Magwell Installation On An Sti

[austinkroe]

Just bought a magwell for my STI and I need intal tips?

How does one trim the frame to match up with a magwell?

Sandpaper?

Dremel?

File?

Also, how would I get a nice clean fit without scatching up the inside of the magwell?

Any tips on how to remove material? (I am a little scared of taking off too much and weakening the grip)

Disassemble or not for the process?

Any other random tips regarding magwell to frame mating?

-Austin

Edited for refinement.

Edited September 26, 2006 by austinkroe

[Loves2Shoot]

Dremel or file and clean it up with sandpaper.

[sfinney]

1) Install magwell.

2) Take a sharp object, knife or whatnot and scribe a line in the front of the grip's mag opening area, where you have the majority of excess material - using the magwell as a guide.

3) Take off magwell.

4) Insert cloth or paper towel into magwell opening to keep the ground plastic from getting up inside your gun.

5) Use a dremel w/ sanding drum attachment to grind out the excess material up to your scribed line.

6) Reattach magwell, check for fit.

7) Start again at step 2, keep going til you are happy with the fit.

Its hard to take to much off from the front area there, but its possible... go slow, and keep checking.

Optional: Polish the ground on plastic areas with fine grit emory cloth, and/or plastic polish on a dremel polishing wheel, to clean it up and make it nice and smooth.

[Josh Biondi]

The Sfinney procedure is right and perfect. I use dremel with stone tip to grind out the excess material.... its faster than sandpaper but you must be REALLY CAREFUL because the stone keep away a lot of material.

[Joe D]

Not sure if you are aware of this but a regular 1911 main spring housing works fine in a STI. Allows you to get rid of the plastic one. You have to bevel it in one spot.

[hitman]

Since you havent done this before, use a hand file.

I have seen several home jobs where the dremel tool got away from people.

Also take the time to remove the grip from the frame, easyer to work with and see what you are doing, you also dont have to worry about getting plastic in your gun.

[.40AET]

Finish it up with some 600 grit sandpaper by hand.

[Chuck Merriam]

Put it in a box and send it to Jim Shanahan. Tell him what mag well you want to use and what kind of texture you want and .....like magic the grip of your dreams will come back quick.

[austinkroe]

Thanks for all the help guys.

I actually dont live that far from APS and I was thinking of taking the gun down there to see what he could do.

[Harmon]

this is not too hard to do and i did one for a friend in about 10 minutes with a dremel tool and several bits.

though if you are truly uncomfortable doing this, have shanahan do it for you.

Harmon

[BSeevers]

Hmm some interesting ideas

I just installed a magwell and went shooting.

Too many years ago