Earlier this year we made a decision to get a couple of .45 ACP pistols; we’ve been shopping for a while now, and to “celebrate” the most ridiculous recently passed anti-second amendment laws in California, we decided that now is the time. I have been saving up some spare change in the slush fund, and just this week it passed the threshold for acquisition. So, the countdown is on . . .
Damsel decided on the Para Ordinance “Warthog.” One reviewer had this to offer:
The original super-compact .45 with truly awesome firepower is the Para Warthog. There is no 1911-style, ten-round, semi-auto in the world smaller than the Warthog. The Warthog is remarkably controllable, thanks to its superbly engineered and contoured grip design. Add the feeding and extracting reliability of the exclusive new Para Power Extractor and you have the best super-compact pistol on the ground or in the air.
My choice was to go with the Glock 30. I already own a G-26 9mm and love it. It’s lightweight, has a great feel to it when I shoot and it’s easy to maintain. Based on my satisfaction with the 9mm, I ordered the new pistol which isn’t much bigger than it’s 9mm counterpart.
The Glock 30 is the smaller frame .45 caliber version of the Glock 21. Like the Glock 26, it has a 10 round capacity in a dual stack magazine. When I hold the pistol, it seems to have the same weight and feel of my Glock 26. According to reviews I read about firing the Glock 30, it should be every bit as reliable as my Glock 26.
I’m looking forward to the waiting period to end, as is Damsel. We only get to wait because obtuse California politicians believe that penalizing legitimate firearms owners will make criminals somehow stop committing crimes with guns. Oh! The insanity!
My buddy bought the Warthog and loves it, however it would hang up on the last round in each mag. After some research he found out that Para has the worst springs ever. He swaped out the springs in the mags and is good to go. If you would like I will give you his contact info just in case.
Thanks for the tip, Kenny. We will ask Uncle Jimbo, our local gunsmith, if he has seen this and can recommend an alternate spring source. He’ll be at the range tomorrow and we will ask him about it.
I love my Glock 29 (10mm). It fits my hand like a glove. However, since buying a .45 would only be “gun candy” for me (I like the ballistics of the 10mm and prefer it for my SD rounds), I’d go for a nice Kimber. Or a Para. Or any 1911 that happens to be in my budget.
Then I’d wake up with my wife hitting me while yelling “You were talking about buying another gun in your sleep. FORGET IT BUB!”.
I guess that moving up to a .45 ACP is, in a sense, gun candy for us. We really don’t need them and it will be just another caliber we have to buy when we hit the gun show next month. But they are sure to be a lot of fun at the range, and more effective for personal protection purposes.
Besides, we can’t let Robb be the only gun-wielding madman scaring children.
Sounds like you and the Damsel will be having a lot of fun shooting. I hope the waiting period flies by quickly form you and that you are at the range with the new pistols before you kow it. Enjoy.
I’m so glad I’m eventually going to be known on Google as the GWMSC!
All Hail the GWMSC! 😉
My wife and I just got back from Cabela’s and seen the warthog for the first time. Kinda concerned!!! I think it said (made in Canada) So how good is this gun? considering it was built in a country with strick gun laws? I am looking to buy it for my wife and looking for some 3rd party info on it. please help me not buy a piece of crap… I’ve been there with my llama….
Bob,
Damsel won’t be shooting the Warthog until Tuesday 10/30 due to the 10-day California waiting period, so no feedback on the Hog’s performance yet. We will post a report about the Para and Glock after that – check back Wednesday or so.
We were also concerned about Para being made in Canada. Feedback from on-line reviews and speaking with our gun broker dispersed the worries. They say it’s a nice, compact 1911 .45 and other than the springs problem Kenny mentioned, it gets good reviews.
And, Damsel thinks it’s ‘pretty.’