Rumors of a single stack Pardini GT-45

[machinist mike]

I have heard rumors that Pardini was going to produce a single stack GT-45 pistol. I contacted Pardini USA back in December and was told that he couldn't comment until after the Shot Show. Contacted him again last Thursday and got another "can't comment on that". Does anyone have any information on this at all, or is this just wishful thinking on my part?

[fc60]

Greetings,

Sorry, can't comment on that.

Cheers,

Dave

[ChipEck]

I have heard the same rumor. First time I heard it was at Perry last summer.

Chip

[zanemoseley]

Seems like Pardini should just make a 1911, I think it would sell.

[machinist mike]

I agree. A 1911 size pistol with an adjustable 2 stage trigger like the current GT-45. That would be sweet.

[Dipnet]

I owned a GT 45 and the only reason for selling it was the size of the grip, especially at the end of a 2700, but I loved most everything else about the gun. I don't think they are as accurate as properly set-up 1911; however, I noticed one for sale online that somebody had welded a crude "bushing," like a sleeve, onto the barrel where it contacts the slide housing. It struck me that the owner was onto something.

If a skilled machinist could make a thin sleeve out of quality stainless steel, where the sleeve ID was ~equal the barrel OD, and then heat it, slide it over the end of the barrel, then quench it, dress it as needed, one might be able to make a very accurate GT. What the heck do I know, call it a gunsmith fantasy, dipnet

[Murph]

(In a strong Bulgarian accent)...I can't comment on that.

[Murph]

The trigger on the GT45 is fantastic, and adjustable to your taste, and would make it an easy sell to many customers. It could be set up like the Pardini 22...if that is what you shoot.

It is already very easy to break down and clean.

If Pardini added a barrel bushing type of feature (which I assume would improve its 50 yard accuracy with a better lock up), as well as thinned out the grip and made the grip screw bases to have more meat, you'd have a killer gun that would make a great pistol for all types of competitions. They'd have trouble filling the back orders. They are already beautiful pistols. A couple improvements like these rumors would likely be a HUGE hit.

The Pardini barrels have been tested and by themselves are "one hole" quality. If they could lock up like a 1911 does, or similar, I think they could run with the best of the best.

[Shiloh]

To introduce a new pistol into a very small and dwindling market as well as a rapidly dwindling availability of shooting competitions in the past several years and most importantly, to compete practically and economically with the standard, the 1911 and the many gunsmiths who support it, doesn't appear to make good business sense.

I have heard it said that you can buy a couple of very good bullseye 1911's for the price of one GT-45.

In can be argued that the success the SP has enjoyed is probably more of a result of the efforts of the folks in Tampa Bay rather than those in Italy. International success may be the real driving force for any efforts by Pardini for the SP in the U.S. Pardini can siphon off a portion of production for bullseye because of that and the folks in Tampa Bay can tweak the product for bullseye although many have been very successful with the SP before they came along (Nygord, Larry's).

The HP remains more of a novelty in bulleseye competition and impractical (32 S&W Long) at Perry. The ACP is once again in the forefront after about a ten-year hiatus. The many, many posts regarding the ACP on this forum would attest to that as well as the apparent difficulty in finding the right components for loading and the many nuances of loading the round. Interesting for sure and fun to read about but not very practical thus far.

I would expect Pardini to be non-committal until they are assured of making a profit.

[Zipp0]

Last year I was chatting with Pardini Italy, and suggested that a single stack GT would be a great idea (for me anyway) as I struggle with the size of the grip (I tried pretty much all combinations). The answer was a simple, 'we have no plans for that'

I haven't tried a GT9 - apparently it has a thinner frame..

Rather than a Pardini 1911, A GT made to 1911 dimensions (with a less steep grip angle?) ie - a modern design of pistol, single stack, thinner frame, trigger group, takedown, fully adjustable sights and rail etc would be a fun niche pistol.

BTW... The STI Targetmaster is discontinued

[AlexFromPardini]

I cant comment on this

Though what I can say is that making a 1911 is not something we would do..The design of a 1911 removes alot of the advantages you see in the GT series...though as a shooter I do like the idea of the single stack...

I dont have large hands in the first place so what I did for my GT is remove the side panels. It helped alot...I also started gripping it a little differently...in other words less like my 1911 service pistol and more like my SPRF. What ended up happening is that I was able to isolate how I am squeezing and treat it less like the 1911 where fingers wrap around far more...thoughts?

[ghillieman]

The Pardini GT 45 has taken me to Master and allowed me to win several Regional Championships. I've come close to cleaning slowfire with it (98) and have more short line cleans than I care to keep up with, so the gun is bullseye accurate. I use the custom short trigger and the factory panel grips with grip tape on the exposed metal frame to stick to my hand better. I grip the GT like I grip the hand exerciser, back of the frame, front of the frame, and squeeze. My palm does make contact with the right grip panel but is not necessarily applying gripping pressure.
However, due to the recoil associated with the 45, I feel I shoot higher scores if the gun had a slimmer grip and I could grab ahold of it more. But that is just user preference and no fault of the gun.
The adjustability of the GT trigger is unmatched.

[jmdavis]

Alex, A friend told me that many years ago when he was competing seriously with the pistol he read that the grip should be at the front and rear of the 1911. To prove this to himself, he removed the grip panels, slathered the sides with grease and proceeded to show himself that what he had read was true. So, I think that you may be on to something that can work for more people.

I know that Jerry Keefer has replaced grip panels with sheet metal or aluminum plate with grip tape affixed to make the pistol better fit the shooter.

All of that said, I have not wrung out the best from my 1911, and with equally small or smaller hands than you, I don't think I would move in the direction of the GT45.

[AlexFromPardini]

The Pardini GT 45 has taken me to Master and allowed me to win several Regional Championships. I've come close to cleaning slowfire with it (98) and have more short line cleans than I care to keep up with, so the gun is bullseye accurate. I use the custom short trigger and the factory panel grips with grip tape on the exposed metal frame to stick to my hand better. I grip the GT like I grip the hand exerciser, back of the frame, front of the frame, and squeeze. My palm does make contact with the right grip panel but is not necessarily applying gripping pressure.
However, due to the recoil associated with the 45, I feel I shoot higher scores if the gun had a slimmer grip and I could grab ahold of it more. But that is just user preference and no fault of the gun.
The adjustability of the GT trigger is unmatched.

Have you tried putting your thumb on top of the safety too?

Also, I recommend letting your hand rest between series. It is impractical to hold the pistol squeezed for so long. If you have a consistent grip, taking on and off of the gun should not be a problem at all.

[ghillieman]

Have you tried putting your thumb on top of the safety too?

Also, I recommend letting your hand rest between series. It is impractical to hold the pistol squeezed for so long. If you have a consistent grip, taking on and off of the gun should not be a problem at all.

Yes, my thumb is on top of the safety. Not necessarily gripping or applying pressure, but more providing passive resistance to recoil, and it's more comfortable for me.
I relax my grip after each shot on slowfire to give my hand a rest. Applying gripping pressure is the start of my shot process.

[AlexFromPardini]

Have you tried putting your thumb on top of the safety too?

Also, I recommend letting your hand rest between series. It is impractical to hold the pistol squeezed for so long. If you have a consistent grip, taking on and off of the gun should not be a problem at all.

Yes, my thumb is on top of the safety. Not necessarily gripping or applying pressure, but more providing passive resistance to recoil, and it's more comfortable for me.
I relax my grip after each shot on slowfire to give my hand a rest. Applying gripping pressure is the start of my shot process.

Try pushing onto it some too..it helps me alot with recoil. I also relax my hand completely during the rapid and timed fire stages and load my mag between strings. I find i get better groups as a result of that

[Wile E Coyote]

What are the dimensions of the Pardini GT 45 grips?

[Zipp0]

They are slabs

frame and slabs 1.52" 38.6mm wide
frame 26.6mm 1.11 " wide
one slab 0.20"5.1mm wide

length -
front: under trigger guard to beginning of mag swell 67.5mm 2.58 "
back beavertail - base of grip3.36"78.7 mm

Does that help?

Let me know if you need more info

~Zip

[Wile E Coyote]

They are slabs

frame and slabs 1.52" 38.6mm wide
frame 26.6mm 1.11 " wide
one slab 0.20"5.1mm wide

length -
front: under trigger guard to beginning of mag swell 67.5mm 2.58 "
back beavertail - base of grip3.36"78.7 mm

Does that help?

Let me know if you need more info

~Zip

Thanks.

How about from front of grip to rear?

[Zipp0]

front to rear - (at 90 degrees to grip angle) - 48mm or 2.1"

The grip angle is approx 117 degrees to the barrel axis +/- 2 degrees or so

I have all my measuing aparatus out (mine is 6" GTII 45) so now it the time to ask!

~Zip