I know this has been covered many times before.
I am putting Hogue rubber grips on a new 239 and need some advice as to what is the proper way to “lock” them in place. I did buy the hex head screws, as well. Is there a recommended torque or just tight?
Any input will be greatly appreciated..
Thanks.

Mike

Start with nothing. If you have problems with them loosening, start with teflon tape. If that doesn't work, try purple loctite.

If you don't have blue Loktite, nail polish can be substituted.
I've had success using polish on heavily recoiling Mosin Nagant and Mauser screws.

Grease here.

Snug them up with nothing. Better to lose a grip screw that strip out the frame. If bare naked doesn't work, use very thin rubber o-rings. They compress beneath the head of the screw and provide just enough friction.

I suppose it depends.

My P226/9, has never once backed out or loosened a screw, be it the stock ones, Hogue's hex heads or slots.

My P220 came with some Hogue hex heads, that didn't seem to back out. However, like you, I changed the grips to Hogue's fingergroove grips. I also changed the screws to stainless slotted, also from Hogue. I have on occasion noticed them loosening. I have taken the advice of arcwelder, and a few others here to use grease, and so far, so good.

May not be an issue on your pistol, but, the screws from Hogue extended into my magwell. I had to "create" some stainless grip screw washers to help keep them out of the magwell. Check your magwell and make sure your mags drop free like they are supposed to after installing your new grips and screws.

Good luck!

Advice here turned me on to Vibra-tite, a great alternative to Loctite. It's worked very well for me in several different applications.

https://www.amazon.com/Vibra-T...1&keywords=vibratite

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
Advice here turned me on to Vibra-tite, a great alternative to Loctite. It's worked very well for me in several different applications.

https://www.amazon.com/Vibra-T...1&keywords=vibratite

What color do you use?
I’m not sure what way I’m going to go. I do have blue loctite on the shelf.
Thanks for all the replies.
Mike

You could always use star washers for spacing as well as securing the screw. I have used blue loctite on mine and never had an issue. I use it on pretty much every screw on a pistol.

I'm not a fan of loctite on grip screws, I'd go with grease or nothing.

I use blue loctite all the time. Cheap insurance and never stripped out a bushing. Even if you did, you can fix that. I also have used star washers or #60 O rings from Lowes/HD.

The O rings are cheap insurance and easy to acquire.

Thanks, Gentlemen. Lots of different choices. I guess I’ll start with either grease or blue Loctite because I have it here.
You guys rock!! Always there to take the time to lend a hand!
Thank you.

Mike

A very small dab of RTV silicon will work fine, too. The screw wont' back out, but will come out without difficulty when you want it to.

Be aware that grease doesn't actually hold the screw in, but it does do two things; it reduces the coefficient of friction between the screw and fitting, and it also allows the screw to be turned in tighter with the same amount of pressure, because now the threads are lubricated. This actually increases the opportunity to strip threads.

I was using blue Loctite, but found it a pain to remove, so I switched to nail polish.

Blue locktite for me.

Pink Loctite. Made for small screws. In order, pink, blue, red, green.

Purple loctite (222MS)

Blue Loctite or blue threadlocker has NEVER been recommended by the manufacturers for fasteners smaller than 1/4" diameter. Pink Loctite is the way to go for for fasteners smaller than 1/4" diameter such as grip screws.

I normally use purple or blue Loctite depending upon the size of the screw, but I recently got some O-rings and will be experimenting with those.

Out of curiosity, how do you remove dried Loctite on screw threads. I thought that I read somewhere that nail polish remover (acetone) will do it.

If you ever have trouble loosening a screw that has been loctited in, apply heat to the screw head with a soldering iron.