Beavertail Fitting?

[BillyD]

I have a Springfield Mil Spec and I have a S&A "EZ-Fit Hi Grip" safety with the .220 radius on it. I got this one because I was told it is the "EZ"ist to fit and am very much a newbie at this, meaning I have never even attempted to fit a beavertail to a 1911 before. I am now unsure about how exactly to PROPERLY fit the thing, that was kind of an after thought, Can some tell me exactly how to fit it or you may feel free to tell me "don't run the risk of butchering the frame" and just take it to a good smith!! After all I don't know what I'm doing and I don't want to do ANY damage to my baby. I will also add the pistol and the safety are stainless so I don't have to worry about refinishing.

Thanks for any help :)
BillyD

[Stanmerrell]

Hi Billy,
I've only done one of these, but it was pretty easy. I'm not very experienced at metal work, and I don't have many tools either. The main thing is you need the jig that SA sells to do this job. You must have it. I think it's only $12. Call them and ask them to send you one. Be sure to specify that you need it for the Springfield.
The instructions for installing the beavertail are in the jig pack. Follow them closely, and you should have no trouble.

[wichaka]

Yep, get the jig........it'll get you going in the right direction.

[BillyD]

Thanks,
just ordered one from brownells
If I have any more questions when I get it I'll bug you then :)

Thanks again
BillyD

[wichaka]

Please post some pics showing the step by step installation.........

[Stanmerrell]

By all means...ask away when you get down to work. Welcome to PM or post step by step. I'm interested in seeing a Springfield install, and I think you will be pleased with the results. Here is a picture of how mine turned out.

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/stanmerrell/?action=view&current=IMG_1232.jpg

[BillyD]

Thanks for being so helpful you two :appld: :appld:

I have never posted pictures before but I'll see if I can figure out how, I saw a sticky somewhere (I think the question's and suggestions forum) explaining how. I guess I'll go find it and go from there, I've been meaning to figure it out for a while now

Thanks Again
BillyD

[Hawkmoon]

It's not in Q & A, it's in the FAQ area:

http://forum.m1911.org/faq.php?faq=a_few_words#faq_postingpictures

[BillyD]

Thanks Hawkmoon, I was having trouble finding it (guess that's why, looking in the wrong place)

BillyD

[dbracin]

BillyD
Look at this guys instructions. He makes it look simple.

http://blindhogg.com/gunsmith/beavertails.html

[BillyD]

Well I got my jig in and I am planing on fitting it tomorrow. I read the installation instructions and now I am a little nervous about taking a file to my frame :scared: What if PERMANENTLY damage it??

I wish there would have been a little more info about exactly how close of a fit there is supposed to be. As best as I can tell, about all that is involved is putting on the jig and filing to get it pretty close and then going the trial and error route (take a little off and check, repeat, again, and again, ect)

As for the pictures that were requested, in the process of tyring to educate myself about how to post pics, I broke my camera, the computer just tells me to "replace device" when I try to download pics. hopefully I will have a new one soon so I can at least show my results (if they are worth showing)

Any last minute advice or encouragement is appreciated :) :)

BillyD

[Stanmerrell]

Hi Billy,
Sounds good. Double check that you have the correct jig for a Springfield from Smith and Alexander. Don't bother marking the frame. Just put the jig on with the plastic washers installed and machine off the excess, working across the jig to prevent contact with areas you don't want to disturb. I recommend a bit of masking tape around the tang, just in case you slip up and make contact with something you should not.
I did 80% of the metal removal on a stationary belt sander and went with files and sandpaper for the balance. The jig will rotate if you make contact with it at the right angle. Don't worry if all the paint comes off the jig during the process. Consider smoothing the interior surface very, very lightly (with 500 grit paper), of the contact area on the beavertail grip safety.
Work slowly while you have plenty of time and don't rush things. When you think you are about finished, try inserting the safety, you will probably still have a ways to go. The ears under my tang needed slight removal. You will need an assortment of files including some small ones flat and triangular.

[BillyD]

ok I have fitted the new grip safety to the frame tangs, that wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, BUT now I have a different problem(s) upon trying to reassemble gun I figured out that my thumb safety doesn't work, with safety on the hammer falls a little then when you let the safety off it falls to the half cock poisson. So I thought ok somehow I damaged the safety in striping or reassembly I have the original one that came on the gun so I put it on and at that point the new grip safety completely quit working. I have tried both safeties a few times each and get the same results each time. and I might add before this problem I had a problem getting the hammer to cock, when you cocked it, it would instantly fall. It has fixed it self though. I think I might have had the sear spring in wrong and caused this problem. I'm starting to get more than a little frustrated so I'm takin a little break. then I'll tell the kids to go back outside, incase one of those words in my head comes out my mouth. thanks for any help :)

BillyD

[Stanmerrell]

Hi Billy,
Yeah. Take a break and consider reposting this question on the Springfield forum, and look at the drawings again.
It sounds like you have not gotten the hammer strut properly situated into the mainspring cap pin. The main spring housing should be difficult to push up into place when the strut is aligned correctly.
Take the whole thing apart tomorrow, and try to reassemble when you are fresh again. These parts and assemblies are durable. I don't think you have damaged anything, but you are not getting everything together properly. Hang in there. You can do it.

[BillyD]

thanks for the encouragement :) I need it

I have been careful to get the hammer strut in correctly, I have now figured out that when I use the original thumb safety the grip safety will work if you push up on the beavertail under the hammer. it's like the grip safety is staying pushed in (very slightly) but only with that thumb safety, doesn't do it with the other one, which is the one I use and the one that lets the hammer fall

BillyD

[toolman]

The grip safety could still be rubbing on the frame tangs. Color the frame tangs with some layout fluid or a Sharpie marker, reinstall the new grip safety, work it up and down a number of times, disassemble and see if it's rubbing the frame tangs. A few small differences in the two thumb safeties could cause the grip safety to rub when using one thumb safety and not with the other.

[BillyD]

HAHA, I THINK I GOT IT

the only problem I can see now it that you just BARELY have to touch the grip safety to disengage it. I wouldn't be to concerned with this (because it does work) but there is no doubt that a little pressure from my holster strap would disengage it so I may have a little more filing to do (tomorrow)



BillyD :D :D

[Stanmerrell]

How does she point now?