Fitting Grips
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Only install grips on the frame for which they were designed. Even then,
grips are not always a perfect fit right
out of the package. Please read this
information and DO NOT attempt any
alteration until you have done so. Grips that have been modified in any way ARE
NOT RETURNABLE.
Installing Your Grips
Before
installing grips MAKE SURE your gun is UNLOADED.
After
installing grips, CHECK YOUR GUN and make sure that it functions
correctly.
Unloading The Weapon
Point
the gun in a safe direction to unload it.
Pistols:
Remove the magazine, clear the action and check barrel and chamber to ensure
they are clear of any rounds.
Revolvers:
Open the cylinder and remove any rounds.
Double check to make sure no rounds remain in the weapon
Remove Existing Grips
Be
careful not to damage the existing grips. Set aside and preserve the factory
grips, as they might be a valuable part of the weapon and should you decide to
sell the weapon they could increase the value.
Install New Grips
Clean
the frame before installing new grips.
If
new screws are supplied with the grips, USE THEM. Otherwise use your
original screws.
If
the grips do not fit correctly, DO NOT FORCE THEM ON.
Certain
grips appear to be a one piece grip, but are in effect 2 pieces pinned together.
Carefully separate these grip panels to avoid breakage.
See specific instructions by manufacturer:
The Stainless/Nickel Grip Problem
Grips are machined
with much tighter tolerances than most grip frames. Rarely a grip panel will
come off the manufacturing line with some deviation, but poor fit is more
frequently caused by variation in the grip frame. This problem is often seen in
stainless or nickel plate frames. It is rarely seen in the black or blued
frames. Not all the stainless or nickel frames have the problem.
ALL FRAMES HAVE
SOME VARIATION.
- Rugers
have very tight tolerances, so you will rarely encounter frame problems for
black or blue frames, and only for a small percentage of the
Stainless/Nickel frames. Grip manufacturers are usually able to make grips
for Rugers to go right on with no fitting needed.
- Smith
and Wesson frames also have very tight tolerances and you'll rarely run
into significant frame variation even with stainless/nickel.
- Colt
Firearms will show the widest frame variation in all models whether black,
blue or Stainless/Nickel. For example, Colt Single Action Revolvers have
such loose tolerances that no two frames are expected to be the same.
Manufacturers make oversized grips and you must simply expect to have to fit
them. Variation is less prevalent in the Colt Revolvers, i.e., D frames and
Pythons but its still there.
If your grips have the
following problems you have probably encountered the Dreaded (Stainless)
Frame Variation Problem.
- Gapping
in Ruger and other Single Action Revolvers: Sometimes on a stainless or
nickel plated single action frame, panel grips (not finger groove style)
will have an approx. 1/32 inch gap at the top area between the hammer and
trigger guard, usually only on one side. Its nothing you can see from a foot
away but we抳e grown to expect Ruger grips to fit perfectly, and some
people don't like it. There is nothing you can do about this. All grips will
fit the same way.
- Backstrap
Overhang: Another fit
issue for single action revolvers is overhang on one side of the backstrap,
or an uneven fit around the edges of the frame.
- Ruger
NOTE: We've known
customers with Stainless Rugers to try several different grips from
different grip companies and still not get the fit they want. It is
not uncommon for two apparently identical stainless guns that the grips will
fit one perfectly and the other one will have major problems. At gun shows,
we have had customers literally try on every pair of grips on the
table and get the same fit problem every time, while the grips all fit
black frame guns perfectly. Frame Variation! Its a nightmare!
- Colt
and other Revolvers: One
side is fine and the other won't fit: This happens most often in stainless
or nickel plated Colt Pythons. The combat style grips won't fit on one
panel. In this case the grips may need a minor modification to allow the
frame to seat properly.
IF YOU
THINK YOU HAVE A FRAME VARIATION PROBLEM, DO
NOT ALTER THE GRIPS
WITH OUT CONTACTING US FIRST.
Colt frames are very
inconsistent and there are many frame size variations, in particular this
happens with stainless frames. Colt SAA grips are usually made oversized and are
expected to be fitted to the frame. Gaps often appear where the top of the grips
meets the frame. This is most often a problem on stainless frames, and the two
sides can vary quite a lot.
Most single action
grips have a hole that fits over a pin in the frame.
This pin locates and dictates the fit of the grip. Occasionally, it
is necessary to increase the size of the pin hole to fit the pin. Do this SLOWLY
and CAREFULLY with an Auger or similar tool. Make sure the grip fits the
pin correctly BEFORE TIGHTENING as failure to do so could result in
breakage of the grip.
Use the screws
provided with the grips. Factory screws generally will not fit your new grips.
A trick used by a lot
of SAA shooters, to correct the gapping problem on grip panels, is to drill out
the pin hole to oversize, fill the hole with plastic wood (for wood or laminated
wood panels) or epoxy (for bonded Ivory or faux Pearl grips) and place on the
frame in the desired position until the filling is dry. Then remove and clean.
Applying wax (auto, furniture, etc.) to the frame before placing the grips (with
the wet plastic wood or epoxy) will prevent material sticking to the frame and
aid in cleanup.
If you are not happy
with the fit of the grips and do not wish to do ANY work on them send them back
for a refund. But PLEASE NOTE that if you have a problem with the grips
you received then it is highly unlikely that you will find grips that fit your
gun exactly. If
you have done any alteration on the grips they CAN NOT BE RETURNED
You
may need to do some very minor fitting on your Walther grips. DO NOT USE POWER TOOLS. Fine grit sand paper is all that is needed.
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