[Gunhamr]

I have a Virginian Dragoon in .44Magnum and the wood grips
will not stay tight. The locating hole in the grip is worn out
oversize and will not keep grip in position. I thought of using
Microbed or Accraglas to build the hole back to normal size
but don't think that would help much. Recoil would beat it out
again. Can't stick the grips to the frame because they have to
be removed to take the gun down. Any suggestions?

[Old Fuff]

I think you'll find that barrel bedding compound works fine if you enlarge the hole in the grips first. Be sure to put plenty of release agent on the backstrap and triggerguard and do one side at a time.

[Traveler]

I would completely rebuild the grips using a new screw and estuchion, which you can get from Brownells. That way any play in those parts should be eliminated.

You might also want to use a little acraglass and make sure the grips are headed tight up against the frame. That also can eliminate a little more of the play that they get over time.

[Gunhamr]

Old Fuff, I did it the way you suggested and it looks
good. Will let them cure for a couple of days before
reinstalling and shooting. Sure hope that they
will hold up as I like to shoot the gun. It is heavy
enough to tame recoil and is very accurate.

I happened to be in the store when the original
owner traded the gun off for a 9mm semi-auto.
Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous, I
immediately bought the gun and have never
regretted it. Wish they still made them.

[Old Fuff]

I am always delighted when someone does something foolish and gives me an opportunity to get a good used gun at a reasonable price.

The only trick with the grips is to be sure to use PLENTY of release agent on the metal parts. I usually wait about 6 to 12 hours and then remove the grip while the bedding compound is still a bit green. Then wait 24 hours or so before putting them back on the gun and/or shooting it.

The bedding compound is much stronger then the wood around it, and I don't think the grips will ever move again. I often use this method when I put stocks on a handgun that were originally fitted to something else. It's not unusual to find that the pin hole is slightly off on the second gun.

On some later-model guns the manufacturers have started to use roll-pins instead of solid ones. If you should ever find this be sure to plug the hole on each end of the roll-pin, or replace it with a solid one.