A couple of reasons not to buy a drop-in beavertail

[Questor]

I have the old non-beavertailed version of the the 1911a1 that I use for bullseye and thought I'd like to try a drop-in beavertail. So I bought a Wilson drop-in model and found that I don't like it. For one thing, there's quite a gap between the frame and the beavertail, so the oil will still run over my hand. Secondly, it requires some fitting that I didn't want to do. I think I'll take it off and replace the original grip safety.  Chalk that one up to experience.

Other than that, it seems like a good idea. Some will certainly like it. Appearance is not bad even in my case where the color of the bluing differs from the bluing on my gun. It's unobtrusive enough to still look good. For $35 it's a lot cheaper than having one fitted to your gun.

[Questor]

I went back to the bench and decided to fit the part. It just took a bit of patient examination and file work followed by a bit of Birchwood-Casey touch-up blue. I'll give it a try. Seems to work fine. Looks fine.

Wilson recommends that the part be installed by a gunsmith. They also provide a little picture of where to remove material if needed. The sketch didn't help me because the metal needed to come from a couple of other areas.

A web search found similar observations on this particular part. One customer complained that "they shouldn't be allowed to call it drop-in". Another followed by writing "drop in parts seldom are".

[Mikey]

Questor - that's the reason I went with a Kings drop-in beavertail grip safety; they do not require any modification of the frame to get a proper fit.  And both mine just 'dropped-in'.  No other activity required.  No gaps twixt the frame and grip safety, no pinching of the hand, just a nice grip.  Mikey.

[Questor]

Mikey:

I took a look at the Kings beavertails and there is one thing I like about the Wilson in comparison. The Wilson drop-in beavertail is a "high ride" style, which I favor in a target gun.  I think I'll try one of the Kings models to see which I like better.  Thanks for the tip on these. I really need to pay more attention to Kings as a supplier. Wilson and Ed Brown have been very good for me. 

One thing I do like a lot from Kings is their long light trigger, which I have on the same gun that has the new beavertail. It feels great and it has just the right length for my hands when combined with an arched mainspring housing.

[44 Man]

Several of my guns have the Wilson 'drop in' installed.  I did have to do some fitting on the nose of it where it presses against the trigger bow.  That was not too difficult, just take your time and go slow and try it a lot until you get a good let off.  I do not have any to fit the 'Government' frames, all of mine are Commanders or 'enhanced' frames that are already rounded.   I'm very satisfied with the fit to the frame.  I like them a lot!  44 Man

[HiPressure]

Hi all,
I gave up on the "drop in" beavertails a long time ago. First because of the sloppy looking gap, second because I discovered that along with the sloppy gap I had too much side to side play to allow a consistent "let-off" of the safety. I fitted the Brown safety on my GM using eyes and files, and of course didn't get that nice even fit that the custom guns have. I then found that Brown and Wilson sell handy little jigs for cutting the frame for about $25 or so. Nice fit then, with a little touch up blue on non-stainless pistols. Regardless of what type of safety you put in, a little fitting to the trigger bow is usually needed. With some patience and restraint you'll end up with a beavertail that completely blocks the trigger until you have a grip and still looks good.
HP