Posted: 11/26/2024 2:15:50 AM EDT
| I have an M17 that I swapped to a Wilson Combat grip module, and I really like the way it fits my hand. I'm getting an M18 an want to swap the grip module, but Wilson says the only one that will work with the M18 is the Carry and Compact. I've seen pics of an M18 with the Carry II but Wilson says it's not compatible. Can a non-manual safety grip be modified to work with the manual safety M18? It seems it wouldn't be too hard to cut out the slot for the safety but I'm only guessing. Anyone know? |
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It’s very easy to add the manual safety cutouts to the Wilson Combat and SIG factory grip modules. I think I’ve done six or seven at this point. There’s a faint mold outline visible on both brands' grips that shows you where the cutouts need to go. I use small hobby tools - plastic nippers, Xacto knife / chisel, and files - to make the cutouts. I can do it in about ten minutes with those tools. Lots of people do it with a Dremel, but I find that too unpredictable. There’s a 3D printed guide sold on eBay to help with the cutout, but I don’t find that necessary. Here are two examples of Carry II grips that I did the modification to. I just prefer the look of the shorter grip module / dust cover with the M18 slide. Attached File Attached File |
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Funny enough, it was your M18 that I was referencing in my question. I know the 17 and 18 take the same grip, but the Wilson grips are different, they have with and without safety, and they specifically state the Carry II won't work because it lacks the safety. Of course they won't tell you it's easy to modify. I would actually like the Compact module but I also prefer the shorter dust cover, and their compact module extends to the muzzle. So it looks like I'll be going with the Carry II and mod it for the safety. Hopefully I won't screw it up. Thanks everyone! |
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Sorry, I forgot that that Wilson Combat sells both a Compact and an X-Compact grip module. You're right that the Compact grip module is the same length as the M18 slide. If you want the muzzle to extend past the end of the dust cover / rail, you'll need the X-Compact grip, which means adding the manual safety cuts. Here's how that looks: Attached File I was just trying out that configuration last year to see how it looked. That X-Compact grip normally lives with my X-Compact slide, combined with another M18 FCU. Attached File |
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Quoted: Sorry, I forgot that that Wilson Combat sells both a Compact and an X-Compact grip module. You're right that the Compact grip module is the same length as the M18 slide. If you want the muzzle to extend past the end of the dust cover / rail, you'll need the X-Compact grip, which means adding the manual safety cuts. Here's how that looks: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/M18_Wilson_Combat_Compact_Manual_Safety_-3390631.JPG I was just trying out that configuration last year to see how it looked. That X-Compact grip normally lives with my X-Compact slide, combined with another M18 FCU. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/M18_Wilson_Combat_XCompact_Manual_Safety-3390634.JPG This gets confusing! So in your pics, the one on top is the M18 and the one at the bottom is the X compact? I know the M18 has the 3.9" barrel, is the X compact the 3.6" barrel? The only thing I have so far is the FCU and the factory grip, and was going to order the WC grip tonight. I really like the looks of that bottom pistol! |
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Quoted: This gets confusing! So in your pics, the one on top is the M18 and the one at the bottom is the X compact? I know the M18 has the 3.9" barrel, is the X compact the 3.6" barrel? The only thing I have so far is the FCU and the factory grip, and was going to order the WC grip tonight. I really like the looks of that bottom pistol! That's correct. In the two photos above, both show the Wilson Combat 15-round X-Compact grip. The top photo has the black M18 slide with 3.9" barrel, and the bottom is the X Compact slide with 3.6" barrel. Here's a comparison photo showing how I have the two pistols configured normally. The top is the M18 slide with 17-round Carry II grip module, and the bottom is the X Compact slide with 15-round X-Compact grip module. Attached File |
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Those are both awesome pistols! I'm basically building the 'little brother' to my M17, and I'm leaning hard at going as small as possible for concealed carry. I know the muzzle isn't the issue, the grip is, but I'm still leaning towards the shorter of the two. I have a 365 that I carry almost daily, but it's because in Georgia, the heat and humidity make concealment a challenge. In the winter a jacket will hide just about anything. I have always carried either a Glock or a 1911 and had no experience with the 320s. My agency switched to the 320 a couple years after I retired, and the guys I talked to loved it, more so than the 226s we were issued. I gave one a try and dang, really nice! The wife got me the M17 for my birthday last year and now I'm building my third SiG... I really appreciate all the help! |
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Quoted: Those are both awesome pistols! I'm basically building the 'little brother' to my M17, and I'm leaning hard at going as small as possible for concealed carry. I know the muzzle isn't the issue, the grip is, but I'm still leaning towards the shorter of the two. Thanks! Tinkering with these configurations is one of the things I really enjoy about the P320 platform. I started with the M17 because I was interested in trying out the new pistol that the Army was fielding (although I won't ever be issued one since I'm approaching retirement). That branched into the M18 and then these "X Compact" versions that are based on the M18 with its manual safety FCU. I went down the same road you're on, deciding that I wanted a 3.6" X Compact slide in coyote / FDE. I found the slide on eBay and bought a barrel to go with it. I originally tested it out with a Wilson Combat Carry II grip just out of curiosity to see what it looked like. The 17-round grip length is a little too much, in my opinion. Attached File I have a WC grip on my original M17, but I ended up going a different route with my military production M17 and M18 by using the SIG X series grip modules. Attached File To go with those, I picked up another M18 two weeks ago and used the FCU to assemble my coyote tan X Compact with a SIG X Compact grip module. I like the WC grips but love how this looks and feels too. It's interesting how the commercial slides are a darker tan than the military version, but I like the contrasting colors. Attached File |
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I love the feel of the WC grip on my M17, but I agree it's too long for a carry gun, at least for me. I went with the 15 rd grip and will likely go with the X slide. I ordered the grip in grey, and I think with a black slide that would look pretty good. My 17 grip is black with the tan slide and I really like that two tone look. I wish I could get a couple of my 1911 frames hard chromed, old school style... Getting anxious to finish this build and try it... |
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Ahh, I got it. Cutting the safety slots isn't too tough. I recently did it with a Dremel on a take-off X series grip I got from Wilson for my M17. Turned out great. Well, it was an M17, now it has an X series grip, a compact .40 slide, a full length .40 slide, a compact 9mm slide and the M17 slide. The modularity of these things is amazing. I ran Wilson grips for awhile but decided I prefer the Sig X series grips. Heck, I have so many spare grips and slides laying around, last month I bought a new FCU off GB so I could put together a nightstand gun. |
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They are amazing pieces of work. I was a die-hard 1911 guy in my Army days. When I went to the academy, I became a fan of the S&W 66 which I carried for years. When we switched to the Glock, it took me a while, but I came to appreciate it. I still have several 1911s, S&W revolvers, and Glocks. But I'm really enamored with the M17 which in my mind is a plastic 1911. This new sub compact is intriguing, and my little 365 is sort of a mini-1911. It's been a long, fun journey! My only prayer now is I never have to use them for anything other than punching holes in paper... |
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Quoted: It’s very easy to add the manual safety cutouts to the Wilson Combat and SIG factory grip modules. I think I’ve done six or seven at this point. There’s a faint mold outline visible on both brands' grips that shows you where the cutouts need to go. I use small hobby tools - plastic nippers, Xacto knife / chisel, and files - to make the cutouts. I can do it in about ten minutes with those tools. Lots of people do it with a Dremel, but I find that too unpredictable. There’s a 3D printed guide sold on eBay to help with the cutout, but I don’t find that necessary. Here are two examples of Carry II grips that I did the modification to. I just prefer the look of the shorter grip module / dust cover with the M18 slide. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/M18_Wilson_Combat_Carry_II_Manual_Safety-2630117.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/27888/M18_Wilson_Combat_Carry_II_Manual_Safety-2780378.JPG So I got my WC grip module today and did the safety cut out. Definitely not a pro job, but it'll do. But something I noticed is the safety a pretty stiff when installed in the grip. As best as I can tell, there's clearance all the way around the safety shaft, and no part of the frame seems to be impinging on them. The frame is very tight on the FCU, could it just be that tightness is causing the stiff safety movement? |