Michael Tinker Pearce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 1,575
After wanting one for twenty years (for reasons I cannot explain adequately even to myself) I ran across a screaming deal on a Taurus 415 .41 Magnum that came with new brass, ammo and reloading dies. A short 'shut up and take my money' later it was mine.
Test fired it with the 175gr. Silver Tips that came with it, and it's a hoot! This will become my new sidearm for the woods, and after the 5-star speedloaders arrive and I've loaded some good 41 Special loads for it I'll EDC it. It came with Taurus's neoprene Grippers, which, while odd and not attractive, are undeniably effective at taming the gun's not-insignificant recoil.
The thing is I've never preferred neoprene grips, mostly because they tend to be a bit 'grabby' at cover garments, and can make it more likely to 'print.' I had some 'Brazilian Ebony' (which is not even remotely ebony, but I can't remember it's proper name) in the shop, and decided to have a go at a pair of grips for it.
I hollowed out the halves of the grips with a Dremel and wood chisels, then glued them together to form a single-piece unit. I shaped them with the belt-grinder and sanding drums to distribute recoil- fat at the back, tapering a bit towards the front and with an exaggerated re-curve at the top to assist with recovery between shots. With them properly fitted to my hand they also give the perfect reach on the trigger, facilitating a straight, clean double-action pull.
Once I was happy with the shape I started sanding... and sanding... and sanding... When they were hand-sanded to 3000 grit I polished them with 4 x 0 crocus cloth, then applied multiple coats of lacquer.
The result should be quite comfortable with .41 Special loads, and while I doubt it will be 'comfy' firing full-power .41 Magnums it ought to allow good control and quick follow-up shots. The pictures really don't do the wood justice; there's a lot of subtlety in the grain of this wood.
Anyway, I can't wait to get it to the range and try them out!
Test fired it with the 175gr. Silver Tips that came with it, and it's a hoot! This will become my new sidearm for the woods, and after the 5-star speedloaders arrive and I've loaded some good 41 Special loads for it I'll EDC it. It came with Taurus's neoprene Grippers, which, while odd and not attractive, are undeniably effective at taming the gun's not-insignificant recoil.
The thing is I've never preferred neoprene grips, mostly because they tend to be a bit 'grabby' at cover garments, and can make it more likely to 'print.' I had some 'Brazilian Ebony' (which is not even remotely ebony, but I can't remember it's proper name) in the shop, and decided to have a go at a pair of grips for it.
I hollowed out the halves of the grips with a Dremel and wood chisels, then glued them together to form a single-piece unit. I shaped them with the belt-grinder and sanding drums to distribute recoil- fat at the back, tapering a bit towards the front and with an exaggerated re-curve at the top to assist with recovery between shots. With them properly fitted to my hand they also give the perfect reach on the trigger, facilitating a straight, clean double-action pull.
Once I was happy with the shape I started sanding... and sanding... and sanding... When they were hand-sanded to 3000 grit I polished them with 4 x 0 crocus cloth, then applied multiple coats of lacquer.
The result should be quite comfortable with .41 Special loads, and while I doubt it will be 'comfy' firing full-power .41 Magnums it ought to allow good control and quick follow-up shots. The pictures really don't do the wood justice; there's a lot of subtlety in the grain of this wood.
Anyway, I can't wait to get it to the range and try them out!