Smooth Grips on a CCW 1911?

[triehl27]

Does anyone use smooth grips for their CCW? I have a set of Double diamond checkered but saw a set of smooth grips that looks awesome. Any downside to smooth grips on a CCW... I.E. Kimber ProCarry II?

[wjkuleck]

They work well for me; I've been using a set of Carbon Creations grips on my carry gun for a few years now. I'm going to be working with a Garthwaite (http://www.garthwaite.com) custom full-size .45 for which I just got a set of smooth walnut grips.

Regards,

Walt

[MSgt G]

I think it's a personal preference thing. I use both smooth and checkered and like them all equally. I change them periodically to have a new look. The only real difference I've had is when carrying with a shirt over my CCW it seems to just slide over my smooth stocks whereas it "sticks" to my checkered ones once in awhile. Here is a smooth set of buffalo horn stocks I have:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p257/MSgtG/Buffalo%20Stocks/100_1846.jpg

[JeffVN]

I agree it's personal preference. I have some heavily textured grips and use them during defensive pistol class where you shoot up to 500 rounds a day, and you are sweating like a pig, but these smooth Walnut grips work fine for day-to-day use and for hour long range sessions.

http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r404/JDVN/1911s/customstwins.jpg

JeffVN

[thekersh86]

I too have been interested in the smooth grips, but I imagine the sweaty hands will make it a lot tougher to control the recoil.

[wjkuleck]

I too have been interested in the smooth grips, but I imagine the sweaty hands will make it a lot tougher to control the recoil.

When I grip Old Slabsides with my big mitts, I find that my right hand barely touches the right stock, and with my old-fashioned Weaver grip, my left hand doesn't touch the left stock at all. I'm pushing forward with my right hand, pulling rearward with my left, and the "balls" of the right-hand fingers are barely touching the stock.

When I grip the pistol, my right hand fingers are pulling straight back; the bottom of the palm is the other half of the squeeze. Thus, a low-slip front strap and MSH are what I need to control the pistol. In fact, if the MSH is right, the front strap can be smooth.

I suspect that I can shoot just as well without stocks entirely. I'll have to give that a try before I install the grip screw bushings in my latest build :).

Regards,

Walt

[thekersh86]

I suspect that I can shoot just as well without stocks entirely. I'll have to give that a try before I install the grip screw bushings in my latest build :).



That would be one slim little carry piece.

[handgun921]

You could always try making a set of grips out of saddle leather, can't get much slimmer than that.
Handgun921

[wjkuleck]

I too have been interested in the smooth grips, but I imagine the sweaty hands will make it a lot tougher to control the recoil.

I don't know how y'all hold Old Slabsides, but in my big mitts my right palm barely touches the right stock, and nothing at all touches the left stock. So long as I can get a good grip on the front strap with my fingers and the MSH with the palm of my hand, I'm good to go.

If you're squeezing straight back with your fingers as I do, only the palm comes into play at the back of the pistol. With my old-fashioned Weaver grip, I'm pushing forward with the right hand, pulling backward with my left hand, and I could probably do just as well with no stocks at all :). Come to think of it, I ought to give it a try before I put the grip screw bushings on my new build.

Regards,

Walt