Smith & Wesson Forum

Advertise With Us Search
Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > The Lounge

Notices

The Lounge A Catch-All Area for NON-GUN topics.
PUT GUN TOPICS in the GUN FORUMS.
Keep it Family Friendly. See The Rules for Banned Topics!


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-23-2012, 10:26 PM
jeffshead jeffshead is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame

I just received my first set CTC laser grips so I'm not sure what to expect.

Can someone tell me if the image below depicts the typical fit and finish of their laser grips?



I'm not at all impressed with the gap around the button area. I was expecting a tighter fit.

Am I being too critical?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-23-2012, 11:14 PM
mod34 mod34 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 133
Liked 1,609 Times in 518 Posts
Default

I have used them in the past and have had some where the fit was so good, it looked completely integrated and molded into the grip.
__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-24-2012, 02:57 AM
Double-O-Dave Double-O-Dave is offline
US Veteran
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 4,162
Likes: 341
Liked 3,944 Times in 1,494 Posts
Default

Okay, you made me look at 2 of my J frames that have the CT LG405 grips (I like to use the LG405s on my airweights). The fit on the grips on my Model 38-0 (no dash), as well as on my Model 642-1 look many times better than the set you have. I took some photos of the grips on my revolvers for your review. Personally, I'd contact Customer Service at Crimson Trace and ask them for help.

By the way, the first 2 photos below are of my Model 38-0, the remaining 3 photos are of my Model 642-1.

Best of luck,

Dave
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Model 38-0 #1.jpg (33.1 KB, 167 views)
File Type: jpg Mod 38-0 #2.jpg (43.6 KB, 188 views)
File Type: jpg Mod 642-1 #1.jpg (58.9 KB, 205 views)
File Type: jpg Mod 642-1 #2.jpg (51.2 KB, 191 views)
File Type: jpg Mod 642-1 #3.jpg (43.6 KB, 166 views)

Last edited by Double-O-Dave; 11-24-2012 at 03:00 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-24-2012, 06:13 AM
ASA335's Avatar
ASA335 ASA335 is offline
US Veteran
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 662
Likes: 1,459
Liked 1,114 Times in 256 Posts
Default

No, that is not right. Send them back.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-24-2012, 03:18 PM
jeffshead jeffshead is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the feedback fellows.

I was expecting a better fit for something that costs $250ish.

I sent them an email. Hopefully, this is not the current standard and they will replace them.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-24-2012, 03:51 PM
ogilvyspecial's Avatar
ogilvyspecial ogilvyspecial is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,656
Likes: 1,362
Liked 1,371 Times in 699 Posts
Default

jeffshead, I spent a few years working in Buick's plastic plant and the
"scalloped" look that you are seeing above the switch area we called
"flash" and, per our parameters, always had to be trimmed off.

There were a few reasons this happened, first was that the high,
or low, injection pressure on the machine wasn't set properly.

The other, most common, cause was when a press went down for a few minutes,
or longer. While the process was sitting idle the plastic would heat up in the
system and, as a result, would become thinner (melted more than the norm)
so it flowed better and could work itself out around the edges of the die.

With that said, some dies were better than others and, in some cases, the
parts always had some flash when they came out of the press, which we had to
trim off. I can't speak to CT's process, maybe that's an acceptable amount
of flash, or maybe the person who was responsible for checking the parts
after they came out of the press simply didn't trim it off, or missed it entirely.

With that said, based on your close-up photo, my guess is that your part came out
of a press that had been down a little while and this was one of the first parts that
came out that looked like they were getting things back in sync. In addition to the
plastic heating up too much, the surfaces of the die are also cooler (after sitting idle)
than when a press is "pumpin' 'em out." So, what you end up with is plastic that
wants to flow "too much" and a cooler die surface that slows it down "too much."

I'm sure that your grips are serviceable, but, if it were
me, I'd send them back and see what they said about it.
__________________
Ogy
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-26-2012, 02:06 PM
jeffshead jeffshead is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ogilvyspecial View Post
jeffshead, I spent a few years working in Buick's plastic plant and the
"scalloped" look that you are seeing above the switch area we called
"flash" and, per our parameters, always had to be trimmed off.
Thanks for all of the info.

I'm not too concerned about the trimmable bits. My concern is the gap that will undoubtedly collect crude.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-26-2012, 03:47 PM
ogilvyspecial's Avatar
ogilvyspecial ogilvyspecial is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,656
Likes: 1,362
Liked 1,371 Times in 699 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffshead View Post
Thanks for all of the info.

I'm not too concerned about the trimmable bits. My concern is the gap that will undoubtedly collect crude.
Jeff, that gap is more than likely due to the cool die issue I mentioned in my
previous post, which prevents the plastic from flowing properly. If you look
inward on the grip panel in that area you will also see that the part is dished in some.

There could be other reasons for this, like injection pressures, but whatever caused it the
part wasn't formed the way it should be and is why I would look into sending them back.

My concern on the flash, or scallops, is what would the part look-like, gap wise,
if they were trimmed off. After all they should'nt be there in the first place and it's
probably only a matter of time before they either break off, or get bent outwards,
which will only speed up the time it takes before they do break off........
__________________
Ogy
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-26-2012, 06:10 PM
jeffshead jeffshead is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Ogy, I understand.

Here's another pic which shows how the switch area is concave and how the mating surface of the grip is flat:


I contacted CT but I'm not thrilled with the answer I received. Basically, they will replace the item but if the replacement comes with the same gap, there's nothing they can do about it. Not at all what I expected to hear from a respected, well-known company.

Hopefully, the right people will get notified and resolve the issue.

Last edited by jeffshead; 11-26-2012 at 06:18 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-10-2012, 10:59 PM
jeffshead jeffshead is offline
Member
Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame Crimson Trace LG-405 - S&W J-Frame  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

OK guys. I got the replacement.


CTC said the gap is normal on this grip. A Customer Service Supervisor said he has the same gap on his personal gun. He offered to exchange the LG-405 for a LG-305 but could not guarantee that it would be any better.

I think CTC's Customer Service has been friendly and easy to deal with. However, I must say I am disappointed with CTC, overall, because they think this is an acceptable $250 piece of plastic. I don't feel I got what I paid for.

They really need to set their customer's expectations by including 360 degree images of all of their grips on their website so buyers know what to expect.

Last edited by jeffshead; 12-16-2012 at 01:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
WTB: Crimson Trace LG-105 for S&W J frame almalave WANTED to Buy 1 10-06-2014 05:57 PM
WTT J Frame Crimson Trace (new) for Kimber Solo Crimson Trace Tennjed Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 1 03-19-2014 08:06 PM
Crimson trace on K frame Cal44 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 4 03-02-2014 11:58 AM
wtt Crimson Trace Lg 305 for Crimson trace 405, j frame NIB coltgun Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 0 08-01-2011 10:18 AM
WTS Crimson Trace LG-405 for J Frame (SPF) zebrajeb Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 3 05-20-2010 11:55 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:06 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)