Para Ordnance C6.45 LDA REVIEW

[Betty]

PARA ORDNANCE C6.45 LDA
3” barrel, single stack, .45ACP, 6+1 capacity. Safeties: grip & slide. All stainless, ultra-thin checkered rosewood grips. According to the Para Ordnance website (paraordnance.com), this model was released in November 2001.

ROUNDS FIRED: 300
AMMUNITION: Fiocchi 230gr. FMJ, Sellier & Bellot 230gr. FMJ, 3-D 185gr. JHP
DISTANCE: 10 yards
TARGET: paper, red bullseye 3 1/2” diameter
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BETTY
5’ 4” - 103 lbs - 23 years old
Short history: Experience in handguns includes Kahr K40, Taurus 617, Glock 23. I have been shooting firearms since I was 12, including rifles and shotguns. My first carry pistol was a Walther PPK/S, then the Kahr K40 and a Taurus 617.
Groups with Para Ordnance C6.45 LDA: dinner plate sized, low

BETTY’S REVIEW
Even though my groups aren’t satisfactory yet, the C.645 LDA is a pleasure to shoot. It does not bite my hands. It’s compact size, bobbed-off beavertail, flush hammer and sleek sights make it snagless and concealable, and were the reasons why I chose this .45auto. I cannot reach the slide release unless I shift my hand around from it’s shooting position.

I’ve realized that my ported Taurus 617 has spoiled me (mainly in single action), and so I lost the firm grip I used with my K40. What I’ve learned: if you have different calibers in different packages, especially in pocket-rocket size, DON’T neglect shooting them! Oleg studied my trigger pull when I consistently shot low to the target. I have small hands and I use the last part of the finger to pull the trigger. The reach in relation to the size of my hand caused the muzzle to make a slight dip when I pulled the trigger. When I shifted my hand around to allow the first joint to squeeze the trigger, the dip ceased.

LOVE the trigger action! It is very short and smooth. My conclusion is that I would start using the C6.45 LDA as my primary carry weapon ONLY after it performs successfully through another 500 rounds, no reoccuring problems happen (keep reading), and after my groups improve.
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OLEG
6’ 1” - 150 lbs - 27 years old
Short history: Gun owner since age 23. Carries Kahr P9, Glock 17, Kel-tec P32
Groups with Para Ordnance C6.45 LDA: 2-3”, depending on the shooter’s concentration.

OLEG’S REVIEW
The recoil was noticeable but not uncomfortable. Muzzle flip was quite noticeable but the gun returned on target faster than a full-size 1911. Sight picture is excellent and the curved outline helps to focus on the front sight. Trigger is light but lacking in tactile feedback: I couldn’t figure out when the trigger re-set by feel and a couple of times tried to fire before the gun re-cocked.
The provided magazines functioned well and so did Colt and Pachmayr 7-rounders. Longer magazines fit in snugly and did not wobble. Empty casings ejected reliably but haphazardly. I got hit in the head, shoulders and chest with ejected brass— fortunately, the empties moved much slower than from a full-size 1911.

Field-stripping the 6.45 is easier than with the traditional 1911. No bushing-wrench is required and the recoil assembly re-installs more easily than with the standard 1911. Fit and finish of the gun are good, with only a couple of external marks on the slide.

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PHIL
5’ 10” - 175 lbs - 26 years old
Short history: Experience in handguns includes Colt 1911, CZ75 Compact, Glock 23. Phil has handled firearms since the age of 12, including rifles and shotguns. He’s my brother and the person who taught me how to handle firearms. His carry pistol is whatever he feels like packing at the time. I think it’s the CZ75 now.
Groups with Para Ordnance C6.45 LDA: 2”, in the bullseye consistently

PHIL’S REVIEW (by Betty)
Phil enjoyed shooting the Para Ordnance, even after his initial incident with it (keep reading). He complimented the smooth trigger action and was very pleased to see a small handgun with a 3” barrel that’s so accurate. He’s still trying to pry the price tag out from me, but I won’t tell him (it was $799 before taxes).
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OVERALL:
No misfeeds, 1 stovepipe due to limp wristing. The C6.45 LDA will accept larger capacity single-stack magazines.

There were three problems with the C6.45 LDA. The first was when Phil loaded the pistol (after 200 rounds) and chambered. The firing pin moved all the way forward, sending the firing pin stop flying loose into the ground. The slide would not complete it’s cycle forward, luckily preventing a slam-fire. We are not positive as to why this happened, but we speculate there may have been leftover factory “gunk” around the pin/spring that caused it to stick. I cleaned the pistol before firing, but did not disassemble the firing pin to clean there. We do not believe there was operator error. This was the only instance in which this occured.

The second problem is the inconsistency of the ejected brass. Empty brass would eject in a 6’ radius from 3 o’clock to 7 o’clock from the shooter’s position, and some brass would land on the shooter’s head. It would do this for all three shooters, regardless of the grip.

The third problem is the peening, as you can see in the picture. A local gunsmith speculated that this was part of the breaking-in period and the parts should not peen further.

[notbubba]

Thanks for the update.

I "really liked" your new pistol until I saw the price now I just "like" it.


Hope you shoot safe and keep on

[GSB]

It should be pointed out that this model is different from the LLDA. Aside from the additional "L", the LLDA is slightly smaller but does not accept standard mags -- you're stuck with Para mags. The LDA, as mentioned, gives you the option of shopping around for mags that may work better.

[WESHOOT2]

Thanks for taking the time; too bad it isn't a Glock, though.




---------------------------------

"all my joking is factory joking"

[Stainless]

Looks good; a lot better than the Llama Micromax .380 I tried out a couple of days ago

[Inspector Callahan]

Thanks for the excellent, honest review. Very interesting.

[GSB]

too bad it isn't a Glock, though.

The first tipoff being the good looks.

[AndABeer]

...of the lady or the pistol?

[Tamara]

...most gunrag reviews were this concise and specific.

[Newton]

WOW!!! Great review format!! You should be writing for the gun magazines!!! Loved the format in which you wrote it, and especially found the fact that 3 different people contributed very assuring as to the validity of the content.
There was one part of the review I would like to focus on though. That would be the part about a smith calling what you have in the extreme magnified view peening. Judging from the pic, it’s somewhere between 10 and 20 times magnification, and since there are no real peen marks, which would be extremely evident at that magnification, I would have to say that is most likely a burr somewhere between .002” to .005” high on the radius surface at the firing pin stop cut.
Anyways, that’s just my 2 cents, but like I said, I am MEGA IMPRESSED by your review. Very Classy!!!!

The LLDA thing, from what I understand, was the development name of the C6.45 Para Carry. They are in fact the same pistol. The reason the catalogue from 2001 shows it as the LLDA is because the name wasn’t decided on when the catalogue was being printed, so they used the development name for the catalogue. Now that they are producing them, they are using the name they had decided on. C6.45 Para Carry.

[blades67]

Well done. Now get back out there and practice.

[Betty]

Bumpin' this thread back up....

EAR-TO-EAR GRIN HAPPY NEWS...
Took the Para back out to the range. Cold and rainy, but that didn't stop me. Now that I'm used to the trigger, my groups ALL stayed in the 3" bullseye, consistently! No technical problems, no further peening.

I've realized the main problem in my accuracy was that I was trying SO hard to try to be SO precise in hitting dead center that I took longer in hovering over the target. The longer I hovered, the greater chance I had of flinching and the more wobbly I got. Also, the first time I took the Para out to the range, I was a little more wary of the new gun, and this time my confidence was much greater.

So, I "cut the crap" and did a speedy "line-it-up-and-divide-the-rear-sight-with-the-front-sight-and-just-squeeze-the-doggone-trigger" approach. THAT worked.

I also fired the Para Ordnance one-handed. It wasn't so bad - the light trigger pull is definitely a plus. I kept within' a 6" circle, and that's alot better than what I was doing a couple weeks ago with BOTH hands.

Weee-hoo! The C6.45 LDA is my new CCW pistol. Feels good tucked in the belly band with an extra mag. It's also alot flatter and more comfy than my Taurus 617.

[Zundfolge]

Damn ... I'm just so freakin' jealous

Be sure to give us updates every few rounds.

BTW, I found one on Gunbroker! (but don't have any money right now )
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/Vie...p?Item=3051138
starting at $699 with no reserve (no bids yet with about 11.5 hours left)

[Oleg Volk]

This gun is heavy but it is small, flat, has good sights, is reliable and , in general, is a good hybrid of Glock and 1911 features. I was very impressed even though I was indisposed to like the LDA concept from the start. It kicks little (dual recoil springs help) and does work with 7rd standard mags as well as its own 6rd magazines. I think runt got a good one.

She does her research and, so far, has had a 100% success rate in picking functional, reliable designs.

PS: During the range session in the rain, we hanged a plastic bottle off a tree branch in front of a hillside. At 40m or so, I thought the target too hard to see and too far to hit. Runt shot her M1 carbine at it and I kept asking "Did you hit it." After a while, I got my answer: the bottle fell off the branch and closer examination showed a LOT of holes. Hmmm....

[Betty]

Oleg,
Almost 100% success rate - the Walther PPK/S lemon!

[WillyZ]

Runt,
I just picked up my C7.45 to day and I was wondering if you know where I can get magazines that will fit this gun. The standard 7 round .45 mags are a little longer than the factory 7 round mag.

Thanks,
WillyZ

[Correia]

Runt, I've got a question for you. How hard is the slide to rack with the dual springs? Harder than a regular 1911, same? Just curious.

Good review by the way.

[Dave R]

Great review. Great format. I wish you & Oleg would review more of your firearms for us. It makes great reading. Great illustrations, too.

[python1340]

I just went over 350 rounds on my C6.45 LDA. Accuracy is good. I've only had one jam, which was a weird combination double feed/stovepipe. The only thing I don't really like is that my right thumb knuckle (the one by the web between my thumb and index finger) gets a rub mark or blister after a few magazines. I think the thumb safety might be catching it. I'm used to larger grip pistols though. Actually I don't have this problem with my slim SIG P-220.

[Betty]

WillyZ, about the only thing I can suggest is to get the mags from Para. I have used a Pachmayer 7 round magazine successfully in the 6.45; it just looked funny sticking out the bottom.

Correia, it's not difficult at all to rack with the dual springs, even with my runt-sized hands! (It's been awhile since I racked a full size 1911.)

UPDATE: A SAD DAY AT THE RANGE

Well, my little Para had been performing well up until this point... I've met the 1000 round mark, and the only problem with the Para was wild ejections.

Oleg and I, along with other family, were out at the family range. Suddenly, Oleg shouts "STOP!" and I look down at the pistol. The guide rod is popping out the front! AACK!

Upon unloading and disassembly, we discovered the small spring was bent permanently out of shape. The guide rod just broke clean. It looks like inadequate construction on that part - not enough "meat" to keep it together under strain.

I emailed Para, so I'm waiting to hear back from them. I want to ship the entire pistol back so they can remedy the problem and also fix the wild ejection problem.

As frustrated as I am, I'm glad I found out at the range and NOT when I really needed it. This was my primary carry pistol.

And that, folks, is why you carry a backup.



Both recoil springs are a captive assembly. Was, anyway.

[Redlg155]

Bummer...

I almost got one of the C7's until a good Kimber Pro Carry deal came along. I'm kinda glad I got the Kimber now.

Hopefully Para Ord will give you a satisfactory response to your Email and promptly fix the problem.

Next step will be trying to gain confidence in the weapon again. Hopefully you can find an alternate solution to the double captured spring because I doubt Para will make any changes until they field enough complaints about that particular part. Perhaps you could find a single or double spring aftermarket setup on a full length guide rod.

Good Shooting
RED

[.]

Oleg & Runt - Excellent field Test & Evaluation!
Please keep us apprised of the outcome.

[Denny Hansen]

Good report. Para has a lifetime service warranty on their pistols so getting it repaired should be hassle-free.
I've recently put a tad over 1500 rounds through a new C7 (Officer-size, 1/2 inch longer and higher than Runt's) with zero problems that can be attributed to the pistol.

WillyZ-
Any Officer's magazine will work but only gives you 6-round mags. MagPack magazines will give you 7 in the same size package. Complete mags or follower/spring kits to convert Officer mags are available from Brownells.

Denny

[Betty]

The manager of quality control at Para just emailed me, saying they have a new beefed up version of the recoil system. I'm having them mail it to me, so I'll update everyone after the next range trip.

I hope this one works. I MISS MY PARA!

For now, I've gone back to carrying my Taurus 617.

[CastleBravo]

Unfortunately Para Ordinance are not famous for having the best QC or strongest materials in their firearms. I hope your gun gets fixed.