New Agent: Aftermarket Beavertail & Trigger?

[sgtlmj]

I only have 50 rds through mine so far, so I'm not swapping anything out yet. I just wanted to get my ducks in a row in case I do decide to make some mods.

The grip safety is the first thing I would change. It bites the web of my hand, and with a longer range session I'd imagine that I could get chewed up a bit.

The frame is already radiused. Is there a beavertail that would work well with this radius? Wilson makes a drop-in. How much fitting should be expected with something like this?

I would also consider switching to a short trigger for the feel and aesthetics. I've never really liked the long triggers with holes in them. I'm not finding many blued short triggers out there. Most are silver aluminum.

Thanks in advance!

[Landman]

Sgt,

I put a blue steel short trigger and a Commander style ring hammer on mine and love it. I could not find any new solid steel blue triggers so I found a used one on GunBroker and cold blued it. The hammer I purchased from Fusion Firearms and also cold blued the sides of it. The grip safety didn't bite my hand but the thin grips and backstrap cause some discomfort after shooting it for awhile. I ended up putting some regular thickness grips on it and that seems to spread the recoil out more into the palm of my hand rather than directing it just into the web of my hand. Here is a pic of mine with the changes.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h196/onexco/Gun%20Collection/ColtNewAgent06_Small.jpg

[Wild Bill]

Great looking grips! :appld:

Can you supply some info on them?


Thanks,

Bill

[Landman]

Bill,

Too be honest I can't remember where I bought those. I buy grips anywhere and anytime I see a nice pair, whether I need them or not :) No telling where I got those. However, William Jennings in Buffalo, Wyoming makes beautful stag grips. His website is below.

http://www.stag-grips.com/

[Wild Bill]

Bill,

Too be honest I can't remember where I bought those. I buy grips anywhere and anytime I see a nice pair, whether I need them or not :) No telling where I got those. However, William Jennings in Buffalo, Wyoming makes beautful stag grips. His website is below.

http://www.stag-grips.com/

Thanks very much Landman!

I'll check out the link.

Bill

[sgtlmj]

I'm not finding many blued short triggers either. I might just get an aluminum one and use some BC Aluminum Black on it.

If anyone has an extra short trigger and maybe a standard thumb safety laying around, let me know.

[Landman]

I have several of the solid black plastic triggers that I have taken off of older Colts. If you want one of those I'll give you one. Just send me an email with your address.

[Grainfed]

Sgt....Thought I would show you mine. The Wilson fit right in and I did not do any tang work. Put in a new C and S ignition kit and new trigger. I would highly recommend the C and S kit for a great trigger job and it is drop in. Mine was the 4 lb. kit. Very crisp and it feels like 2+2 as I do not have a gauge to check the pull. Those are Les Baer Stinger grips as I put large bushings in a while back.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/NewAgentwithStingergrips.jpg

[sgtlmj]

I was hoping you'd pop in here Grainfed. I saw your NA in another thread and tried to ask you about it. Your PM box is full.

[leade45]

I'm not finding many blued short triggers either. I might just get an aluminum one and use some BC Aluminum Black on it.

If anyone has an extra short trigger and maybe a standard thumb safety laying around, let me know.

I believe Kings sells a blued solid trigger.

[Grainfed]

Sgt...Not full any more. I emptied the sucker when I got home from the gun show. Zap me an e-mail anytime............TW

[sgtlmj]

I believe Kings sells a blued solid trigger.

I see that they do! I'm also liking the look of their 204 grip safety. It is less swept than the Wilson and doesn't have the "speed bump." Cheaper too!

[Landman]

That turned out great Grainfed. Did that short trigger come with the ignition kit?

[Grainfed]

Triggers do not come with the kits. It came off an older Colt I had and it fit perfect.

[Landman]

It looks great Grainfed. Would you happen to have the item number of the ignition kit you purchased? I looked around their website and couldn't find an ignition kit. I'm probably not doing a correct search and just missing it so an item number would help. Thanks.

[Grainfed]

Hello Landman....I bought the kit from Ken Crawley at the Big Town gun show several months ago. It is the kit #CS 212. If no luck call Ken as he is a sponser on the banner here on the org site. He may have one is stock in his shop. Brownell's # is 206-103-052 and is called the Tactical II Trigger Pull Kit. It is a 4 lb. pull kit........TW

[jjShnabadu]

Sgtlmj, I felt the same way when I first got my New Agent. After the first range trip (150+ rounds), I had a nice oozing raw spot on the web of my strong hand. I started shopping for a drop-in beavertail, but in the weeks that followed, continued to go to the range. A callous must have formed pretty quickly, because I can go 200 rounds now without breaking skin.

Since this is my primary carry piece, I've decided that I really like the minimal size of the standard grip safety, and since raw spots are no longer an issue, I've abandoned my pursuit of a drop-in beavertail. Of course, it's all personal preference, and it's an inexpensive and easy swap, so do whatever feels good for you. Just thought I'd share my experience in case avoiding raw spots was your main/only reason for considering a beavertail...

[sgtlmj]

Sgtlmj, I felt the same way when I first got my New Agent. After the first range trip (150+ rounds), I had a nice oozing raw spot on the web of my strong hand. I started shopping for a drop-in beavertail, but in the weeks that followed, continued to go to the range. A callous must have formed pretty quickly, because I can go 200 rounds now without breaking skin.

Since this is my primary carry piece, I've decided that I really like the minimal size of the standard grip safety, and since raw spots are no longer an issue, I've abandoned my pursuit of a drop-in beavertail. Of course, it's all personal preference, and it's an inexpensive and easy swap, so do whatever feels good for you. Just thought I'd share my experience in case avoiding raw spots was your main/only reason for considering a beavertail...

I'm feeling the same way the more I carry it and dryfire practice. I think if anything, I'll just put a short trigger in it.

[txblumu]

I had the same problem. A friend told me to change out the grips first. I put on a set of Kimber rubber type grips and the pinching went away. I have put around 600 rounds through her and it feels great. I have no other reason to change anything. (besides, people smarter than me designed it this way for a reason. Who am I to change a good thing?)

[jgullock]

Sgtlmj, I felt the same way when I first got my New Agent. After the first range trip (150+ rounds), I had a nice oozing raw spot on the web of my strong hand. I started shopping for a drop-in beavertail, but in the weeks that followed, continued to go to the range. A callous must have formed pretty quickly, because I can go 200 rounds now without breaking skin.

Since this is my primary carry piece, I've decided that I really like the minimal size of the standard grip safety, and since raw spots are no longer an issue, I've abandoned my pursuit of a drop-in beavertail. Of course, it's all personal preference, and it's an inexpensive and easy swap, so do whatever feels good for you. Just thought I'd share my experience in case avoiding raw spots was your main/only reason for considering a beavertail...

Can you recommend a source and part number for a truly "drop-in" beavertail that wouldn't require any work to get on a stock New AGent? Thanks in advance.

[egumpher]

Sgtlmj, I felt the same way when I first got my New Agent. After the first range trip (150+ rounds), I had a nice oozing raw spot on the web of my strong hand. I started shopping for a drop-in beavertail, but in the weeks that followed, continued to go to the range. A callous must have formed pretty quickly, because I can go 200 rounds now without breaking skin.

Since this is my primary carry piece, I've decided that I really like the minimal size of the standard grip safety, and since raw spots are no longer an issue, I've abandoned my pursuit of a drop-in beavertail. Of course, it's all personal preference, and it's an inexpensive and easy swap, so do whatever feels good for you. Just thought I'd share my experience in case avoiding raw spots was your main/only reason for considering a beavertail...

Again, same problem with my grip safety but I decided to put some 3/8" heat shrink tubing on the tab. Actually, I put two pieces, one on top of the other. Now it has a rubber look/feel but matches the original color and retains the original look of the pistol.

Rgds
Eric
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/ewgewgewg/Agent-CT-2.jpg

[Grainfed]

Eric....Gunsmithing at its' finest! Very cagey and smart idea and inexpensive in these tough economic times....drop-in tubing. This might put Wilson out of the parts business.....TW

[egumpher]

Eric....Gunsmithing at its' finest! Very cagey and smart idea and inexpensive in these tough economic times....drop-in tubing. This might put Wilson out of the parts business.....TW

Necessity is the mother of all invention……I didn’t want to bleed again. Thank you for the encouragement.

Rgds
Eric

[RickB]

If you cut the ring off the hammer, you can dispense with the grip safety tang, a la Detonics Combat Master, or make the tang any length or shape that you want.
http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/photos/weapons_fireams/detonicscombatmaster45.jpg
I've considered putting an old M1911 grip safety in my Combat Master, as I do like a little length to the frame, but don't like the bulk of a beavertail. It's probably is a good idea to have the tang extend beyond the tip of the hammer, as you wouldn't want a dropped gun to land on the hammer.

[saxconnection]

Sgtlmj,

It happens I just replaced a blued steel, short trigger in my Kimber Pro Shadow II. I don't particularly care for the feel of a short trigger, so you are welcome to it.

If you would like it, PM me with your address and I will send it to you.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee63/saxconnection/CarryPieces.jpg

Good luck with your NA, I love mine. Very fun, fast shooting and pretty accurate for what you have to work with sight-wise. I used a Wilson Combat drop-in unit for the grip safety.:)

-Adam

[John]

Even though I do not own a New Agent, I would like to add my 2 Eurocents here, some members may like the ideas.

OK, this pistol is a deep concealment one, right? Like pocket carrying etc? That's its prime role and every modification to it, should be done with that role in mind. A beavertail is not exactly helping in making the pistol as concealable as possible, au contraire, it makes it less concealable. But what can those of us who suffer from hammer bite do?

Well, here is my idea. Get yourself an early Commander safety. Yes, I know, it is tiny so the hammer will kill the web of your hand in short notice. Ah, here is the second component though. Get yourself a good, forged hammer and cut of the rear part (the spur or the round shaped thing). Shape the hammer so that when it is uncocked, it is even with the rear of the slide, like the Para Ordnance LDA pistols. Voila, no more hammer bite and the pistol has loose some millimeters of length (due to the shorter grip safety and hammer).

One more thing I would do to it, is replace the thumb safety with a tear-drop shaped one, I do not like that old safety, even though I admit it works OK.

So what do you guys think?

[saxconnection]

John,

It seems that the same point that is said in many threads applies here. Personal preference is everything.
I would never carry the NA in a pocket. It is just too big to draw from a pocket effectively. I use my Rohrbaugh or my J-Frame for pocket carry. With the New Agent, i was looking for something easily concealable and fast aiming/shooting. It was also my first Colt. My other plans for it are an Ed Brown Thumb safety and a Kimber Arched Mainspring Housing. No magwell.
But that's just me. Like i said; personal preference. I do like the teardrop safety also though. It is a classy and effective touch.

Adam

[Bladerunner321]

Hey guys, after all the preferences and so on, can someone please give me an item# or perhaps better details as to which Wilson Combat grip safety drops in on the New Agent? I would really appreciate the help guys. Thanks.

[Grainfed]

Blade....It should be Wilson #429BC. You might have to file a little on the bottom of the tang but it is very easy to fit.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/NewAgentwithStingergrips.jpg

[AFFF_667]

Newbie question, but are the grip frames for a New Agent and the older Officer's Model the same? I am working on some stag grips for my New Agent and was asked that question....

Thanks in advance.

[Bladerunner321]

Thanks a bunch Grainfed.

[Grainfed]

AFFF... They are the same. I have the New Agent and a 1991 Compact Officers and grips interchange.............TW

[Landman]

The New Agent grips are also the same size as the Defender model too.

[AFFF_667]

Thanks for the info....I am soon going to order a set of stag grips for my New Agent.