S&W 1911PCsc grip issue

Triton225

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First off, I've only had it for a couple weeks and I love it. Try to get a pic in here.
So, I've read where the round butt model has a issue with the grip screws backing out while shooting. We'll mine is doing it. Has anyone else had this issue on here? Emailed S&W, haven't heard back. VZ grips has told me to place small o-rings under the head of the grip screw.
What is it about the round butt that would cause this?
 

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Nothing. It seems to happen with their standard 1911 stock screws as well. In most combat guns, the grip screw bushings are staked, allowing the grip screws to be tightened more securely without risk of over tightening such that attempted removal brings the grip screw bushing out with the grip screw. I would not use loctite. The new Colt Marine pistol uses the little rubber washers also. Perhaps ok, but easy to lose during detailed disassembly, which should be admittedly very rare for us folks who shoot at the range, instead of over in some middle eastern desert. :)

The picture below is from the excellent article at Gun Blast, and I suggest you read the article.

Colt M45CQB United States Marine Corps 45 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol
 

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It's not something specific to a Round Butt 1911, it's something that happens with an 1911 when you install grip panels made of hardwood. Hardwoods don't have as much "give" as a soft wood and also tend to have a high oil content, so they aren't very "grippy" when it comes to holding the screw head. My Ruger SR1911's did the same thing, my solution was to tighten the grip screws tighter.

Since your 1911PC features a Scandium alloyed Aluminum Frame I would be concerned with doing that. It's likely that your frame doesn't feature staked in steel bushings and instead has bosses that are part of the native metal of the frame. In that case tightening the screws tighter might result in your stripping out the threads and an unrepairable frame. That leaves just two solutions, one is that O-Ring suggestion, the other is to use a bit of Blue low strength Locktite on the screws.

Since it appears that the screw heads on your grips are sitting flush with the surface of the grip panels IMO a rubber O-Ring really isn't a viable answer. That leaves the low strength BLUE Locktite as the best remaining option. As much as I dislike using Locktite for something like this I believe that in this case it is the best solution for your problem.

Now, one tip concerning Locktite. The standard low temperature grade Locktites can be "freed" up with the application of a bit of heat. For the Blue Locktite putting your frame in an oven on Warm for 1/2 hour will make removing the grips a much easier task. Because all it takes to get that particular grade of locktite to release is about 135 degrees F. That level of heat won't do any harm at all to your pistol but I would suggest wearing something like a golf glove to hold the frame while you break the screws free. Also work quickly and just break each screw free for 2 turns of the screw, that way you can get to all 4 before the frame cools too much. Once you have 2 turns on a locktited screw you'll find it will come out with minor effort with the frame fully cooled off. BTW, the remaining "gunk" in those threads will probably be workable for retaining the screws for 2 to 3 removal cycles before you have to re-apply some fresh locktite.

As for finding some Blue Locktite, if you can't find it at a local hardware store go online and order it from MSC Industrial Supply or a similar industrial supplier. I would also suggest you get the liquid type instead of the tape because these screws are just too small for most of us to be able to wind on some tape. Finally, don't be shocked at the price, Locktite can run 10 bucks or more for a tiny little bottle.

Yeah, it's going to cost you 15 bucks or more to get those 4 little screws to stop backing out. That sort of thing tends to chap me a bit and I wouldn't be surprised if you feel the same way. However, compare that small cost to the cost of your pistol. Sometimes a bit in insurance is money well spent even when we see no direct benefit from that insurance.
 
Years ago.... SW PC would recommend pipe dope with Teflon to keep screws from backing out.

I used it and never had an issue with that again.

If you try this.....make sure it has Teflon.

Also over time......the tube of pipe dope separates into dope and oil. Not sure if that affected it from an application standpoint.....but tight me would mix it to ensure proper consistency instead of trashing a several year old tube.
 
How many rounds do you fire in one range session? If you tighten them securely but not over-tight at the beginning of a session, do they become a problem before you leave the range that day, or is it a slower process that takes a couple of range trips to need correcting. If it works, the simplest solution would be best, just snug them up before each trip to the range. A minor irritant at worst...
 
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