[ingeniero1]

(I tried a search but couldn't come up with what I want to know.)

I am about to buy an STI Trojan 5" and wondered about the thickness of the grips. The standard offering are the 'STI rosewood thin panels', but they also offer a 'thick grip'. However, the store from which I am buying the Trojan does not have the thicker panels in stock right now.

Presently, I have a Kimber SST2 that I really like; it has never failed me in eight IDPA matches and many practice sessions, and it fits my hand just fine.

Q1: Since I do not have an idea of what the thick and thin panels are, could someone let me know how does the STI Trojan with the 'thin rosewood panels' compare with the Kimber rubber grips as on my SST2?

Q2: If the STI 'thin rosewood panels' result too thin for me, are there any other panels (rubber) available that would duplicate, more or less, the feel and size of the Kimber when installed on the Trojan?

Thanks!

Alex

 

[ingeniero1]

I have 1/16" thick walnut (I don't know whether this thick can be called veneer) as well as 1/16" thick neoprene. Using the factory rosewood grips as templates, I can cut the same profile inserts out of either the walnut or the neoprene, install them under the factory grips, and effectively increase the overall width of the grip about 1/8".

Can you see any problem in making spacers or inserts to fit under the stock grips to raise them 1/16" or so?

Thanks,

Alex

 

[ingeniero1]

TLE:
You will probably need to change the bushings and screws. The screws may not be long enough and without the taller bushings you will crush the wood before the screw contacts the top of the bushing."

You are correct about the screws (0.170 long), but I don't believe the bushings will make a difference. Here is why (at least on my STI Trojan...)

Bushing height over grip-frame = 0.036 (varies ± 0.002)
Rosewood grip shoulder height = 0.095 (varies ± 0.003) This is the overall grip thickness of 0.167 less counterbore depth of 0.072 = 0.095

Which means that the screws never come close to contacting the bushings; they tighten against the wooden grips. Therefore, if I can get screws that are about 0.230 (maybe 1/4") and add the 1/16" spacer, I will have about the same setup as from the factory.

Am I overlooking something?

That having been said, I will likely get the grips as you suggested, or similar. I have just been trying to keep the original rosewood if possible.
Thanks!
Alex