[ECO]

BIG feet .........

 

[ECO]

........ BIG boots!

 

[farscott]

My only issue with thin grips is the lack of plunger tube support. Navidrex once made (and still may) micarta grips that used regular grip bushings, supported the plunger tube, and were thinner between the grip screws. I used those grips well before VZ was an option.

 

[Slapshot]

One More thing. I'll say this out loud as well.... VZ Grips SUCK! No matter the branded manufacture or direct. It is my Body Chemistry that causes them to Chalk in appearance especially on dark colors. Functionally they can be grippy. I don't have this problem on LOK, Rail Scales, or Hogue. i have a set of the VZ smooth style with scoop on a PDP. The Jury is still out on that set. Give me Wood Grips. 🇺🇲

Interesting.. I’m a fan of VZ grips and I use them on the majority of my guns. I’ve always deburred them so they don’t scratch the finish but I’ve never had an issue with chalking. I’ve had some on guns for a long time and even some that have sat in the safe unused for a long time and never had a problem.

i don't doubt you experience but even a quick search for VZ chalking doesn’t produce any results. Just curious what your experience has been.

 

[bladeandbarrel]

Thin grips are a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Dub]

One More thing. I'll say this out loud as well.... VZ Grips SUCK! No matter the branded manufacture or direct.

It is my Body Chemistry that causes them to Chalk in appearance especially on dark colors.

 

[Slapshot]

Thin grips are a solution in search of a problem.

I get thin grips. I was a child of the 70’s - “if it feels good do it” but wood thin grips are just asking to be cracked. Throw checkering on them and you may as well just break them before you even put them on.

 

[Dub]

I get thin grips. I was a child of the 70’s - “if it feels good do it” but wood thin grips are just asking to be cracked. Throw checkering on them and you may as well just break them before you even put them on.

Especially any that have knots in them.

I've cracked a really sharp looking set that were adult thickness.

 

[Slapshot]

It is my Body Chemistry that causes them to Chalk in appearance especially on dark colors.

Missed this… sorry now I get it. I had a customer that owns a machine shop. He hired a guy who told him everything he touches rusts. He didn’t think it would be a big deal. Long story short, it was a big deal. Every tool, part, fixture, vise, etc.. this guy touched would rust over night. He eventually had to let him go.

 

[bladeandbarrel]

I get thin grips. I was a child of the 70’s - “if it feels good do it” but wood thin grips are just asking to be cracked. Throw checkering on them and you may as well just break them before you even put them on.

100%

The other issues that I have seen revolve around the thin bushings and allen head screws that are always coming loose/breaking and the lack of plunger tube support/protection. Now, thin, smooth grips are a sure sign of someone who hasn't thought the whole thing through.
If you have small fingers, try a short trigger, flat mainspring housing and the thinnest grips that will work on a standard bushings.

People think they grip their gun using the frontstrap and backstrap, well thats mostly wrong. The texture on the sides of the grip is very important when it comes to recoil control.

Jeff Cooper started this nonsense and it wasn't his best idea.

 

[Slapshot]

The weak spot is the little bit of material in the counter bore that actually holds the grip to the gun. I’ve seen countless grips for sale here where there's virtually nothing holding the grip on the gun. But they sure are pretty.

 

[UncleCharlie]

I like thin grips and I cannot lie.

Medium hands. Medium triggers, arched MSH. With thin grips it points most naturally for me. It's what I like.

Also, all my guns are built for carry and I like em to ride as close as possible. An eighth of an inch matters IWB.

 

[CrashClint]

The OP did a good job of advertising for Challis bushings, but I find your post dumb. Yes, I have Challis bushings on my 1911s. Yes, I use Cool Hand and Guun thin grips on some of my 1911s. Yes, people with small hands, like my wife, benefit from the thinner grips.

How about, is it dumb to put extended mag release buttons on 1911s with thin grips, or for that matter, regular grips? Perhaps, and perhaps not, I put a Hayes Customs mag release button on my Ruger SR1911 Commander. I have yet to accidentally eject a mag going through drills. This is my shout-out to Hayes Customs!

This Ruger is my "Learning How to Gunsmith" gun, so I know it is ugly. When I got this Ruger, it was a truck gun and bore all the scratches you would expect from a truck gun, but at $350 I couldn't turn it down. I had to notch the grip for the release to go down far enough to release the mag. I installed a EGW barrel bushing, EGW Beavertail and blended, added EGW Thumb Safety, and tried my hand at undercutting the trigger guard and checkering. I have learned alot from my mistakes.

Ok, I just hi-jacked the thread, my apologies.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

If I just want to look at it, I get pretty grips. If I plan to shoot it, I like the way the Hogue grips feel. I have them on several 1911's.
I bought this new in 2003.

 

[jcc7x7]

I like on 1911's you can make the gun fit you better.
A small statured friend uses thin grip on rt panel and regular on lt side.
It helps him reach the trigger easier

I use wide grips which does the same for my hand

 

[Robbob45]

I’m not personally a fan of thin grips, but what really grinds my gears is when manufacturers use thread locker on the bushings or , even worse, stake them

Agreed

 

[Slapshot]

I’m not personally a fan of thin grips, but what really grinds my gears is when manufacturers use thread locker on the bushings or , even worse, stake them

So how do you keep the bushing from backing out when you remove the grips?

 

[David_D_PhD]

So how do you keep the bushing from backing out when you remove the grips?

I can honestly say that I’ve never had this issue.

 

[Slapshot]

I can honestly say that I’ve never had this issue.

I've had it happen a few times. The first time was on a pair of Pearce rubber grips I wasn't overly concerned about so I just cut the grip off the bushing. The second time was on a nice pair of grips. After contemplating various methods of solving the problem, I put a drop of blue locktite on the bushing and reassembled the whole grip, screw and bushing. I let it sit over night and problem solved. I generally put a drop of removable thread locker on the bushing if I'm replacing them. Staking is a whole different can of worms.

 

[missagnes333]

1911s are thin in general and sticking wafer thin grips on them is just dumb.

Thankfully the Challis thin bushing tool makes removing the bushings easy peazey.

I agree sir. Completely agree. I hate 'em. My Ruger Lightweight came like that. Very nice carry
gun to be sure, but those no-shape grips are indeed an abomination. I immediately replaced them. Still have them if anyone wants them for free.