EGW bolt on plunger tube ??

[Fdisk]

Dose any body know what size drill bite and threading die to use to install it ?

[Pappy]

Welcome fdisk.

Could you give us more details???

[Fdisk]

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_48&products_id=273

its a bolt on pl;unger tube that has 2 holes that need to bored and treaded for 2 screws it didnt come with any info on what size to use and i havent recived a response fron egw yet but i may just get the info from 1 of the screws i thought mayby someone had installed 1 of thease before and had some pointers on em

thanks

[Hawkmoon]

I believe Brownells sells that part, and their technical staff is usually very helpful. Perhaps you could try calling them.

[danger831]

looks like lama part

[Mgonz45]

looks like lama part
Just asking, Why do you want a bolt on?

Anyways just measure the diameter and thread pitch to figure out the screw size, then look at a drill and tap chart online.

[Hawkmoon]

Stake-on plunger tubes can work loose. If the plunger tube has been repaired a couple or a few times, the holes may become so enlarged that staking becomes impossible. The screw-on design from EGW is almost guaranteed not to work loose.

[Mgonz45]

Stake-on plunger tubes can work loose. If the plunger tube has been repaired a couple or a few times, the holes may become so enlarged that staking becomes impossible. The screw-on design from EGW is almost guaranteed not to work loose.
Okay makes sense, First time ive ever heard of a bolt on. I have seen people cut about a .025" deep slot to set the plunger tube into then silver solder the stake holes before on worn holes, but that was the only fix i knew of till now. Good to learn some new methods.

[7790314]

Recently I picked up a used "History of Spanish Pistols" book by Gene Jr. Gangarosa. Looks like Danger831 nailed it. Them Basque gun makers came up with the screwed and pinned plunger tube design a long time ago. Don't know why it never took off as it looks like a great idea for correcting one of the few weak links in the Browning design. Think I'd prefer a thicker lower half with countersunk holes and screw heads over the button head design on the EGW product.

[ElrodCod]

Stake-on plunger tubes can work loose. If the plunger tube has been repaired a couple or a few times, the holes may become so enlarged that staking becomes impossible. The screw-on design from EGW is almost guaranteed not to work loose.

Enlarging the holes in the frame by flaring the end of plunger tube legs isn't likely to occur.

[niemi24s]

Enlarging the holes in the frame by flaring the end of plunger tube legs isn't likely to occur.
No doubt true. I got a sneaky feeling the cause of many loose plunger tubes is the holes in the frame are too big to begin with.

[Hill]

Looks like about a 6-32 but give them a call - George'll be glad to tell you.

I'd imagine that you can use any small ummm, BOLT you have a tap for..........and two ummmm, BOLTS, of course.


see, it's OK to say "bolt you". :lm:

[Fdisk]

1/4 4 40 incase anyone else needs to know 43.089 drill
but i went to lowes home improvment and got the kobalt drill and treader and it was correct and works great and only cost $4.28

[George Smith]

Ouch, Lama tubes there Plastic?

Hard slide (7790314). we opted for button head.
if we go to a flat head, we need to make the flange much thicker thus weeken the grip.

Me thinks that the reason most stock plunger installs do not stay is they drill the hole through the frame and stake the plunger into a strait hole.
When we do them in our shop we open the back with a small ball cutter so the stake has place to flow into.
(At your Leisure Please check out our new delren plunger staking tool on our site)

Sorry on the screw info F-Disk.
Yes 4-40 is the intended screw. more than up to the task of holding the plunger tube on. The bolt on also has the pins to locate the plunger tube on the frame.

If your installing one at home, Using a .110 drill bit (#35 ) put the plunger tube in place and spot the location of the center of the hole, don't drill through with this drill or you will have NO threads.

Than take the .089 (#43 ) drill and drill through and tap with a 4-40
(good info on the forum as usual.)


as a guide for youall,
#4 .110 dia
#5 .125 dia
#6 .136 dia
#8 .160 dia These are close and if you measure the screw diameter you will know what # size the bolt is.

Hope this helps
geo

www.egw-guns.com

New tool flyer
http://www.egw-guns.com/docs/EGW-Summer2008.pdf

[Fdisk]

No problem i called your place and that is where i got the info
great product btw i like it much better than the regular stake tubes

as far as instalation goes you could weld it on to as long as your good at it kinda like plug weld the 2 bolt holes

i bored it used loctite in both the pin holes aswell as the bolt holes modified my grip and its good to go i dont think im ever going to have worrie about the plunger tube again unless i need to remove it that is

[7790314]

Sorry George,
I was nitpickin. My girlfriend probably irritated me that day and I had to take it on someone. I feel guilty, you and the guy from Arizona are my 1911 building heroe's and I'm just an ungrateful little twerp.:o
Did find the picture in that book I spoke of. It is on a Llama Micro Max, whatever that is. Can't tell whether it's plastic or not. Nothing wrong with button heads. Just thought countersunk would look less like an add on and more like it had always been there. If I live long enough to finish the latest one I've been piddling at, it'll have one of them EGW dealy boppers on it.:)

Ok here is an idea for another tool EGW can sell to all of us 1911 retents. A dovetail cutter like Brownells used to carry for chamfering the plunger tube holes on the inside instead of having to use the ball tip dremel bit that comes in a dremel kit.

[George Smith]

With the special skin thickening treatments I bought off the shopping channel I asure you i will make it :)

I wanted to do flat heads also, but, to get the depth and size I wanted the Gunsmith or advanced home enthusist would need to countersink into the frame and I thought it a bad idea.

I am not familiar with the tool you speak of?
have a picture or word description?
sounds interesting.

thank you
geo

www.egw-guns.com

[Hawkmoon]

With the special skin thickening treatments I bought off the shopping channel I asure you i will make it :)
George, maybe you should offer those treatments through your web site.

We want a special, volume discount for M1911.org moderators ...

[7790314]

It was just a small dovetail cutter (don't remember the angle) that you could stick through the plunger tube hole from the inside and then chuck it up in a dremel or drill. Never got around to buying one (and then they were discontinued) but I always thought using those cheap dremel bits make for some sloppy looking wallerin. I guess that's really safer though, as if you had a nice sharp carbide dovetail cutter it might be pretty easy to end up with a great big crooked hole.:eek: And then, it would have to sent to EGW to be welded shut and redrilled.:)

[George Smith]

That helps.

so a dovetail cutter with a 3/32 shank
and maybe throw the dremmel out and use a pin vise to
spin it and open the back portion.

that gives me a great start thank you

geo

[ambidextrous1]

I get nervous about irreversibly modifying the frame of a 1911. If you drill and tap the frame to accommodate the EGW plunger tube, you will be forever married to the EGW part; they wouldn't discontinue that part, would they?
:rolleyes:

I have a half dozen or so 1911s, mostly Colt, and have replaced the plunger tube on a couple of them, working carefully, using the staking kit offered by one of the 'usual sources'.

The plunger tubes on all of my 1911s (including the two I replaced), show no sign of loosening or otherwise causing problems, My oldest 1911 was purchased new about 39 years ago, and still has its original plunger tube.

I believe the plunger tube will have a long, trouble-free life when installed properly at the factory, or when properly replaced in your shop. All bets are off, of course, if you occasionally toss your pistol halfway down the driveway and drive over it with your SUV. I try to avoid that... ;)

[George Smith]

One of the more common forum posts I see is my plunger tube came loose, what do I need to do?

Today it costs 35.00 - 60.00 to send a firearm through the brown truck robber barrons. EACH way.

If you have a frame with canamacated holes, the bolt on cures it.
If you don't want to send your gun to a smiff and don't have the tools or inclination to do it yourself, but your a machinist dude or have a friend that is you can bolt it on and be on your way.

To install you don't alter the stock holes in the frame. if you eventually opted out your grip would cover the 4-40 screw holes easily. Unlike 10 holes in the dust cover for a scope mount. :(

best regards,
geo

www.egw-guns.com

[Fdisk]

Well one thing i can say about the egw bolt on plunger tube and that is im not in the least worried about it becoming lose or falling off
not original but nether is the m16 and i think we can all agree its upgrades was for the best especialy if someone is shooting at you