Jump to content
Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

Lightweight 1911 Grip


jkrispies

Recommended Posts

My 9mm 1911 is currently wearing wooden grips recycled from an older gun, and I need to shave a little weight, so I'm looking for lighter weight grips... and I think black would contrast against the stainless very nicely, thank you.  VZ has some carbon fibers that are pretty close to what I want (at $99-- YIKES!!!) but I'd appreciate some other recommendations to consider.

 

Here's what I'm looking for:

1. 3/4 oz or less (both panels), so I'm thinking carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium, or...?

2. Medium to Aggressive checkering (and while I'm open to different textures, I kinda just want plain jane checkering)

3. Magwell and ambi-safety cut 

4. Standard thickness

5. Did I mention "black"?

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

J

Edited by jkrispies
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, TRPOperator said:

VZ are great grips..is price is your concern, then it might limit your options. Ergo make some cheaper, decent texture grips. The more aggressive grips are going to be name brand and cost more most of the time.

If it cones to it, I’ll pay for quality.  It just seems to me that $99 is quite a bit to pay for a pair of panels.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, OPENB said:

Magpul polymer. 

 

I wouldn't use the words "Magpul polymer" and "aggressive" in the same sentence, unless the word "NOT" was between them... 

 

Perhaps if you epoxied some abrasive grit on them, or used a soldering iron to stipple them.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So this is kinda funny and ironic...   I’m contacting manufacturers and getting weights on grips that I assumed were going to be lighter weight than my wooden grips, up to and including carbon fiber... and the numbers I’m getting back seem to be as heavy or heavier than my current wooden ones.  So I think, maybe I should weigh those ugly as heck wooden grips on my original competition .45 just for giggles.  Do it and... Hmmmmm...  If my math is correct.......  Slapped ‘em on the gun, and yep, I’m now making weight!!!  So, the moral of the story as far as I can telll, guys, is old-fashioned wooden grips seem to weigh less than new-fashioned (and expensive) aluminum, G10, and carbon fiber.  Go figure.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ll be another vote for the Magpul grips. I have one set that’s factory and one set that I stippled and that’s kinda one of the beauties is that if you can run a wood burning tool then you can choose your level of aggressiveness. And at $17 a pair it’s hard to argue with 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, GrayR said:

I’ll be another vote for the Magpul grips. I have one set that’s factory and one set that I stippled and that’s kinda one of the beauties is that if you can run a wood burning tool then you can choose your level of aggressiveness. And at $17 a pair it’s hard to argue with 

Just looked at them at Brownells. I wish they didn’t have the dish for thumb safety, as I’m left handed and it ruins the feel of the grip for me.  Otherwise I’d definitely give them a try.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, bjones6686 said:

Check out the Techwell PosiTec grips. Lightest G10 grips I've come accross. Make it east to shave weight off a 1911 to make weight in SSTK division.

1.9oz according to their website...  1 oz and a hair is as heavy as I can go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When my 1911 needed to go on a diet, I tried Magpul and Kensight Sharkskin grip panels. Both work well. Both worked fine with ambi safety. Magpul has a deep scoop for reaching the mag release. The original texture of magpul grips was kind of smooth, but 50 cents worth of skate tape made them as grippy as anything. 

 

VZ's are my favorite, and I run them on a couple guns, but they weigh considerably more than plastic grips. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I found plain wood grips (Hogue makes them with the back hogged out nicely) or the Magpul plastic grips to be the lightest. 

 

G10 is not light, aluminum worse, titanium even heavier than aluminum (look where Ti and Al fall on the periodic table).

 

I have the Hogue smooth wood grips with grip tape on my 9mm 1911. Couldn't find anything lighter.

 

Looks cool and texture can't be beat. And just get black grip tape.

 

Look into aluminum magwell & MSH to shave some more weight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the great info guys!

Would is actually lighter because it is less dense than many grip optional like G10 and Aluminum. Polymer (read plastic but with a name that makes you willing to pay more than what it’s worth) is going to be your lightest option.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Aint pretty, but nobody sees it. 

 

I could have done a nicer/neater job and a more thorough job, but it was just to add a little buffer between me and the weight limit. I planned on eventually cleaning it up, but several years later it's still like that. 

 

image_1.jpg

 

image_2.jpg

Edited by cas
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...