Older Para P12-45

[Pinsnscrews]

There is an older Para P12 for sale at the local Cabelas. The peice seems fair for the visible condition, and as a possible basis for a frame up rebuild, it could be a good candidate to convert to 10mm.

My questions are:
Being a Para, is there anything I Should look for before deciding?

Is a P12 actually a good candidate for a 10mm swap?

[Wolfie]

Look for a Hunter, dont waste your time.

[sqlbullet]

I have a Para P12-45 that is half-way through a conversion to a 10mm hicap 1911 CCO.  I picked up an STI commander slide and a Schuemann .400 commander bull barrel.  The barrel is fit to the slide and ready for fitting to the frame.  That is where my house project interrupted and I have revisited it since then.

One issue I encountered.  The commander length slide doesn't quite reach the dust cover.  I have fabricated a plug that I am using for test fitting, but will need a different solution long term.  I don't think the flange on a reverse plug is quite thick enough for the gap, but I should order one and see. 

I have used the gun with it's 45 ACP upper, and it is a handy and compact little gun that packs plenty of punch.

[Pinsnscrews]

Wolfie, I am looking for a Commander Length gun. The Para 12-45 is a 3.5" barrel, 12 shot double stack mag.

Sqlbullet, I haven't had a ch ace to check the rails and slide closely yet, good to know about the slide issue your facing.

[sqlbullet]

Here is a picture of the gun I took right after I got the slide, along with it's P-16-40/10mm big brother.  You can see the gap right in front of the dust cover.

[Pinsnscrews]

that's a gap...

Nice photo btw. I guess if I do go ahead and buy this one, depending on closer inspection. I would prefer not to need to buy a new slide and just get the new barrel fitted to the slide in place, but if I need to get a new slide, I will definitely keep that in mind and get measurements to match before ordering the slide.

[sqlbullet]

Yeah...

In fairness to me, I am not stupid for ordering a slide that didn't spec right.  I bought one from the local paper from a guy who bought it then decided not to do his own build.  I paid next to nothing for it.  I still could call up STI or Caspian and get a slide built with the right lenght recoil spring recess.  But I am cheap.

[Pinsnscrews]

I apologize if my wording implied a slight to you. I just figured that indicated the frame length for the Para was short compared to other Commander length frames. In my mind, I would think you might go the other route, and order an STi or Caspian frame to match the slide in hand

[sqlbullet]

No slight taken.  It has been a major pain though.  I imagine the gun would run fine with the gap, just unsightly.