Grip frame interchangability?

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needsmostuff

Blackhawk
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
525
Location
Tucson,AZ
Sure ,The 5 screw holes will fit but depending on which way you are swapping it might not function.
The mid frame New Vaq. requires a notch cut in the frame for the indexing pawl clearance.
Either will fit and function fine on a original Vaq.
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
524
Location
FL
Here's a New Vaquero birdshead grip frame on an original Vaquero 7.5". It ended up fitting nearly perfectly and much better than an original Vaquero birdshead grip frame of almost the same age.

 

Hondo44

Hawkeye
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
8,040
Location
People's Republik of California
Reverse Indexing Pawl System: All the NM FT Blackhawks and NEW Vaqs have this system which allows the cyl to roll backwards enough and stop for the chambers to align to the loading gate trough without the hammer on half cock (which can't be done on standard new models). You can see the device (3 parts) in the hammer channel to the lower left of the cyl pin hole shown below. Grip frames from models w/o this system need a divot cut above the trigger guard for the free spin cyl pawl.

Hex retaining screw for indexing pawl and spring in hammer channel:
262de92c-215a-4d67-bcff-3d6b0ec2e91b.jpg



Ruger free spin pawl on the right:
10-17-2010_1a.jpg



Divot for free spin pawl on NM Flat Tops and New Vaqueros with the reverse indexing pawl system shown on the left:
10-17-2010_3a.jpg


Cutting the divot: To locate this notch, take a measurement from the location on your original GF. Or mark that area on the replacement GF with a magic marker, assemble the GF to the gun, then cock the hammer a few times. This will leave a 'witness' mark in the marker ink, so you simply make the "divot" there. Be cautious not to let the cut extend to the outside edge of the grip frame or it will show when assembled, and don't cut notch too deep!
Use a thin cut-off blade in a Dremel tool. With grip frame in a vice, and your old grip frame nearby for reference, hold the Dremel with two hands for control. And replicate the divot in the new grip frame. It's easier to clamp the Dremel tool in the vice at an angle and hold the grip frame instead.

Other details to consider:

1. Grip Frame Ear Height Change to be aware of: the ear height around the base of the hammer varies on all grip frame ears slightly due to hand fitting at the factory, but there was one specific big height increase. To simplify production in 1997, Ruger increased the height 1/16" on the standard cylinder frame mating surfaces on both sides of the hammer to match the Bisley model frame ears so any style grip frame could be assembled to any main frame. Therefore the ears on all the other standard plow handle grip frames after 1997 had to be made ~ 1/16" taller as well. So there's basically two sizes of the STANDARD plow handle grip frames: as short as .530" pre 1997 and as tall as .590" after 1997 (for example: Original Vaqueros above serial range 56-XXXXX). Measure from the very top edge of the grip panel to the top of the ears. That's why standard grip frame swaps are simplified if any acquired grip frame matches the vintage of your Ruger that you want to put it on. This also affects the standard hammer base fit to the grip frame ears on plow handle grip frames, except new hammers designed after 1997, like the New Vaquero and New model flat top Blackhawks.

The frame slopes down from the recoil shields on both sides of the hammer on pre 1997 guns with short rear frame mating surface which is a problem for the Bisley grip frame. The way to resolve it and save a lot of work is to flatten the two frame surfaces where they meet the recoil shield to provide a smooth curve transition to the top of the Bisley grip frame w/o having a 'kink' where the GF mates to the frame. Then touch up with cold blue to blend in with the blued frame.

Ears & Hammer Base sizes: Ruger has only enlarged the hammer base to match the taller grip frame ears on the newly designed hammers introduced since 2005 such as the New Vaq standard 'long horn' and Montado hammers, the NM Flat Top Blackhawk hammers, (and the new .327 Single Seven hammers?). All other hammers designed prior to 2005 used on current model and Old Model guns are small base and do not match the post 1997 tall eared grip frames. Some people don't mind. If I install a small base hammer in a post 1997 gun, I fit the grip frame ears to the hammer. I also have to do this every time I install post 1997 grip frames such as the N Vaq and Flat Top XR3 size steel grip frames or XRE-RED size steel grip frames on pre 1997 New Models, or on Old Model Rugers.

Poor hammer to ears fit:

1-DSC_0062.jpg
Mike Campbell photo.

The top small base hammers 1.071" – 1.076" (measured in line with the two outside holes) predates the c. 2005 large base newly introduced model hammer designs. Measured on the centerline of the two large holes from back of hammer base to over the full cock notch.
Bottom hammer is a new Flat Top Blackhawk with large base 1.122" – 1.130" and narrow shank.
1-DSC_0041.jpg
Mike Campbell photo.


Narrower shank hammers (except Montado hammers) coincide with the larger base hammer design on the New Vaqs and the 1st anniversary new mid-size in 2005 flat tops and 2006 and later large frame flat tops, and in my opinion are much better looking. I know of no other reason for it other than the improved looks. For many years I was relieving the shanks by hand.

The right hand hammer below is after c. 2005 up to current production with large base 1.122" – 1.130" and narrow shank.

1-DSC_0051-002.jpg
Mike Campbell photo.

2. Grip Frame Projections just above the two rear trigger guard screws and both sides of where the hammer would be. To fit grip frames with projections to guns w/o the cut out in the cyl frame, just saw or grind off the projections, they are not needed on steel grip frames:


3. Internal locks: To replace a grip frame with an internal lock (which was discontinued in 2012),
with one that was not made for the lock, all the internal parts and the hammer spring can be transferred to the replacement grip frame, except for the lock of course. And use a standard spring perch, Ruger # KXR00500.
Or keep the grip frame for the lock, and the Bearcat spring perch can be used to eliminate the lock.
 
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