First gripframe swap failure, O My

[needsmostuff]

All is not right with the Ruger universe. It was a small block Chevy , one size fits all kinda world . No more.
Story starts with a new Vaquero 44 midsize which arrived with the sucky black plastic grips . Out of the drawer comes a birds head left over from a single six and a bisley hammer. After disassembly it is found that the new Vaq. pawl has a knot on the bottom that requires a groove in the grip frame. I fit it as best I could and after assembly it looked ok.

Gun seemed to cycle ok but as soon as you opened the loading gate the cylinder locked up tight requireing removel to free up.
Finally got tired of it's shenanagans and put the stock frame back on. After pounding out a set of grips I think it will be ok.




Some day when I need a little more frustration I may try the birdshead again, maybe.

[Aggie01]

Not to knock your grips - in fact, if you get the birdheads on I'mm interested in the take off grip frame/grips.

you could:
get a power custom free spin pawl
file the knot off the bottom of the stock pawl
use an older pawl and do the free spin mod on it which is documented around the web.
I have done both the second and third putting older grip frames on New Vaquero/ New Midframe guns. (XR3-RED on NV and PC #5 on 44 SPL)


(you want to do a free spin, otherwise you get too many clicks if you leave the "reverve indexing plunger button" in)

[nolongcolt]

I like the way it looks now, nice grips!

[tek4260]

I learned about the taller frame and the retracting pawl the hard way too.

[brionic]

Looks great. If those are "pounded out" I want to see some more of your work!

[mnimrod45]

Agreed, nice grips!

[tas6691]

I love the way it looks now! Would make a most excellent everyday stompin around gun.

[patdaddy]

they make an "altered" pawl specifically for the bisely hammer swap i believe, its a Power Custom part isn't it? I bought one and handed it to my gunsmith when he installed a bisley hammer into my super blackhawk, he had never heard of it, but afterwards he said that he did haveta use it.

[needsmostuff]

Jan 24, 2012 8:48:48 GMT -5 tas6691 said:

I love the way it looks now! Would make a most excellent everyday stompin around gun.

Since that was the original target I think now I will leave it as is.
I belive the issue could be addressed with a standard pawl ( I was unaware they could be swaped) and a removel of the spring plunger.
But for now I have bonded with the new grip and its's on to load development and a search for 3 3/4 " leather.

[tas6691]

I almost bought one just like that a while back, but the only one left was the display model and it was pretty scuffed up, and the dealer wouldnt come off his already pretty high price.

The perfect packin holster could take a while to find, but my thought was a cross draw slim jim style. Could be worn on either side of the point of the hip and easily accessed by strong or weak hand. I'm as big of a holster freak as I am a gun freak....

[Markbo]

Check A.E. Nelson dual carry:

I got one for my .32 Single Six Birds head and liked it so much I got two more for other guns. Sight protector and thumb break. Nice straight up strong side and cross draw is just right for me.

FWIW they do also offer plain and basket weaves. On their webite they showed this one with a stitched/closed end. I asked that they leave mine open to let any debris fall through. Works well that way.

[whitworth]

Maple? They're beautiful!

[needsmostuff]

Jan 26, 2012 7:24:27 GMT -5 whitworth said:

Maple?

O yeah .With a touch of acetone thinned leather dye for color. They just seemed too white for a blue gun. Normally I shun coloring and go natural color on grips as it makes it easier to repair later when they get dinged up.