Suppressors Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

[strictlyRUM]

Well I dont have much in the shop so I decided to try some more pistol smithing. I am usually building rifles but I can leave anything alone. I tried my hand a stippling on a Para frame a couple of weeks ago. Now its time to try the tupperware grips. I also made an extended mag release and stippled it to match. A solid stainless guide rod was in order oh and lighten the slide a bit. This go around was very minimal I wanted it to look somewhat stock and not be too "cool" because I cant shoot a pistol to save my life. Here are some pics......

 

[fastford]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

nice!

 

[damcv62]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Doesn't look too bad. I'd like to see how it feels in the hand though.

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

I love the feel of it. If feels just like stock just a little grippier. I forgot it now has a very crisp 4lb trigger also. Do to some sear work and Springer precision springs. Thanks

Jason

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Like I said I cant leave anything alone. I went back out and spent some more time sucking plastic fumes. I removed the ribs off the back strap but left them on the front for more grip. Then I did some more stippling. I like this more but I think people will expect me to hit what I am pointed at? I better practice! What do you think?

Jason

 

[jasonk]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

I like it now! What length barrel is that?

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Thanks it is the 4.5. I think all the M factors are 4.5. Not sure tho.

 

[Red_SC]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Yeah, all the XDMs are the same length.

Looks good!

 

[jasonk]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

LOL...Shows what I know, I have the same pistol in Green frame, didn't realize they were all the same size.

Hmm, was going to sell mine, but you've got me thinking I need to keep it. I might need to send it to Springer for some springs and a little loving and just keep it.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

OK, now that is tacticooool!

 

[tenringx]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

How does this feel compared to grip tape? Looks sweet! What was the weight difference on the slide after you milled out the top?

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

It is definately has more grip than grip tape. I like both I just dont like how the grip tape wears out or comes off. This you are not limited to any one design. You could go as minimal or crazy as you wanted. You can also do any grip shaping you want at the time. I left it raw and extremely rough. You can take sand paper and sand down the tops and it makes it look more uniform like the snakeskin that springer does. I personaly like the very random and rough look. I used a very small point and a very random approach. You can flatten or round the tip on the iron to get different "patterns" I am just looking for usefull grip.

The slide I will have to weigh but I am sure it is hardly anything. The main advantage I can see this far is heat excape. Hopefully it will stay a little cooler. I have been taking a few pistol classes lately and it seems to stay pretty hot. I may do some more milling on it later but I want to run a few more hundred rounds thru it before I do. I would like to see how each mod really affects the handling and how she runs before I go on to the next one. I will also be adding a "opperator" mag well and some base pads too.

jason

 

[KYS]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

are you sure that cutting the slide wont affect the operation?
the stippling looks good. nice work.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Lightening a slide can have negative effects especially if the recoil spring is not increased to compensate.

The lighter slide does not have as much mass to resist the recoil, delaying the unlocking and it does not have as much energy to strip the new round and lock the action up.

Make sure you do some "dirty" test runs to make sure it still runs reliably. I am not saying you goofed it up. I don't know enough about the XDM to say one way or the other. Just be careful.

It looks shit-hot though. Great job on the stippling.

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kyshooter338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">are you sure that cutting the slide wont affect the operation?
the stippling looks good. nice work. </div></div>

Where it is cut is a common place to take weight off. It has no bearing exept mass weight on weather the gun functions or not. Nothing touches that section of slide. I maybe crazy but I dont go in totally blind either.

Jason

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lightening a slide can have negative effects especially if the recoil spring is not increased to compensate.

The lighter slide does not have as much mass to resist the recoil, delaying the unlocking and it does not have as much energy to strip the new round and lock the action up.

Make sure you do some "dirty" test runs to make sure it still runs reliably. I am not saying you goofed it up. I don't know enough about the XDM to say one way or the other. Just be careful.

It looks shit-hot though. Great job on the stippling. </div></div>

Thank you sir. I have 4 other recoil/return springs in various weights to try if it doesnt work with the stock one. They make alot more aftermarket stuff for these than I used to think.

How many rounds do you think before I should be satisfied with the "dirty" tests?

I will keep you guys updated.

Jason

 

[rrflyer]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

My gf's stock xd was finally cleaned after about 1,000 rounds.

Half that would probably be good enough I'd think.

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

I ran 500 rounds through it yesterday with out any malfunctions of any sort. I will not clean it till it malfunctions IF that will happen. I didnt have to change the stock recoil spring. It worked fine with the stock one. I shot it from all different positions, with laser, without, strong hand, week hand, two hand. Shot great. I maybe crazy but it did seem to stay on target better. I was double tapping with in 2-4 inches every time. I have never shot that well. But I am learning more and more about shooting it also. I wouldnt think that much metal removal would have had such a profound effect on follow up shots but I think it did.

Jason

 

[jpmuscle]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

That is one of the very few if not the only Stipple job ive seen that actually looks good. nice job

 

[drmarc]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

If you don't mind me asking, how is that stippling done?

Very nice job!

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

While stippling can be a DIY project with good results (like the XD9M strictlyRUM has here), there's help for those that may be DIY challenged:
www.stippledgrip.com

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jpmuscle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is one of the very few if not the only Stipple job ive seen that actually looks good. nice job </div></div>

Thank you sir!

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: drmarc</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you don't mind me asking, how is that stippling done?

Very nice job! </div></div>

And thank you. It is pretty easy if you are artistic at all. Or anal works too. Just grab a soldering iron or wood burner and go to town. For those who want to try it. Get a soft air gun or something like that that has pretty close to the same plastic and practice. If you have a gun that has different backstraps start with one you dont use. I am a fan of the random and ruff stippling. I just sharpen the tip of the iron and run pretty even then at the end go back and fill in the gaps and make some heavier than others to get the real random look. If you flatten the end and run a very eaven pattern you get the "snakeskin" look. You can look it up one the web there are alot of video tutorials or pics. If you are worried about it send it my way I dont have too much in the shop right now and I can turn it around pretty fast. A day or two.

Jason

 

[LS6TT]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

make sure your checking the corners of your cuts for cracks. dont care if nothing touches there the slide is still under force when being shot.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lightening a slide can have negative effects especially if the recoil spring is not increased to compensate.

The lighter slide does not have as much mass to resist the recoil, delaying the unlocking and it does not have as much energy to strip the new round and lock the action up. </div></div>

Slide lightening is quite common in USPSA and other shooting sports. I highly doubt that a heavier spring is necessary. Most guns are over-springed anyway to make sure that they feed 100%.

You haven't lived until you've shot a gun with a lightened slide. It makes a big difference in recoil to not have all that mass banging around.

 

[NOMAD]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Looking good.

You almost have a stock Glock now LOL

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NOMAD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looking good.

You almost have a stock Glock now LOL

</div></div>


Ouch!


I put another 250 rounds through it yesterday and it still is working good. No fail to functions yet! I may hack on it some more this weekend?

Jason

 

[tacticalrifleman]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

I like it! I wonder how a glock 35 would look and feel with the stippling?

 

[strictlyRUM]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

If you google stippling you can quite a few images of glocks with it. I think the feel is superior to just about anything. I have not had one person say they didnt like it.(yet) I will be doing some for some of the USPSA guys at our range soon.

Jason

 

[tacticalrifleman]

Re: Bored again! This time I attacked my XDM9

Thanks, turns out I have a fella not too far away doing what looks like good things to glocks fairly close to me. Bowie tactical concepts