New gun, it's a keeper. What are your "automatic" tweaks?

I guess I'm a creature of habit. I find tweaks and accessories that work for me, and apply them to every similar gun.

For the two autos...[5906 and 4566, both TSW] I installed LPA adjustable rear three dots. [Eyeglasses issues...they just work extremely well for me]

Replaced the composite factory grips with the S&W logo Hogue grips.

Got both polished and tuned...what a difference! Especially considering that these guns performed very, very well before the tuning.

For the 9, [at the time] bought pre-ban hi cap mags, and now for the 9 and the 45 always order around 6 or so extras.

For the two Rugers, both single action revolvers, I pretty much stopped at getting a set of Hogues for both, which I swap out...original Rosewood grips for CA shooting, rubbers go back on for wilderness carry.

What are [I]your "automatic" tweaks and accessories?

As far as automatic tweaks, I always pick up speedloaders and a pouch. For semis, extra magazines. If it's going to be carried, a nice holster. And lots of ammo.

Usually just grips.

depends, autos i like extended mag releases and triggers with trigger stops and new springs on occasion

Holsters (1 belt, 1 IWB), I like night sights too, they're on most of my autos.
Most importantly: Ammo to practice with ... LOTS ! :evil:

Pachmayr black rubber grips.
Nothing else works as well for me.

If the barrel is black, I'll polish them :D

ammo, holster, random junk I accumlate from visiting THR, Glocktalk, SIGforum, 1911forum etc etc etc....

I go on a buying spree between my 10 day wait in California. Then get rid of the gun and try to sell everything I bought for it. :o

I have a great and wise friend who once told me "whenever you buy an axe, always buy a spare axe handle". Guns or anything that I buy, I try and get accessories and spares at the same time so I know that they will fit/work and I figure that they will be cheaper now than later.

Semi-auto's, I get night sights. Always. I am patial to Blade-tech holsters.

when I carried a smith 1066 for duty, I had it sent to the S&W performance center and had the slide mounted safety changed to a single sided kind and then had them spring load it so it only functioned as a decocker... no chance of pulling my gun and going *click*... doesn't really cost much and while its there have them do a trigger job on it. turn around time was fast... within a month if I remember correctly.

the 1066 is still in my vault at home and once in a while comes out for a trip to the bang-bang house.

now I carry a sig 229 so I don't have those problems or need to modify.

I have a dozen magazines or speedloaders for each handgun I own.

For my S&W revolvers they are get their internals fluffed and buffed.
A 1970s vintage trigger return spring is installed and everything else stays as issued.
I'd like to put the large S&W smooth target stocks on them but they are just too over priced when you can find them so I stick to the checkered factory target stocks


On my Colt automatics they all get a genuine Colt or Mueschke ambidextrous thumb safety.
They all get an original 1980s vintage genuine Colt wide grip safety.
They all get a 1911 wide hammer and either a one piece milled short trigger or a checkered stamped GI short trigger.
They all get an old style dimpled recoil spring plug.
They all wear wood stocks or AlumaGrips.
If they need it they get a steel flat serrated or 30lpi checkered mainspring housing.
If it's an older model it gets the mag well beveled and the ejection port lowered.
I just make sure all of the springs are in spec.
Usually I get a gun that functions 100%.


My other handguns are bone stock.

Required: Long trigger (I like the plastic Colt ones, kimber triggers are doable), flat MSH, Kimber rubber grips, standard mag release (or one about the same size of stock Kimber part at most), standard slide stop, standard guide rod/spring plug. If its used, it gets a new recoil spring.

At least four wilson 47s (47OX for the shorter guns). Normally happens shortly after required and, in some cases, long before bonuses.

Bonuses: Extended thumbsafety (for example a CMC or stock kimber - anything bigger is too big and/or feels weird), night site up front/plain black rear, beavertail.

Most of my 1911s met my "required" criteria within a week of purchase, some were modified before they were paid off. Some are still lacking in my "bonus" criteria, but they're bonuses and the guns work as-is, so I'm not in a hurry to change them. I'll get to it eventually.

Even though I'm picky about what a 1911 has or doesnt have, I normally only have to change two or three parts (including grips). JIC I buy a 1911 on a whim, I keep an extra set of Kimber grips as well as a short guide rod and plug (well, two, one stainless, one blued).

If it's not a 1911, I get a holster for range use, and four spare magazines.

They all get an old style dimpled recoil spring plug. :what: I thought those things were extinct!!!

I thought those things were extinct!!! I can buy them by the handful at the local shows for $3 or $4 each.

There's several old timers here who have hundreds of trays of parts that they've been sitting on for 20 or 30 years.
Or course they were cherry picked 10 years ago but those old plugs don't seem to be in high demand anymore since so many bought into the myth that a full length rod is better.

Buy ammo and magazines. Grip tape front strap.

Better grips (Hogue's, usually) and spare mags. Don't do a whole lot more than that.

any pictures of this "dimpled recoil spring plug?"

If its used, I replace the recoil spring. Same thing with used mags. May replace sear spring..

salty.

Usually just grips. I really like the different laminates so I simply change grips out when I can. Ruger SA's always get a spring kit as well.

Here you go Black Majik,

The "dimple" enables one to "screw" the plug onto the recoil spring thus minimizing the possibility of it becoming airborne during disassembly.

Such a simple thing but since the bean-counters can save .0003¢ each by not doing it they won't. The fact is that many of us would gladly pay an extra dollar for the feature.

Tritium sites and extra factory mags.

Thanks Bluesbear for the picture. Hmm... interesting.

Whatever it takes to get the Jeff Cooper recommended 'good trigger and sights', basically.

Of course, I prefer a 2# trigger, so that could end up being quite a bit of work. :D


Larry

Revolvers I tend to leave alone... maybe some good grips for a J frame.

Autos I *always-always* buy extra mags same time I buy the gun. Few things are dumber than an autoloader with only the magazine that came with it, IMO. ;)

If it's a new caliber for me I automatically buy dies and the other reloading gear I'll need.

StrikeEagle

Required:

1) a black pistol rug of some type. Preferably nylon.
2) New set of reloading dies, brass and bullets.

Beyond that nearly every gun I have is "stock".

Grips I always swap out the grips.

It's never the same kind of grips, though I like the Hogue monogrip on one of my 1911's and my Hi-Power clone.

I like smooth grips on SA revolvers... buffalo horn, simulated ivory, hard wood.

Sometimes the front sight gats a dab of paint.

That's really about it... I buy a lot of accessories, but i tend to leave my guns fairly 'stock.'

As far as automatic tweaks, I always pick up speedloaders and a pouch.

Hhmm...speedloaders for automatic?


Mine is always a nice pair of sights and grips, if the original doesn't satisfy. That, and ' lots of ammo so I'll be satisfied. :D

AUto tweaks???? Usually just 1000 rounds and go shooting. I don't make changes until after I shoot the gun a little and figure out what I need.

I don't make changes until after I shoot the gun a little and figure out what I need.

Thats a good way to do it.

This is the first semi-auto I've owned (S&W .357 model 65-3 has served me well for years in the home) and it seems loading the rounds into both clips (7 & 8) is difficult.

Is it the spring, me or what? I must admit the owner's manual leaves a lot to be desired and doesn't fully address this important aspect.

Thanks!

Mods? We don't need no steeeeeenking mods! Stock Rox!

Mods?

I buy Glocks.




;)

I put on a set of Meprolight night sights on anything that I buy that will take them. Custom grips on guns that will take them.