View Full Version : Grip reduction/Stipple the XD 45 (tacad video)
Chris
10-02-2009, 03:40 AM
YouTube - Tacticaladv.com do it yourself grip reduction/stippling springfield armory XD 45 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEl4DIyZpkw)
Chris
10-02-2009, 03:42 AM
I also spruced up the tacticaladv channel on youtube if anyone wants to subscribe. Im gonna get me a new camera and start making more videos. Sucks with the equipment I have right now
Chris
10-02-2009, 03:45 AM
oh yeah, first project on the uncompleted new bench....lol
So you are making $500 pumice stones these days. Wasn't the AR-15 grips a bad enough experience for ya.
JaxChris
10-02-2009, 09:19 AM
oh yeah, first project on the uncompleted new bench....lol
I noticed this. Also, nice work. When you put "grip reduction" in the title I thought you were either going to shave the backstrap for less curve or do a "grip chop" to reduce it to XD-45 Compact length.
Like the tag line too "all the information, without the ego's".
So you are making $500 pumice stones these days. Wasn't the AR-15 grips a bad enough experience for ya.
:rich:
Honestly tho, my friend Ben at boresightsolutions does this to all polymer framed guns for a living. He has one version where he does the reduction with inserts for stiffening, stipples the entire grip area to provide a secure surface for a rubber coat and then stipples the rubber coat. The cost of that upgrade is more than a typical LE Glock. While it's no secret that he uses an iron, the stippling is the opposite of using a point and poking the surface. He seems to create the surface by creating a raised texture. I wish I could find out how, as I would definitely try that.
JaxChris
10-02-2009, 09:41 AM
I wouldn't mind a rubber overmold on my XD45c. That sounds pretty interesting. Got a link showing off this miracle of firearm modification?
http://www.boresightsolutions.com/ (http://www.boresightsolutions.com/)
nice work.. but doesn't that affect resale value?
JaxChris
10-02-2009, 10:05 AM
nice work.. but doesn't that affect resale value?
Yes it does. Most shops will not take trade-in on a pistol that has had its frame modified because the factory warranty is voided. In fact, Glock and Springfield both state that such modifications are unsafe and is why they void your warranty.
That being said... C3PO, want to get us a special organizational discount for TacAd members? I'm very surprised by the testimonials he has, especially Chris Costa.
........That being said... C3PO, want to get us a special organizational discount for TacAd members? I'm very surprised by the testimonials he has, especially Chris Costa.
I'll ask, but Ben gets most of his biz thru the various forums and word of mouth and I haven't seen any affinity pricing...
I will pass, I can buy multiple pumice stones for less.
Chris
10-02-2009, 12:10 PM
nice work.. but doesn't that affect resale value?
I dont sell guns:bolt:
Chris
10-02-2009, 12:38 PM
So you are making $500 pumice stones these days. Wasn't the AR-15 grips a bad enough experience for ya.
The AR grips were an experiment to see if I could do the project. Though most people dont like the mod. I personally do and know quite a few people in USPSA that have tried it and like it, it does do what it is intended to do which is increase grip. I find glocks and XD's to be lacking seriosly in the grip department and using the gun for any competition is difficult due to lack of stability in the hand when sweating etc.
The purpose of the vid was to show people they could do the job and could achieve quality results with little investment. There are companies out there (which will remain nameless)that are using the exact same method as this and charging several hundred dollars for it. As phil mentioned there are also comapnies which have created proprietary methods which are excellant. I have also seen oxide application which looks very promising.
As for making the gun warranty free and unsafe. SA will void your warranty if you completely detail strip your gun. They request or for lack of a better term require that you dont do more than a field strip and believe the gun should be sent in to the factory for any and all modifacations and service work on the XD.
This particular gun is already heavily modded with trigger work and several other little experiments Ive run in the past with Richard to see whats possible with these guns so for all intensive purposes its a test mule.
I do however plan on making a few more videos with regards to this gun and begin competing with it this year in limited 10 or production.
Originally when i sat down I planned on relieving the trigger gaurd out under but started running out of time. I basically left the grip reduction in the name to increase possible hits on youtube and hence increase traffic to our site.
Personally I would love to see an increase in content like this from as many users as possible. Though I started the forum to be fun, I originally and still feel there is room for eduaction and knowledge here that has yet been untapped. I would like to help normal people achieve some understanding about firearms and learn they dont have to pay a gunsmith 75 bucks an hour to do much of the work available for handguns and rifles alike.
As I was taught, I would like to teach others. I was given alot of knowledge from family and then put it to practice with Richard who allowed me to gain confidence and sharpen my skills with all manner of firearms from the cheapest Keltec fulff and buff to top dollar high end modifactions to complete firearm overhauls on 2000 dollar 1911's. If we can help one gun guy out there feel better about his skills than I am happy. Whew..........sorry about the rant. On that note..............................:slapshoot: :bolt:
The AR grips were an experiment to see if I could do the project. Though most people dont like the mod. I personally do and know quite a few people in USPSA that have tried it and like it, it does do what it is intended to do which is increase grip. I find glocks and XD's to be lacking seriosly in the grip department and using the gun for any competition is difficult due to lack of stability in the hand when sweating etc.
The purpose of the vid was to show people they could do the job and could achieve quality results with little investment. There are companies out there (which will remain nameless)that are using the exact same method as this and charging several hundred dollars for it. As phil mentioned there are also comapnies which have created proprietary methods which are excellant. I have also seen oxide application which looks very promising.
As for making the gun warranty free and unsafe. SA will void your warranty if you completely detail strip your gun. They request or for lack of a better term require that you dont do more than a field strip and believe the gun should be sent in to the factory for any and all modifacations and service work on the XD.
This particular gun is already heavily modded with trigger work and several other little experiments Ive run in the past with Richard to see whats possible with these guns so for all intensive purposes its a test mule.
I do however plan on making a few more videos with regards to this gun and begin competing with it this year in limited 10 or production.
Originally when i sat down I planned on relieving the trigger gaurd out under but started running out of time. I basically left the grip reduction in the name to increase possible hits on youtube and hence increase traffic to our site.
Personally I would love to see an increase in content like this from as many users as possible. Though I started the forum to be fun, I originally and still feel there is room for eduaction and knowledge here that has yet been untapped. I would like to help normal people achieve some understanding about firearms and learn they dont have to pay a gunsmith 75 bucks an hour to do much of the work available for handguns and rifles alike.
As I was taught, I would like to teach others. I was given alot of knowledge from family and then put it to practice with Richard who allowed me to gain confidence and sharpen my skills with all manner of firearms from the cheapest Keltec fulff and buff to top dollar high end modifactions to complete firearm overhauls on 2000 dollar 1911's. If we can help one gun guy out there feel better about his skills than I am happy. Whew..........sorry about the rant. On that note..............................:slapshoot: :bolt:
Being an avid "do it yourself" guy, I like the information posted. I love to take stuff apart and have taken every firearm I own down to springs and pins. I like to learn and appreciate any and all knowledge someone is willing to pass on. Thank you for the info.
Personally I would love to see an increase in content like this from as many users as possible. Though I started the forum to be fun, I originally and still feel there is room for eduaction and knowledge here that has yet been untapped.
I would like to see more stuff like this as well..
Guntech
10-03-2009, 12:24 AM
Chris, You know I like it rough. Great Job homo.
http://smiliesftw.com/x/gaysex.gif (http://smiliesftw.com)
Chris
10-03-2009, 12:27 AM
Woo-hoo!
steers and queers in Texas buddy!
Gentle Ben
10-03-2009, 01:25 PM
great vid, Chris. your texturing is pretty much the same way I do it. I also remove material from the grip in order to slim it down and get rid of bulges and corners. Like I said in my other post, what you did there looks a lot better than most of the DIY-jobs that I've restored, and also a lot of the work done by other shops that I've restored. I have some before/after pics of some seriously hideous Glocks.
on a side note, there's nothing wrong with paying someone to do the work, any more than it is to pay someone to fix your car or paint your house. ;) the way I look at it regarding the grip work I do, a lot of people are perfectly capable of doing it themselves, but a lot of them don't have the time or patience for it. Also, once they've done it and seen how labor intensive, smelly, and easy to screw up, maybe they don't want to do it again. And when they send it to someone who does it fulltime, like I do, they have the comfort of knowing that it's going to turn out right the first time, and that if anything goes wrong, they will be taken care of 100%, even if it means getting a new gun out of it. I've done close to 400 guns by now, and only had to replace two.
Chris
10-03-2009, 02:24 PM
def. Agreed.
There is a whole lot of commitment to taking on a project like this.
Plus quite a bit of risk. probably should have put a slide in there about that....lol
Please dont misunderstand the comments about doing it yourself.
There are many people who couldnt afford to have the job done by a professional and I was just throwing out the options.
For many many people piece of mind is worth the price of admission.
For some the thrill of attempting a project is worth the risk. To each their own.
Just for reference I did about 20 AR15 throwaway grips that I couldnt even give away before I attempted to move on the polymer frames. And if you sneeze.....LMAO......there may be trouble.
Thanks for the compliments as well as the input