Para Ordnance Sterling PTX 7 proves accurate, reliable pistol
by R.K. Campbell
Contributing Editor

Para Ordnance (now Para USA, 10620 Southern Loop Blvd., Dept. GWK, Charlotte, NC 28134; phone: 866-661-1911; online: para-usa.com) is best known as an innovative company responsible for the introduction of high capacity 1911 handguns to the buying public. If that wasn’t enough, they also introduced the double-action-only or Light Double Action (LDA) 1911. Both have been successful largely because they maintain the good handling characteristics of the 1911 handgun.

These advantages include a low bore axis that limits muzzle flip, good handfit and excellent reliability. Human engineering is unequaled. While the LDA is an advantage for those who do not feel warm and fuzzy concerning cocked and locked carry, there are many of us who are enamored with the original concept. Rather than argue with success, Para has introduced a line of single-action pistols with a single-column magazine. These pistols have been a success. They are well executed of good material.

The single-action pistols are far from mundane. In fact they are as different from the original 1911 in their own way as the LDA is from a GI 1911. These pistols feature a ramped barrel as standard equipment. A ramped barrel does two things. First, it offers good feed reliability by virtue of eliminating the two-piece feed ramp of the original design. While a well done 1911 ramp feeds most bullet styles, the ramped barrel eliminates feed problems with exotic bullets. Second, the ramped barrel more fully supports the cartridge case head. If, like myself, you are an enthusiastic handloader, then you will appreciate the ramped barrel more. None of the problems encountered with low bid polymer frame pistols with unsupported chambers will be found with this pistol.

The Para Ordnance high visibility sights are virtually snag-free. The design is not quite as large and bold as some but it is snag-free in concealed carry. The pistol also features an extended slide lock safety and well designed beavertail safety. Trigger compression is excellent at five pounds with no creep or backlash. This is a good working trigger that will not limit an expert nor challenge a novice. The beavertail grip safety releases its lock on the trigger at about the half way mark of safety compression. The Para features the proven Colt-type firing pin block. The firing pin drop does not release the firing pin until the trigger is pressed completely to the rear.

A special Para Ordnance line is the PXT group. These are special edition pistols with the patented Para Extractor. The Para Extractor is an improvement over the original tool steel safety of the 1911. When done correctly, the original extractor is long lived. I know of several 1911 handguns in use in competition with the Wilson Combat Bulletproof extractor that have well over 10,000 rounds on them. My personal Colt Commander has 20,000 rounds on it and the original extractor is still tight and sharp. Just the same, I regularly replace 1911 extractors for one reason or the other and I have seen new 1911 handguns—usually foreign made—that have weak extractors out of the box. Para knows more than I do about extractors and the new design is more complicated than the original. The pertinent factor is that the new extractor has perhaps twice the grabbing surface of the original. It is not a gimmick but a well thought out design.

The PXT line includes choices in special finishes. These handguns are delivered with high visibility sights, extended safety and beavertail grip safety, match grade barrel, scalloped ejection port, full length guide rod and cocobolo grips with gold medallion. The pistols are issued with a lockable hard plastic box with a spare eight-round magazine. The finishes include the Black Watch—a special finish with bright black controls, a green tactical finish, and a couple of pistols with a mixed finish and, my favorite, the sterling finish. The stainless steel sterling version features highly polished slide flats that do resemble sterling silver. This is a neat trick that has plenty of eye appeal.

I have been living with this handgun on practically a daily basis for over a year and have fired over 2,000 rounds in the piece. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The handgun and the supplied magazines are first quality and performance and accuracy have been very good. I began by cleaning the pistol every 300 rounds per National Institute of Justice standard, but for the past 1,000 rounds I have cleaned the pistol less on schedule and simply squirted oil in the ejection port as needed. No failures and so far no eccentric wear. We noted that when the slide is locked fully to the rear and the magazine is left inserted, it is impossible to actuate the slide lock and release the slide. This may be a sign of a too strong magazine spring. Peening of the slide lock slot may result in the long run, but as yet there is no trace of such wear.

I have fired the PXT pistol in any number of range drills. The pistol is well balanced. I like a 1911 without a light rail and extraneous features for personal defense and rapid work at close range. The PXT is simply efficient on the range with a tremendous slaughter of paper entailed in this test program. Running at maximum speed or taking deliberate shots, the piece performs as designed. With a dirty chamber and with full power or +P ammunition, the pistol worked.

I resurrected a load that I used often almost 30 years ago. Col. Jeff Cooper recommended a hard cast 200-grain semi-wadcutter, the Hensley and Gibbs #68 to be exact, over a stiff charge of Hercules Unique for 1,100 fps as a service load. This was the most accurate load I fired in my Colts at the time and I discovered it will do what it once did, but accuracy is even better with the Para Ordnance. I used the Oregon Trail 200-grain SWC and Unique powder from what is now Alliant. I used nickel plated Starline brass, Winchester primers, and the original 7.5 grains charge. Results were excellent, with several good groups at 50 yards giving us a feeling of accomplishment. This dog will run!

After firing and using the handgun for some time I am impressed. The pistol works and does so with a bit of style. The Sterling edition is a handsome pistol in both appearance and habits. The handling qualities with +P ammunition are not obnoxious. The difference in accuracy between quality ammunition is no greater than the variance between the same load in the same pistol on different days. In other words the handgun performs well with all quality ammunition. Toward the end of the test and evaluation, I elected to put the Para Ordnance through one last demanding test program. By the way, this is a personal gun I purchased from a retail outlet, not a loaner, so I put my money where my mouth is. I am keeping the pistol and often carrying the piece.

The following combat course was fired with the Black Hills 230-grain FMJ loading. I backed the original magazines up with Wilson Combat ETM units. This course could serve as an outline for anyone interested in shooter development and testing a personal defense handgun.

This is a demanding course that stretches both accuracy and manipulation. I passed the test with X-ring hits. As for accuracy, a standard test is to fire a group of five shots at 25 yards and measure the width of the group from center to center of the most widely spaced bullet holes. Results were good.

After testing several holsters I recently settled upon a very well turned out holster from 5 Shot Leather (16211 N. Dartford Dr., Dept. GWK, Spokane, WA 99208; phone: 360-624-8284; online: 5shotleather.com). This holster is reminiscent of the style popularized by the late master Lou Alessi. I still have a number of Alessi holsters, some of them over 20 years old, and they are as good as new other than a few scratches and gouges. The 5 Shot Leather holster is well made of good material and should give good service. Like all first quality custom holsters, this holster demanded a modest break-in. After the break-in, speed was brilliant with practice.

The PXT/7.45 Para has delivered excellent reliability without a single failure to feed, chamber, fire or eject and good accuracy from start to finish. There is little more we could ask. The pistol has taken a well deserved place at the forefront in my defensive battery.
Groupings
Load Group in inches
200-gr. Oregon Trail ‘Cooper Load’ 2.5
Nolser 185-grain JHP/ 1,050 fps 1.5
Hornady 200-gr. XTP 2.0
Hornady 230-gr. XTP +P 2.25
Black Hills 200-gr. SWC 2.0
Black Hills 230-gr. JHP 1.8
Black Hills 230-gr. JHP +P 2.0
Combat course
Draw and fire in each case
7 yards 2 head shots, reload, 2 head shots
7 yards 2 rounds strong hand, 2 rounds weak hand
10 yards Move and draw, 1 shot to body, 1 shot to head
10 yards 2 standing, reload, 2 standing
15 yards 2 standing, reload, 2 kneeling
25 yards 2 standing, reload, 2 kneeling

ON THE COVER: R.K. Campbell puts over 2,000 rounds through test Para “Sterling” pistol.

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