What's the deal with G-10 grips?

[Grayfox]

I was looking at an ad for a new gun a while ago and noticed that under "Features" it listed VZ G-10 grips.
I've seen 'em and held 'em. OK, nice enough. A bit aggressive for my tastes. I'll pass.
Yet it seems that including these on a handgun, especially a factory offering makes the gun "Special" in some sense.
So what's the big deal here? What makes these more desirable over any other grip out there?

 

[CH4]

Very durable and grippy. Many grip textures available

 

[Ingramite]

I was looking at an ad for a new gun a while ago and noticed that under "Features" it listed VZ G-10 grips.
I've seen 'em and held 'em. OK, nice enough. A bit aggressive for my tastes. I'll pass.
Yet it seems that including these on a handgun, especially a factory offering makes the gun "Special" in some sense.
So what's the big deal here? What makes these more desirable over any other grip out there?

I believe that it's all part of dumbing us down to accept less for more.

 

[TheTinMan]

It's a lot like adding "carbon fiber" to the description of something you're trying to sell. New age materials!

That said, I really like the G-10 grips I have on several 1911s.

 

[Autonomous]

I carefully took sandpaper to an uncomfortable set of G-10 grips on a SA TRP. The results were good.
On a 1911 I prefer wood double diamond grips, G-10 is my first choice for folding knives though.

 

[oink]

Yeah, I like the G10. It works well. Granted it's not near as attractive as a nice wood, stag or even bone.

 

[1BadSmith]

All grips need to have an inlaid medallion to make them look good, especially revolvers. The amount of garbage grips these companies use these days for cost cutting measures is as bad as getting rid of a hard case for a garbage cardboard box. Or like many including one magazine. How about some g-10 with medallions?? Not getting my hopes up. But that look nice on a revolver or a 1911!! Especially with all the color options.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I've never liked the feel of them and taken them off of every gun I've bought that they've come on. I really love exotic wood, pearl, antler and for higher power guns rubber.

 

[Goblin]

The amount of garbage grips these companies use these days for cost cutting measures is as bad as getting rid of a hard case for a garbage cardboard box.

Didn't S&W get rid of cardboard boxes and start using plastic cases?

 

[DR505]

The G-10s on my Wilson CQB are perfect. They let me grip the firearm no matter the conditions...wet, cold, hot/sweaty, bare hands or gloves, etc. They look fairly decent though I prefer exotic wood or bone.

 

[Fishinfool]

G-10's main benefit is its durability and it's "grippiness." Great material for use on a combat or competition gun. Not so good on hard kickers, as they can be abrasive - Think a Ruger Super Blackhawk rolling back in your hand under recoil. I don't know how they "cheapen" a gun, as a good set costs about the same as current factory wood. They can be abrasive to clothing in some applications.

Looks? That is subjective. I have a pair on a modern Kimber 1911 that look and work well on that gun. Looks wise, probably not so much on say a vintage Royal Blue Colt Gold Cup.

Larry

 

[BAM-BAM]

They; VZ makes some grips for the Beretta 92 family that are ultra thin but still strong.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I have G-10 on a 1911 and a model 36. Not for looks but for a better grip. I think that's the draw.

 

[Shark Bait]

All grips need to have an inlaid medallion to make them look good, especially revolvers.

I agree that medallions improve the looks. I like the smooth VZ RB combats. They feel great in the hand and are plenty grippy without the aggressive checkering. I addedmthe medallions.

 

[BAM-BAM]

VZ also made/makes some grips in carbon fiber.that look really good on my Inox Beretta 92 Compact!

 

[Inusuit]

I have 1911 grips in walnut, ivory, elk stag, rubber and G-10. G-10 for secure handling on carry guns, although I recently bought a Ruger LW Commander-style with factory rubber grips and like both the way it handles and the business-like look. Medallions I can take or leave.

 

[sodacan]

I bought these G10 grips for my CZ 75BD from Cool Hand. They were less than half of the price of comparable VZ's. I bought a 2nd set for my 97BD. The screw holes didn't line up. I figure I got lucky the first time. Returned and refunded. I don't believe they're made in the USA. The material is grippy, and the pistol doesn't squirm much during shooting. I've owned VZ grips. Their quality and fit are fine, the color and texture options are pretty broad, and they are made in the USA.

 

[BB57]

There are pros and cons.

On the plus side:

- They are durable; and
- can be easily modified without having to worry about the finish.

On the negative I've side:

- they lack the soul of wood, or the combination of comfort and grippy-ness of rubber; and

- for whatever reason the companies that make them seem to go for maximum sharpness in the checkering. That might be a plus for a tactical or duty pistol and or for a shooter who wants to use tacti-cool gloves. But for concealed carry it's a lot less of a good thing.

For example, I bought a Beretta compact and had to go to some effort to get it to fit my hand in terms of trigger reach. I installed a short reach trigger and a set of ultra thin grips, and the thinnest grips I could find were G10 grips from Wilson Combat.

To be fair, their target market isn't concealed carry, and it shows in their grips. I left the right grip panel alone but removed the left hand grip and filed the tops of the checking to a much more rounded shape as the original texture was uncomfortable in all way IWB carry.

 

[lrb1200]

Factory G10's on a Sig 226 'Extreme' 9mm,
absolutely no reason to change them out on a Sig.

I love wood as well, on a beautiful deep blue finish.

 

[Erich]

For example, I bought a Beretta compact and had to go to some effort to get it to fit my hand in terms of trigger reach. I installed a short reach trigger and a set of ultra thin grips, and the thinnest grips I could find were G10 grips from Wilson Combat.

Golly, I didn't even realize the Wilson ultra-thins that I stuck on my Israel surplus Compact were G10: thanks, BB57. (I like them for skinny, for sure.)



I have always thought the G10, while admittedly tough, is just another way to put sizzle on the steak. It's America and we don't all get issued the same Makarov; we like to distinguish our guns and to blab about why our individual choices are smart. Some people are interested, some aren't. Companies are happy to sell to those who are.

 

[sceva]

Grip makers saw how popular G-10 was for tactical Knife scales and figured the the popularity would extend to grips.

I'm old fashioned; give me nice wood or other material material like Stag.

 

[Walter Rego]

I understand the functionality pf the G-10 grips but they hurt my eyes. Especially in some colors.

 

[1sailor]

G-10 grips can be made a lot thinner than wood or plastic grips. My Beretta felt like I was holding a brick until I installed the g-10's. It's like a whole different pistol. I bought the most aggressive texture and then just used 400 grit wet or dry paper to smooth them out just enough. My understanding is that the dust from them can be pretty harmful to your lungs so it's best to use wet paper. Some of the colors can be a little distracting to say the least. In person they're not as bad as in their pics. Below is my Beretta with the g-10's. Not as electric looking in person.

 

[Farmer17]

My 1911s, browning high-power, cz-75, and a few others, I like plain walnut checkered grips, period. They look great, they feel great, and they don't cost a lot, usually around 30 bucks on the Internet. My Smith revolvers I like factory medallion grips. Stag grips look great on some guns but I don't own any and I would never pay good money for plastic or carbon fiber or whatever the heck you wanna call them, grips.

 

[Laketime]

Since exotic wood is becoming more regulated scarce and expensive alternative material was needed.synthetic grips on poly guns is sufficient for the newer generation of shooters.

 

[shil]

I have a pair of black VZs for a 1911A1 (Springer). They looked nice and felt decent. I put pair of walnut double diamonds on the gun. They look much NICER and feel decent. I tried a pair on a Hi-power. Nope. Sent 'em back. I switched to a pair of Navidrex thins. The Hi-power is a two-tone and those black grips look and feel quite nice!

 

[Doug M.]

I'll admit my bias right up front. Almost all of my firearms are intended for fighting, and even those not intended for such are capable of being used in that manner. Most of my friends and influences are cops and some hardcore military folks. I belong to a limited access forum where that is the majority of the membership, and it is probably as big as the S&W forum.

As such, utility is always the first consideration. Looks are maybe tertiary, at most, even though I have made a few purchases that were influenced by looks (5" 25-7, for example, although it would still be functional for serious use).

I can't even being to understand the fixation with looks. A serious gun should not be seen by most others until time to use it. Soul? Please. People who know a lot more than me have done a lot of research on what works adequately well under all circumstances, which is the main criterion for equipping oneself. That is not new - my academy taught that in 1989. I am aware of pretty serious folks who really prefer G10 grips, for the reasons others have given. They work. I don't have any because I have no firearms on which they would add utility.

What I know is that most people who have been in fights never wished for smaller guns, worse sights, or less light. There is a reason that the trend in service pistols is toward mounted lights and red dot sights. My rifles were set up that way from the start, and I now have a couple pistols with RDS because they work better.

 

[hemiram]

Most are too "grippy" for me, it's one of my pet peeves about grips, I find a lot of them just over the top. I thought that was over with back in the S&W "Cheese Graters" that my first 686 had. I went to one of the local gun stores and ended up the some older factory grips that had been refinished, but in really nice shape. The Graters went into the box and I only saw them again when I sold the gun. I sold my FHN FNS40 solely due to the over the top pointy grip surfaces.

 

[LVSteve]

G10s are like Ultra High Performance Summer Tires, it's all about the grip. Nothing. Else. Matters.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Didn't like the G10. I've gone with the K12's MUCH better.
If you want to go old school, I suggest skateboard tape. Works GREAT over the grip inserts on my Ruger double action revolvers