How to modify your SCAR grip tang & fit MIAD backstrap

[DOE]

I for one do not care for the A2 grip. It's doable, but not something desired. Better grips are out there. I like the Magpul MIAD and MOE.

The FN Scar lower was molded incorrectly with an oversized grip tang. You could not simply remove the A2 grip and replace it with an after market one unless the grip tang cavity on the grip was oversized.

I called Bob (FN) and Jeff (Tangodown) and they said the same thing. Modify the grip or the tang. With the release of the black Scar, I had hoped that FN "corrected this", but no joy.

Two options....mod the grip or mod the tang? Modding the grip will weaken the grip (less cross sectional material left over when done) and you can't use another grip down the road. Mod the grip tang and you can attach almost any grip provided it didn't have a backstrap. So you could use a Hogue. Downside.....if you FUBAR the tang.....your fXXked.

So, here we go......(it is your resposibility if you FUBAR this up. I take no liabilty for YOUR mod.)

BE SURE ALL WEAPONS ARE UNLOADED!!

I presume that anyone that has a Scar, already has a M4 and clones. If so, this will go much quicker.

Here's my Colt 6920 (that I know is in spec). Remove pistol grip.


Take a piece of paper so that you can use the corner to overlay against the grip tang. Crease along the three edges of the grip tang. Cut along the creases and corner. This will give you a rough template of the in spec grip tang. Trim the template to fit better on the M4 grip tang.


Here's the template.


Tools that make the job easier: safety glasses, dremel, medium grinding wheel, fine polishing wheel, flat file, pencil or marker.


Again, be sure your weapons are unloaded!!
Remove grip from Scar. Use your new template and overlay it on the Scar grip tang. As you see, there is too much material on the diagonal edge. Approx. 1/8". (I already started grinding, so there's not much left against the template) Once that is removed, the other edges come into close to spec with the template. Use a pencil to mark the excess limit to remove.


WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!! You'll get hot shards of plastic in your face depending on the rotation of the Dremel wheel.

GO SLOW if you use a Dremel and leave plenty of room to hand file for the final fit of the edges. Use the flat file to make sure the grip tang is flushed!


Check for grip fit every so often.


Personally, I like to choke up on the grip and the B1 backstrap is no better than the A2 grip to begin with. I wished someone else had posted a "How to do for dummies", since I wasted a MOE during the "learning process."
This is the B3 backstrap I used as the "second" try. You can see the interior profile needed from the rear view.


Here's the B2 backstrap on the left with the needed profile and the MOE on the right with a much shallower profile.


Here's the top view of the needed contours of a B2 backstrap.


BE CAREFUL GRINDING AWAY NEAR THE EDGES. I got too close on the MOE and B3 backstrap and caused a flat edge on the upper right curve as seen below. (MOE on right, B3 in the middle, B2 on the left).


Go slow and try fitment.
Finished end results.





The MOE was my first attempt. The B3 was the second and I got the profile needed down pat. The B2 was the final attempt. I did it in a minute. Remember to stay away from the edges or grind there too long. You don't want a flat when it should be a curve.

I used the original Scar grip screw and checked for clearence with the trigger components. Cleared fine. IF YOU REMOVE TOO MUCH MATERIAL FROM THE DIAGONAL FLAT OF THE SCAR GRIP TANG, THE FACTORY SCREW MIGHT CONTACT THE TRIGGER LOWER FLAT. IN THAT CASE, A CUTTING DISK IS HANDY.

And no I did not do this in my living room. A good vacuum can hide evidence.

Hope this helps someone out!

[jmoney911]

+1 nice write up sir. might give it a try if I get up the courage to cut on the SCAR...

[djv38]

Good job

[SONYtec]

Nice job indeed.

Do you have a Hogue grip to put on and take photos?

Curious how that would look and fit with the receiver at the back strap area.

[DOE]

Nice job indeed.

Do you have a Hogue grip to put on and take photos?

Curious how that would look and fit with the receiver at the back strap area.

Unfortunately I do not. I long ago sold my Hogues when the MIADs came out. The Hogue would fit like the A2 along the backstrap of the SCAR. Without one, I can't say for certain.

FYI-there is a company that makes a hogged out Tan Hogue grip that fits the existing oversized Scar grip tang. It goes for $50 IIRC.

[SONYtec]

OK, thanks!!

[ss109]

Excellent write up! I may get a Magpul grip yet

[steve1968ls2]

+1 nice write up sir. might give it a try if I get up the courage to cut on the SCAR...

You don't have to "cut on the SCAR"... just on the MAID grip..

[DOE]

+1 nice write up sir. might give it a try if I get up the courage to cut on the SCAR...

You don't have to "cut on the SCAR"... just on the MAID grip..

Great! Another way to skin a cat.

Steve, can you snap some photos of your modified MIAD in the grip tang/backstrap area? It would be nice to see a comparison.

Thanks

[bm11]

Perhaps they did change the tang on the later SCAR's, I didn't have to modify anything on mine, just the dovetail backstrap on the MIAD, to get it to fit. Everything else seated properly, but mine is a later black poduction run.