Post by hutchman on Dec 16, 2009 0:53:04 GMT -5
I have large hands so the stock grips on the 50th Ann. Blackhawks are too small for comfortable shooting. I decided to replace the stock grip frame with an XR3-RED grip frame from a NM Blackhawk. I found an add from JB at BearPaw Grips, who needed one of these Ann. grip frames for a grip pattern, and a deal was struck.
Today I went to my good friend Bob's, house to do the change. I was too cold in my garage and Bob is a great friend, so it made sense. He also did the filing, so it was a double good afternoon!
Anyway, what I found when the 357 was taken apart was a difference in the grip frame and the cylinder frame. The NM Blackhawk grip frame looks like this:
Notice the lugs on the grip frame. They are not there on the Ann. Model grip frame, nor are there reliefs cut in the cylinder frame.
Not a very good picture, but I hope you can see there is no relief in this frame. So to make the grip frame work, we had to file the lugs off resulting in this:
In the end, it went together and fit pretty good:
Those of you with keen eyes will notice the mismatch between the ears of the grip frame and the cylinder frame. To fix this, the cylinder frame needs to be matched to the grip frame. If the grip frame is relieved enough to match the cylinder frame, the mounting holes would no longer match up. We did use Bob's NM Blackhawk for a reference in this area and noted Bob's stock gun has a worse mismatch than this from the factory. So for now it will be OK. Maybe the next gun smith project will be to match this.
Anyway I am happy with the results and plan to eventually purchase a set of American Holly grips from BearPaw Grips for this 357. I think they will really set it off.
I know there are many more knowledgeable people on this board who will learn nothing from this, but I thought it might help someone who might not be as experienced.........like me!
Today I went to my good friend Bob's, house to do the change. I was too cold in my garage and Bob is a great friend, so it made sense. He also did the filing, so it was a double good afternoon!
Anyway, what I found when the 357 was taken apart was a difference in the grip frame and the cylinder frame. The NM Blackhawk grip frame looks like this:
Notice the lugs on the grip frame. They are not there on the Ann. Model grip frame, nor are there reliefs cut in the cylinder frame.
Not a very good picture, but I hope you can see there is no relief in this frame. So to make the grip frame work, we had to file the lugs off resulting in this:
In the end, it went together and fit pretty good:
Those of you with keen eyes will notice the mismatch between the ears of the grip frame and the cylinder frame. To fix this, the cylinder frame needs to be matched to the grip frame. If the grip frame is relieved enough to match the cylinder frame, the mounting holes would no longer match up. We did use Bob's NM Blackhawk for a reference in this area and noted Bob's stock gun has a worse mismatch than this from the factory. So for now it will be OK. Maybe the next gun smith project will be to match this.
Anyway I am happy with the results and plan to eventually purchase a set of American Holly grips from BearPaw Grips for this 357. I think they will really set it off.
I know there are many more knowledgeable people on this board who will learn nothing from this, but I thought it might help someone who might not be as experienced.........like me!
