1911 Grips

[smantel]

Hey all, I just put a deposit down on a Remington R1S, and my only problem is I find the grips just a little too thick for my liking. I have large palms, with shorter fingers, and I find I can't comfortably reach the slide release one handed. I was curious if anyone knew of a comfortable set of thinner grips for full sized 1911s? My gun guy was saying that it's easier to find thicker, not so much thinner.

Thanks in advance.

[Quincunx]

What kind of grips (e.g., wood, rubber, stag, pewter, bone, etc.) generally paddle your canoe, so to speak?

[smantel]

Well, this model is stainless and a graduation gift to myself, so I think I'd prefer the look of wood. Its not a carry piece (no CCW in NJ :() Big thing is I don't want to break the bank either. Sub $60 seems a good range for me.

[Venom1956]

For what its worth you shouldn't really use the slide stop to drop the slide. Over time it can round off the notch or the lever and cause it not to lock open. Slingshot the slide it works far better and is more reliable, i.e. to feed properly.

That said.

Unless it comes with slim grips you'll need to remove the bushings and screws and replace them with shorter ones. Which can be unnerving.

I use VZ grips G-10s which are fantastic there are others aswell.

Total cost for grips and new bushing/screws is a bit over 100 plus shipping

vzgrips.com

[smantel]

For what its worth you shouldn't really use the slide stop to drop the slide. Over time it can round off the notch or the lever and cause it not to lock open. Slingshot the slide it works far better and is more reliable, i.e. to feed properly.

I forgot you could do that on 1911s. My 22/45 I can't, I have to actually knock the release. If thats the case, I may not need slim grips after all.

As far as replacing the bushings and such, I work on small machinery at work, so that type of work doesn't bother me.

[MLeake]

TFL member Sarge43 makes beautiful and functional 1911 grips in wood, animal skin, and other materials. This includes slim grips.

His website is TheFinerGrain.com

I have owned a set of his grips in buckeye burl, and just ordered a set of diamond pattern stingray.

[BigJimP]

Every gunshow I go to .......has all kinds of grips for 1911's ..including slim ones....you'll easily find something you like ( and take the gun / so you see how they look and fit ).

[Hawg]

I've gotten good deals on grips on ebay.

[BarryLee]

Brownells has a lot of 1911 grips and a few are slim style. I have a pair of Chip McCormick rosewood grips for my 1911 and they offer a slim version.


http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=10573/k=/t=P/avs%7CMake_3=1911/Products/Grips

[Yankee Traveler]

Agree with the sling shotting...

That said, there are plenty of extended slide releases in stainless and blue.

Wish I could find one in cerakote to match my blackened stainless Colt.

[ac700wildcat]

Check out Fusions website. I got a beautiful set of cocobolo grips from them for a nice price. They have all the parts you need if you go with slim grips too.

[jfrey]

Just FYI, I've used the slide stop to drop the slide on my 1911's and Glocks for years and no problems.

A lot of good grips on the net, just google some.

[WVsig]

For what its worth you shouldn't really use the slide stop to drop the slide. Over time it can round off the notch or the lever and cause it not to lock open. Slingshot the slide it works far better and is more reliable, i.e. to feed properly.

This is simply wrong... if you released the slide using the slide stop 25,000 times then yes you might wear the notch enough to cause a failure but really how many of us are really going to do that and if we do shoot enough rounds to warrant this actual use then I can assume that you can afford a replacement pistol.

The slide stop was also designed as a slide release. If is wasn't please explain to me why it is checkered. Why is it angled to allow one to manipulate it with one finger? If it was not designed to be a slide release it would be flat not angled and it would lack serrations/checkering which allow you to grip it.

There is nothing wrong with the sling shot method but your take on the slide stop/slide release is not supported by the facts.

To the OP there are so many slim grips on the market you just need to look around. I personally like Navidrex....

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/rellascout/cco-5.gif

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t213/rellascout/cco-3.gif

[smantel]

Thanks everyone for the help. I guess I'll have to decide on a set after I pick the gun up. I'll probably spend a day with it at the range before I decide to swap them though. It might be easier to thumb the release/sling shot it when there is actual ammo involved instead of just fingering the empty at the store. I know that's true of my friend's M&P.

[clearshot7]

Don't know if this has been mentioned, if so, sorry, but try Raasco grips: http://www.raascogrips.com/ I have 4 pairs, and I have not been disappointed. They do have thin grips in many styles and colors, and price is right. Have fun picking a set:)

[Venom1956]

This is simply wrong... if you released the slide using the slide stop 25,000 times then yes you might wear the notch enough to cause a failure but really how many of us are really going to do that and if we do shoot enough rounds to warrant this actual use then I can assume that you can afford a replacement pistol.

I never said it would I simply advised that it could? How is that wrong? Also I've seen multiple failure to feeds using the slide stop. Granted these were not my guns so I do not know what sort of condition they were in. I just felt that since the recoil spring isn't fully compressed when the slide is locked back slingshotting it gives it that little bit more 'oomph' to ensure the gun goes into battery... To each his own, I don't think its wrong to do I simply stated what I believe are the pros to slingshotting.

Loving that gun to btw. =)

[MLeake]

With regard to slingshotting, I normally teach friends to do that because some guns do not lock back after the last round, but slingshot works with those guns; plus, it helps train muscle memory for stoppage clearing.

That said, I often do use the slide stop, particularly with 1911s...

[gpjoe]

Thanks everyone for the help. I guess I'll have to decide on a set after I pick the gun up. I'll probably spend a day with it at the range before I decide to swap them though. It might be easier to thumb the release/sling shot it when there is actual ammo involved instead of just fingering the empty at the store. I know that's true of my friend's M&P.

Not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but I wouldn't make it a habit of dropping the slide on an empty chamber. I always ease the slide of my 1911s forward when the mag is empty.

[smantel]

Not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but I wouldn't make it a habit of dropping the slide on an empty chamber. I always ease the slide of my 1911s forward when the mag is empty.

I don't make a habit of it, but one of my concerns on any purchase is how easily I can reach everything to operate the firearm under duress. As I said above, I don't live in a carry state, so the most duress would be (god forbid) a home invasion. The only time I ever drop the slide on a dry gun is right after cleaning and reassembly, so I can make sure everything went together properly.

[orionengnr]

http://www.woodgrips.com/1911_ultra_thin.htm
http://thefinergrain.com/
http://www.brownscustomgrips.com/
http://www.ahrendsgripsusa.com/1911.htm
http://www.raascogrips.com/1911slimgrips.html

For what its worth you shouldn't really use the slide stop to drop the slide.
Oh, crap...I've been doing it wrong for better than 30 years.... :rolleyes:

[Venom1956]

Oh, crap...I've been doing it wrong for better than 30 years....

Glad I was here to help! ;) Consulting fee is in the mail!

[Tactical Jackalope]

I have these...

http://www.10-8performance.com/1911-grip-panels-scoop-5lpi/

In dirty olive.

Awesome grips.

[wingspar]

Many hand gun manuals state to not use the Slide Stop as a Slide Release, and definitely not on an empty chamber. I quit using the Slide Stop as a Slide Release years ago, even on my Glocks. However, for those that want to use the Slide Stop as a Slide Release, it’s your gun. Do what you want with it.

Here is another site that might be worth looking at for grips. http://www.esmeralda.cc/

[Tactical Jackalope]

^ I honestly catch myself doing both..Depending on the situation.