Slim Grips

[X-NewYawker]

Small hands and a thumb injury from a sports accident when I was in High School make it hard for me to reach the trigger on the 1911 with standard thickness grips. (short trigger would help, too, but all the manufacturers are on this long ventilated trigger dealio these days)

Tonight I cracked open some VZ slim grips (their full thickness grips, made of cloth laminates, come on some Springfield high end 1911s and are very "organic" looking and feeling -- and Alumagrips which like it sounds are made of aluminum and very clean designs --



I have a Kimber Custom II, A Warrior II and a Springfield TRP operator --


Slim grips require these WAY shorter frame bushings changed out with regular slotted screwdriver (seen sitting on frame, still shorter than factory bushing --


ironically TRP which CAME with VZ grips looks more business like with Alumagrips and it's full length dust cover


Very thick "marine corps" style grips on Warrior swapped for more organic VZ grips --



Anyone else swap out their grips for the slimmer ones?

[The SoCal Gunner]

I had two pairs of Alumagrips but I didn't keep them. Maybe down the line I'll get another pair of slim grips.

Very nice set of 1911s you have there. I've been wanting a full rail Operator but as it is I'm waiting on a Dan Wesson Classic to come through.

[slick_711]

Those look great.

If you thing the extra distance would still be helpful after the grip change you should drop in some short triggers too, that's a simple change. Granted those three guns have good pulls from the factory, you should be able to get a "drop in" short trigger put in there yourself without disturbing the trigger pull too much.

ETA: Personally I use standard thickness grips because, opposite you, I have huge hands and I have an issue with too much trigger finger to work with. But I know a lot of people who use thin grips, great way to customize the gun to the shooter.

[boltstop]

I swap the standard grips for slim grips. I have small hands and the slim
grips just feel better to me.

I buy mine from woodgrips.com

Usually the bushing are made from Aluminium (soft) so using a slotted
screwdriver might really rip them up. Best to buy the tool (from the grip
vendor or Brownells about $30). Bushings also seem to be either staked
or set with Locktite RED. In the latter case use heat to dislodge but use a
wet rag to stop the heat from spreading to the rest of the frame.

[X-NewYawker]

[QUOTE=slick_711;1278966]Those look great.

"If you thing the extra distance would still be helpful after the grip change you should drop in some short triggers too, that's a simple change. Granted those three guns have good pulls from the factory, you should be able to get a "drop in" short trigger put in there yourself without disturbing the trigger pull too much."

I am probably going to only keep one or two of these three, and I'll have a shorter trigger put in.

[X-NewYawker]

I swap the standard grips for slim grips. I have small hands and the slim
grips just feel better to me.

I buy mine from woodgrips.com

Usually the bushing are made from Aluminium (soft) so using a slotted
screwdriver might really rip them up. Best to buy the tool (from the grip
vendor or Brownells about $30). Bushings also seem to be either staked
or set with Locktite RED. In the latter case use heat to dislodge but use a
wet rag to stop the heat from spreading to the rest of the frame.

One of the bushings in one of my springfields was so soft it just sheered off. I go nice and slow and usually don't f-up the bushings but that one just sliced right off. When I was a kid the big thing was those target thumbshelf slow fire looking grips for .45s. I always had to hog my hand around the frame so the recoil was right on the knuckle of my thumb instead of the web of the hand. The 1911 is a joy to shoot it it fits you right, still one of the best pistols ever designed.

[jrhglock99]

The slim grips are a great start. I would also replace the trigger with a short shoe like the one pictured below. I use this in one of mu guns and love this thing. It is made by STI.

[RobT2K]

I have the slim wood grips on my carry gun (Ultra compact Kimber). I'm fine with the regular ones, but I like the smooth and slim feel they give me for EDC.
I also like the feeling of "owning" that grip and controlling the recoil, since it is so easy to wrap my hands around the slimmer handle.
I've got an HK45 and I thought it would be similar to the 1911 for me, but I don't think I like the grip as much. I still haven't shot it, but I think I may sell it instead. Better off with no rounds fired right?
You're right, the 1911 is still one of the best designs out there. I'll probably get one if I sell the HK45.

[Saigon1965]

Small hands here, thanks for the tippy. Have to look into some of these.