Does Anyone Actually like Factory 45xx Grips?

kmk008

Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2023
Messages
66
Reaction score
121
Location
Colorado
As the title says, does anyone actually like the Delrin plastic factory grips on the 45xx series? I’ve never had a grip that I feel like I have to stop and reset my grip nearly every shot.

Swapped over to some Hogues and it’s night and day difference. I will say on the double stack 40s and 9mm the delrin is nice but I despised the 45 grip.
 
Register to hide this ad
The arched backstrap was supposed to aid in double action shooting and that may be true, but it does make the pistol more of a handful. I think the flat stocks are better for those with small to medium sized hands, the arched stocks are better for those with large hands.
 
I prefer them if for nothing else looks I don't much care for the looks of aftermarket grips & despise those things that stretch over factory grips
 
  • Like
Reactions: CH4
I like my Tercgen factory, cut down, curved back grip on my 457.
 
I changed out the straight back factory grip to the arched type on my Model 1006. I have big hands and it isn't a problem. The gun also came with one of the Hogue grips and they are thicker than the Delrin factory grip and that I didn't like.
 
As the title says, does anyone actually like the Delrin plastic factory grips on the 45xx series? I’ve never had a grip that I feel like I have to stop and reset my grip nearly every shot.

Swapped over to some Hogues and it’s night and day difference. I will say on the double stack 40s and 9mm the delrin is nice but I despised the 45 grip.

YES I do......On both my 4506 and 1006.......Hogue use to make grips for them but.......They were butt ugly and felt like you were gripping a quart jar.
 
I prefer the Delrin grips on the compact 45s: CS45, 4513, 4516, and 457. I've taken the Hogue grips off the ones that came with them. I have an ongoing project to convert 4513TSW grips, the ones with the "step" on the bottom, to fit the CS. Not something I'd recommend (it's a gold-plate PITA,) but I have plenty of time for stuff like this. :D
 
Not really a fan of plastic or rubber grips on any generation of Smith and Wesson handgun

Many of mine currently have various wooden grips on them which I think are much more attractive and have a better feel in the hand


1006.jpg


845-1998rs.jpg



My 1006 is wearing Brazilian Rosewood from Hogue while my 845 is wearing walnut from KSD
 
I do!

I never noticed what you are talking about.
When I train I get the gun out quickly, focus sharply on the front sight and light off the round the instant it is on target. I use my eyes and the front sight not the feel of the gun to get on target. You certainly will not be wanting to change your grip while you are fighting. I would agree that you must do WHATEVER it takes to get on the other side of this. Let us know how you decide?
Kind Regards,
BrianD
 
The arched backstrap was supposed to aid in double action shooting and that may be true, but it does make the pistol more of a handful. I think the flat stocks are better for those with small to medium sized hands, the arched stocks are better for those with large hands.

... or you can have L/XL hands like mine and just prefer the straight variant. I think hand geometry and flexibility plays a far bigger role than size in grip fitment. Sometimes it seems just random- I work well with I to N traditional Magna grips, hate N-frame targets, yet think the Colt New Service set-up is outstanding. I also think playing percussion from 5th grade through senior in college permanently gave my hands more dynamic grip range. Who knows?
 
Last edited:
The one-piece OEM grip… I like the look and also the thinness, but they are definitely too slippery.

Every time I have seen where someone has done the home-brew stipple job on the OEM grip, I have liked the look and I will bet it’s a good upgrade but I’ve never done it myself.

Farrar Machine & Tool made what I think is the best aftermarket 3rd Gen grip made, very rubbery and super thin, unlike the Hogue rubber which seems to double the width of the pistol. Problem with the Farrar is that it was only made for a short time and I think it was only for the double-stack full size guns, the 5906/4006 and variants.

For as successful as Pachmayr was all through the 80’s, man did they ever fail with the 3rd Gen grip. I can’t imagine something uglier than the Pachmayr.

For my 3rd Gen full size .45’s, I like bicycle tire innertube. Grabby, never moves even a bit, but definitely heinous in appearance.
 
Interesting responses I guess.. my 4566 with straight delrin grips is the only handgun I’ve ever shot that I hated how it handled - which came as a surprise given my love for my other 2nd and 3rd gen’ (with straight and curved grips). I wouldn’t categorize my hands as particularly small or large, but maybe I just have proportions that don’t work with the factory grip on the 4500 series. The gun would still point well for me but after a few shots I was always stopping to regrip the gun.
 
This discussion comes up very often. Sometimes I add, (actually repeat myself,) to the discussion most times I don’t.

I guess I like the factory Delrin’s compared to the wood and or rubber Hogue options. I’ve never tried the KSD’s on anything other than the Chief Specials. Like the Hogue’s I don’t imagine they are as thin as I want. I have factory straight, curved and Hogue rubber that can go on my 3rd Gens if available. I like the curved on my 4566 and “4567” but the straight feels perfect to me on my 4563 whereas the curved doesn’t. Maybe it’s a weight thing for me. Do you have a curved one on another .45 that you can test drive on the 4566?

For now Midway still has curved ones for $19.99 so that’s not too much money to try them. Find other stuff and have them thrown in the box for maybe free shipping.

Jim
 
I tried Hogue's rubber grip on the transitional 645-4506 I once owned. I agree, made the grip sticky, but uncomfortably large for my medium size hands.
 
I like the factory grips. Most, if not all, aftermarket grips are too chunky.
 

Attachments

  • BDC45916-B3BC-44D4-BA28-A01FA4113F2E.jpg
    BDC45916-B3BC-44D4-BA28-A01FA4113F2E.jpg
    144.6 KB · Views: 30
  • 27B4D190-3560-4F8B-A981-7DCA203E8ED7.jpg
    27B4D190-3560-4F8B-A981-7DCA203E8ED7.jpg
    232.3 KB · Views: 20
  • 63D23860-3A8E-4406-854D-2E074438740B.jpg
    63D23860-3A8E-4406-854D-2E074438740B.jpg
    88 KB · Views: 25
Last edited:
I was in Gun World in Corydon on Tuesday.
The vey knowledgable man behind the counter showed some Tisas 1911s to me. I thought to myself: “When did the 1911 shrink?” I even asked him if the Commander sized gun was a .45. I guess thats what you get from playing with a 645, 4506, and a 4566 for about a year. Everything else looks small in comparison. lol
 
I'd like to get a set of the Delrin grips that would fit my CS45.
I really dislike the factor rubber ones that it came with.
WAY too fat & sticky.
 
Back
Top