1911 grip improvement ideas for the large mitted species.

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geo57

geo57

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I've had several 1911's over the years and end up parting with them because the grip is just small enough to make it uncomfy for me. Where it shows up the most is just having way too much trigger finger and to make it shootable at all I need to stretch my finger backwards away from the frame as much as possible. Doable but far from ideal . I've tried Pachmayr, etc. and while they help the issue remains. Where I need bulk is for the upper web between thumb and palm much more than the lower half of the grip. Rubber sleeves or grip tape that would be high enough to fix this would cover the grip safety so that in itself would be problematic....or wouldn't have to be ? And I really do not want to go double stack in this platform.

I'm having 1911-itis again so I welcome your ideas be them commercial or home spun on a remedy / improvement. Have an idea or do I just let the 1911 platform go for good and stay with my Tupperware double stacks and wear a grin ? Thanks all. Blessed Holiday.
 
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Have had long, short and medium. The difference the long had over the others was not enough to make a considerable difference. I like to use the pad of my finger to shoot if possible. Have had both flat and arched MS housings too.
 
well a set of hogue finger groove grips may help but it's not likely. another idea may be trying a double stack 1911 like the one offered by RIA in 9mm/22tcm. that might be the ticket right there.
 
Hogue offers some "Thick" grips that are about double the regular thickness. You might try those in their "Piranha" pattern. I have big paws and find them pretty comfortable on my 1911s. You might also look at installing an arched main spring housing vs. the standard flat housing. Smith and Alexander offers some nice MSH options with or without the flared magwell.

-Mike


https://www.hogueinc.com/grips/1911/gov/g10/thick

http://www.smithandalexander.com/guides.html

mg2.jpg
 
I have moderately large hands and I too find the model 1911 grip a little small in the anterior-posterior dimension, even with a longer trigger. I am not sure that an arched MSH is going to really affect trigger reach that much. You can thicken the grip in the A-P dimension with a Pearce grip sleeve, but that is also not likely to affect your trigger finger placement much.

I have found that enlarging the grip in the transverse dimension helps a bit. I use relatively thick grip panels and grip spacers beneath them. You may need to get longer grip screws if you go that route.

I have never looked into trigger shoes for the model 1911 but I wouldn't be surprised if someone makes them. If not, I'm sure a smith could fabricate something for you. Assuming you have adequate clearance between the front of the trigger guard and the trigger to fit one. This would, of course, increase your trigger mass which might be of slight concern if you have a Series 70 type pistol that lacks a firing pin block.
 
Years back I needed some grips for my 1911 too. I found a piece of wood that was gorgeous. Loved the grain. Y'know, I'm going to cut off some 1/4" slabs and see if I can make my own. Well, it was much easier than I thought. I trimmed them to the grip size and figured I'll put them on w/o screws just to see where I need to shed some material. OMG! These feel great! (I too have large hands.) Just a bit of sanding on the lower portion of the grip and I finished them off with a nice poly. Wow... I couldn't belive that I added 1/2" to the grip and not only did it feel great, I shot better with them. The icing on the cake was when my son saw them... he wanted a pair! Give it a try.
 
My hands are very large. I find the double-stack versions of the 1911 to be easier to shoot.
 
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