LOK 1911 Grips

I received these LOK 1911 grips after discovering the company while searching for grips on Amazon. These grips are great. LOK has definitely done their homework.  LOK Grips is a new company that has ventured into the grip manufacturing world.  They offer a variety of G10 grips for 1911's, Beretta 92's, Ruger 22/45's, CZ-75's, and Sig 238 and 938's.  Various textures and color combinations are offered as well.

The grips I chose were the "Spec Ops" in an orange/black color combo.  The Spec Ops have a golf ball texture on the front of the grips panels, and slanted ridges on the back.  This design gave me a good grip on the gun and excellent recoil management.  I originally thought that these grips might be too aggressive, but they are very comfortable to shoot with.  My hands were not any worse for wear after shooting with the LOK Spec Ops grips.

LOK offers a number of different options for the grips. After you have selected the style and texture, you can select ambi-safety cuts, style of bottom cut, and magazine release cuts.  Since I chose 1911 grips, I opted for a magwell bottom cut, a magazine relief cut, and an ambi-safety cut.  I noticed that with the magwell cut, LOK also has relief cuts, on the back side of the grip, for the main spring housing pin.  This shows how much quality they put into the manufacturing process.

I am very pleased with these grips. They are attractive, functional, and less expensive than other G10 grips on the market. They are a very high quality grip at decent price.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Good looking functional grips

Target market: Any shooter who wants a functional, good looking grip, with emphasis on functionality.

FNBs (Features & Benefit):

• Lightweight G10 material
• Texture options
• Color combinations
• Grip cut options

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Many colors and options, please go look for yourself at LOK grips

What others are saying?:

• "Lok Custom Grips... Best Value Anywhere on 1911 Custom Grips!"  - Amazon
• "I picked up a pair of grips today at the gun show. I love them, they fir great and you gotta love the price." - Facebook

Price Point:

• MSRP = $47.95
• Retail = $47.95 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability: Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

• Good grip texture
• Style options
• Color options
• Lightweight
• Made in U.S.A.
• Fast shipping

Score: 8.5 Great

Chad’s Favorite Link:  U.S. Tactical Supply

Radetec Ammo Control Digital Counter for 1911

Have you ever wanted instant feedback from your pistol, just like the interface of a first person shooter video game? In almost every FPS that tries to mimic real gunfire with realistic guns, there is a HUD (heads up display) that gives the player data on how many rounds are left in their character's magazine (or clip!) Now there is a product that brings that interactivity into the realm of real firearms, and its called the Radetec Ammo Control Digital Counter by Radetec, and this particular model is for the 1911.

Designed to enhance firearm control and efficiency, this electronic device provides real-time information about the amount of ammunition left in the magazine, as well as total rounds fired. Radetec's core business deals with research and development for the creation of new products for the international market. They specialize in the integration of electromechanical components and plastic polymers. With their own advanced prototyping machinery, they manufacture electronic circuits and plastic parts into innovative devices that meet specific needs in the medical, military and security sectors.

The Ammo Control Digital Counter didn't necessarily 'float my boat' at first, but after installing it to my Ruger SR1911c and emptying a few magazines instantly saw the draw. It's easy for some to scoff at the inability to perform basic addition (especially for 1911 owners, counting to seven) but after that first trigger pull, its very easy to forget or lose count of rounds fired downrange. Unless you were rigorously trained to maintain good shooting mechanics and count in your head, its surprisingly easy to screw up either while trying to do both. This product takes the counting out of the equation and gives immediate feedback, which not only is a good training aid but would serve well in the field in certain applications. Note that it only reads the capacity of the magazine and not what's in the chamber, so DO NOT rely on the grip's reading of "0" rounds in an empty mag to indicate a safe gun. Always check your chamber, folks.

Another plus is the secondary feature, which displays the total amount of rounds fired through the firearm while the grip has been installed. This allows users to not only keep a log of a gun's history, but keep track of what parts will need maintance after X many of rounds have been fired. For 150-200 dollars this is an investment for certain, however from a civilian/enthusiast's viewpoint I see this as a very interesting addition that gives John Browning's old warhorse a bit more of an edge.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The Radetec AmmoControl Digital Counter makes the days of worrying about how much ammunition you have left in the magazine a thing of the past.

Target Market: Training, Students/Classes, and Law Enforcement

FNBs (features & benefits of this product):

• Displays the exact number of rounds left inside the magazine on a digital screen after each shot, or by pressing the manual activation button on the front.
• Displays the total number of shots discharged while installed on the firearm. Activated by a small button on the top of the left side grip panel.
• Highly shock- and temperature-resistant polymer body
• Easy to install.
• Adds the same weight and mass as a factory grip.
• Uses one CR2016/CR2032 Battery.
• Has an auto dim feature for low light situations

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black Polymer only

What others are saying?: 

•  "They would also be great for the institutional end of military and law enforcement. While the available round tally is nice, knowing the history of the gun would be great for service history and accountability concerns." Guns.com Review

Price Point:

• MSRP = $199.00
• Retail = $149.99

I need it now! Availability:  www.radetec.com or budsgunshop.com

Our Rating:

+ Slimmer than factory grip, does not interfere with grip. + 1911 model comes with two high quality 7 round magazines with followers installed. + Won't interfere with most holsters (wih combat cut) + Remembers total rounds fired + Covered by limited warranty

- Grip texture could be more unique. - Rubber front strap containing button receptor is a bit fragile/loose, could use reinforcement.

 Score: 8.5  Great!

CC3 Recover Tactical 1911 Grips

After featuring the CC3 1911 Grips back in December '13 in a product spotlight on the podcast, I preordered a pair of grips to try for myself.  They arrived this week (late February) and I installed the black set on my Ruger SR1911c.  The grips only come with screws/nuts for tightening the two halves together at the rail under the dust cover, by the trigger guard. Its a solid mount, no wobble and the gap between the two halves becomes virtually non-existent. As far as looks go, it definitely adds something to the 1911.  Whether that something is good or bad is really personal preference. Prepare for questions and admiration from newer shooters, and scoffs/hisses from veteran 1911 owners. I've heard the word 'Heresy' at least once so far in passing. If you want your 1911 to look and feel more like a XD-M or similar polymer pistol, this is right up your alley.

The main purpose of the CC3 grips is adding the benefit of a rail to affix lights or lasers to a 1911 pistol that is railless, some may say as God or JMB intended.  The designer, Tamir Porat (creator of the Tavor and other Israeli defense products) clearly wanted to add a futuristic look to the timeless war horse. There are reliefs for thumbs on both sides that have very contemporary angles that continue throughout the panels.  This could very well find itself in the next futuristic shooter flick.  With three colors in black, green, and tan, there's a color that will match your pistola's frame and slide.

I'm not a huge fan of how it looks on my commander-sized pistol at the reduced length of barrel, slide, and dust cover make it so the CC3 rail protrudes about 3/8 of an inch further than desired, for the lines in the frame to really line up with the rail.  Of course its still a flush fit inside the channel of the grip.

As for the 'grippiness'of the grip itself, I'm not a huge fan of the texture. It's just raised curved lines that are quite pronouced. Easy for the ejection molding process but cutting edge and comfortable they are not. I foresee a dremel and a woodburning pen in this grip's future.

For the price point, you certainly would be in the market at nice G10 grips or even some exotic wood grips.  I really did just fork out $50 a piece for a plastic design concept of a new product.  Would I have still bought them if I weren't hosting the show/reviewing them for you guys? Probably. Will these stay on my 1911 for awhile? Probably not, I'm not interested in getting a new 1911 holster as I'm enjoying the ones I already have grown accustomed to. They are working with holster manufacturers to get more options out there available in popular rigs.

One of the grip panels for the Dark Earth set was a factory second / had defects, upon emailing CC3 Tactical with a photo they promptly sent out a brand new set, like within hours.  Needless to say their support is very dedicated to customer satisfaction, gotta love that!

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The easiest way to add a grip and rail to your 1911

Target Market:  1911 Owners, Airsoft as well.

FNBs:  (Features and Benefits of this product)

• Easy 3 minute installation. No gunsmith or permanent modifications required.
• 2 piece, High Quality Polymer will not break or damage your gun
• Universal Fit for most 1911 model pistols
• Total Weight 80 grams
• Made in Israel
• Only 0.25" thick grip panels

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available? Olive Drab, Black, Tan

What others are saying? "Both halves of the grips mate perfectly with one another with no visible gaps. Weighing in at a 80 grams, about the weight of the current generation iPod touch, it looks and feels very well made. The grip itself adds a quarter inch thickness on each side and less than a quarter inch to the front strap. The grooves on the grip are mostly smooth. You can run your entire hand and grip it quickly without scraping your hand. It is very "un-aggressive" unlike the VZ Recon's that would grate cheese. What surprised me the most about the CC3 is how my Surefire X300 fit on the picatinny rail. The light slide on just snug and flush with the front of the "new" trigger guard with no play or wiggle to it."

Price point:

• Retail = $49.95

I need it now! Availability: Readily available on Recover Tactical

Our Rating:

+ Cool Factor is very high, gives an old design a futuristic spin + Customer support is very quick and responsive. + Only .25" thick, will not add bulkiness

- Grip texture is raised thick lines, a little too pronounced for my liking. - Introductory price is a bit high for a polymer molded product.

Score: 7.5 Good