[Macdaddy]

I'm looking into buying the above gun and converting it into 460 Rowland. Do any gunsmiths or customers have knowledge/ experience with this gun or the Rowland round?

I know Clark Custom sells a drop in kit, but the Para requires a ramped barrel, so I figure I'll have to buy a ramped 45 barrel and have it reamed. I'm also not a fan of the included compensator (I want a full profile comp). I know EGW sells blanks that I can mill to spec, does anyone else? What gunsmiths would be able to do this for me and at what approximate cost?

I also know Clark Custom recommends blued/ forged/ single stack guns for abrasion/ strength/ and magazine feeding issues. My thinking is that the IonBond PVD finish will reduce enough friction to prevent wear (the slide glides over the frame like silk), the gun looks like it was heavily tested by Para so the casting process would seem to be top notch, and I was thinking of installing a second magazine spring to match feeding speed to the increased slide speed. Can the experienced gunsmiths tell me if my thinking here is flawed or if I'm missing something else? Is this a workable conversion or would I just end up destroying a $1200 gun?

Thank you all for your help.

 

[jackson]

Macdaddy,
I tried to post earlier, but for whatever reason it didn't fly through. It was a longer reply,and I'm not going to go do that again just now - it's late and I'm a slow typist. Anyway, I read somewhere recently that Clark used to make a kit for the Para, but Para quality control issues resulted in them dropping it. I'm not a Para detractor, by the way, I have and carry one, which happens to be extremely reliable. Point being, perhaps you could contact Clark to see if they know of such an animal, if you're really set on the Para. Other options are Spingfield Armory and Norinco, if you want a Rowland and don't want to break a $1200 (or more) gun.
jackson

 

[dan10mmman]

I did a little research on this a while back. It seems that one of the big problems is slide velocity and the double stack mags not feeding correctly.

 

[RebCop]

I built one on a Armscor steel frame and it has held up well with no problems. I did put a BoMar rib on the slide to slow down slide velocity and it worked well.