Top 1911 Grips In G10, Brass, And Aluminum

Best 1911 Grip Material

Original factory grips on 1911s were any thing you wanted as long as it was checkered wood. Today, as the 1911 design has been enhanced for modern shooters, G10 is the material of choice for many high end 1911 manufacturers. Brass 1911 grips add weight and girth compared to standard 1911 grips. Aluminum 1911 grips are slightly thicker than standard grips at the thickest point and are light weight, too. Choose your poison with LOK Grips 1911 Grips.

How to Change Grips on a 1911

Changing the grips on a 1911 is pure simplicity. Make sure the pistol is unloaded and remove the magazine. Remove the two screws on each grip panel and the grips should come off. You may need to insert a screwdriver into the magazine well to very gentle pry the old grip off. Place the new grip panel on the receiver, use the rubber bushings and screws provide by LOK Grips and in less time it takes to delete old text messages on your phone you have a new grip on your 1911. That’s the easy part. The hard part is deciding what LOK Grips you want on your 1911. Not all 1911 grips are the same. Some offer features that aid a reload. Some offer a more fuller or thinner girth. What I like about LOK Grips is they custom make the grip to fit your 1911 and your needs. Most grips are available in two thickness: thin or standard. Opt for the standard if your hand is average to small. Need a special bottom cut for a bobtail, magwell, or something else? LOK Grips can do that. They will also accommodate for ambi safety cut and add a thumb relief for the magazine release. Here are five LOK Grips I’ve used and why I chose them.

1911 LOK Bogies: Super Aggressive G10 Traction

LOK Grips Bogies 1911 grips are a good choice if you like the standard thickness of 1911 grips, but want more traction—a lot more traction. Bogie G10 grips have a golf ball dimple texture that provides a very aggressive grip yet is fairly easy on your palm—at least for the first 50 rounds. You could experience abrasion in the web of your hand after shooting a few hundred rounds in training especially if you are shooting .45 Auto or snappy 10mm Auto. I like the “bite” of Bogies grips and that could be because my hands are accustomed to recoil and aggressively textured grips. Grasp the Bogies grips and you will feel there is more surface for you hand to adhere to in the dimples, while the raised material between the dimples provides that extra toothy grip. I find Bogies 1911 grips comfortable to use, but others have found them too aggressive. LOK Grips doesn’t recommend Bogies on your 1911 EDC gun since they can snag on clothing. Still many users like the added aggressiveness of the texture and want it on their EDC gun.

This old school 1911A1 wears a set of LOK Grips Bogies 1911 grips. I think It give this old war horse a contemporary look while the golf ball dimple design offers a very aggressive texture.

LOK Ops 1911 Grips: G10 in A Combination of Textures

LOK Ops G10 grips combine two types of texture for an aggressive, tactical grasp. The front portion of the grip, where your fingers grasp the 1911, use LOK Bogies golf ball dimples texture, which is LOK’s most aggressive and most popular texture. The rear of the grip panels is textured with LOK’s Ridgebacks surface treatment which is angled upward along the back edge to lock your hand in place and prevent any movement during recoil. LOK Ops 1911 G10 grips are a great option on a duty gun or for anyone who wants a texture that offers a super traction for an optimal grip.

LOK Ops 1911 Grips in G10 combine two types of texture for an aggressive, tactical grasp. I installed a camo finish set on my Springfield Armory Loaded Marine Corps Operator, and opted for the extreme thumb relief cut which makes reloads smoother and faster.

1911 Palm Swell GridLOK Grips: Thicker Grips in Aluminum or Brass

Brass GridLOK Palm Swell 1911 grips are slightly thicker than standard grips at the thickest point, this means the grip is thicker to fill the palm of your hand. That ergonomic curve of the palm swell is comfortable. GridLOK Palm Swell 1911 grips are CNC machined from solid brass for added weight; expect about 8.3 extra ounces added to your 1911. That extra weight definitely helps with recoil mitigation. Many competitive shooters opt for GridLOK Palm Swells because of the added weight and the aggressive texture which offers maximum traction and control. The bright brass finish also gives the GridLOK Palm Swells 1911 grips an el Hefe look. 

Brass 1911 Palm Swell GridLOK Grips offer more weight to control recoil. I like how the palm swell offers full contact with your palm for an excellent grasp.

If you don’t want the added weight but still want the palm swell, the GridLOK Palm Swell 1911 grips also come in light weight aluminum. If you shoot competition, depending on how your 1911 is set up, the brass grips may push your gun over the weight limit, using the aluminum grips a great option.

Palm Swell GridLOK1911 grips are machined from either brass or light weight aluminum. This set of Aluminum Palm Swell GridLOK 1911 grips is in an electric blue finish.

1911 Palm Swell Veloce: Thicker than Standard Grips in G10

For a thicker grip with a palm swell the 1911 Palm Swell Veloce grips are slightly thicker than standard 1911 grips at the thickest point. The ergonomic palm swell comfortably fills your hand without feeling too chunky. The texture on the Palm Swell Veloce grips is a mix of textures that are machined in multiple directions to prevent slippage no matter how much recoil or how fast you are moving. The Palm Swell Veloce grips are a good option for a full size 1911.

For my EDC 1911, I installed a set of LOK Grips Palm Swell Veloce in an orange/black G10. I like the light weight, palm swell, and gorgeous finish.