VZ Grips on a 3" CS-1...first impressions **Range report on post 10**

[Dragonfly]

I picked up this 3” CS-1 this week and it came with Pachmayr “Gripper” grips which don’t fit my hand at all so they didn’t last. In the past, I’ve used Pachmayr Compacs (on the CS-1 I used to own) or Hogue rubber grips, but their finger grooves aren’t that great for me either, or Ahrends wood grips—I really liked them but the place I used to buy them from doesn’t ship to Canada any more, and I couldn’t find any place that had ones that I wanted.

I’ve used VZ grips on all my 1911 pistols for a few years now and could not be happier with them (well, maybe other than the price!) I’ve owned, I think six different styles for my 1911s but I’ve not tried any of their revolver grips. They make both square and round butt grips—the square but has no finger grooves while all their round-butt ones do. I generally prefer non-grooved grips on revolvers—I’ve never had a set fit me—so I was apprehensive to try these.

These are their “320” grips which means that there is only a slight texture…almost like my youngest child's pet corn snake…but they’re not slippery like other smooth grips. The other available version has checkering which I usually don’t like on a hard grip. Oh right—these are made from G10 and are really hard with no “give” at all.

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The grips fit very well—there is a very slight misalignment at the “peak” of a couple of the finger grooves but a quick pass with one of my wife’s emery boards fixed that. The top of the front of the grip is flatter, which I thought might bug me a bit, but it actually feels quite comfortable to me.

These are open-back grips—I like that since with my small hands I need all the help I can get with trigger reach! The fit at the back of the frame is just about perfect.

There’s a nice palm swell, too, that I really like.

So—how is the fit? Well, not bad, actually. The grips are longer than the Compacs, which I think works well for a revolver of this size. They are fairly short front-to-back, too, especially at the top of the grip, which I also like. The finger grooves are better for me than Pachmayrs or Hogues have been, but I still find the bottom one is a smidge too low…maybe 5mm or so. They still fit pretty good, although I really would have liked non-grooved grips.

I’ll have to see how these fare at the range—I will be curious to see how they handle full magnum loads!

 

[GeoJelly]

Great looking grips and equally good photography! The grips fit amazingly well. It's interesting, given your location, that you have a revolver with less than a 4-inch barrel. Must have been grand-fathered in I suppose. Either way, it is a highly desirable revolver!!

 

[Glashaus]

A 3" CS1 is good to go with just about any grip. I got mine about 12 years ago and it had a Houge Monogrip on it. The grip pin was removed for the monogrip, at first I wasn't sure about it but it grew on me and my CS1 still has the Houge grip on it. Enjoy your CS1, they are a great shooting pistol.

 

[sodacan]

I bought a set of VZ's for my 625-2. I really wanted to like them, but the short round butt stocks on a heavy "N" frame target revolver didn't work for me. There was not enough support at the base of my palm when holding the gun. They looked great, fit great, and were well made but totally unsuitable for long sessions of range use. I wrote to the company twice and asked if or when they might make a round to square conversion grip. Since every current large frame revolver frame revolver from S&W has a round butt, this would seem to be a logical progression for their designs. The first time they ignored me. The second time they sort of blew me off. I guess they're more concerned on filling order for the tens of thousands of Rohrbaugh pistols out there, than the meager number of S&W revolvers. LOL. Those stocks look great on that CS-1, and should be great on a carry gun.

 

[Zipdog]

I bought the exact grips you have. Hate them in every way they can be judged. I wasted 60 bucks.

 

[typetwelve]

I bought a set of VZ's for my 625-2. I really wanted to like them, but the short round butt stocks on a heavy "N" frame target revolver didn't work for me. There was not enough support at the base of my palm when holding the gun. They looked great and were well made but totally unsuitable for long sessions of range use. I wrote to the company twice and asked if or when they might make a round to square conversion grip. Since every current large frame revolver frame revolver from S&W has a round butt, this would seem to be a logical progression for their designs. The first time they ignored me. The second time they sort of blew me off. I guess they're more concerned on filling order for the tens of thousands of Rohrbaugh pistols out there, than the meager number of S&W revolvers. LOL. Those stocks look great on that CS-1, and should be great on a carry gun.

I did the same thing, and asked them if they would drop the finger groves as well (I hate finger groves). I bought a set of grips for my wife's 67-1 sq butt and it they look superb.

If they'd make a rd-sq conv with no finger grove for my 627, I'd be their huckleberry...

 

[Brasso4]

I've been tempted by them as well. Maybe when they lose the finger grooves.

Personally, I wish that finger grooves around the world would die a slow, painful, torturous death. Then repeat. Forever.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations! They look good!

 

[Dragonfly]

I had just a quick chance to try the revolver out today. I was short of time as I had three new guns to try out in an hour so I only had a chance for twelve rounds—I thought I'd try .357 Magnum loads (125 grain Federal JHP) as they'd be the most challenging for the grips. I tried six with gloves and six without. I was pleasantly surprised that the revolver stayed pretty well put in my hands (even though it was a cold, dry day) with no real tendency to squirrel around. I could feel the bottom finger groove pushing against my right-hand ring finger but it was not objectionable. Of course, since these are open back grips there's no recoil absorption into the web of the hand but that's to be expected. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they worked out!

 

[bronco45]

Love the VZs have them on K/L frame RBs and Square Butt. Tried them on square butt N frame but a little small on girth. Great control and concealment with the VZs. Forever attached on my K frames.