Para LDA Instructions Manual

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20. ALWAYS HAVE THE SAFETY ON UNTIL YOU INTEND 
TO FIRE.
21. NEVER WALK OR CLIMB WITH A LOADED FIREARM. 
PISTOLS HAVE SHORT BARRELS AND THEREFORE
EXTREME CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN HANDLING
THEM BECAUSE THEIR ATTITUDE AND DIRECTION CAN
BE EASILY CHANGED. HOLD YOUR PISTOL SO THAT THE
MUZZLE IS CONTROLLABLE.
22. ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PISTOL IS NOT
LOADED BEFORE CLEANING AND STORING IT.
23. NEVER DRY FIRE YOUR PISTOL WHEN YOU HAVE
REMOVED THE SLIDE FROM THE RECEIVER.
ALWAYS STORE GUNS AND AMMUNITION 
SEPARATELY, LOCKED IF POSSIBLE, 
OUT OF SIGHT, AND BEYOND THE REACH 
OF CHILDREN AND INEXPERIENCED 
OR CARELESS ADULTS.
LEAD WARNING:
DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY
VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS, OR
HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN
EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRO-
DUCTIVE HARM, AND OTHER SERIOUS INJURY.
HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE. 
						

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FEATURES
With law enforcement officers and competitive shooters
in mind, Para-Ordnance’s LDA-Series pistols offer unique
features along with the durability and reliability of a
time proven design.
The LDA-Series semi-automatic pistols are quite similar in
appearance while they all function in the same manner.
Among themselves, the pistols vary in caliber, size, weight,
barrel/barrel bushing configuration, surface finish, and 
in the type of metal used for their respective receivers
(steel or stainless steel).
While this manual uses the Para Companion (C7.45 LDA)
and the 16.40 LDA Limited pistols for its illustrations, the
directions also apply to the other LDA models unless 
otherwise noted.
Table 1:
* For recreational use, magazine capacity is restricted to 10 rounds in U.S.A. and Canada.
Model Caliber Rounds Barrel Receiver Finish
D14.45ER/T14.45ER.45 ACP *14+1 5 Steel BlackD14.45SR/T14.45ER.45 ACP *14+1 5 Stainless StainlessD16.40ER.40 S&W *16+1 5 Steel BlackD16.40SR/T16.40SR.40 S&W *16+1 5 Stainless StainlessD18.9ER/T18.9ER9mm *18+1 5 Steel BlackD18.9SR/T18.9SR9mm *18+1 5 Stainless StainlessL12.45ER.45 ACP *12+1 3.5 Steel BlackL12.45SR.45 ACP *12+1 3.5 Stainless StainlessL14.40SR.40 S&W *14+1 3.5 Stainless Stainless
D7.45E/T7.45E.45 ACP 7+1 5 Steel BlackD7.45S/T7.45S.45 ACP 7+1 5 Stainless StainlessC7.45S.45 ACP 7+1 3.5 Stainless StainlessC6.45S.45 ACP 6+1 3 Stainless Stainless 
						

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Figure 1
SAFETY FEATURES
SLIDE LOCK
SAFETY NOTCH
SLIDE LOCK
SAFETY
Para-Ordnance LDA-Series Double-Action semi-automatic
pistols are equipped with a number of safety devices (some
are hand-operated while others are passive) that are designed
to minimize accidental discharges.
HAND-OPERATED SAFETIES
These safeties are activated manually.
SLIDE LOCK SAFETY
This safety device can only be activated when the slide is fully
forward. (Figure 1).
NEVER RELY ON A SAFETY MECHANISM 
TO JUSTIFY CARELESS HANDLING OR 
POOR MAINTENANCE. 
ALWAYS POINT YOUR PISTOL 
IN A SAFE DIRECTION. 
						

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Figure 2
SLIDE LOCK 
SAFETY
(ENGAGED)
To engage the Slide Lock Safety push the Slide Lock Safety up
until it fully engages the Slide Lock Notch (Figure 2). At this
point, the slide is prevented from moving rearward. If the
cocking cam has been cocked and the trigger re-set, engaging
the slide lock safety will disengage the drawbar to prevent the
hammer from moving rearward if the trigger is pressed.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR PISTOL LOADED 
AND READY TO FIRE. 
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 
CONDITION WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN 
ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE THAT MAY CAUSE
INJURY, DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. 
						

							11
Figure 3
GRIP
SAFETY
(ACTIVE, IN
THE OUT
POSITION)HAMMER
AND
SLIDE
LOCKED
GRIP SAFETY
The Grip Safety (Figure 3) locks both the hammer and slide.
In order to press the trigger and move the hammer, which is
necessary to fire the pistol, you must firmly grasp the pistol’s
receiver, fully depressing the Grip Safety. When you are ready
to fire the pistol, the forward pressure of your hand on the
Grip Safety disengages this safety device and allows the 
hammer the necessary freedom for its rearward movement
required to fire the pistol when the trigger is pressed.
NEVER COMPROMISE SAFETY. NEVER ALTER 
OR MODIFY THIS PISTOL IN ANY WAY. 
THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT 
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY 
UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS 
PERFORMED ON THIS GUN. 
						

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PASSIVE SAFETIES
THESE SAFETIES ARE ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT
MANUAL INTERVENTION. DO NOT BYPASS THEM OR 
RENDER THEM INOPERATIVE.
These mechanisms form parts of a safety system incorporated
into your Para-Ordnance pistol and they are designed and
installed for the prevention of accidental discharges that could
otherwise follow as the result of some commonplace occurrences.
NEVER RELY ON A SAFETY MECHANISM
TO JUSTIFY CARELESS HANDLING
OF YOUR PISTOL.
ALWAYS EXPECT THE GUN
TO FIRE WHEN YOU
PRESS THE TRIGGER.
Your Para-Ordnance pistol is equipped with the following 
passive safeties:
Inertia Firing Pin: Size and position of the firing pin, which
is held to the rear by a spring, keep the pin from striking
the cartridge primer unless the spring force and inertia of
the firing pin are overcome by the blow of the hammer.
Firing Pin Lock:To minimize the risk of accidental discharge
that may be the result of the pistol being dropped or the
muzzle receiving a blow, this safety device prevents 
the movement of the firing pin until the trigger is 
intentionallysqueezed. 
						

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The action of the LDA-Series pistols is based on a tilting barrel
design that locks the barrel and slide together at the moment
of firing. After firing, the barrel and slide recoil to the rear for
a short distance still locked together. Following this initial
movement, the barrel tilts downward from its locked position,
permitting full recoil of the slide and the extraction and 
ejection of the spent cartridge cases.
FUNCTION
ALWAYS REMEMBER, THAT WHEN FIRED, A DOUBLE-ACTION PISTOL RELOADS
AND RECOCKS ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY
AND IS READY TO FIRE AGAIN BY SIMPLY
PRESSING THE TRIGGER. ALWAYS KEEP THE PISTOL POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
MALFUNCTIONS
In any semi-automatic pistol, stoppages can occur due to
mechanical malfunction or ammunition failure. Please
perform the following procedures to correctly deal with
such malfunctions.
The proper method for manually cocking the LDA pistol is by
pulling back the slide. To pull back the slide, you must first  fully
depress the grip safety.
2.PULL THE SLIDE BACK
1.DEPRESS
THE GRIP
SAFETY
OPERATION 
						

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1. STOP SHOOTING IMMEDIATELY if you encounter any
mechanical malfunction while firing your pistol, e.g.,
cartridge has failed to extract, report on firing does not
sound right, powder gas is being “spit out,” cartridge
primer is punctured or cartridge case is bulged or
punctured. HAVE THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION
EXAMINED BY A COMPETENT GUNSMITH.
2. FAILURE TO FIRE: KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE
DIRECTION and hold it there for 30 seconds to determine 
if a HANGFIRE (slow ignition) has occurred. If round has
not fired within the 30 seconds, remove the magazine,
eject the round and examine the primer.
3. In any double-action pistol, an unfired cartridge or fired
cartridge case may become jammed between the slide and
the barrel. To clear a jammed cartridge, KEEP THE MUZZLE
POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION and remove the magazine.
Pull the slide back and lock it to the rear by engaging the
Slide Stop. Remove the cartridge.
NOTE: Disposal of misfired or otherwise damaged, unfired
cartridges should be carried out according to instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the ammunition.
NEVER FORCE A JAMMED ACTION. 
TO DO SO MAY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION THAT
CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY, DEATH 
OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
LOADING
PRACTICE THESE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SAFE GUN 
HANDLING WITH AN UNLOADED PISTOL OR WITH DUMMY
ROUNDS UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO PERFORM EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING STEPS WITH SKILL AND CONFIDENCE. READ
THROUGH THIS MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE MAKING
ACTUAL USE OF THIS PISTOL. 
						

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SERRATED 
FINGER
GROOVES
MAGAZINE
CATCH
BUTTON
MAGAZINE
WELL MAGAZINE
FOLLOWER
MAGAZINE
1. Remove the empty magazine from your pistol by
pressing on the Magazine Catch button (Figure 4).
NOTE:As the magazine will fall free from the receiver of its
own weight, place one hand under the magazine to prevent it
from dropping to the ground and having it damaged.
Figure 4 
						

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Figure 5
MAGAZINERETAINING LIPS
2. Load magazine from the top open end, the front of the 
cartridge pointing away from you, with the type and 
quantity of ammunition for your pistol (Table 1). 
Press rounds down and back (Figure 5).
DO NOT LOAD DAMAGED AMMUNITION.
ALWAYS LOAD YOUR MAGAZINE WITH CLEAN,
DRY, ORIGINAL HIGH QUALITY FACTORY
MADE AMMUNITION THAT IS IN GOOD 
CONDITION AND THE PROPER CALIBER 
FOR YOUR PISTOL (TABLE 1). 
PRACTICE WITH DUMMY CARTRIDGES.