Para P13 .45, P14 .45 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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With law enforcement officers and competitive shooters
in mind, Para-Ordnance’s P-Series pistols offer unique
features along with the durability and reliability of a
time-proven design.
The P-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 P13•45 and P14•45 Limited for
its illustrations, the directions also apply to the P12•45,
P16•40, P18•9 both in the Performance Plus and Limited
models, unless otherwise noted.
Table 1: 
TECHNICAL DATA AND AMMUNITION INFORMATION
FEATURES
MODELP14•45/
P16•40/P18•9
RECEIVER
MATERIALSteel or
Stainless SteelSteel or
Stainless SteelSteel or
Stainless Steel
FINISHESMatte Black or
Stainless Matte Black or
Stainless Matte Black or
Stainless 
MAGAZINE
CAPACITY*14/16/18 13 12
CALIBER.45 ACP/
.40 S&W/9mm.45 ACP .45 ACP 
						

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Para-Ordnance P-Series 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 hammer is
fully cocked with slide fully forward (Figure 1).
Figure 1
SAFETY FEATURES
NEVER RELY ON A SAFETY MECHANISM 
TO JUSTIFY CARELESS HANDLING OR 
POOR MAINTENANCE. 
ALWAYS POINT YOUR PISTOL 
IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
SLIDE LOCK
SAFETY NOTCH
HAMMER SLIDE LOCK
SAFETY 
						

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To engage the Slide Lock Safety you must, while pointing the
pistol in a safe direction with your finger away from the trigger,
pull the slide to its most rearward position and then let it
return all the way forward, freely and with all its force. This
will leave the hammer fully cocked. Then 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
and an internal cam surface engages the sear to prevent the
hammer from moving forward if the trigger is pressed.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR PISTOL COCKED 
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.
Figure 2
SLIDE LOCK 
SAFETY (ENGAGED)
HAMMER
(FULLY
COCKED) 
						

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GRIP SAFETY
The Grip Safety (Figure 3) prevents the rearward travel of the
trigger, which is necessary to fire the pistol, unless the pistol is
firmly in hand with a positive grasp of the Grip Safety. When
ready to fire the pistol with a firm hold on the receiver, the
forward pressure that is applied to the Grip Safety disengages
this safety device and allows the trigger the necessary freedom
for rearward movement required to fire the pistol.
NEVER COMPROMISE SAFETY. NEVER ALTER 
OR MODIFY THIS PISTOL IN ANY WAY. 
THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT 
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY 
UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS 
PERFORMED IN THIS GUN.
Figure 3
GRIP
SAFETY 
						

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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:
Disconnector:Protects against firing a round prior to its
being properly seated in the chamber of the barrel and the
slide and barrel not having locked together.
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.
Hammer Safety Stop:The hammer is designed with a flat,
shelf-like surface which is there to prevent the hammer
from falling forward and onto the firing pin unintentionally
by engaging the sear should there occur a primary sear
notch failure.
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 
intentionally pressed. 
						

							13
The action of the P-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 SEMI-AUTOMATIC 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.
NEVER FORCE A JAMMED ACTION. 
TO DO SO MAY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION THAT
CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY, DEATH 
OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
MALFUNCTIONS
1. In any semi-automatic pistol, an unfired cartridge or fired
cartridge case may become jammed between the slide 
and 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. 
						

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2. STOP SHOOTING IMMEDIATELY if you encounter any
other 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.
3. 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.
NOTE: Disposal of misfired or otherwise damaged, unfired
cartridges should be carried out according to instructions
provided by the manufacturer of the ammunition.
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.
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. 
						

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Figure 4
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.
SERRATED 
FINGER
GROOVES
MAGAZINE
CATCH
MAGAZINE
WELL MAGAZINE
FOLLOWER
MAGAZINE 
						

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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).
Figure 5
MAGAZINERETAINING LIPS