Both Guns Rights pistols are in .45, and for those of you already in occupied territory, there are de-fanged 10-shot magazines for the hi-cap frames. Lucky me, I live in a Free State and being the contrarian that I am, decided on the hi-cap version. So I got the PXT P14.45 pistol with a pair of hi-cap magazine, each holding 14 rounds of .45 ACP.

The PXT 14.45 is a full-size 1911 with a 14+1 capacity.

Para has been at the hi-cap business for 20 years now and finished wringing the bugs out of the hi-cap mags a long time ago. (I was at the first SHOT Show where the company unveiled its new frames.) Why, you can even get extensions for your magazines if you wish and make them hold even more rounds.

On the outside of the hi-cap are plastic grips, mere hand-fillers outside the frame. Many competition shooters who shoot the Para hi-caps don't even bother with grips; they just shoot the bare frame or the frame with a skin of skateboard tape on it. The single-stacks come with nicely figured wood grips.

After I was done inspecting and lusting over the arrived pistol, I loaded the truck with a cross-section of available .45 ACP ammo and went off to the range. I can report the usual boring consistency as to reliable function. Not a single round of the many I launched downrange failed to function.

The PXT 1911 SSP is a single-stack Government Model with an eight-round magazine. Both Gun Rights pistols feature Para's X-tractor and fiber optic front sights.

The brass was all smartly ejected, landing in the snow drift that builds this time of year on the right side of the range. I'll find them after the thaw and give them their usual chemical cleaning to make them bright again.

The magazines never failed to lock the slide open when empty, nor did they fail to drop free of their own weight when I pressed the mag catch. Falling into the snow and mud did not give the magazines pause, nor did the cold.

I even ran a half-carton of Wolf steel-cased ammo through it just to be thorough--no problems. The sights were zeroed right out of the box, and the groups were satisfyingly small with all brands of ammo.

This group was shot at 25 yards, over sandbags, with the Laser Cast and Vihtavuori load--five shots into less than two inches. The author knows when to quit and take the photo.

I had a small batch of the best load I've ever found: 200-grain lead semi-wadcutters from Laser Cast over Vihtavuori 310. My experience has been that every 1911 shoots it best with this load, and if a pistol won't shoot it well, there is no need to keep the gun.

After shooting the Viht load, I have to conclude that this is a keeper. Five shots into a tight cluster well under two inches in diameter from the 25-yard line is plenty good enough to earn a spot in my safe.

If there is one complaint I have, it would be that Para and the NRA-ILA should have worked out a deal to get the NRA-ILA logo on the gun. That way anyone who sees it would know why you or I have it.

The suggested retail price for both Gun Rights models is $1,125. However, Para has a very aggressive pricing program with its distributors, and the goal is to make these pistols very affordable so as much money as possible can be raised for the ILA. While Para can only suggest and not dictate the retail price, it is a good guess that if a consumer shops around, he can probably purchase either pistol for well under $900. So you can have your cake and eat it, too. Protect your rights, and get a good gun at the same time.