VZ Grips for Bullseye Competition

3786 Views 15 Replies 4 Participants Last post by azfist, Dec 9, 2014

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · Nov 27, 2014 (Edited)

I'm using Kensight's sharkskin grips on my ball gun, and they're the cats behind, but I have a magwell on my 22 conversion and wad gun due to the size of my hands. Unfortunately, Kensight doesn't make a full length slab side grip, or I would just buy two more sets, so I need to find an alternative, that works as well, but with more purchase than standard wood grips. Looks like VZ has some great products that fit the bill, but I'm not sure which is best suited to bullseye competition. From what I've read on the BE forums, it looks like most prefer Simonich Gunners.

Also I've heard VZ grips can be a little thinner than the standard wood grips, is there any truth to that?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Simonich Gunner G10

VZ Grips Simonich Gunner Tiger Stripe G10 - Simonich Gunner - 1911 - Gun Grips

VZ Diamond Back

VZ Grips Diamond Back Tiger Stripe G10 - Diamond Backs - 1911 - Gun Grips

Simonich Gunner G10

VZ Diamond Back

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Snaphook

· #2 · Nov 28, 2014

Gunners are real good, real aggressive grips (which I like). Operators are also real good, about the same level of grip as the gunners. I just put a set of Frag's on my PM-9 Dan Wessons and they're cool but not as aggressive as the Gunners or Operators. I had the Gunners on a Citadel 9mm 1911 I had and they were great, and I've got Operators on my SW1911. In fact, the only 1911's I have that don't have VZ's added to are the Nighthawk grips, which I believe are VZ's anyway, and my TRP and I think those are VZ's too (at least they feel like them).

I believe you can get thinner VZ's if that's what you want (my VBob has thinner grips that are G10 and I think VZ's), but their standard grips don't feel really any thinner than a standard wooden 1911 grip.

So having had Operators, Operator 2's, Gunners, and Frag grips and looking for bullseye use I'd go with the Gunners. I like the looks and the aggressiveness.

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JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 28, 2014

From what I understood that's the case on Nighthawk and the TRP. Great to hear the thickness is the same, I am adding spacers so the thin grips are a non-starter.

Looks like Simonich Gunner G10s are going in my Black Friday shopping basket! Thanks as always Snaphook as always for the sage advice. Now the only problem is I have one BE pistol that doesn't match!

Snaphook

· #4 · Nov 28, 2014

JayhawkNavy02 said:
From what I understood that's the case on Nighthawk and the TRP. Great to hear the thickness is the same, I am adding spacers so the thin grips are a non-starter.

Looks like Simonich Gunner G10s are going in my Black Friday shopping basket! Thanks as always Snaphook as always for the sage advice. Now the only problem is I have one BE pistol that doesn't match!

You're very welcome brother, have a great holiday.

Ps. My Black Friday was a new zero tolerance blade, love their stuff!

DevJames

· #5 · Nov 28, 2014

Which one? I think a ZT0350 will be in my future.

Hard to lose my Blur in the pocket though. It's been a great knife

Snaphook

· #6 · Nov 29, 2014 (Edited)

DevJames said:
Which one? I think a ZT0350 will be in my future.

Hard to lose my Blur in the pocket though. It's been a great knife

300, black blade no serrations. I've got the one size down blackwashed blade (I think it's the 350) but I got the 300 today for just over 200. I got a Benchmade 2750 a while back and between Benchmade and ZT I can't decide which one I like more.

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 6, 2014 (Edited)

Thought I would offer a quick update. Received my VZ Simonich Black Gray G10 Gunner grips, which are listed as "very aggressive" on texture, which is even more than the "medium rated "Operator", unfortunately, they are going back to Florida. They're terrific looking, they fit perfectly, and solid, but, they're a step behind the Kensight Sharkskin grips for traction and I won't be using them for service pistol competition. Just to be fair, I had three others also do a blind fold test and everyone picked the Kensights over VZ for "grippiness" but nobody liked the look of the sharkskin grips, they're ugly...period, fortunately, they work, and at less than $20, they do so for a lot less money, even though that wasn't the goal, but they do look like arse.

In no way am I saying I do not like VZ products or that I think they're inferior to other grips, they're absolutely beautiful, and durable, but not what I would pick for use in a competitive environment for high recoil service loads, that said, they're miles ahead of the zero purchase Springfield, Les Baer, and Colt wood grips, etc.. I'll be buying a set for carry based on all the positive features that I did like!

Quick terrible cell phone photo below, I'm going to buy a set of ETCs for the Colt for EDC.

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DevJames

· #8 · Dec 6, 2014

Ever try grip tape stuck on some cheap slip grips?

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 7, 2014

Grip tape doesn't have as much purchase, IMO I consider most of it at around 25-30 LPI and it has to be replaced with some frequency. I dry fire for 30 minutes a day and compete at least weekly or more so I'm tough on tape. Sharkskin Grips look to be the best high traction option I've found so far and at less than $20 they're a bargain. The grip texture look more like the photo on the right than the left, but they're still ugly, but they work. What matters more is up to the individual.

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/grip-parts/grips/1911-sharkskin-grips-prod68565.aspx

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Snaphook

· #10 · Dec 7, 2014

I dunno bro, those VZ's look sooooooo dang good I think I'd keep them anyway.

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 7, 2014

Absolutely! I'm getting a set of ETCs from VZ for that commander, but the Kensight Sharkskin's are going on the Range Officer and the two Caspian builds (ball & wad) for competition.

DevJames

· #12 · Dec 7, 2014

The shark skin a softish rubber?

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 7, 2014 (Edited)

Nope

Kensight Sharkskin 1911 Grip Panels are constructed from DuPont PA66 polymer (plastic), which is extremely durable. They're very aggressive, with a nodular (bumps) texture, which is advertised as resembling sharkskin in feel and appearance, greatly enhancing the shooter's grasp on the pistol during recoil. The VZs also were slightly thinner than the wood or Kensight and for me that was a negative since I would prefer the same or more thickness of wood.

They work.

azfist

· #14 · Dec 8, 2014

JayhawkNavy02 said:
Nope

Kensight Sharkskin 1911 Grip Panels are constructed from DuPont PA66 polymer (plastic), which is extremely durable. They're very aggressive, with a nodular (bumps) texture, which is advertised as resembling sharkskin in feel and appearance, greatly enhancing the shooter's grasp on the pistol during recoil.

They work.

Do you compete with gloves? Too aggressive without them?

JayhawkNavy02

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 9, 2014

Never.

My grip like any other BE shooter is considerably stronger than the average shooter and I haven't had any issues with blisters. Even with all the practice and competition, the only blisters I usually get are on the edge of my index (trigger) finger from prolonged dry fire and shooting.

azfist

· #16 · Dec 9, 2014

JayhawkNavy02 said:
Never.

My grip like any other BE shooter is considerably stronger than the average shooter and I haven't had any issues with blisters. Even with all the practice and competition, the only blisters I usually get are on the edge of my index (trigger) finger from prolonged dry fire and shooting.

I was looking at those. I work with my hands so they aren't delicate. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't anything too crazy.

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