 SmokeyJ 
Member
Joined: Sep 2008  WA, USA
 Posts: 1689 Feedback: 100% (49) |
Posted: 4/5/2011 9:26:40 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I have it narrowed down to either a Springfield or a Para. Can any of you Para Expert GI owners out there shed some light on the finish issues I keep reading about regarding these guns? This gun is definitely not going to be a safe queen, its going to get shot and shot a lot. I can deal with holster wear, scratches and scrapes but from what I have been reading the finish on these seem to come off after a couple wipe downs. Thanks guys! 
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/5/2011 9:49:57 PM
Springfield every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
johnnypantz
Filthy Member
Team Member
Joined: Dec 2010 GA, USA
Posts: 294 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/7/2011 10:39:23 PM
I love my para gi expert, but the rumors are fact, the finish is weak. That being said, mine will be OD green sooner than later!
|
|
|
|
TerryC
where the ways cross
Team Member
Joined: Feb 2009 GA, USA
Posts: 1787 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/9/2011 5:52:21 PM
The black finish GI Experts have had their share of complaints.
I have the stainless steel GI Exp. so it's a non-issue. |
|
|
|
Posted: 4/9/2011 11:34:56 PM
I just got one recently, and that was the first thing I noticed, crappy finish, scuffed it just stripping it down for a cleaning before the first trip to shoot. But I got it because it was in the right price range and it does not bite my hand like a certain SA mil spec that someone else now owns. It is an accurate weapon, although it did have some feeding issues on the first shoot, they are already working themselves out with only a couple of boxes through the gun,
The trigger is pretty heavy, but not too bad. All in all, I am glad I got the GI Expert, crappy finish and all. As long as it goes bang, and hits where I tell it to, I don't care what it looks like, Besides, if it gets too bad, I'll sand blast it and parkerize the thing. |
|
|
Silver-Gun_Superman
Member
Joined: May 2007 NC, USA
Posts: 2217 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/10/2011 9:16:07 PM
They are duracoated.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/10/2011 11:02:29 PM
I bought a Springfield XDm about two months ago. I had to get black since there were none to be found in SS with night sights at the time. The finish on it was so bad it was coming off the first day. I had it on the table next to me and on a paper towel. The finish was so bad that within a week I sent the slide back which is all they wanted. They refhinshed it with what appears to be a totally different finish as it has a sheen to it. Only problem is they didn't get the sights centered and it was shooting to the right. Its back at Springfield for that right now.
JR |
|
|
|
johnnypantz
Filthy Member
Team Member
Joined: Dec 2010 GA, USA
Posts: 314 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/11/2011 7:20:07 AM
Originally Posted By Silver-Gun_Superman:
They are duracoated. to quote Para, they are "para-koted". My friends LDA is Duracoated, and you can tell a huge difference in the finish. his is a lot more robust |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 4/12/2011 12:50:32 AM
I want a PDA but heard the black comes off easily also. Don't know why they just don't make it all stainless.
JR |
|
|
|
Silver-Gun_Superman
Member
Joined: May 2007 NC, USA
Posts: 2220 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/13/2011 7:36:13 PM
Originally Posted By johnnypantz: Originally Posted By Silver-Gun_Superman: They are duracoated. to quote Para, they are "para-koted". My friends LDA is Duracoated, and you can tell a huge difference in the finish. his is a lot more robust I know for fact they are duracoated. I see it being done 5 days a week  |
|
|
|
johnnypantz
Filthy Member
Team Member
Joined: Dec 2010 GA, USA
Posts: 329 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/13/2011 9:08:28 PM
then you might wanna double up on the slides on the GI experts, I know mine wore off on the leading edge after sliding it in my leather holster 1 time
 |
|
|
|
Silver-Gun_Superman
Member
Joined: May 2007 NC, USA
Posts: 2221 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 4/14/2011 4:46:36 PM
Originally Posted By johnnypantz: then you might wanna double up on the slides on the GI experts, I know mine wore off on the leading edge after sliding it in my leather holster 1 time I don't paint them. Just letting you know it is indeed duracoat. |
|
|
|
brotherzoo
Member
Team Member
Joined: Aug 2009 LA, USA
Posts: 1025 Feedback: 100% (4) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/17/2011 12:59:48 PM
Can't go wrong with a stainless GI Expert.
|
|
|
SatelliteMan
Walter Mitty Wannabee
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2005 OH, USA
Posts: 2011 Feedback: 100% (34) Link To This Post |
Posted: 9/14/2011 5:13:43 PM
I have bought the LDA in 2001. Been pretty much a safe queen. the slide looks new. The frame has been trying to rust for years. 
One of these days I'll get around to duracoating it. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/15/2011 7:06:17 PM
I got my GI Expert 2 months ago. The finish has held up with a lot of draw/ dry fire practice. I use it for IDPA, IPSC, and dinking around with my buddies. I think a little wear looks cool on a gun, I am not one for all my gear looking showroom perfect.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/16/2011 8:11:41 AM
My early production P18-9 has the "Stealth Coat" black finish and even Krylon would be an definite improvement. Just drawing the pistol from a Blackhawk Serpa holster has pretty much removed most of the paint on the front of the slide within a year or two. You can almost scrape off the finish with a fingernail it's that soft.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/22/2011 9:54:09 PM
I got an SF-45-A from Para. Long story short, was suppose to get it in March. It came in July. Within 24 hours of having it, the safety was broken. I ended up trading that Para in and putting some extra down for a Springfield 1911 "Loaded", which was basically the same as the Para, only way more reliable. Para-USA is not a good company at this time. Give them a few years and maybe. This is because of their move from Canada to the US, and moving to an area that hasn't been making guns.
As for Springfield, you can't go wrong. I paid $829.00 for mine before taxes. It shoots like a dream, is easy to handle, has all the nice features (ambi-safety, triticon sights, "beaver tail" hand guard, etc). Mine is deadly accurate and overall fun to shoot. The first time I took it to the range I had 1 malfunction (8th round stove piped) out of 100 rounds. I can guarantee that the Springfield you buy will be a whole lot better than the comparable Para model. The Springfield model I have can be found here...http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=4 I hope this helps. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/22/2011 11:13:29 PM
I think that Para's production people went to Wal-Mart and got the knock off Rustoleum flat black. I sent mine back, they gave it another spraying, and that coat wore off too. Their service is horrid, never return emails or voice mails. But it does shoot well.
 |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/24/2011 12:40:33 AM
Here's Para's problem in a nutshell. They moved from Canada to the US. In doing so, they left behind a lot of their talent and moved the company to an area that historically has not made weapons. So now, the people they hired to replace their talent they left behind are rookies. This leaves a problem for the master gunsmiths. Now, where before they would have to check 1 of about every 10 guns that were manufactured, they have to try and check every 1. Now, realistically they can't do that. As for now, their products are going to suck. In a few years once the people get more experienced manufacturing weapons, their quality will improve. I also think they changed who they are getting their metal from.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 10/16/2011 8:27:32 PM
Originally Posted By phantomofnight:
Here's Para's problem in a nutshell. They moved from Canada to the US. In doing so, they left behind a lot of their talent and moved the company to an area that historically has not made weapons. So now, the people they hired to replace their talent they left behind are rookies. This leaves a problem for the master gunsmiths. Now, where before they would have to check 1 of about every 10 guns that were manufactured, they have to try and check every 1. Now, realistically they can't do that. As for now, their products are going to suck. In a few years once the people get more experienced manufacturing weapons, their quality will improve. I also think they changed who they are getting their metal from. Wow, you could not be more wrong. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 2/7/2012 8:15:50 PM
Darn...saw one at the gun shop and am planning on trading in another pistol for the GI. It already has a scrape on it and the grey metal is showing underneath. Now I'm thinking that after I send it away for some kind of other finish, now the pistol isn't a bargain anymore.
|
|
|
|
Keith_J
Veteran of Reagan Era
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2001 TX, USA
Posts: 69282 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/8/2012 6:46:00 PM
Actually, newer ones have a smoother finish of the metal prior to coating. This inhibits adhesion.
I would just have the slide Parkerized and be done with worries. It will then match steel frames. |
|
|
|
Posted: 3/28/2012 1:10:02 AM
I bought a GI Expert last year around this time. With very little handling the black coat was showing dings. After some online browsing found that the frame and slide are supposed to be stainless under the black, so I stripped it and yep, this is true. They have less finish work on the stainless to coat it black, so it is a cheaper pistol than the same in "stainless". The finish scratches looked like around the 120 grit level at worst, mostly better.
I lapped the slide sides to make them flat, reworked the top of the slide to remove the scratches, cleaned up the marks on the trigger guard and grip with 320 grit, and bead blasted to a nice matte finish. I spent maybe 6 hours total over several days but is a nice looking stainless pistol now. |
|
|
|
sgtward911
Member
Team Member
Joined: Jan 2007 GA, USA
 
Posts: 860 Feedback: 100% (57) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/29/2012 11:22:31 PM
Originally Posted By phantomofnight:
I got an SF-45-A from Para. Long story short, was suppose to get it in March. It came in July. Within 24 hours of having it, the safety was broken. I ended up trading that Para in and putting some extra down for a Springfield 1911 "Loaded", which was basically the same as the Para, only way more reliable. Para-USA is not a good company at this time. Give them a few years and maybe. This is because of their move from Canada to the US, and moving to an area that hasn't been making guns. As for Springfield, you can't go wrong. I paid $829.00 for mine before taxes. It shoots like a dream, is easy to handle, has all the nice features (ambi-safety, triticon sights, "beaver tail" hand guard, etc). Mine is deadly accurate and overall fun to shoot. The first time I took it to the range I had 1 malfunction (8th round stove piped) out of 100 rounds. I can guarantee that the Springfield you buy will be a whole lot better than the comparable Para model. The Springfield model I have can be found here...http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=4 I hope this helps. I got one of the SF-45'S also, and it has been an awesome pistol for me. I have a little over 1000 rounds thru it, with no problems. |
|
|
