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April 15, 2011
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OK, this is supposed to be easy but it is not.
I want to remove my Pachmyre grip and replace it with another grip. The gun is a DW Model 15-2 6VH 357 Magnum circa 1980 mfg.
I have secured an Allen wrench that fits the screw at the butt of the grip. After careful twisting, the screw springs out a certain distance (around 1/2 inch) and then further unscrewing does nothing. It feels like it is spring loaded in some fashion. A gentle tug with a wrench does not do the trick and I do not want to break anything. Is there a trick or catch here that I am not aware of?
I want to put these beautiful new grips on!
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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give those rubber grips a good hard twist / pull and see if they come off--don't worry about the screw. If it is loose it will come off.
SHOOT
April 15, 2011
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Thanks. Tried it but nothing doing. Those grips are on there like no one's business. That screw is attached to something spring loaded. It does not "just drop out" like the video says. I am stumped. Dang me. 
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
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May 2, 2009
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the rubber grips can put up quite the fight... there are several solutions, most of which require swearing and brute force...
-place grip in boiling water to soften it
-Use twisting/tugging motion several hundred times
-have a drink or two
-repeat above
-come back to DWF for more advice
Eventually they will come off...eventually.
SHOOT
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I have had to fight tremendously with rubber grips in the past. The grip screw is possibly not backing out fully because the grip is stuck on so tightly, the Pachmayr grips seem to have a "captured" grip screw sometimes.
Try working some lubricant into the grip tang area from the bottom grip screw area, and the top by prying the top of the grip back and flooding lubricant in. Wiggle it around, lube more, let it sit, wiggle it around, all more lube,...
I always lube the tang before installing a rubber grip, and still sometimes have trouble removing it
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
April 15, 2011
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Tried all of the above except the drink part, which will follow in due course.
Pretty close to taking it to my local Smith.
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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Before you waste money on a gunsmith, just cut the grip off by slicing it open down both sides, and cutting it off in chunks. Pachy presentation grips are worth about $20.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
April 15, 2011
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Steve CT said:
Before you waste money on a gunsmith, just cut the grip off by slicing it open down both sides, and cutting it off in chunks. Pachy presentation grips are worth about $20.
I thought of that too. I may do it.
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Steve CT said:
Before you waste money on a gunsmith, just cut the grip off by slicing it open down both sides, and cutting it off in chunks. Pachy presentation grips are worth about $20.
yea but getting it off yourself in one piece and having a story of pain and agony is PRICELESS !!!
SHOOT
April 15, 2011
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Guys, I sure appreciate everyone's responses here.
Question, when I loosen the bolt, it pulls out and is spring loaded. While it is out, the trigger pull is very light. When I screw it back in, the trigger pull is normal again. Is this normal? Is that bolt supposed to be connected to some spring or other? Doesn't appear so from the video.
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
July 11, 2010
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Is it the original grip screw? Could a smaller in diameter screw been used & become threaded with the spring instead of the stud?
August 28, 2009
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Don't do anything yet - I posted a thread a little while ago about how to remove the rubber grips - it pulls them off like butter. I'll see if I can find it.
August 28, 2009
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Here – do this. It pulls them off effortlessly. Wrap the long end around around the frame, leaving about 2 or 3 feet of the strap on the end. Leave some slack, then wrap the strap around the grip and tuck it in so it doesn't slide off. Secure the 2 hooks to something stationary ( I used the 2 upright supports on a metal rack in the garage), and crank it off. After you've tugged on them for a day you'll laugh at how easy the winch strap pulls them off! Let me know if you need any help.
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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Not so lame! Harley's ratchet strap trick will probably work, but I bet what has happened to you is the screw is frozen in the screw stud and backed the stud out of the grip tang. 
The grip will still pull off but watch careful to see where the spring flies to when it does. The trick will be getting the stud and screw out of the grip once it is off. Good luck and keep us informed.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
February 11, 2010
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You know that just looks a little rough but really is just dang genius !
At-a-boy to Harley !
-Blacktop
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Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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OK, hammer pull going slack when the screw is removed is definately not normal--I'd have to agree the grip stud is unscrewed into the grip (didn't think there was enough room for that to happen.)
Is there enough screw head sticking out that you can cut it off with a dremel?
SHOOT
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January 24, 2009
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I bet LB guessed it right, with the grip stud idea. Those grip studs are usually tack welded to the frame, but it's always possible that this one wasn't welded very well & has spun loose.
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May 2, 2009
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I've owned a few DW's where the stud weld was cut with a dremel for "tuning"... I've never felt the need to do it...
SHOOT
April 15, 2011
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I am off to the gunsmith! I'll report back on what he says.
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
April 15, 2011
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OK. The housing where the grip bolt screws into had come loose. The smith had to cut the rubber grip off and reattach the housing. RIP for the rubber grip. Anyway, got my beautiful new Hogue wood grip attached, picture to follow shortly!
Really appreciate all the comments and help from the forum. This forum makes ownership of a DW firearm much more valuable IMHO. EWK, which I discovered on this forum, seems like a great outfit and they shipped my DW tool and spare barrel nut this morning!
The difference between a citizen and a civilian is that the citizen makes the safety of the body politic his personal responsibility. The civilian does not.
COTEP 545 -- PM7-45; 15-2 .357
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