Posted: 1/27/2010 8:29:26 AM EDT
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I have always wanted a good double action pistol and a 1911 pistol.
A couple of years ago I was strongly considering getting a Para LDA but was convinced otherwise after hearing horror stories of failures in thier pistols and of people trying to deal with customer service. I haven't kept up with this company for a while and was wondering what the word is out there on it. I'm hoping that since they're still in business and still charging the same amount for their stuff, that they have fixed the former issues. Is this true? |
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I have always wanted a good double action pistol and a 1911 pistol. A couple of years ago I was strongly considering getting a Para LDA but was convinced otherwise after hearing horror stories of failures in thier pistols and of people trying to deal with customer service. I haven't kept up with this company for a while and was wondering what the word is out there on it. I'm hoping that since they're still in business and still charging the same amount for their stuff, that they have fixed the former issues. Is this true? It's my understanding the Para's LDA isn't a true double action. The hammer is partially cocked by the slide's cycle and can't fire without this "partial cocking." So if you get a dud round you don't have the chance of a re-strike, you have to manually manipulate the slide. So it's more of a "heavy single action" than a "light double action." So to me it fills no purpose; you miss out on a crisp single action trigger, and you loose the hammer down safety-less carry of a double action trigger. Now, if you're looking for a heavy single action trigger, the LDA's the ticket. I'm just trying to explain that it isn't a true double action, and if you were looking to carry a 1911 with a round in the chamber safety off ready to rock in double action, the LDA dosen't allow this either. I don't claim to be an expert on the LDA, if any of my facts are wrong feel free to correct me. 
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I have always wanted a good double action pistol and a 1911 pistol. A couple of years ago I was strongly considering getting a Para LDA but was convinced otherwise after hearing horror stories of failures in thier pistols and of people trying to deal with customer service. I haven't kept up with this company for a while and was wondering what the word is out there on it. I'm hoping that since they're still in business and still charging the same amount for their stuff, that they have fixed the former issues. Is this true? It's my understanding the Para's LDA isn't a true double action. The hammer is partially cocked by the slide's cycle and can't fire without this "partial cocking." So if you get a dud round you don't have the chance of a re-strike, you have to manually manipulate the slide. So it's more of a "heavy single action" than a "light double action." So to me it fills no purpose; you miss out on a crisp single action trigger, and you loose the hammer down safety-less carry of a double action trigger. Now, if you're looking for a heavy single action trigger, the LDA's the ticket. I'm just trying to explain that it isn't a true double action, and if you were looking to carry a 1911 with a round in the chamber safety off ready to rock in double action, the LDA dosen't allow this either. I don't claim to be an expert on the LDA, if any of my facts are wrong feel free to correct me.
You obviously haven't held/shot a LDA. You don't miss out on a crisp single action trigger. There is a very light take-up that leads to a crisp single action pull. There is nothing "heavy" about it. You could very well carry it chambered with the safety off if you wanted. With the grip safety and longer trigger pull I felt safe enough to do it myself. I think I used the safety the majority of the time though. |
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I have always wanted a good double action pistol and a 1911 pistol. A couple of years ago I was strongly considering getting a Para LDA but was convinced otherwise after hearing horror stories of failures in thier pistols and of people trying to deal with customer service. I haven't kept up with this company for a while and was wondering what the word is out there on it. I'm hoping that since they're still in business and still charging the same amount for their stuff, that they have fixed the former issues. Is this true? It's my understanding the Para's LDA isn't a true double action. The hammer is partially cocked by the slide's cycle and can't fire without this "partial cocking." So if you get a dud round you don't have the chance of a re-strike, you have to manually manipulate the slide. So it's more of a "heavy single action" than a "light double action." So to me it fills no purpose; you miss out on a crisp single action trigger, and you loose the hammer down safety-less carry of a double action trigger. Now, if you're looking for a heavy single action trigger, the LDA's the ticket. I'm just trying to explain that it isn't a true double action, and if you were looking to carry a 1911 with a round in the chamber safety off ready to rock in double action, the LDA dosen't allow this either. I don't claim to be an expert on the LDA, if any of my facts are wrong feel free to correct me.
you got some of it right. i call the LDA a hybred action. It is "pre cocked" like a SA, but the hammer falls down onto the slide as if it was a DA (hammer down) in a DA//SA. Also the safety can be engaged when in this position since there isnt any other way of carrying the gun other then an empty chamber. if you have ever handled/tried a Daewoo DP51 with the "tri action" system, it is simiilar where you can manually push the hammer down against the slide. the trigger follows it and when you pull the trigger, the hammer will come back, but its a real light pull just until the end. I really dont consider the LDA tirgger a "heavy" SA, however, if you have customized 1911s with hair triggers, i can see where you would consider anything other then a "heavy" trigger. I have 3 LDAs and at the time, it was my first taste of a DAO type pistol. I personally like them and enjoy shooting them incliding my LDA 18.9. The best way to understand is to handle/dry fire one if you can. Or look for a Daewoo DP51. you will get an idea on whats the LDA system is about. |
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Ok, so it's more like a single action with some extra trigger travel. And the extra travel is very smooth.
Thanks for the clarification! 
Now the question is. Is it safe to carry with the safety off? Naturally I know that the only safety a person needs is the one between their ears, but what do you guys recommend? Safety on or off? I know KCabbage said he carried it occasionally with the safety off, is this a common practice with LDA users? (I think I have more questions than the OP )
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Ok, so it's more like a single action with some extra trigger travel. And the extra travel is very smooth. Thanks for the clarification!
Now the question is. Is it safe to carry with the safety off? Naturally I know that the only safety a person needs is the one between their ears, but what do you guys recommend? Safety on or off? I know KCabbage said he carried it occasionally with the safety off, is this a common practice with LDA users? (I think I have more questions than the OP )
well, my LDAs have a FP blocks. so i would say is no safer then any other 1911 style in a similar condition. you can draw your own conclusions |
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Ok, so it's more like a single action with some extra trigger travel. And the extra travel is very smooth. Thanks for the clarification!
Now the question is. Is it safe to carry with the safety off? Naturally I know that the only safety a person needs is the one between their ears, but what do you guys recommend? Safety on or off? I know KCabbage said he carried it occasionally with the safety off, is this a common practice with LDA users? (I think I have more questions than the OP )
I doubt it's common practice and I wouldn't recommend it. However, with a good holster that covers the trigger I wouldn't worry too much. It would be no different than carrying a Glock, but the LDA has a grip safety for added protection. |
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Well, the only reason I would want a double action is for the occasional dud round that needs some extra coercing. So if the slide needs manipulating in order for the hammer to recock, then I'm not interested. Uh, I hope you don't carry handguns for protection, because you have a death wish. |
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Well, the only reason I would want a double action is for the occasional dud round that needs some extra coercing. So if the slide needs manipulating in order for the hammer to recock, then I'm not interested. Uh, I hope you don't carry handguns for protection, because you have a death wish. Why? Because I don't want to be fumbling with the slide should the first strike not set off the primer? |
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It's my understanding the Para's LDA isn't a true double action. The hammer is partially cocked by the slide's cycle and can't fire without this "partial cocking." So if you get a dud round you don't have the chance of a re-strike, you have to manually manipulate the slide. So it's more of a "heavy single action" than a "light double action." . The above is spot on, it's not a DA trigger, it's more of a long screwed up single action trigger. I wouldn't call it heavy, just long. The only true purpose that I can see for such a beast is if you are an LEO and you department mandates DAO weapons. Then I could see the appeal since the lawyers would think it's DA. It is as safe to carry with the safety off as any of the striker fired pistols. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Well, the only reason I would want a double action is for the occasional dud round that needs some extra coercing. So if the slide needs manipulating in order for the hammer to recock, then I'm not interested. Uh, I hope you don't carry handguns for protection, because you have a death wish. Why? Because I don't want to be fumbling with the slide should the first strike not set off the primer? No, because if a round fails you the first time, it's foolish to give it a chance to fail you a second time. Rack the slide and get another one in the chamber. And if you have to fumble with the slide to rack it, then I refer you back to what Lumpy said and suggest you get some training. |
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Well, the only reason I would want a double action is for the occasional dud round that needs some extra coercing. So if the slide needs manipulating in order for the hammer to recock, then I'm not interested. Uh, I hope you don't carry handguns for protection, because you have a death wish. Why? Because I don't want to be fumbling with the slide should the first strike not set off the primer? No, because if a round fails you the first time, it's foolish to give it a chance to fail you a second time. Rack the slide and get another one in the chamber. And if you have to fumble with the slide to rack it, then I refer you back to what Lumpy said and suggest you get some training. Exactly, you guys beat me to it. "Second strike capability" is marketing bullshit from Taurus, and the like............. It doesn't light off, you clear that MALFUNCTION and keep the gun running.........good professional training invariably recommends this, rather than "trying just one more time". 
My technical opinion of the LDA is that it's an over-complicated solution to a non-existent problem.....................................which, incidentally, is the same thing the late Col. Jeff Cooper said about traditional DA/SA pistols. |
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OK, but every time I have had a dud it has always fired upon a second strike.
I understand what you're saying about the importance of training, but even training does not keep you from loosing fine motor skill when your body is stressed. I figure, if you have a DA, you can do a second strike in a split second and then re-rack if it is still necessary. You don't loose that much time with a second strike, and from my experience most duds will go off when re-hit. However, I admit that I am not an expert and therefore would have no problem scrapping that idea if a professional told me otherwise. |
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My department has carried the Para LDA 1911 for the better part of the past decade. I am still torn as to whether or not I like them. They absolutely do have their problems, but, they shoot themselves, the trigger is a very clean press, and you cannot beat 14 rnds at the ready. As far as the comments about being a "light double action" or not, you guys are correct. Its really not, there is a small tab and upon each trigger pull, the tab comes back and goes home, and thats it unless you rerack it. The quality of the guns has bothered me. We have found them to easily rust (we carry the stainless versions), and we did have a barrel bushing explode once. If not cleaned regulary, THEY WILL MALFUNCTION AND SOMETIMES WILL DO SO BADLY. They are heavy mothers too. I like the LDA for the trigger, its so clean and crisp. Shoots very well. If you are going to get one, DO NOT GO ANY SHORTER THAN 4". The shorter models are horrible. We have 3" barrells for detectives and admin, they malfunction constantly. Very problematic. As far as the restriking of a round that doesn't go off, I don't know why anyone would want to condition themselves to repull the trigger after it doesn't go boom, that is a bad training scar. It should be tap rack bang everytime. |
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OK, but every time I have had a dud it has always fired upon a second strike. I understand what you're saying about the importance of training, but even training does not keep you from loosing fine motor skill when your body is stressed. I figure, if you have a DA, you can do a second strike in a split second and then re-rack if it is still necessary. You don't loose that much time with a second strike, and from my experience most duds will go off when re-hit. However, I admit that I am not an expert and therefore would have no problem scrapping that idea if a professional told me otherwise. The most common cause of a Type 1 malfunction is failure to chamber a round. You get a "click," think "dud round," and furiously pull the trigger over and over on an empty chamber. I have three LDAs, P12, P14 and P16. Once I changed the mag springs to Wolffs (needed on all Para fatbodies, not just LDAs) they've run very well for me. I've used them in a number of training classes. |
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Quoted: OK, but every time I have had a dud it has always fired upon a second strike. I understand what you're saying about the importance of training, but even training does not keep you from loosing fine motor skill when your body is stressed. I figure, if you have a DA, you can do a second strike in a split second and then re-rack if it is still necessary. You don't loose that much time with a second strike, and from my experience most duds will go off when re-hit. However, I admit that I am not an expert and therefore would have no problem scrapping that idea if a professional told me otherwise. Do yourself a favor....................if you're going to carry a firearm for defensive purposes, get some formal training. |
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I like the Para LDA trigger. It's much better than the Colt Double Eagle trigger.
Overall, it's the best "double action" trigger ever put on a 1911 pistol. Not sure if they still do this but, during early-2000, the Long Beach PD issued the Para-Ordnance P-7.45 LDA to their academy recruits. |