Smooth grip panels -- loss of grip?

[iamkris]

I just bought and tested (Para 14.45 test) a Para Ord 14.45 LDA Limited that is really making me happy with it's accuracy and reliability so far.

I don't care for the stock grip panels that P-O supplies and like the cocobolo panels...especially on a stainless pistol. I've only owned pistols with rubber textured or checkered panels...never smooth...but smooth grips sure let the beautiful grain show. Reference this pic from "yesterdaysyouth" of his beautiful 7.45 LDA

The LDA Limited already has a checkered mainspring housing and scalloped lines cut on the front strap. What is your experience with smooth panels...do you loose significant grip with these?

NOTE: this is not a carry gun, nor is it a serious competition gun. More fun recreation and light-competition (local 3 gun comp). I'm also not worried about loosing grip when my one non-injured hand is bloodied during a gun fight so don't bring that into the conversation

 

[Rupestris]

I've tried smooth grips on my 1911 and can't say that I like it much. I prefer the rubber factory grips. I've even added grip tape to the front strap for a little extra grip.
For a cheap remedy run down to the sporting goods store and get a golf glove for your shooting hand and cut the trigger finger off. They only cost about $4 and should keep the sweat off the smooth grip panels and improve the overall grip.

 

[armoredman]

I have Hakan smooth Flame Birchwood on my Witness, and they work wonderfully. No problem.

 

[BigG]

I like smooth wood on my Colts, but I mostly attack paper and tin with my sidearm. YMMV

 

[FJC]

Another option is to go with what is called "Ranger" style checkering, which is a half-checkered, half-smooth style. Lets the grain show, but gives you checkering in the areas that you hand touches the most. I also find that it helps keep the checkered area from rubbing too much against my skin when carrying IWB.

Here's the ones on my Colt Commander (not a lot of grain to see here, as it's Gaboon Ebony wood):

I had that style on a Colt Defender I had up until recently - this is cocobolo wood:

 

[halvey]

I'm not a fan of the smooth grips unless I have some nice 20-25 lpi checkering on the front strap and MSH. I lose a lot of my grip.

You could get that Para checkered, but with the wide strap, it would run about $300.

 

[farscott]

For me, the shape of the 1911 grip frame and the size of my hand mean most of the surface to which I can apply pressure is on the front strap, mainspring housing, and grip safety. If the frontstrap has some sort of treatment (stippling, serrations, etc.), I can use smooth grips. If the front strap is bare, I usually choose checkered grips.

An aside: Not all smooth grips feel the same. Smooth ivory does a very good job of locking the grips in my hand when used on a pistol with a smooth frontstrap whereas smooth cocobolo allows my grip to slip a bit on the same pistol. I have also had very good luck with checkered micarta on 1911's with bare frontstraps. It is not pretty, but it does work.

 

[NEtracker]

Have yet to try a different grip on my stock SW1911. Have never tried smooth panels on any hg. My Browning HP sports Navidrex checkered grip panels.

 

[nonquixote]

I have some Hakans on my Kimber that I thought were a good compromise between beauty and grip.


Nonq

 

[Richochet]

Smooth grips are not the best for competitive shooting or combat. But most of us aren't into that so I really think it's a non-issue when you get right down to it.

No one can argue the beauty of the smooth grips. In fact, I just tried to order a set for my Kimber but the company was out of stock on the model I wanted. <sigh>

Also many .45's coming out today have checkering various places on the frame which do a pretty good job of keeping a shooter's grip in place.

I'm going to convert my Kimber to smooth just as quick as I can find what I want. Not a big deal and the .45 is not that difficult to control at any rate.

 

[iamkris]

All good input.

My 14.45 LDA Limited has a checkered MSH and vertical serations on the front strap. When I grip it frankly my hand doesn't feel like it is contacting the checkered grip panels.

Not clear what the difference in grip would be however with smooth versus checkered...wish I could try side by side on the same gun then decide.

 

[fix]

I don't have a problem with smooth grips when shooting bare handed. I prefer the slimline checkered wood grips on my carry guns, which are almost always handled bare handed. When shooting with gloves on, I can't do the smooth grip thing, and the slimlines are less than ideal. With gloves on I like the Pachmyer rubber wraparound grips.

 

[CWatson]

I have smooth grips on one of my 1911s and they do not hinder my grip.In fact they are my favorite,not really because of the texture but because the ones I have are thicker than my other grips and fill my hand better.

CW

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Grips by Fitz

To me smooth grips are for pretty wood, inlays and patterns. Serious competitors are really particular about their grips and we invented the thumb rest and palm swell plate for Olympic competitors and anyone else wanting to use them in 1924.

Fitz

 

[faustulus]

I like the look of smooth wood. But for shooting I like to have grip. So I have two sets. presentation and shooting.

 

[HSMITH]

Smooth grips are slick. You want texture and the more the better on a defensive gun.

 

[bradvanhorn]

I think any loss of grip depends on how you grip the weapon. I know some people are taught to grip the gun by applying pressure to the sides - the grip panels - of the gun. I grip the gun by applying pressure to the front and back straps of the gun. So, smooth grip panels are fine for me because any texture on the panels doesn't contribute to my grip. If you grip front/rear, you'll be fine; if you grip side to side, then you'll probably notice the loss.

 

[crucible]

Hmmm, a timely topic for me. I recently got a new Comptac C-tac holster for my 1991a1 compact (my CCW).

Thus far, it's been more comfortable than I thought Kydex against the skin could be, but it's also given me another surprise as well: the only part that hurts/chaffs a bit is the checkered grip rubbing up against my skin (4, strong side).

Perhaps it's just the fact that the skin there is not used to it, but I've been thinking of some smooth grips (Alumigrips) to correct it anyway.

Cruc

 

[Blueduck]

May not be as applicable to semi-autos but with all the talk against slick grips for competition I'd note Jerry Mikulek uses very smooth grips in his revolver demonstrations and competitions and even has been known to use corn starch to make them even slicker on hot days.

Idea is grip is slippery BUT fits the hand so well that it just slides where it is supposed to and stops there. Also if intitial grip is off it'll be where it;s supposed to be by the time shot goes off.

Just a thought that maybe how important checkering is, is based on how well the gun fits your hand in the first place...

 

[Richochet]

Good point, Blueduck. And if we think about it, anyone who locks down on a seriously checkered grip with the WRONG hold.......they are going to have the WRONG grip until they run out of ammo or stop and change grip.

But I'll sure accept that pistol grips are like after shave lotions. Highly personal choice. Whatever smells good to you may stink for another.