Armscor (RIA) 1911 Grip Screws

[g_one]

I own a Citadel 1911, which is Armscor - the same manufacturer as Rock Island. The gun is great - no malfunctions yet and just as smooth as silk. I ran into something today though that might interest fellow Armscor owners - and some googling confirmed my suspicions.

I bought some aftermarket grips, only to discover that the grip screws that came on my 1911 didn't fit into them. The threaded shaft fit just fine, but the head was too wide. So I went down to the hardware store thinking I would just get an identical screw with a smaller head, only to find that they had nothing threaded like what I had. Some googling once I got home led me to discover that RIA uses a slightly different screw in their bushings - and the head is slightly wider. Luckily, the external threading on the bushings are to spec, so I'm just going to get some new bushings and buy some real grip screws instead.

 

[rcmodel]

Chuck the screws in a drill, spin it up, and run a file on them to size them down to standard dia heads.

You will never find any type of screw at the hardware store that fits almost any gun screw hole.

1911 grip screws are 0.150" - 50tpi.
That is not a standard thread size used in anything else that I know of.


rc

 

[saitek]

grips

i put two different set's of hogue grip's on two different rockisland's and no problems !

 

[g_one]

Yeah, I contacted the seller who said the grips were fit to a Para 1911, but offered to resize the screwholes if I sent them back the grips with my screws. I'm going to check the head diameter tomorrow with the calipers. If my screws are in spec i'll take them up on their offer. Beautiful grips though, mesquite wood and with a thumb rest. Will post pics once I get them secured to the gun

 

[Tomcat47]

You could also just find your local gun smith to spin those screws to fit or a machinist... save a trip through the mail.

And the drill trick works well too. Check with calipers and then the hole size and file accordingly. let someone run the drill while you do the precision work.

Look forward to the pics!

 

[bigfatdave]

I routinely replace my grips with slim alumagrips and slap in new screws then (because I have to)

I can't imagine that the labor of reducing screw head size wouldn't be worth more to you than a new set of screws, but have fun with that if it is the route you take.

 

[Zach S]

Chuck the screws in a drill, spin it up, and run a file on them to size them down to standard dia heads.

I call it a poor man's lathe. Works well.

I prefer sandpaper though, since a file will take material off faster. 150 grit works well. Takes a little longer but produces a smoother finish.

On the other hand, grip screws are cheap.