butt channel change?

[RichJ]

I caught this little nugget in the grip safety thread and thought I'd ask some more about it.

Was there a change in the frame design where the grip channel is different on earlier models? I looked at mine (purchased in March of 09') and the channel is completely open from the grip safety to the butt. How else would it be?

I have always disliked that big hole in the bottom of the grip and have been concerned that a piece of debris will get up there and cause the grip safety to not engage. If that lever isn't able to be depressed then the gun won't fire. This seems like a major design flaw is it not? Why would SA leave that hole unplugged and leave the weapon vulnerable to a malfunction? I've thought about epoxying the hole closed but I always figured someone would fabricate a plug that was removable so I never did it. Has anyone else ever thought about doing this?

It would be really cool if someone made a plug that had a small D ring on it so you could put a lanyard on it. Maybe like a rubber pressure fit plug where you turn the D ring and it snugs it up; similar to a transom drain plug on a boat.

[B. Adam]

do you have the old style slide serrations? or the new/angled ones?
i have the new style on my xdm and dont remember there being an empty channel/hole in the base. I may be wrong its not next to me.

[RichJ]

Mine looks like this.

[texan_eagle_scout]

That void is there to provide a curve to the backstrap, and reduce weight on the frame. There is no real gain to having this space filled.

A Hogue hybrid grip cover has a plug for this opening, but I have never seen any report on here of this channel becoming plugged to the point of malfunction. Even the torture test guns didn't experience this problem.

You may be worrying about a non issue.

[RichJ]

Originally Posted by texan_eagle_scout

You may be worrying about a non issue.

Maybe so, but a D-ring in that spot would be the most uberest!

[texan_eagle_scout]

^
A ring doesn't address the concern you had in the OP. But, it would be nice for those who ride ATV's and such through brushy areas. The pistol leashes that you see on the Blocks are nice for some applications.

[B. Adam]

sorry, thought you were talking about the xdm.

[ajamesp51]

Barsto has been using an old drawing I made back mid 2000`s This was important because he was the first one to make a metal mag well.
Bar-Sto Precision Machine

[Kevenater]

if you're concerned about the hole just shoot a little bit of silicone up in there, it'd be easy to get out if u ever needed to. or just a piece of sponge, maybe with a little dab of glue on it just to keep it in place. I've thought about doing this after reading that thread the other night. somebody said that a few had actually had gunk or something freeze up their grip safety.