RIA friendly beavertail grip safety(s)

[mainspring]

What kind of grip safety(s) have you guys found most closely match the radius of the RIA frame? I want to install one without having to do a ton of chopping on the frame. Adjusting the safety itself to get it to fit isn't my concern, but I don't want to have to hack up the frame.

Any suggestions?

[John]

The only grip safety that doesn't require machining the frame is Wilson's drop-in ones, but they are designed to work only with Colt pistols (either Government or Commander) and RIA's tongues are not the same as the Colt ones.

If you do not want to alter your frame, try finding a Colt or Para Ordnance scalloped Commander grip safety (not an easy thing lately). You can always modify your existing (or any GI-style) safety to a scalloped one with some dremel and file work.

[Cap]

Mainspring, the Wilson drop-in will work with out cutting the frame tangs.
The safety may or may not require minor fitting to engage the trigger bow properly.
There's instructions w/the safety where to file if it needs fitting.

As John mentioned, the Wilson drop-in isn't an exact fit.
It will function properly, but if you do nothing more to it, it will look like P89Cajun's drop in.
Here's his thread w/pics

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=48923

Just like that will make a HUGE improvement in shooting comfort compared to the stock RIA GI grip safety, but it's not a perfect fit for the tangs.

You can blend it a little better by filing metal off the safety as I did, but it will never be "perfect".
Least "I" couldn't make perfect even with lots and lots of grinding.

here's a pic of mine after several attempts to get it "just right".
I couldn't get them pefect on the either on my Rocks

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/larycap/Picture482.jpg

My 38 super

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/larycap/Picture678.jpg

My 45 after I did some other mods and attempted another go-round making the Wilson "just right"
Best I could do and called it "good enough" til I get around to buying a 250* radius frame jig and new grip safety to fit


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/larycap/Picture648.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/larycap/Picture768.jpg


I'm not "unhappy" about how they turned out, but with the last few mods I had to cut the frame for the Bobtail.
So cutting parts of the frame are no longer taboo with me now.
I've also evolved "some what", that I'm now stiving for perfection.
There's no lack of courage to take on the challenge of perfection.
(my lack of skills are another matter :D )


..L.T.A.

[BHP Fan]

WHAT ''lack of skills''!?I'm a big fan of box stock [except for grips] GI pistolas,but you sir,are a genius,and those are ART.

[patriotswrath]

Only thing to watch with the Wilson drop in part is there are TWO parts

the BG and the BC.

One is set for the Commander tang and the other the Gov't.

Some sites like Cheaper than Dirt show the drop in and say it's for all Gov't and Commanders. While you can technically put the BG part on a Commander there is a huge gap between the tang and tail.

Trying to put a BC on a Gov't wouldn't work so well.

But the BG works fine on the RIA Gov't models.