Mini Review: Recover Tactical RG15 Rubber 1911 Grips
I previously reviewed the Recover Tactical BC2 Grip & Rail System for Beretta 92 series handguns, and I was impressed by the product’s ease of installation and stability. Indeed, Recover Tactical has done a commendable job of bringing rails to guns that lack accessory attachment points. Today though, we will take things in a slightly different direction as Recover hooked me up with their new RG15 grips for 1911 series pistols.
Installation
Getting the RG15 grips onto my 1911 was just about as simple as any other 1911 panel swap. Using a flathead screwdriver, I simply unscrewed the mahogany stocks that came with my ATI pistol and exchanged them for the included RG platforms. With the platforms installed on both sides of the frame, I only had to press the rubber panels onto both sides. After checking to ensure that all edges were flush with the 1911’s frame, the kit was ready to go.
Profile
If you’re used to the standard, checkered polymer, and wood grips of most 1911s, you will immediately notice that the RG15 panels run on the slim side. In fact, with both RG15 grips on my gun, the overall width at the midpoint of the grip measured just 1.26”. Compare that to 1.32” in the same spot with standard wood panels. The 1911 has never been a handgun that I’ve felt needed a diet, so the slim profile isn’t exactly necessary. Overall, the feel of the 1911 is still there, but I do think that the grips could be a bit thicker. At the range, I found that I occasionally needed to adjust my grip to regain the same purchase I’ve grown accustomed to with the wood panels.
Feel
I touched on the feel of the RG15 panels in the last section, so I won’t rehash that part here. However, switching from checkered wood to rubber grips is a noteworthy change. While the checkered panels rely on their abrasiveness to provide stability, the rubber parts take advantage of the material’s natural stickiness. In my opinion, this makes them most appealing for concealed carry purposes, where a roughly textured grip could be uncomfortable.
The tacky rubber isn’t the only thing the RG15 grips have going for them. They also have finger recesses that, quite honestly, are more effective than I expected. My initial impression was that the grooves would be too generic in spacing and size to work. In fact, my fingers seem to fall right where they should on both sides of the gun.
An upside to the RG15 panels’ rubber construction is that they perform very well when wet. Recently, I was out at the range for four hours in 90-degree heat. Even with humidity in the 50%+ range, my sweaty palms stayed right where I wanted them on my RG15-equipped 1911.
Durability
Since the RG15 grips simply slip onto the RG platform, I had some initial concerns that they might peel off if they catch on equipment or clothing. After working with them, I will say that this remains a concern, but not an overly pressing one. The only real way to get underneath the panels to pull them off is to start at the top, near the slide. Here, the safety assembly and slide both provide some protection against snagging.
Because rubber is a soft material, I typically avoid rubberized parts on my firearms. The rubber feels great to the touch, stays tacky when wet, and is less abrasive than stippled polymer/wood parts, but it simply isn’t as durable over long term use. Even using a fingernail, I can scratch the RG15 panels with relative ease.
That being said, we’re talking about a $25 part here. The panels aren’t going to fall apart, but when they do start to get ugly, new ones are relatively affordable. Moreover, thanks to the RG platform, replacing the panels is even quicker than swapping screwed-on grips. Overall, durability isn’t something I worry much about with an accessory of this nature.
Conclusion
The RG15 panels are solid upgrades over standard 1911 grips. I would prefer for them to be slightly thicker, as the 1911 is already a slim pistol, but my complaint is rather minor in the grand scheme of things. Most importantly, the panels are easy to install and provide more traction than basic, checkered options. Time will tell as far as durability is concerned, but that this price point, it is tough to go wrong.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.