There is absolutely no side-to-side play between the slide and frame. This is one pistol that you must use the barrel wrench to remove the barrel bushing. I have to say that the PARA-USA 14.45 is one of the tightest pistols that I have had the pleasure to hold. Grip span (from rear to Hogue rubber wraparound grips finger groove inset): 2.106 inches.Maximum grip width (w/Hogue rubber wraparound grips – finger groove): 1.410 inches.Maximum grip width (w/standard polymer grip panels): 1.35 inches.Weight: 42.4 ounces (unloaded w/magazine inserted).Of course, the specifications do not tell you the whole story, and here are a few of the blanks that need to be filled: And to really appreciate the PARA-USA 14.45, you really need to see it up close. Well, you really have to be a 1911 fan to really understand the Zen factor of the 1911. 45 ACP round already on the market the polymer Glock G21 comes to mind with its 13-round capacity, but a high-capacity, all steel 1911 may be one of those pistols that would make some ask why bother. 45 ACP in a heavy handgun something somebody really wanted to carry around? There were however, large capacity pistols that fired the. That was about to change.Īlthough the PARA-USA 14.45 is a 1911-based pistol, and it does share the 80-Series trigger concept as the 8-round version, there are some obvious differences and challenges that had to be faced by PARA-USA when they decided to go “high capacity” and the least of which was appeal – the 1911 platform already had that among many. And, like the PARA “Expert” in the 8-round version, the PARA-USA 14-45 had not yet been shot since its purchase. I purchased my PARA-USA “Expert” 1911 and the “Expert” 14.45 around the same time in 2013. Para-USA was the first to manufacture a high-capacity 1911 that was “large and in charge” and it does take some large hands to fulfill its mission. The PARA-USA 14.45 1911-based pistol has always been controversial.