Average Joe's Handgun Reviews

Para Ordnance Warthog .45 ACP

Despite their lovable depiction as happy-go-luck sidekicks in Disney’s The Lion King, warthogs are rather ugly, brutish, and powerful animals.

That was obviously the connotation that Para Ordnance wanted to stir up when they named the subject of this review. This little pistol is certainly brutish and powerful but, although not the prettiest pistol I have ever seen, I would not call it ugly.

It reminds me of another brutish and powerful little pistol that is a favorite of mine, the .45 ACP Glock model 36. Neither the Para Ord Warthog nor the G 36 will win any beauty pageants, but their size, caliber, and lack of sex appeal end the list of similarities between the two handguns. The Glock is a polymer framed, striker fired, double action, single stacked pistol holding 6 rounds and the Para Warthog is an alloy framed, hammer fired, single action, double stacked pistol holding 10 rounds.

For the record, here are the stats as published on the Para Ordnance Website:

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Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 10 + 1

Barrel Length: 3 inches

Weight: 24 ounces

Length: 6.5 inches

Height: 4.5 inches

Hammer: Spurred

Sights: Fixed 3-dot

Frame: Alloy

Finish: Regal

MSRP: $959.00 (although you should be able to find it for $100 less--average joe)

Likes

Unlike the animal I find the Para Ordnance Warthog to actually be fairly attractive for a small pistol. There are a couple of different finish options. The one reviewed is finished in their regal black coating with stainless steel controls. This is an appealing combination. There is also a completely stainless steel version and there is the Night Hawg which has a rather unappealing dull black finish called “Covert Black” by Para Ord but this pistol includes night sights.

The sites on the pistol reviewed were not night sights, but were of the three dot variety and were large enough to bring you are target quickly.

Obviously the biggest advantage of this pistol is the capacity. 10 + 1 rounds of .45 ACP…sweet mother of Jesus, what a comfort this would be when the chips are down. When walking to your car in the just a little too dark parking lot and things are just a little too quiet…ye shall fear no evil. When you are with your family in the middle of some large mega-mall and the unmistakable sounds of continuous gunfire means that an active shooter scenario is unfolding around your family, you will know that you have a pistol with the power and capacity to fight your way to an exit (remember, the experts all say that you should always carry one extra reload; I don’t think there is anyone who has ever been in a gunfight who felt that they were carrying too much ammunition).

Dislikes

I do not like the short grip; my pinky finger is left dangling (despite the useless finger extension on the magazine); this may make no real difference on a 9mm, but on a .45 ACP I want to get my whole hand around the grip. I realize that a shorter grip frame makes it easy to conceal, but making it just a little longer would allow my whole hand to get a good grip and it would probably add another round or two to the magazine and that is never a bad thing. While we are on the subject of the grip, the 10 round double stack magazine means that this is not a slim pistol, however I did not find that the extra girth to be a hindrance to concealment and comfort. If anything the width of the pistol helps spread the recoil.

I was not overly impressed with the accuracy of the Warthog. It was not bad, but not as good as other small ultra, micro compact .45 I have shot from Kimber and Springfield. I think that if I were to be able to spend more time with the Warthog I could probably tighten my groups somewhat.

Target Time

Here are three targets from 21 feet. All three have similar groupings low and left. My normal fix of backing out my finger from the trigger did not bring the group to the center; low and left is where the bullets went.

Here is one from 40 feet. She is still putting them to the left but these would all have been solid, fight stopping hits.

Lastly, here is a target shot at 75 feet with 50 rounds of Magtech 230 grain FMJ ammo. I am disappointed that 12 rounds fell outside of the circular target but all in all not bad for such a small pistol at 25 yards.

Overall my feeling about the Warthog is much the same as my feeling about small J-framed revolvers. Their advantage is ease of concealment, but if you are going to carry one, you will need to spend money and time to practice in order to become more proficient. And, with the Warthog, you have 11 rounds of .45 ACP rather than five rounds of .38 Special. That’s an advantage that I want on my side.