I was tied up all weekend with a murder case report, but couldn’t let Independence Day pass without a little fireworks. My brief time-out of trigger-pulling on the backyard range was with 10mm and .45 caliber 1911 pistols. While safe-diving for the ones I wanted, I spotted a little fancy-stocked, silvery stainless ParaOrdnance Companion .45 from Para’s LDA (Light Double Action) series. Realizing I didn’t remember the last time I’d shot an LDA, I threw it into the gun box for the short walk to the range.
And with the first five rounds of Remington 185 grain .45 hollow point I fired from it, two-hand standing at fifteen yards, I got an exactly one-inch group.
The Companion was a concealed carry design, with 3.5” barrel. Guns that size aren’t supposed to shoot that well, particularly in the 1911 platform. The light double action (about 6.5 pounds pull weight in this specimen) distributes over a long stroke, making it less likely the shooter will anticipate the shot. I was conscious of not having run an LDA in, oh, a decade or so, and was taking care with the trigger pull.
I found myself doing the same a week before, teaching a MAG-40 class for Thunderbird Tactical in Wichita with a Heckler and Koch P30SK subcompact 9mm that I’m testing for Guns Magazine. It gave me a 300/300 score on the pace-setter qualification demonstration, and I was happy with its performance. It has the LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger, which like the LDA is a long, light double action stroke for every shot.
Many years ago, when the great Mike Plaxco was world speed shooting champion and The Man to Beat on the pro shooting tour, I took his advanced class. Therein, he commented that if you’ve hit a plateau in your shooting skills, you might want to try something new – different technique or even different gun – because it will make you focus more on what you’re doing.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Michael proven right. Now that that damn 30-some page report is done, I’m gonna spend some more time on this end playing with that neat little LDA. It’s a useful concept. I’m told ParaOrdnance has recently been bought by Remington; I hope they keep the LDA option.
While I’m doing that, you’re invited to chime in on any shooting experiences you may have had in a similar vein.
MAG-40 has a test? Crap. To the range! (11 days is enough cram time, right?)
Probable harsh wake-up call aside, looking forward to it. See you in Anchorage.
The trying something new worked well for me. After many years of just target shooting and hunting I took some tactical skills training classes. I learned a lot of new things and elevated my basic skills as well as my ability to do different things on my little range at my hunting property.
I recently started shooting revolvers. Being a semi auto only guy my whole life, (I’m young so my duty guns have always been semi auto) I always saw revolvers as a novelty gun. I started shooting K frame .357 and J frame .38 special
I also acquired am old .38 S&W.
I bought a Commander-sized Para LDA shortly after they hit the market. Beautiful gun and great trigger. Sadly, it wouldn’t feed or eject more than a couple of rounds before jamming. Sent it back to Para; got it back within a week and no better. Factory said it might be the magazine. I believe it came with 2 or 3 mags, none of which improved the reliability of the gun. They asked me to send it back AGAIN at my expense for them to look at it AGAIN. Instead, I sold it to a LGS and told him what was going on with it. Never bought another Para.
I’m a die hard believer of the Browning 1911 and will always carry one. That said, I do very well with Kahr DAO pistols. I have a P40 and CW45 and with their light, smooth trigger actions, they shoot quite well for me, just like a nicely tuned DA revolver. I bought the CW45 used and thought the grip was too long for a concealed carry piece, so sawed off about 3/4″ of the bottom to make it the same length as the Kahr PM45. Now I have the equivalent of a six shot .45 caliber revolver just a bit larger than a Walther PPK/S for a backup pistol and can carry the 6 round magazine as a spare.
By the way, this modified Kahr is the only pistol in .45 ACP besides my customized Springfield 1911 pistols that would function with reloads using the Rainier 45 caliber 200 grain SWC bullets. This plated bullet will jam my two Glock 21 SFs and SIG 220 which feeds all my other reloads and any factory ammunition I feed them.
Kevin, I’m sorry you had problems. I’ve had several ParaOrdnance pistols over the years. With one exception, the only problem I ever had was with the magazines. With the wide-body high capacity guns, I kept the Para magazine bodies and put in Wolff springs: no further problems.
The once exception was with the aluminum framed guns with the integral slide stop spring tubes. My contacts at Para told me to go light with +P loads. Instead I disregarded their advice and went heavy on +P loads. Sure enough, I broke one at the integral tube, which required a whole new frame. They rebuilt the formerly aluminum frame P14 on an all-steel frame (at their expense), which functioned fine with +P using the Wolff springs in the large capacity magazines thereafter.
In my single stack Paras, including the all stainless steel frame LDA Companion in question here, I use Wilson magazines, and they work fine.
As a change of pace, I like to shoot the SA 45 colt (Ruger Blackhawks and Cimaron Thunderer). In good comfortable weather I really enjoy my Colt 1851 Navy (reproduction) with black powder (fire and brimstone). 15 minutes to reload and 30 seconds to unload. I leave the Glocks and home.
Fellas, just one more reason I love visiting this site – to read about you shooting firearms that I never have and more than likely – never will. Yes, I am aware it’s the old vicarious thrill thing – but, hey, I’m old, cut me a break! The one question that always comes to me is: When you’ve been shooting and buying guns most of your life, how do you pick just one or two to shoot that day? It would be like Christmas morning every day for me. I never anticipated how much I was going to love this gun owners’ life! Does the urge to shoot ever lighten up?
Hey Mas-great article. Are you going to test and review the Sig P320 any time soon?
But, if you already have, (other than your mention in the new Sig book), where can it be found? Thanks
Jeff: my test-drive of the SIG P320 is here: http://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2014/12/massad-ayoob-tests-sig-sauer-p320-9mm/#sig-sauer-p320-beauty
Don-PA: Why would we want the urge to shoot to ever lighten up?
Thank you for the direction. I’m curious about the 320, especially after reading the Oklahoma HP is adopting it in 9mm.
Mas – guess I wasn’t very clear on that urge. There is no way I ever want it to “lighten up.” I have said that when I retire (about this time next year), I will be found at the range – if finances were not a factor, I could shoot all day! I was fishing for one of the things that comes through nearly every post on this site – how you experienced shooters view the choices you have made, what you have learned from those choices – and best of all – with your knowledge – what you think the future holds. I have a desire to learn that surprises even me. My continuing education in the firearms world has a major in the urge to shoot. I love what all of you guys are doing – please keep up the great work.
Paraphrasing a zen saying, to see the center you have to walk away from it. I hit plateaus pretty fast myself, whatever skill set we’re talking about, and I often go do something completely different before getting back to training. It does work. I suspect it’s something about clearing one’s mind and body of a preconceived notion of one’s limitations.
Don,
I also love to go to the range and shoot guns. Since I still work for a living, I can’t do it as often as I would like. When I retire, in about 2 more years, I hope to do it more frequently.
To answer your question, I own a number of guns. Far too many to take to the range and shoot at once. If I did that, it would take me a week to clean them all up again!
Typically, I select 3 to 5 guns to take to the range on any particular day. I find that my selection of them is akin to selecting food to eat. It is more a matter of my mood. Some days, I am in a revolver mood. Other days, I feel like shooting fast and will take semi-auto’s. Some days, I am in a rifle mood and will take some of my bolt action rifles. Other days, I am in a semi-automatic rifle mood and may pack my AR or other such rifle. Some days, I am in a scientific mood and will pack my chrony and handloads and test them for velocity and accuracy.
It is hard to say what drives my selection on any particular day anymore than selecting what one wants for dinner. It is just what you are hungry for at the time!
Mas,
I’m glad to finally be comfortable enough to quit hoarding ammo and get back out there and practice. I’ve not shot enough in the recent two years to plateau by any means, but I’m putting hundreds of rounds downrange on weekends and evenings, and hope to hone my skills to a fine art. Any course recommendations? I think I need some instruction. Any plans to instruct any classes in the Tulsa area? Anyway thanks for the good blog.
Let me introduce y’all to the Sig Mosquito. Right after I retired 10+ years ago, I bought this .22 lr , slightly down-sized, version of the P226, for cheaper practice sessions. It was an immediate disappointment. Atrocious first shot double action trigger pull, not much better single action follow up trigger pull, and repeated failure to feed/eject. The only thing going for it was that the feel and the controls were identical to my duty Sig. My hard headedness (is that even a real word Mike?) caused me to attempt to overcome its short comings through better grip and more focus on trigger control. After about 35,000 rounds (which resulted in a trip back to Sig to replace a cracked slide and a trigger return spring I replaced myself) the FTF’s and FTE’s cured themselves. Better yet, my accuracy with all my other pistols improved dramatically because of the efforts to overcome the original shortcomings of this pistol. Good things can happen unexpectedly from sources you wouldn’t expect.
On a personal note, due to the years of bad diet and not taking care of my body, the inevitable has caught up with me. I’m scheduled for triple by-pass surgery Friday. This follows the angioplasty on my legs I underwent 2 weeks ago. I won’t be meeting you guys on the street corner to chat for a little while. Try not to start any arguments until I return.
Dennis, so sorry to hear about the heart problems. Best wishes for a swift and complete and uneventful recovery!
Josh, I don’t have anything scheduled in Oklahoma this year, but we will be having some a reasonable drive from Tulsa in Arkansas. Info is available at http://massadayoobgroup.com. In the meantime, US Shooting Academy right there in Tulsa is known for offerng some excellent classes.
Dennis, I echo Mas’ sentiments. Please know you will be in my prayers. I look forward to reading more of your always intelligent and interesting words.
Dennis: Praying for your speedy recovery. After a 3-way bypass you shouldn’t need another overhaul for at least 20 years.
Getting competent with many common handguns obviously can be good survival training.
Dennis,
Get well soon, Sir!
I have included you in my prayers and wish you a most expedient recovery. I feel you have contributed much here at Mas’ blog, not to mention to this world in general.
All the best!
Dennis– Sorry to read about your health problems. You have may prayers to a speedy recovery.
Don-Pa– Ever try reloading? Depending on your choice of bullets, some money can be saved by reloading, which allows you to do more shooting. Reloading by itself can be relaxing and cathartic. Of course, you have to figure your equipment costs into the equation. Many deals can be found at gun shows on used equipment.
Mas,
This is totally unrelated, but I’d like to see an article from you regarding firearms training facilities. Perhaps a series? We are interested in attending some classes that introduce the defensive mindset and effectiveness under pressure. Thinking about FrontSight in LV. Do you have other recommendations? We have enough people to actually have the trainer come to TX. Interested?
Am I the only young shooter on here? You guys are making me scared to get old…
Eddie, don’t worry about getting older…it just means that every day, there are more younger women. Think Positive!
Gary, there are lots of good training opportunities in Texas. I’ll be teaching in Austin and San Antonio next year. Keep an eye on our website, http://massadayoobgroup.com.
This is exactly what I’m talking about! First, I have a great tip from Randy to save $$$. Talk about coincidences! Roy Huntington had an article about inexpensive downloading in the latest issue of American Handgunner. Next, we get a “young un” (Eddie) posing a tongue-in-cheek question, leaving him wide open for one of Mas’ trademark answers. All that’s missing is a rim shot.
Thanks, guys – great start to my weekend!
Eddie,
I don’t like getting old, but at least time is fair. It is the same for everyone. A day is 24 hours everywhere on earth. Stay healthy and avoid all extremes. I didn’t really begin to feel old until I turned 49. I gave up jogging because my knees got sore, and I don’t have the energy I used to have. Oh well. I count my blessings. The Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy) rules!
It must have been REAL late when I typed that last email. How about RELOADING, not DOWNLOADING?
Don-Pa– no problem. I usually screw up at least one word in each comment.
Mas– I have an unrelated question concerning tritium sights: I remember when they first came out and us guys waited at a match till dark because one of the shooters and just had them installed. We all thought Wow what a great idea (about 30 years ago). As you have expostulated in your classes; one had better be damn sure of the identity of your intruder before you start shooting. Presumably one will have to use a flashlight to do so. When you turn that flash on you have screwed up your nightvision and the tritium sights have become useless. As you know, I have a Massad Ayoob Ed Brown signature 1911 with tritium sights, as you specified. I would appreciate your expert ruminations (pondering or meditation) on this topic.
Randy, there are some circumstances where you can see to ID the threat but can’t see regular sights. Another advantage of night sights that lots of folks miss is that if you have to reach for a bedside pistol in the dark (particularly when sleeping in a strange place) the glow of the sights can guide your hand more quickly and certainly to the gun.
Mas–Well, I don’t do that much sleeping around in strange beds but I think you’re onto something.
Randy/Mas – as postulated by Leonard DiCaprio in “Catch Me If You Can:” “I concur,” with both of your thoughts. Mas, let me add to yours that one should tell their significant other before demonstrating in the dark! My lovely bride was summarily freaked out when I produced my Glock from the bedside, Mepros aglow! If I remember correctly: “What in THE hell is that?” To which I mumbled: “night sights, Honey.” She: “so, you’re going to shoot somebody at night?” Me: “only if they need shot” Col. Cooper would be proud of that one, I do believe. I am currently experimenting, to some degree, with my front sight setup. I replaced my 30 S OEM sights with Mepros to pick up great night sights (and they ARE great – at night). I have fixed one problem and acquired another – the Mepro front sight is really hard to pick up in the daytime. To amend that, I’ve found the Ameriglo CAP front sights, either GL212GRQ or the GL212ORQ. The difference being, according to Dave Spaulding: the orange version is impervious to solvents. I was trying to pick between one or the other when a friend showed me his cure: would you believe neon orange duct tape with a pinhole for the tritium? All the obvious shortcomings are present, for sure – but I can tell you one thing for sure: you can see his front sight in the daytime!
Follow-up. I couldn’t resist the neon orange duct tape method and have good news. Obviously, to avoid damage to the tritium, you must be careful when putting a hole in the tape. That, and the fact that it sure doesn’t look like OEM, are the only downside to this. The finished product gives me an outrageous daytime front sight picture that you cannot miss. It only took a small pinhole in the tape to give me the great Mepro night sight.
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