Just finished stippling and beaver tail removal on my 1st gen full size M&P 9mm

[Deaj]

I have been kicking around the idea of having my 1st gen full size M&P 9mm handgun frame stippled and having the beaver tail shaved off but the pricing and wait times have kept from following through.

Last week I decided to shave the beaver tail flush with the rear of the slide and it turned out better than I'd hoped so I ordered a stippling kit from OT Defense. The kit arrived today and, after a bit of practice, I felt confident that I could do the job. Just a bit more than an hour later I'd finished and I really happy with the results. I did a rather aggressive stippling. This is my bedside HD gun so I want it to stay put in my hand. I figure I can sand the stippling down if I find it too aggressive. It feels just right though so I doubt it'll need sanding.

Pics of stippling:

Pics of shortened beavertail:

 

[Okie21]

Looks nice. Is it similar to the 2.0 stippling? I'd be interested in doing that to my 1st Gen Pro 5"

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[Deaj]

Thanks!

It's more aggressive than the 2.0's grip texture but that was my intention from the get. The tip I selected to use was for this purpose.

Have a look at OT Defensive's site. The's a good bit of useful information and a lot of options for stippling patterns. Most of their stippling tips are listed individually and they have a scale indicating how aggressive the texture will be from each tip.

I paid around $60 shipped for their 25W iron, 30° tip adapter (highly recommended), the 'X tip', a brass wire cleaning brush (a must-have if you don't already have one), and a couple of sheets of practice plastic.

Stippling was easier than I was expecting. I plan on doing the same to my 1st gen PC Shield 9mm, and to a 1st gen Performance Center 4.25" Ported barrel and optics ready M&P 9mm that I'll be picking up this week. Single best mod I've made to my full size M&P9.

 

[Okie21]

I'll check it out. Thanks

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[hardluk1]

Looks to agressive to me but then I like the old basic grip with a more textured core grip insert on my 4.25 40sw . I like the beavertail .. But all that matters is if you like it , right !!

 

[Old_Cop]

I like what you have done.

 

[CB3]

Very well done, and thanks for the source tip.

 

[Okie21]

Did you simply cut the beaver tail off and then sand it smooth? How hard was that to do?


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[CB3]

Did you simply cut the beaver tail off and then sand it smooth? How hard was that to do?


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The beavertail is not hollow. Cut, grind, polish. Remember to go slowly and that you can always take more off.

 

[Deaj]

Thanks all!

I'll echo CB3's advice - go slow. You can always take more off later but you can't put it back once it's gone. It's an easy job, just requires a bit of patience.

CB3 - That stipple job on the backstrap is very cool! Did you do that?

-----

After sending 50 rounds downrange I came to the conclusion that hardluk1's observation was spot on - too aggressive! I used some 320 grit sandpaper to knock the stippled surface down a bit and it's dialed in now. The next 50 rounds were sent with a solid, comfortable grip.

I have two more M&P's to stipple and some time to kill tomorrow...

 

[CB3]

"CB3 - That stipple job on the backstrap is very cool! Did you do that?"

No, I sent my backstrap to A2 Stippling. Nice guy. Active military. Does stippling on the side when not deployed. Reasonable $.

A2 Industries LLC – A2 Stippling

 

[hardluk1]

Deaj sorry for being rather blunt in my first post but I hate changeing grip textures . I seen some so course they could make pretty good sanding tools but it is one way to keep your wife from claiming a handgun as hers !!

I have used added skate board tape to a front strap of some smaller pistols during that get to know your new handgun break in as I tend to like to get my first 400 rounds down range over but after that tapes off for normal range time . Might be the down side of being and old carpenter with more of a vise like grip . Also found out thin nitrile gloves offer greatly improved grip control at least for the new to you gun time too and work will for general clean up mechanical duties .

 

[paperchasin]

Looks great! Do you find that the stippled beavertail area is rough on the upper webbing on your hands?

 

[Deaj]

I thought about going the grip tape route but I wanted to be able to 'tune' how aggressive (or smooth) the texture is for areas of the grip so I prefer stippling.

Looks great! Do you find that the stippled beavertail area is rough on the upper webbing on your hands?

I don't really notice the stippling in this area unless I intentionally give it thought. Though grippier than the stock smooth texture I find it no less comfortable than the same.

I finished stippling the other two M&P's....

 

[Streetdog262]

My 1.0 M&P 45 with the beaver tail removed.

 

[JAREDSHS]

Cool--very nicely done. I like it.

 

[Deaj]

I finally got around to removing the beavertail from the Performance Center M&P9 pictured in my earlier post above.

After some range time it became clear that there were accuracy issues with this pistol. This was due to a terrible barrel to side fit. In addition (and of no consequence), the ported barrel seemed to make little difference other than to make a mess of the inside of the slide. So I purchased a 4.25" Apex Grade Semi Drop-In 9mm barrel and carefully fit it to the slide per Apex Tactical's instructions. Now the barrel fits perfectly to the slide - the barrel will not move in any way when in battery.

With the new barrel installed I headed to the range to run a couple hundred rounds of Federal 115 grain FMJ ammo through it and was astonished by the results. It consistently cuts ragged little holes in 10 round groups fired from 15 feet and tight groups at 15 yards. I also shot several 10 round groups off bags at 25 yards, most of which were between 2.25" and 2.5". Here's the best 10 round group of the six fired from 25 yards...

There's one flyer (I pulled this shot a bit). Center-to-center this group measures 2.25". Minus the flyer it measures just 1.375". Fired from 25 yards off bags, using the same ammunition, the factory barrel could not consistently keep 10 rounds inside the same 8" targets. The Apex Grade barrel has made a huge improvement in accuracy.

Color me happy!

 

[Mahalo_.32]

Very nice grouping

 

[scattershot]

Very nice work.

 

[panther]

Nice job. The gun looks great.