Beretta 9000S polymer grip disintegrates

[Ignacio49]

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A friend of mine just bought this Beretta 9000S .40s&w, new in box. This gun was stored for +/-11 years, it was manufactured in 2.000 (BN code), s/n 005xxx. Early production as far as I know.

The polymer grip was falling in pieces. It seems that this rubber/polymer degenerates with time. I guess this happenned only to some early production units. Fact is it happened to this one.

I removed the grip (the pieces of polymer) and left the 9000s “naked”. I tried putting a rubber grip sleeve (pantyhose?) from Buttler Creek but it didn’t fit (too long at the front side).

Then I tried a “poor’s man gun pantyhose”..bike tube. This was better, but still not good enough. It was impossible to cover the area below the hammer because of its shape; the tube would not follow the contours (see pics). Another problem was that the naked surface was not totally flat. The rear block spring pin protrudes, and the grip has some sort of “ribs” behind the hammer spring that are very noticeable (pics). These protruding parts were very obvious as the bike tube has thin flexible walls that cannot conceal such protrusions. To fix this I used a piece of tire inner tube (much thicker than the bike tube) stuffed in between the grip and the bike tube. Now we got an almost smooth grip, better looking one (pics).

But...there is still much room for improvement. I am thinking of using skateboard tape. That is my next project. Meanwhile I would like to know your suggestions – what would you do/use?

One thing: the original rubber grip was very thick in the rear, where the “ribs” are. I guess this helped to absorb some recoil. Now, without this cushion, I wonder what the recoil will be... and yes, I know, theres only one way to know.

Oh!...last one: getting rid of the original rubber has a positive side: the grip is now less thick, much more comfortable to grab, at least for my kinda small hands. I like it better “naked”, but the looks....

Pics:

Naked girl











Dressed girl

 

[SpentCasing]

Wow man, that sucks. Have you tried contacting BUSA yet?

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I could never stand the way that gun looks. If I had to choose that, or a HiPoint C9, I might just go with the C9. At least its grips wont melt off.

And if they do, HiPoint will fix it and probably send me a free mag or two for my trouble!

 

[Ignacio49]

Wow man, that sucks. Have you tried contacting BUSA yet?

No. I am not in the US, and sending the gun to them and getting it back would be a pita (my local customs and regulations)

 

[Nushif]

Wow. Mine never did that, no clue as to which production it was, though.

I hate spelling out the obvious here, but since you haven't contacted BUSA ... have you contacted Beretta <whereveryou'reat>?

 

[mdThanatos]

It appears that there is rust on the pin closest to the magwell, maybe the pistol wasn't stored for properly?

 

[MikePaiN]

Wow....I just sold a 9000S off that I inherited. I never did check the date code but the gun had been sitting for years and the grip was fine.

 

[Ignacio49]

Well, thanks for your comments.

I still would like to know your ideas/suggestions: how would you fix it? What would you use? Skateboard tape?

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I wonder if the original owner cleaned it with a solvent that attacked the plastic before it was put away? (Some spray solvents, like Gun Scrubber attacked plastic back then. The solvents have changed a little, and plastics have gotten more resistant to the solvents in the passing years.) Many of the solvents will still eat plastic grips.

If this were a common problem, enough years have passed that it should have shown up in other guns. Makes me think there's something DIFFERENT about how this particular gun was handled before storage, or how it was stored.

As for fixing it: I'd try to sand it or do something to make it look more uniform, and then get a slip-on cover, like a Hogue Handall, to make it look better.

I'd also contact the gun maker to see what they might suggest. What does the owner have to lose?

(The grip, as it is designed, looks almost as though maybe there may be a covering that can be taken off or replaced. Since that grip was designed to better handle recoil, it may be a different polymer than the rest of the frame. I suspect it CAN be taken off and replaced.)

 

[SpentCasing]

you could maybe try to stipple it if you're into that

 

[Ignacio49]

I wonder if the original owner cleaned it with a solvent that attacked the plastic before it was put away? .........If this were a common problem, enough years have passed that it should have shown up in other guns. Makes me think there's something DIFFERENT about how this particular gun was handled before storage, or how it was stored........

I tend to agree with you, Walt.....but it is no so clear to me.
I know of another case, same thing. I read about it in internet - its in spanish ( http://historiadelasarmasdefuego.blogspot.com/2009/03/pistola-beretta-mod-9000-s.html - fourth comment).

The other fact is that my friend bought his 9000s new in box, never used, directly from a dealer. Dealer could have cleaned it with a solvent, but that would be very unusual....but who knows...

.......and then get a slip-on cover, like a Hogue Handall, to make it look better.....

Thanks for your suggestions. I already tried a slip on cover from Buttler Creek, but the front of the grip is too short to accomodate the two finger grooves of the cover. And a "one finger groove" cover is too small to cover the grip back side, at least to cover enough of it to look good.

And yes, the grip is (was!!) a different polymer than the rest of the frame

 

[Ignacio49]

you could maybe try to stipple it if you're into that

Well, yes SpentCasing, I thought of doing that, but I feel that the walls are a little on the thin side, and this being a .40 caliber I am afraid of weakening them with the stippling......but I have not discarded the idea.. just need some courage to go for it.