SSGJohnV

On my single stack a cutout for my thumb really helped with not shifting my grip for the reload. I would hate to have to relearn a technique after doing that for the last 5-7 years.

Below zero weather? Here in Alaska we still do 3-gun and steel challenge when it's like negative 10. Can't use standard lubes, though...

Thanks for the info. Gans looks promising. About how much weight do standard 3 or 4 hole cuts take off? I am looking to improve the balance of the gun, as well. It feels more front heavy than my single stack 1911, oddly.

Hello All, I'm interested in getting my Para P16-40's slide lightened, both for the cool factor and for the performance advantage. My local GS is willing and able to do it, but I need to decide how exactly I want to go about it. I've thought about going like a G34/XD(M) 5.25 and just taking a hunk of the slide off between the front sight and the locking lugs, but could I go even further than that and make it essentially look like a Beretta M9 slide? By that I mean leave the rails, locking lugs, front sight, and bushing lockup area intact, but remove the inbetween metal as much as possible. Would that be feasible? Seems like it would take the most weight and I wouldn't mind the look of it. Alternatively, I was just going to get it tri-topped and diagonally cut behind the front cocking serrations for the cool factor. Any input on this to provide me? I know I'm going to have to change my loads and play with recoil springs to avoid battering my frame, but I'm 90% sure I want to cut my slide up. Thanks. -SSGJohnV PS: It's a stainless Para P16-40 from 1999 and I was going to get it cerakoted right after the milling, so no need to worry about screwing up a finish.

Took her out today. Accuracy was great. The dang mag catch made it a single shot unless I teacupped the grip, but overall very nice. I learned the importance of staying loyal to a local gunsmith today. I went and tried to see if they could fix me up with a new mag catch for it, seeing as Uspsa is tomorrow morning...and my new GC mag catch won't arrive until tomorrow afternoon, and they took one out of another gun and let me borrow it until Monday. Highly doubt they would have let me if I was some Joe off the street. Loaded the mags up and the ones with Arredondo base pads take 19, reloadable and the one with the stock Para basepad holds 17. I have a DP basepad on the way so I'll see if they hold 20 with that and Arredondo springs. Here's hoping I can keep it together tomorrow at the match.

http://imgur.com/x0To4bp http://imgur.com/mjTt996 Ill resize the pics and post them proper tomorrow. Found a small problem, but luckily the fix is easy and already on its way in the mail. The original plastic mag catch is so worn out you can pull the magazine out of the gun without touching the button...I have a GC extended release already ordered on monday from DP. More to follow tomorroq.

Good to know. I received the pistol today. It's in great overall shape, but I'm glad I already have a DP front sight on order, and I might need to replace the rear as well. Thankfully I believe this para is a standard Bomar cut, unlike my Desert Eagle 1911 with its Kimber cuts. Those are a PITA to find sights for. Series 80 parts are still in it, but the trigger is more than halfway decent, already. Flat trigger is definitely going in, though. Thanks again for the help and advice. I'm going to run it in USPSA Limited this weekend the way it is in order to make sure I'm not making unnecessary changes, then drop it off at the smith to have tuned up.

Question on the guncraft trigger. I have a 10-8 flat trigger in my SS 1911. Is the GC trigger longer than the 10-8? What I mean is it the same length as a long trigger or what? Woukd it be easy enough for my smith to shorten it if need be? I am about to order the GC and a Caspian wide ambi thumb safety to have fitted along with a DP frony sight. Any caveats to those choices?

Sorry, I should have mentioned the main reason I don't want to use the Mec-Gar magazines is that the tubes are too short to use with an extended basepad in a mag funnel. So, combination of capacity and usefulness for USPSA Limited. I found a good deal on some triple K mags (I know, I don't expect much) and I'm going to see if I can at least use the tubes for some backup mags with Arredondo or DP base pads. Thanks again for the input.

I called Para yesterday asking about the redesigned mags and they had no clue, except to say they were "in testing" at the moment. I was asking because I saw several original Canadian P18 mags for sale on the web, but almost no P16 mags. I will buy the modded catch eventually, but I already have 4 original Para mags set up, so then I would have to mod them as well if I don't want to just throw away the investment/utility of them. I'm going to give an STI mag a shot this weekend, borrowed from a buddy. I only plan on shooting limited or L10 with this gun, so no real need to buy a 170mm tube. Thanks for the fast replies, gents. I appreciate it.

Hello All, I was looking online for original made in Canada P16-40 mags so I could have some spares for competition and it occurred to me. Can I use or convert P14-45 or P18-9 mags to work in a 1999 Para Limited P16-40? I imagine the P18 mags would be a better bet but I don't know for sure. I know I can get a converted mag catch to use STI mags, but 20-21 rounds reloadable with DP base pads sounds pretty enticing. Any thoughts?

That's just the thing, about the powder. Hazmat fees to Alaska, because it cannot be shipped through Canada, are up the yin-yang. We get all of our hazmat through barges once, maybe twice a week. The powder and primer shortage hit us especcially hard up here in the Frozen North. I have heard everyone talk about N320, and while I am a frugal guy and try to stay away from VV if I can avoid it, I will look into it and try to snag some from a buddy to try it out. WST, N320, Power Pistol, and W-231 are all on my short list of powders I need to replenish.

Hello all, I shoot a .45 1911 in L10 and load to major for that, but I just recently bought a Para P16-40 and would like to know my best bet for making major with the powder I have available. I found a good deal on some Rainier 165 grain HP's so I'll be starting off with those, but I live in Alaska so my powder selection is basically what I can snag at the local shops before the hoard of others get to it. So, using the powders I have listed, where should I start to get a major load with 165 grain plated? Powders I have: Clays 3N37 Unique Red dot Zip Longshot Primers are CCI SPM and SP, Winchester SR, and Winchester SP I already plan on loading long as the gun will most likely benefit from it and it will help me stay away from over pressure rounds. Thanks for the help. -John

Thank you all for the input. I decided to just get a blade-tech DOH holster so it's easier to run in 3-gun as well. I will wait to order the sleeve as this gun was set up for competition and I forgot to ask about series 80 parts. I'm probably going to find and install a flat trigger anyhow, so I'll just wait till then and figure it out when I get there. I will most likely go with a modded mag catch to run sti mags eventually but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Just ordered dies and some165 grain bullets for the thing and am hoping to use it in USPSA on the 5th and then 3gun later in October. Edit:spelling

Hello All, I am awaiting receipt of my Para P16-40 in the next week or so and have some questions for you about holsters and mags and really the gun itself. I looked around and there didn't seem to be the answer to my exact questions, so here goes. This is going to be a limited gun, so keep that in mind. I was looking at a WSM II race holster for it and I didn't see an option for that gun on the DAA website. Should I select STI as the gun model? Will that work? I use a DAA Racer holster currently for my L10 1911 (Gov. model) It's coming with 4 stock Para mags (pre 2001 gun, if that matters), 3 of which have Arredondo blue base pads, and a Dawson ICE magwell. Are there better/more reliable options out there or should I be good to go with the Arredondo's? I will of course test the mags for function and all of that once I receive the gun. Should I expect to have to load long for this gun (1.180) to get it to feed? I have heard mention of being able to use STI triggers in these guns, and I have a personal preference to flat triggers on my firearms. Anyone know where I can find such a beast? In general, should I look at STI parts when/if I want to change some things, like the safety, fire control, and the like? I'm getting the feeling that this gun is almost an STI knockoff. And lastly, should I expect this gun to be series 80, and will that affect my trigger selections? Thank you all for the help, and take care. -John

Yup. Eliminator is right. My power 10 mags are hella reliable, and I could run them here at my local matches without too much fuss, but I prefer to play the game the right way so I won't get called out on it down the road by mistake. I ordered 4 CMC 8 round power mags with DP base pads from DP (LEM discount) and have other mags to use until then. Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll definitely look into the Tripp mags if I'm in the market later on, though.

Hello All, Long time lurker, first time poster here at the BE forums and I have a question for you. I recently bought and installed a Dawson Precision ICE magwell (with gap) on my Desert Eagle 1911 (full size gov model) and have a question regarding magazine and basepad selection. I play USPSA (Limited 10) and IDPA (CDP). For L-10 I use CMC power-10 round magazines that work fine with the magwell by default. In IDPA I am forced to use 8 round magazines ONLY. I currently have -3 WC 47D's -2 Ruger SR1911 mags -2 ACT mags with DP basepads already With the magwell on I pretty much need basepads for a mag insertion and am ready to just order 4 of em and the basepads, but which ones? The 47'D's are OK, I guess, but they are really hard to seat when full. Should I get the ETM's and upgrade from there? I guess my question is, what 8 rouond 1911 magazine and extended basepad combo would work best? Thank you for your time. -SSG John V.