The "Pretty Turd"

by cas, Saturday, February 02, 2019, 19:39 (2122 days ago) @ E Sisk
edited by cas, Saturday, February 02, 2019, 20:01

I did something I knew I shouldn't do. I bought a Para. Talk inside and outside Para USA was they'd improved quality and customer service. I still didn't trust them and knew I shouldn't buy one. Remington acquired Para and I thought if I were going to gamble, do it now before Remington made them worse. I knew I shouldn't do it. But I did anyway.

Cheap MIM parts. I didn't care all that much, I have a habit of eventually changing everything inside a 1911 anyway.
Slide to frame fit was beautiful, tight. No movement at all. Fit and finish were superb. I was impressed.
But... the barrel lockup wasn't great. Pressure on the barrel hood showed downward movement. It turned out it was the least accurate 1911 I've ever shot and that includes some really loose Officer's ACP's. I tried a tight custom bushing, tried a "group gripper", it didn't help. In 400-450 rounds the very tight gun turned into a rattle trap. I drove 6 hours to a Remington warrenty shop and they didn't think there was anything wrong with it. (because they hadn't seen the dramatic change in before and after.) They told me it was unlikely the factory would do anything for me. So I took it home and sold it with full disclosure. Paid pert near $1200 if not more. Sold it for half that.

I've come to refer to it as the pretty turd.