Para Ordnance HRT Special - Western Arms(SCW)

Elite Airsoft loaned me a Parkerised Para Ordnance HRT Special for review some while ago and I liked it so much I ordered a black gun from them.

That particular gun did not stay in my collection long enough to get a review, but recently I picked up another black SCW PO HRT and have the chance to correct that omission.

In the Box

This is a Shibuya Custom Works model, so the box, as with all such recent models is dark grey with white SCW logos and just a sticker on the box to indicate the model within.

Inside, the gun is nestled in polystyrene, with a bag of BBs, an SCW Para Ordnance manual and some other paperwork, a bushing spanner and a hex key for the hop up.

First Impressions

If you have not seen a Para Ordnance before the first impression is off a neat, smart gun with lots of curves.

If you have seen one before, the black HRT is less distinctive than the Parkerised version, but to my eyes more attractive, in heavyweight ABS with silver details.

All the detailing on the black HRT is black or silver. Whilst the Parkerised gun grew on me, I really prefer the black and silver combination and I cannot think of a smarter gun in WA's catalogue.

As with any WA gun, build quality is exemplary and the, near 1 kilo, gun feels heavy and solid in the hand.

Closer Look

The HRT is based upon a full length Para Ordnance P14-45, similar to the Two-Tone gun, which I reviewed recently.

The black HRT (in SCW form here, there was a Magna R version, too) seems to be a fairly consistent offering in WA's terms and offers a traditional 1911 style gun with the increased magazine capacity and enhanced gas system of WA's other double stacker range, the SV Infinities.

The gun features the classic Para look of the swollen bellied (to accommodate the double stacker magazine) 1911.

Up at the front of the gun, the traditional 1911 bushing is present, in silver, and the barrel is the traditional 1911 tube, rather than the bushless setup seen on Infinities. The barrel (including the chamber), trigger (looking very like the KSC S&W 945 one) and hammer are all silver on this gun.

At the back, the grip safety, ambidextrous thumb safety and extended (and chequered) slide lock are painted black. The grips are standard Para fare, in black and bearing the Para Ordnance logo.

The slide on the HRT is fairly plain, with just ".45 ACP" on the left hand side and nothing on the right. The frame is hardly abundant with markings either. On the left the Para Ordnance/WA license script (as seen on all WA Paras) is present just above the trigger, whilst the right just bears "PARA ORDNANCE INC., FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA CANADA". The slide is actually quite different to the standard P14-45 one, with, in addition to the dovetailed front sight, diagonal ridges on either side of the front and rear of the slide. These contrast with the vertical ones, at the rear only, of the standard P14-45.

The magazine base bears the Para Ordnance logo, as does the, silver, chamber.

The sights are a simple 3 dot system with an unlogoed Novak on the back and a single blade, fitted in a dovetail on the HRT, at the front.

Shooting Impressions

The Para Ordnance HRT special was available with the Magna gas system, but this was the newer SCW version, which seems to deliver slightly more power and more consistent power.

Click on image for bigger version in separate window.

Carrying out my standard 5m/6 round, off hand test, the HRT produced a best 5 grouping of 1.75 inches (4.5CM), which is very good. You can see from the target above that 4 of those 5 were extremely closely grouped (under .75 inch/2CM across) and the black HRT I originally owned was a real 'tack-driver', capable of very tight groupings, as well. I suspect with practice (and I haven't fired the HRT much, despite having 3 through my hands) I could achieve 1 inch groupings without much trouble.

Over 10 shots, the HRT special averaged 310 fps (using Abbey Ultra gas) indoors with .2g BBs (around 25C). Interestingly, this is actually LOWER than I achieved with the Parkerised version on 134a, but possibly reflects the efficiency under different conditions designed into the SCW system.

I was able to carry out a trigger pull weight test on this gun and it produce a figure of 800g (28.2 ounces), which is a middle weight of the trigger pull weight range, but it is quite easy to reduce that to almost hair-trigger weight with some work on the leaf spring in the back of the grip.

Take Down

Take down of the standard Para Ordnances will be familiar to anyone who has field stripped a 1911, real or airsoft.

With the magazine out, the slide should be moved back until the slide lock can be pushed out of the frame. The slide and barrel can then be slid off of the front of the frame.

The barrel bushing should be rotated 45 degrees anti-clockwise, it can then be removed. The HRT has an unusual, more Infinity like, recoil spring guide, which needs to be pushed towards the rear of the slide to remove it, along with the spring.

The outer barrel and chamber can then be drawn out through the front of the slide.

Conclusions

Overall, I found the Para Ordnance HRT Special Black version to be an excellent airsoft pistol.

Well made, distinctive, without being gimmicky or flash and perfectly usable as a skirmish sidearm, it offers most of what anyone could want in an airsoft sidearm.

If I really look for faults, I would say the licencing text is a bit intrusive.

Whilst the Parkerised version is distinctive, I found this gun much more attractive and, unless you have a rabid dislike of 1911 style guns, I find it hard to think of anything to dissuade you from buying one.

Weight : 990g

Realism : ****
Quality : *****
Power : *****
Accuracy : ****

Real Steel link at World Guns
Para Ordnance's website

Buy this gun from Elite Airsoft