Trouble changing the gips on my Ruger GP100

bobbyrlf3

I ordered a set of Hogues to replace the grips on my GP100. They're not as comfortable as they are pretty. So, I removed the old ones, and got stuck on the locator lug:




I can't get that thing to budge. I tried tapping on it with a small hammer, and attempted to twist it using some channel-lock pliers (covered it first with a towel); it won't move at all. I've searched the interwebs to see if anyone else has had this issue, with no luck. The only thing I can figure is that the previous owner used something to stick it in place, but for the life of me I can't think of a single reason why anyone would do that.

Anyone got any ideas about what I can do?

early

I didn't know that lug came off?

Fisheadgib

That's odd, on my super redhawk, (takes the same grips as the GP100) it just fell out.

Teach

Drill and tap the lug for a 10-32 screw, and use a long screw, a nut and washer, and a sleeve like a socket wrench as a puller to take it out. A similar setup is used as a "stuck case remover" in a reloading die.
Jerry

bobbyrlf3

Teach wrote: »

Drill and tap the lug for a 10-32 screw, and use a long screw, a nut and washer, and a sleeve like a socket wrench as a puller to take it out. A similar setup is used as a "stuck case remover" in a reloading die.
Jerry

Thanks Teach. I'm going to give it a shot. I don't have the tools myself, but I know someone who does.

That's odd, on my super redhawk, (takes the same grips as the GP100) it just fell out.

Exactly. This is really strange.

Hoggin

It's soft aluminum. Just drill a big hole thru the middle and then drive it out. New ones from brownells are about $2

Eli

Wambli Ska wrote: »

Before you move on to drills and the BFH there is a better than average chance the previous owner just used something silly like superglue to keep it in place. Get some acetone of steal the nail polish remover from your favorite female and soak the bottom of the grip for a few hours in it. Might do the trick.

Don't listen to "Mr. I wear girlie panties"...........BREAK OUT THE POWER TOOLS!!!

Jayhawker

Eli wrote: »

Don't listen to "Mr. I wear girlie panties"...........BREAK OUT THE POWER TOOLS!!!

Hell yeah...can't break anything so bad you can't throw it away....

Teach

If it's stuck in with something like superglue, heat is your friend. Warm it up with a Propane torch for a minute or so and tap on it with a soft-faced hammer. You're not likely to get the grip frame hot enough to damage anything unless you get really stupid with the heat source. One side looks like it's peened and expanded already, so it might be a good idea to drive it out the other way.
Jerry

Farm Boy Deuce

Eli wrote: »

Don't listen to "Mr. I wear girlie panties"...........BREAK OUT THE POWER TOOLS!!!

This.

:grunting:

robert38-55

Someone done something to that lug they shouldn't have.. I have a GP100 too and two sets of grips for it. My lug just simply falls out.

bobbyrlf3

Finger nail polish bath didn't work. Gonna try heat next. If that doesn't work, out come the power tools.

Diver43

I would guess that the previous owner did not know that the piece should fit loosely and used something to hold it in place.

bobbyrlf3

That's all I can come up with. Seems strange that a person knowledgeable enough to install fiber optic sights and clean up the trigger pull would do something like that.

bobbyrlf3

Held a torch to it for a little while and tried to tap it out; nothing. It still won't budge. This is getting serious. Time for power tools!

early

I wonder if you could drill a hole slightly larger than the lug in a scrap board. Sandwich the grip frame between that board and an undrilled board in a vise with the lug lined up in the hole and slowly tighten the jaws.

bobbyrlf3

Stubborn lug vs power tools............power tools win!! I drilled a hole in the lug and grabbed it with some vise grips. I twisted it with the grips and it started to turn. I then used a few different things to pound on it until it started moving. It took an hour and a half of pounding and twisting and WD-40 before I remembered what Teach said about one side being peened and expanded. I popped the punch in the other side and bam! It came right out.


So, I put the Hogues on and did my happy dance.



I like finger grooves in a fighting gun. I know some don't, but this works best for me. Thanks everyone for your advice and counsel. I love this board.

Farm Boy Deuce

Good job, other than the Goodyears :tooth:

Next just jump straight to the power tools.

Diver43

was it glued or what made it so tight? as other have said, the one i had just fell out.

NN

I like those grips

bobbyrlf3

Farm Boy Deuce wrote: »

Good job, other than the Goodyears :tooth:

Next just jump straight to the power tools.

Thanks. I'm not experienced enough to go straight for the power tools, but I learned a lot through this process.

was it glued or what made it so tight? as other have said, the one i had just fell out.

There was no visible residue of glue, but it did seem as if this piece was not OEM. It was so tight in there I can't think it was the original lug. I don't know what effect, if any, WD-40 has on glue, but it may be possible that the WD-40 removed the residue as the lug was being pushed out. :uhm:

I like those grips

Me too. They give the gun a nice, balanced feel; BIG improvement over the originals. I wish the Hogues for my 625JM felt this nice.