By MessedupMike
Published: December 10, 2005
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Most experienced Airsoft players carry some sort of sidearm. These are used as backup guns, and have particular importance in CQB games when deployment of long arms is too cumbersome, or impractical. The KJW Para P14.45 fills this role quite well.
The KJW Para P14.15 is a model of the real steel Para Ordnance PXT P14.45 pistol. First introduced in 1988, this handgun is a double stacked single action .45 ACP based off of the classic 1911 auto pistol. In short it's the .45 for the modern era. The PXT adds a Beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous slide lock safety, and 14 +1 round capacity to the original design.
First Impression
The KJW model faithfully reproduces all of the main features of the real gun. As stated, the Full Metal Version is just that, full metal. The only plastic on this gun is the grip panels, the trigger, and the orange barrel supplied by the seller. The metal barrel that normally comes with the gun was removed from the package, though later models purchased had it included. They can be purchased separately, though some searching may be required to find a dealer stocking KJW parts. The pistol has a matte black finish that has thus far proven fairly resistant to wear. The plastic diamond patterned grip panels can be changed out with real Hogue type grips, but longer screws will be required. The gun itself has a large grip to begin with so players with smaller hands may not wish to do this. There are no trade markings save for a .45ACP stamped on to of the action, and the KJW markings on the grips themselves. There are no fancy bells or whistles on this model. It's a straight shooter, not a race gun. The only other difference in appearance to the real deal is that the serrations on the rear of the slide are more correct for the original 1911 pattern, than the deeper, and wider style used by Para Ordnance themselves. There are serrations on the front strap and back strap the aid in gripping the pistol. There are also serrations on the slide safety and the trigger for a more positive contact. The pistol is also equipped with fixed Novak style rear sights and a three dot pattern as opposed to the adjustable BO-Mar type sights prevalent on many airsoft guns. Because of its full metal construction, with a loaded and gassed up mag, the pistol weighing in at just under 3 lbs is the same weight as its real world counterpart.
Function
As close to perfect as you can get. The slide lock safety and the grip safety are both functional. This gives the user the option of carrying the gun in a "cocked and locked" condition as is preferred by many single action shooters. The gun features a good blowback action when using green gas, and shoots about 320 fps off of a fully gassed mag at about 60 degrees. I don't measure gas consumption as I re-gas my mags every time I reload. Much like its real world counterpart, the slide has the typical rattle associated with 1911 pistols when the chamber is empty, and becomes completely locked in place when a round has been chambered.
The magazine is a solid all metal construction. There's no plastic-based plate to shatter if it's dropped on the ground. There is some concern that dropping the mag may still damage it, but that remains to be determined. When charging the mag with gas, there are no leaks at all. The valve seals completely with the gas nozzle on the can. The magazine appears to hold 25 rounds easily as opposed to the 28 that www.EVIKE.com states on their website, but this is a minor issue. The slide locks back when the last round has been fired.
The gun has functioned almost flawlessly for six months now. It has been used in multiple skirmishes, and saw extensive use as a primary weapon at the DET-5 Urban Challenge. The only failure to fire has occurred when the mag release button was depressed during a shoot out. It resulted in a double feed that jammed the slide in the rear position. The pistol was racked, cleared, and immediately back in service. This was clearly an operator error as opposed to a mechanical one.
The gun shoots accurately enough to reliably hit a soda can at 50'. The sights are fixed and the hop up is not adjustable, but these are sufficient for the design. This is a shooter's gun, not a target gun.
Take down
The gun strips just like the real thing. First you rotate the barrel bushing out and remove the recoil spring. Then you push the slide back half way and remove the slide lock lever.
This allows the slide to come forward all of the way and out of the lower frame. Once the slide is free, the spring guide and the barrel can be removed.
In the event the valve itself needs service it is held in place by a 2mm hex screw going through the top of the sight and into the valve. Note the rubber bushing at the end of the spring guide.
Overall
Over all I would rate this pistol as a 9 out of 10. The sturdy construction and simple function of this gun make it a real value for the money. I would highly recommend this gun for any first time buyer, or any experienced player looking for a reliable back up gun. The fit, finish, and performance are spectacular the main point of concern is long term service. The difficulty in obtaining replacement parts could prove to be an issue down the road, but for its price and performance it's well worth the investment.
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