Make your own Delrin (aka Big Dog) grips for your CS9/40/45

[SW CQB 45]

sorry for being tardy with this post.

I sold my custom CS9D in 2013 and don't come on this side of the forum much but thought I could add some insight to making your own delrin grips.

I did my own and my suggestion is don't make the final cut on the bottom or drill the mainspring hole till you are happy with the grip fit.

I kept messing with mine till I got it up as high as I could. Even though my grip is high on the frame, I could never get the mag release portion of the grip to line up with the frame area. I just opened one side up with the dremel and removed the tabs on the other side by filing them flat with the grip lines.

Unfortunately, most of my images are gone except for one which was my qualification target with the CS9D next to it.

Hope this helps, just keep removing a little on the inside to get it as high as possible till you make the final two mods.

 

[swampjam]

I made a set of grips today for my CS40 using your instructions and they worked well. However, my Dremel skills came up a little short. The grip bottom cut off is not perfect. My only other issue is a little movement, front to back, near the top of grips. Any idea what caused this and any suggestions for a fix? Also, any suggestions for filling the hole on the bottom by the main spring retainer? BTW, the people at Houge were kind enough to send me a new mainspring retainer at no charge.

Thanks!

 

[Hill_Country]

Maybe this will give you some ideas. I used to modify CT laser grips to fit 3d gens. The construction is a little different, but the principals are the same.

First, the fit at the top under the beaver tail is critical so make sure you have a good fit there. The CT's index along the back edge of the frame and if you don't have a good fit there you'll have trouble. I don't know if the Delrin grips are the same, but there is something that keeps them from moving around. If you have installed the mainspring cup that may be part of the problem if it is keeping the grip from seating properly against the rear edge of the frame. The mainspring cup does not need to be attached to the grip, it will sit in the fingers on the frame with no problem.

As for filling the hole on the bottom, I used black RTV from the auto parts store. An easy way to do it is to wrap the frame very tightly with a single layer of Saran Wrap then install the grip and squirt RTV in the area you want to fill. It needs to cure for several days then the Saran Wrap can very gently be removed. The RTV can be trimmed easily with an Xacto knife. You can also use two part epoxy with a little bone black mixed in for color, but you'll need tiny Dremmel bits to trim it.

Hope this helps.

 

[swampjam]

Thanks for the info. The Delrin grip fits pretty good but it moves at the top less than a 1/4 inch. I'm thinking about putting some type of glue under it. I like the idea of using the RTV. I'll do that when I get everything else right.

 

[Hill_Country]

Thanks for the info. The Delrin grip fits pretty good but it moves at the top less than a 1/4 inch. I'm thinking about putting some type of glue under it. I like the idea of using the RTV. I'll do that when I get everything else right.

If it moves at the top - even a fraction of an inch - the grip is not properly hooked under the beaver tail.

I just went down to my shop and looked at an unmodified Delrin grip - there is a shallow ridge <1/16" that has to be flat against the back of the frame. This seems to be missing on a Big Dog grip I looked at and I suspect it was removed on purpose so the lower part of the grip can index against the fingers that support the mainspring cup.

There are also a couple of ears on the inside of the grip that keep the front edge of the grip tight against the frame, but the grip indexes against the back. There is no doubt when it is secured properly. I'd tinker with the fit before I glued anything in place.

 

[Turn & Bank]

CS45Fan & all the others
Thanks for all the pic's and info, nice work! Just picked up a CS40 and am going to give this grip thing a try. Then it's on to the 10MM conversion, maybe!
T&B

 

[swampjam]

I'll check the beaver tail area. That sounds reasonable. Could be my grip is mounted a little bit low and the beaver tail part is not engaging. I know that I didn't remove anything from that area. I was only kidding about the glue...sort of! Ha! I'll post again when/if I get it to stop moving. i may have to get another grip and start over!

 

[swampjam]

Hill Country you were right about the grip not being where it should be under the beaver tail. It needs to go slam up as far as possible. Of course, I can't move it any farther up due to the pin holes already drilled. Not enough length on the bottom to redrill. I was able to put a tight little shim between the grip and the beaver tail and that stopped the movement. Doesn't seem to obstruct any of the works but I haven't fired it yet. I guess I'll get another grip and try to get it just right. Again, thanks for your input on finding the problem. Oh, I really like the feel of the Delrin grips vs the factory Hogue grips.

 

[Hill_Country]

Glad that worked and you found the problem.

If it makes you feel any better, every time I modified a new model for CT grips I screwed one up.

Before you write off that grip, you might try a dap of epoxy in the hole and redrill it. Mix in a pinch of boneblack (from Brownells) and it will even match the color. At the very least, you may be able to use the repaired grip to fabricate a jig to locate the hole. Drilling that hole is the most difficult part of the modification.

 

[swampjam]

Refilling the holes with epoxy is a good idea! I really don't want to start another set of grips. If my little shim holds up after firing I may just leave it as is. That Dremel tool is a wonderful device but with a cutting wheel it is very unforgiving! Have a great summer!

 

[Tbags]

So anyone try modifying a set of PC-9 shorty grips? At first glance it would seem to be a good candidate.

 

[swampjam]

I found a grip on Numrich that worked very well on my CS40. Even has the extended rear so it is flush with the bottom of magazine. You have to do the mods like any other grip like in the instructions from above. Mine fit very well with edge parallel with the front strap and correct at the mag release button. The grip is for 4513TSW, 4553TSW part # 762280. Hardest part is drilling the pin holes in the right place..

 

[Big Shrek]

Bump for Posterity!

 

[BC38]

Neat idea and write up. One question though.

On the first page you say

If you are using the grip I recommend above you will be marking off about 5/16 to 3/4 of an inch

Should that second dimension possibly be 3/8 of an inch?

Not being critical, it just seems to me like 5/16 to 3/4 of and inch is a big tolerance (7/16") - whereas 5/16 to 3/8 seems a much more reasonable tolerance (1/16").