doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com pistol to straight grip conversion

Anyone done this? I have read it over in Shotgun Technicana(sp?) and they make it look easy. My question is........what about the top and or bottom tangs. Are these always have to be bent to achieve a straight stock? Any other concerns that I should be aware of?
thanks,

I would think the indentation where the pistol grip was would show up on the converstion. Also most straight stock guns have a longer trigger guard, to help protect some of the narrower wood, and it looks nice also.

The lower tang is much longer on a straight stock. You might want to approach this project with caution. David

battle,
It seems to me that bending the frame tangs really depends on the geometry of the existing vs planned stock design. If your existing stock's comb height is fine, then you probably won't have to bend the tangs.

If you look at Mike Cambell's dynamite post in the thread link below, you'll see that he probably had to bend the tangs up to increase the height of comb but avoid a huge up-bump at the front of the comb.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...age=1#Post19389

I'd like to hear from the pro's whether the long trigger guard tang (not frame tang) adds significant strength to the stock or is primarily esthetic (sp?).

Not always. My Darne R10 was a pistol grip gun, and, on that grade, the straight grip version uses the identicle lower tang.

Ditto my Tobin. Both guns were converted from pistol or semi-pistol grip to straight grip.

Neither of these were real high dollar guns. But, one could still do a bit of welding and lengthen the original lower, and inlet it into the new stock, or the rasped off area of the old pistol grip. If you can imagine it, you can probably do it.
Best,
Ted

battle,
I haven't done a conversion on a stock that would be used. But I have converted a PG stock into a straight stock pattern. I raised the tangs which required a change to the inletting. I did this in the pattern with epoxys and bondo. But for a conversion where the stock is being converted and used as the finished piece, I don't know how you'd raise the tangs. In either method, a new long tang triggerguard or extension mod to the existing one is in order. Extending it is a fairly simple task. But it won't take certain high luster blueing without showing the weld in background. Rust blue will hide the weld.

With "they" (David T) being on this bbs, you might seek some advice from him directly.

Battle,
If the stock "hangs" between the upper and lower tang you will likely have to straighten the lower tang.If the gun in question uses a through bolt then the trigger guard can be straightened. Unless you using the gun for a pry bar, club or fall down a lot the length does not matter that much and is mostly cosmetic.
Place a straight edge from the toe of the stock to the lower head where it meets the action. If the bottom edge of the stock does not follow the straight edge, imaginary, through the pistol grip, DO NOT proceed. You will end up with a very strange "crook" in the stock's lower line. You can back yourself out of this too, but it is a -itch. I will assume that the stock fits you in other respects, If so the top tang is OK. Yeti explained that portion well.
Hunt

David.......on any straight grip, are all the bottom tangs for them longer? I know the trigger guards are but didn't realize the bottom tang would need to be also.
This is a Parker G grade 20ga. that hasn't the original wood. It has a pistol grip with wrong checkering pattern. Thought I'd cut the grip and file off checkering and redo.
My other question.......I have found a straight grip take-off that is close to fitting. I know other fitting will be required, but would it fit without bending any tangs?

In Shotgun Technicana chapter 9 covers this subject quite well.
I have been tempted to try this conversion but that first bandsaw cut is enough to make you think maybe the PG is O.K.
Just my thought, Gordon

Battle,
I have converted a couple of the older Beretta SxSs to straight grip with a straight edge and patience. The Berettas that I tackled had short lower tangs. They looked original once they were recheckered.
Best,
Ron