Power Extractor My A**

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

model4006

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
333
so i recently bought a para ordinance s16-40 limited. pretty pricy gun but i wanted a really high quality .40 cal 1911 for target shooting. what i got was a jam-o-matic. the only gun ive seen jam more was a taurus pt 111 my friend had. i can NOT believe this. not only does it double feed (see title of this post) but it will also jam on the way to battery, (round sorta crooked and stuck on its way in) and also i got one stovepipe. today it jammed 4 times in 50 rounds (all double feeds), which for me, for a 1300 dollar gun, is totally outrageous.

im really frustrated that para's claim to fame the "power extractor" seems to be the problem. what else causes double feeds? i thoroughly cleaned and properly oiled the gun too.

i guess monday ill call para and start the whole process of sending it back, i hope it doesnt take forever.

no real point to this post other than to complain about my expensive junky gun, and to see if anyone else has had problems with para's. or if youve had any experience with their customer satisfaction.
 
I'm in the process of buying an S16-40 Limited. While your post is a bit worrying to me, chances are likely it's just a freak thing, as I've heard so much good about this gun. Don't fret yet, I'm sure Para will make it right for you. :)

From what I understand, most of these problems come back to ammunition and magazines. Do you have the full 16-round mags, or the neutered 10 rounders? What kind of ammo are you using? How does the fit & finish feel between the slide and the frame?
 
If you search for Para problems, you will find a few horror stories, but I'm not necessarily convinced that it is pandemic. A friend of mine just ordered a custom Hi-cap from them, and the slide had been squeezed in a vise so hard, it was out of spec, the guide rod/plug wouldn't release to strip it. When we finally did get it apart, a flat edge in the round cavity was visible. They fixed this quickly and without argument, and reimbursed my friend for shipping.

The difference between your problem and THAT problem is, that one was obvious, and it's pretty difficult to imagine how it could have been caused by the user on a brand new gun. Your problem is more vague, and I could see a test of wills to get it fixed, free, and fast.
 
While I have never owned a .40, I hear from my fellow competitive shooters that they can be temperamental to get up and running.
 
the ammo was independence, 180 gr fmj. the mags are 10 rd because gander mtn lied to me (another chapter to the nightmare) and they are ordering me the hi cap mags.

i dont see how mags could be causing the double feeds.

the fit and finish on this gun is the nicest ive ever seen. it doesnt feel sloppy or anything. the slide is really hard to pull back, like way harder than any other .40 i have felt, but it doesnt feel wrong, just like its got a stiff recoil spring.

taurus pt 111 is a small 9mm, and that was a friends, not mine.
 
I hate to tell you after the fact, but Para Ordnance makes nothing but crap. You are just one of many with stories similar to this. I was one, too. Bought all the hype, spent my money, got a hunk of worthless steel. Well, some steel and a lot of plastic.

I know of two gunshops that refuse to sell them now, one used to be a big Para supporter. Quality went into the gutter, Bon stopped selling them. He won't even order one for you if you ask.

You'll also likely find that Para will be about as helpful as a brick wall in resolving this. They've got your money, they're happy. You'll also discover that they will talk about out of spec parts as being somewhat common and no big deal. Of course not, they've got your money.

Search my username and "Para Ordnance" in this forum, I posted my own tale of carnage and woe about two years ago. I wouldn't own another Para if they paid me to take it. I'd trade the worthless thing for something that actually worked. Maybe upgrade to a pointy stick.
 
I was told by a dealer when looking at a Para 1911 double stack just two weeks ago that he had a lot of complaints about reliablity and many had to be returned to be fixed.

On the other hand I have a Taurus PT145 Mil Pro 45acp that has not had a single failure to feed any SD ammo etc thrown at it over the last 1.5years of owning and carrying it. Go figure!
 
^^ Someone has Glocks on the brain. While they are a good pistol they aren't for everyone including me. I prefer 1911's for 45's and CZ75's for wonder nines.
 
Jamming is caused by the mag or the ammo. If the ammo doesn't have enough energy to cycle the action properly, the ejector won't work properly. Double feeding is a mag issue.
Change ammo first. Then look at the mag lips, then the recoil spring. Most likely an ammo thing though.
Contact Para anyway. They're not highly thought of, up here, either, but not for the same reason. Paras are made in Canada, but they ignore the Canadian market, such as it is, pretty much entirely. For example, Canadians are not eligible for any of their promotions.
 
the ammo was independence, 180 gr fmj. the mags are 10 rd because gander mtn lied to me (another chapter to the nightmare) and they are ordering me the hi cap mags.

i dont see how mags could be causing the double feeds.

the fit and finish on this gun is the nicest ive ever seen. it doesnt feel sloppy or anything. the slide is really hard to pull back, like way harder than any other .40 i have felt, but it doesnt feel wrong, just like its got a stiff recoil spring.
Click to expand...

Wait till you get some 16 rounders before you pass judgment. Also, with the real stiff spring, try some real hot .40 loads. Pick up a couple of boxes of doubletap .40S&W ammo and see how that works for you.

If the hot ammo works without issue, then you just need to get a slightly softer spring.
 
Reliability has never been a strong point with Para guns.

They will however do their best to fix your gun.
It sounds like you may have two problems.
1. Your chamber maybe too tight.
2. Your extractor has too much tension on it.
 
but why

should a person who spends a grand plus hav eto put up with this type of poor quality. Not just with Para's. There are others out there that don't do any better.

I bought a new Para Carry 9. the most accurate handgun I owned at the time. loved the LDA trigger system and would say today it is the best -- bar none.

BUT I had to send mine back 3 times in less than 6 months of ownership for issus.

The alloy frame started to chip and peel right after the first 100 rounds. The gun looked a 100 years old.

I think the Para service in Tn tried their best to make my Carry 9 work correctly, but just never could get it right. I peddled it .

One just should not have to jack with these 1911's like I read so much many have to do to get them running right. We tend to blame the ammo, mags and what ever but the blame has to lay with Para Inc ...A shame to..
 
Yeah well

should a person who spends a grand plus hav eto put up with this type of poor quality. Not just with Para's. There are others out there that don't do any better.
Click to expand...
The better question is why do people spend a grand plus knowing they'll have to put up that type of poor quality? Para's issues are well known.
 
im not really fond of buying some hot ammo (price), but ill be more than happy to load up some fairly hot rounds and try them out.

it does feel like the recoil spring is awfully stiff.

first thing is first, hotter ammo, and the 16 round mags i have already ordered. If those dont fix the problem, im going to send it back.

i had no idea para's were known for reliability problems, i NEVER would have bought one. i read quite a bit online and didnt see anybody complaining. next time ill look longer...
 
Let me rephrase something I have said many times. A company's customer service should be judged not on whether they fix their guns but on how often they have to.

I have a feeling of disgust when I read that someone has had to send a pistol back a half dozen times but "it is a great gun and Suzie at customer service is nice to talk to."

I think the word for that guy is "sucker." He'll probably buy another gun from them just so he can continue to flirt with Suzie.

Jim
 
I jsut bought a para p14 Gun rights model. It is perfect. no problems whatsoever. at 850$ brand new. You prolly paid way too much and that is your gun dealers fault. I went to cabelas and it costs the sticker price of 1150. By gunsmith and gun shop owner said he can call para and order it for me and it will cost 850. With any product that is sold to a ton of people there are bound to be issues with some of them. You must have some bad luck.
 
The only problem with my Warthog was that the recoil spring assembly broke during the 300 round break in. They replaced it no questions asked and it's been fine, though I've only put about 20 rounds mixed hp and ball ammo through so far. The only failures to feed were during the break in when I went past the recommended cleaning period of 100 rounds just to see how long it would go.
 
i put 1000 rounds through it for my break in, in one sitting, no cleaning, just a good lube in the beginning. this is the first pistol that i had that had no problems during the break in. the para p14 45 gun rights is the finest gun ive own and ever shot. I would recommend it to everyone. in fact my gun smith and shop (Golden Trigger) in Emmaus they have another one for sale for 850 and im thinking of getting my buddy a brother lol
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Z
  • Locked
Para's new PXT (Power Extractor)
Replies
3
Views
451
OEF_VET
O
A
  • Locked
Para Power Extractor
Replies
7
Views
708
halvey
H
M
  • Locked
Hungarian Hi-Power 45 ACP pistol by FEG -- is it any good?
Replies
5
Views
3K
matis
M
2
  • Locked
New Para Warthog 3"barrel 10+1 .45
Replies
2
Views
763
wally
wally
1
  • Locked
Do any 1911 makers besides Para Ordnance plan to start using Power Extractors?
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
Old Fuff
O
Back
Top