Dan Mancini

I was thinking of taking one of my .40S&W that I don’t shoot much and converting it to 10 mm. The gun is a ParaOrdnance TJ1640. Has anyone done this? Does it just involve cutting the chamber?

Way to go Gary! You better watch out, it's addictive. Just wait until you shoot some really big field courses and it suddenly dawns on you that for all those years you've been holding your breath when you shoot. Have fun, wish I could have been there to see it. Dan

For the purposes of testing only, put the stock recoil spring back in the gun and see if you get the same failures. Are your light primer strikes off center in the primer? The recoil spring puts tension on the slide to hold the slide in battery as the trigger bar pushes the striker rearward. If the recoil spring pressure does not exceed your striker spring and trigger bar pressure, the slide will slip out of battery and then the safety plunger does it's job and prevents the gun from firing. A 13 pound spring doesn't sound too low, but you never know, there are spring failures from new stock. If it solves your problem then start lowering recoil spring rates from stock until you get failures, and move one pound heavier. Dan

I have both, a CR Speed for my 1911 and a Ghost for my Glock. I think the Ghost is much better. Smaller in size, easier to use lock and a big issue I have is it clamps to your belt, so once you set it up, it never moves. The CR Speed will move around if you sit down, kneel down or worse, catch it on something. Find another shooter that has each and give them a try, before you buy one. Dan

Both STI and SVI magazines fit the gun. The STI mags seem to be loose in the gun, they sort of rattle a bit. I'm not sure if it effects function, when I fire the gun the mag drops out. So I don't know for sure. The SVI mags seem to fit perfectly, no rattle, no movement. The problem is the mag release does not reach into the magazines far enough to hold them. On the SVI mags, the release is even with the mag tube inside edge, when you look at the release with Para mags or look at an STI/SVI with a mag inserted, the mag release extends inside the mag tube for a more secure engagement. I'm not sure if anyone offers a longer mag release or if you can modify one to extend into the mag tube farther, that is my next job. I would think if I find a good welder, they could weld material onto the catch portion to make the engagement surface longer and it could be polished out like new. Or I think you may be able to modify a mag release by turning the stop shoulder down to extend into the gun further. I don't know which would be easier. Does anyone know if a longer mag release is available? Any of the gunsmiths on the forum done this before? Dan

I am a Para Owner, I have a P16-40J, which I bought over a year ago. So this will not be one of those "I know a guy" or anything like that. The gun is great, it's exactly what I wanted, which was a good 1911 to see if I wanted to switch from my Glocks to 1911's without a second mortgage. I have about 10,000 rounds through it, I have had the PXT extractor break, but Para fixed it at no charge. And I have many more "rounds" through it dry firing getting used to a 1911 trigger, so it's been used hard. And the gun just keeps running. The problem for me are magazines. Para mags suck! I have been fighting mag problems for just about the whole 2007 shooting season and have switched back to my Glock 35 because I can't get my mags to work. Para mags suck. The gun worked great with the mags from Para with original springs and Dawson basepads, 20 +1. I have 7 of them, they all worked. But once the original springs died they have never work since and I have thrown away a lot of money on matches and travel costs because the mags puke. When I called Para they suggested I put the mags back to stock. Well DUH! I didn't know I was going to be restricted to Limited 10 when I bought the gun. I have been on here several times looking for advice and/or help and have tried everything that has been suggested and the mags still don't work. And the sad part of it is, it would be such a simple fix for Para to correct. But unfortunately I now have to become a die maker to fix it myself or spend another $500 or so to switch over to SVI mags and a new mag release. For a gun marketed as a Todd Jarrett model and with a USPSA logo right on the gun, it is really unacceptable that it won't work. And it's bad, because the gun is terrific. Has a good trigger, it comes with good parts, runs great but if the mags don't work, it's a single shot. I even e-mailed Todd and asked for help, that didn't work. Would I recommend a Para to someone, yes I would. As long as they are willing to invest in SVI mags to correct the sorry magazines that come from Para. Dan

CED 8000 does this. I use mine all the time when I dry fire practice. Dan

"Shooting factory winclean 180gr" There's your problem. Shoot regular White box and it will work fine. And who cares how hard it recoils when you spend the day clearing jambs? Dan

With my P16, I use para mags with Dawson basepads. If I load 18 rounds or more the follower locks up inside the mag. The mags worked fine until the springs wore out and I had to replace them. I have tried new springs, stock para and ISMI, but the problems persist. I just got some Wolff +10% but haven't had a chance to try them. What's happening is the bead rolling on the sides of the mags stops about an inch from the bottom of the mag, when you put the basepad on and load more than 17 rounds the follower slips below the bead and locks up inside. They should hold 20 rounds. I don't know if the springs are not shaped correctly, maybe nose down or something. I have found out that SVI mags seem to fit and function fine, STI mags are a little loose in the gun and I don't know yet if they function. But I don't know if I have to modify the mag release to use them. I would prefer to stick to the para mags, I have 7 of them so it's gonna be expensive to repace them. I would really appreciate any help. Dan

I see the error of my ways. Thanks for the info. I guess I'm still looking for a solution to my P16 mag problems. Dan

Has anyone picked up some of the new Para PXT magazines with the straight wall sides? Will Dawson basepads fit? http://www.paraord.com/pages/highcapmags.html They look like they will solve my mag problems, but I don't want to order them if my basepads won't fit. Dan

I used the pin number that's on the front cover of the Front Sight magazine. It's hidden next to the word "Pin." Dan

Have stages been posted somewhere? Dan

I've been fighting this same problem for a few months now. Para P16, dawson basepads, stock followers and springs. This combo worked great until the springs died. I've tried ISMI springs and stock para springs from Dawson and they both lock up the follower in the mag with 18 rounds. I've taken some serious hits at big matches because my mags keep failing and I need to solve this. Are the Wolff springs any different? Are you guys talking about a P16 or a P14? Does it make a difference? Thanks for the help, Dan

Ken, I think this is what you're looking for, http://www.jerrybarnhart.com/bpp.htm They're the Burner Grips. I also shoot a Para P16, and have these grips on my gun. They work great. Have the same texture as skateboard tape, but won't move around or wear out. I'm also in Texas so I know what you mean about how long tape lasts due to sweat or water. Dan