1911 govt Polymer Grips Breakage

[Sagetown]

After checking into Reviews about these grips, I found where many Polymer grips break at the Screw Inserts. It can be either of the holes in the grip, or both holes, doesn't seem to matter. Some peoople have inserted #60 'O'-Rings, and they still break. One individual took a drill bit, and by hand, drilled out a depression for the screwhead to seat in.

Is it necessary to do all this extra custom work on the grips, or could the problem be solved by not overtightening the screws? Or is the material just inferior to shock resistance?

If these grips can't hold up to normal use, one minght as well throw the money out the window.

Any Answers out there?

 

[rcmodel]

I never noticed breakage being a problem with GI 1911 plastic grips when I was in the service.

One of the very few things a GI couldn't hardly ever break in fact.

There is already a depression for the screw head, and if the grips & the grip screw bushings are mil-spec, not enough pressure on the grips to break anything. The screws bottom out on the bushings before the grips will break.

The line in bold print might be the problem people are having, if they are having one at all.
Lot of 1911's out there anymore so far removed from mil-spec they hardly qualify as 1911's.

rcmodel

 

[Sagetown]

SO rcmodel; are you saying it could be a problem with the frame?

 

[rcmodel]

No, I'm saying the grip screw bushings, and/or the aftermarket grips are not mil-spec, or there wouldn't be a problem.

rcmodel

 

[Sagetown]

Okay; gotcha, rcmodel.

Thanks. I just talked (e-mail) with a Mr. Collins who makes'em out of Corian, a hand made sheet stock that is rock hard and looks good.

p.s. I'll look into the screw and bushing hardware. I know most if not all of the Grip companies say the grips come without screws. So if only a screw is used w/o a bushing that would surely cause a break I would think.

 

[rcmodel]

Corian is counter-top material made by Dupont.

http://www2.dupont.com/Surfaces/en_US/products/corian/index.html

I though we were talking about GI plastic grips.

I have no experiance with custom made Corian grips, but assume they would hold up O.K. if the bushings and screws fit them right.

They gotta be as strong as the wood grips the Army used for the first 40 years, and Colt used far longer.

rcmodel

 

[Sagetown]

rcmodel:
Yes we're talking about the plastic grips. Sorry to throw you off track, just thought I'd mention what else I'd run across today.

I can see that what you say about the bushings being to spec would be most vital to preventing the panel from breaking.

 

[SRT1]

In making grips, I can tell you that the bushings being even as little as 1/64" off center form the corresponding grip holes can put undue stresses on the grip during use and may cause cracking. Sometimes, if only slightly off, you can see where the contact is made and "open" the grip hole slightly with a rat tail file to achieve a smooth drop on fit. If it's a larger fitting issue, you may have to get a different set.
And yes, having made corian grips, I can tell you that they are quite nice. They don't "slick up" when wet, in fact they almost feel better. Of course if you put too high a finish on them they will get slick. I leave them at about a 220 grit on a random orbital and that seems to be about right.
Good luck!
SRT

 

[Sagetown]

Well; shouldn't the grips come with bushings already fitted? As I stated earlier, most don't ship screws with their grips, but I'd think the bushings oughta come with'em. Could the lack of bushings be the reason for inserting the 'O' Rings?

p.s. Here are the Polymer Grips I'm thinking about getting.

But, since finding this Corian Grip site, I'm kinda leaning that way now...Hmmmm

 

[SRT1]

I'm a little confused by your question......
The bushings are the "studs" in the side grip portion of your pistol frame, and do not change with the grips (unless you are going regular thickness to an ultra thin type grip, but that's not what you're doing here). The grip screws pass through the grip panel and the threads mate into the bushing which is screwed into the frame, thus securing the grip panels to the pistol. The grip screws are universal in the vast majority of the 1911 platform and do not need to be replaced with new grips unless the old ones are damaged.
If you look at the pics you posted, the smaller hole is what the bushing sleeve fits into from underneath, and the larger hole on the very top (what appears to form a shelf in the pictures) is what the head of the screw seats into. Ideally, what I'll call the "screw head shelf" formed by the different sized holes in the grip should be even with or even just slightly above the top of the bushing when the grip is pu ton the pistol. This will allow the user to snug up the panels without causing damage to them.
I hope this helps clear thins up. It's not as easy to type an answer as it is to just get it out by talking to someone.
SRT

 

[Sagetown]

Thank you SRT1, and you too remodel:

For taking time out to answer my questions. As you can easily tell, I've never had the panels off before. Your answers are very detailed, and from them I should be able to prevent a careless installation.

Thanks again for your patients, and walking me through this.

Sage