RV Cut-Down Grip Frames

[FloraBama Kid]

I would like to resize my SS RVs to better fit my hands. I saw a pair that had the grip frames cut-down and it really changed the feel.
Does anyone know someone that will do this and about what will it cost?

Also, if you have done this to your RVs how do ya like it?

[Standpat Steve]

I wonder if that would be considered an external modification, and be illegal for SASS use?

I bought a Powers 2nd generation colt grip frame conversion for a Ruger as a project. After I completed it, my feeling was it was more work than the difference in feel warranted. But I was still glad to have tried tinkering with it.

[FloraBama Kid]

Steve, you have an excellent point about it being an external modification. I'd like to hear what others have to say also.
Thanks.

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy Kid,

If you are changing the grips, I think you're fine.  Once you start grinding the metal, then you are likely to invoke the external modification rule.  If you are primarily interested in SASS and other organized shoots, then I'd try to make the guns feel better with grip modifications.

Adios,

[FloraBama Kid]

I'll stick to other SASS friendly options.

Guess the one pard that had done this is ain't quite on the up and up cau he shoots national matches like Mule Camp and others..

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Remember some animals are more equal than others.

If it's not noticeable, then it won't get called often.. but if someone made a stink about it, I think he'd be gone, or at least his gun would be.. Adios,

[hogshooter]

howdy 
   ya might try useing a belt sander on the flat side of the grips to make the thinner which would give ya a smaller grip circumferce. i used a file and sand paper to take off the flare on the bottm of the gip and it helped .  its just a idea , try it if ya want.
  yourn truly
   hogshooter

[Will Ketchum]

As for being SASS illegal because of the "external" modification" rule.  My feeling has always been that if you are making it more like an original  Colt there shouldn't be a problem .  I ran into the same thing about 10 years ago with my Vaquero's cylinder pins.  They are so long that you don't get the full stroke on the ejector rod that you do with a Colt.  Which means the spent case is more likely to hang in the cylinder.  I did the obvious thing and shortened the pins.  When I posted this on the old cas-l list I was jumped on about the external modification thing.  Even Judge Roy Bean said it wasn't SASS legal in the "Cowboy Chronicle"  I argued it wasn't logical that making a gun more like an original was illegal.  They eventually came around to my way of thinking on the cylinder pins   But recently when I posted on the Wire that I was having a dovetail milled in the receiver of my Henry so I could mount a full buckhorn again I was taken to task and again I said that the early Henrys all had their sights on the receivers and if SASS didn't like it that was too bad   ( as it turned out I my old eyes didn't like that sight so close to them so I moved it back but it's still more like the early Henrys,many of which had dove tails in both locations) 

If I understand what some of you wrote it's okay to put one of the Power's Colt sized grip frames on but not to modify a Ruger....well that just doesn't make sense since you end up with the same result

Will Ketchum

[FloraBama Kid]

Will I completely agree with you. After all, making the Ruger grips more like a Colt is not creating a competitve edge.

For now, my cure for the problem is that I'm looking for some Colt clones.

[Trooper Steve]

Try the Eagle Gunfighter grips beore you pop for the new grip frames. Really makes a diffrence in size and only about 25% of the price.