, but I would put it on par with most of the other major manufacturers. The tiny 1911 style is notoriously difficult to get right - it was designed by JMB as a 5" gun for a reason (timing), but we like it smaller. So we tweak it a bit.

And about the LDA trigger - someone mentioned not liking the DA/SA transition. Well the beauty of this is that there is the same light trigger pull each shot. I really like the entire package that Para offers for carry more than just about any other 1911 out there.

[saltydog]

No disrespect, but it would seem to me that the problem is with the folks at Para-Ordinance. They made it, and, by implication, it is/was servicable when it went to the shipping whse. Let them fix it.

They aren't going to know if their QC folks are asleep at the wheel if the customers do not tell them.


salty

[flintknapper]

Frankie,

If you are not already using a good gun "grease" on the slide rails..do so. The Para's like a lot of lube.

If it were mine, I'd polish the mag. lips..and the feed ramp. The stronger spring alone will probably solve your problem, but there is no reason your new Para shouldn't be reliable...my daughters is.

[Mike from Texas]

I had almost the exact same problem on my Ultra Carry when I got it. I took it back to my dealer and the put a heck of a polish job on the ramp and throat. then I changed the recoil spring from a factory 17# model to a 21# Wolff and have had no problems since.

I know that Wilson Combat uses 22# springs in theirs.

[frankie_the_yankee]

Range tested the gun with the new recoil spring assembly installed. Perfect functioning with all 3 magazines.

I guess they (Para) are not kidding when they say to replace the recoil spring every 800-1200 rounds or so. It was right around 800 when mine developed the failure to feed problem.

It seems like owning this thing is a little like owning an early Harley. You have to be a bit of a mechanic. Super compact 45ACP's seem to have quirks of one kind or another.

So now I just keep a stock of springs, do a little preventative maintenance (change 'em at around 700 rounds) and it should be good to go.