Slim Grips?

JimGA · Apr 10, 2001

Last week, I took a trip up to a gunshop a bit west of Macon, and they had a brand spankin' new Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. It was a nice lil' gun, but I didn't buy it of course. I'm still waiting on my Kimber to get back. Regardless, I noticed that this TRS had some rather thin grips on it, and felt pretty good. It kind of reminded me of the Wilson slim grips i was using on my Pro-carry last year, excepted these Baer slim grips were checkered i think.

Anyway, my question to you guys is this. Does anyone here use Slim grips on their pistols? Smooth or Checkered? What aftermarket slim-grips would you recommend?

Thanks,

-Jim

jimmyd · Apr 10, 2001

Carbon Creations will make thin stocks for the 1911. Craig Spegel, Slim Tech, Navidrex...all make slim stocks. The Carbon Creations are my favorite. You will need to cut down the stock screws and bushings, or buy them from Brownells (Slim Tech replacement bushings and then cut down your screws).

Neal · Apr 10, 2001

Jim,
I believe the Thunder Ranch Pistol comes with AFS Slim Tech Rosewood grips. I have 2 sets of these, 1 full size, 1 Officers ACP size. The checkering is not really checkering , but I believe it is called laser etching, or something close to that. It provides a very slight gripping surface. In fact, it is so slight as to be a negligible increase in gripping surface over smooth grips. But, I love them because of the feel and the appearance of the pistols with these grips. I would like to try Mcormick's or Wilson's slim grips for my next 1911.

BillD · Apr 10, 2001

I have a set of TR grips on my Norinco. They give the gun, along with the high cut, a completely different feel. I really like the fit in my hand. You can get those particular grips (which I did as a memento of my training there) by calling the Ranch and ordering them from Diane. They usually have some in the cabinet they will send out to you. I think they came with the reduced size bushings. I have a Series 70 Colt I am thinking about adding the thin Carbon Creations grips to.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: BillD on 2001-04-10 08:27 ]</font>

Rosco Benson · Apr 10, 2001

Richard Heinie sells thin stocks made of Micarta from AFS Slim-Tech. The checkering on them is quite sharp, unlike the laser-etched "checkering" on the stabilized wood versions by the same maker. These Micarta stocks are probably the toughest of the slim stocks available. You can see them on the "scalloped" pistol on Heinie's web site http://www.heinie.com

Chip McCormick offers thin stocks too. These are made of attractive wood and have real checkering. They also have the cut-out to retain the "tab" of an ambi-safety (the AFS stocks do not).

One thing worth mentioning; the slim stocks do not incorporate a "lip" to come up and over the plunger tube and help hold it in place if it comes unstaked. They are simply too thin to accomodate this feature. Consequently, checking the plunger tube for tightness regularly is even more important on a pistol fitted with slim stocks.

Rosco

Howardk · Apr 11, 2001

I've used most of the thin grips out there on one gun or the other.

Navidrex countoured grips from Brownells are nice but not as thin as the McCormicks. The advantage is that since they're contoured, you can use the original grip bushings.

The McCormicks are checkered and the thinnest . They also have the groove for an ambi safety.

The AFS slimtechs seem to be a little thicker than the McCormicks but may be refinished a little better.

The Wilson thin grips have the best feel for me but they are not checkered.

Haven't tried the carbon creations.

J Sanders · Apr 14, 2001

I have the thunder ranch slim grips on my 1911.The one thing I wished was that they had some more aggresive checkering to hold on to a little better. I'll have to check out a set of those Heine's selling. JS

Rosco Benson · Apr 14, 2001

The AFS Micarta slim stocks that Heinie sells have VERY sharp checkering. In my view, the 1911 is gripped, primarily, fore and aft. The stocks are mostly just along for the ride and any grip-enhancement textures are best applied to the frontstrap and mainspsring housing. However, checkering on the stock panels adds a little extra traction and these Micarta panels will add as much as any.

Rosco

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Rosco Benson on 2001-04-14 09:27 ]</font>

Neal · Apr 14, 2001

HowardK,
Wilsons advertises their thin grips are 1 third the thickness of regular grips which means about .085". That's much thinner than my AFS Slim Techs, which are about .150" thick. Are Wilson's really that much thinner? I sent Wilson Combat an e-mail asking about this, but received no response.

Neal

Howardk · Apr 18, 2001

If I remember right the Wilson thin grips felt VERY nice, even though they weren't checkered. I can't remember if they felt thinner than the CMC grips.

Mattk · Apr 18, 2001

I ordered a set of McCormick Thins from Brownells, They should be here tomorrow or Friday. I will post a detail review once I get them.

Desert Dog · Apr 21, 2001

Another thin grip not mentioned here is the offering from MD Labs. They are a bombproof material, that while similar to G-10 they are actually a proprietary composite material. Member Steve Morrisson can be contacted about this at: [email:gs0ge1ao][email protected][/email:gs0ge1ao].

DD

Mattk · Apr 21, 2001

Here's the promised review.
Finish is very nice Rosewood.
Fit is pretty darn close to perfect. No alterations need to be done.
Feel is great. The checkering is not sharp but it is there.
The included Grips screws and Bushings are excellent.
Very thin, nice grips

JimGA · Apr 21, 2001

Lots of great responses here, guys, thanks alot. I have ordered some McCormicks to try out for my 1911's. I especially like the fact that the lady who took my order asked me what finish I would like my screws and bushings in. I didn't have this option when I ordered some Wilson's slim grips a year ago, so I carried around a blued gun with stainless flat-head grip screws for a year. It was ok, but not very stylish. Thanks again for all the posts.

-Jim

Carlos M. Castillo · Apr 23, 2001

I got the Micarta Slim grips from Navidrex , got them from Brownells ,
I got the smooth black for my commander , the bottom end of the grips are not beveled but they are easy to shape.

TCao · Apr 24, 2001

Desert Dog:
Does MD Labs have a web site? I like the grips on your 1911 (Gunsite MSH with lanyard is nice!). Prices?
THX. TC

Steve Morrison · Apr 25, 2001

I work at MD Labs.
Our gunsmithing website is still under construction.

In the meanwhile, our forums are at http://www.tacticalforums.com. You can find a lot of info on the GunGrips and other products and services in the MD Labs forum.

Feel free to call me at 520 772 3021.
HTH

Slim Grips?

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