- Location
- Richmond, BC
I ordered these back in November and they were backordered, but as soon as they arrived at the retailer, I receive them within days. Brownells has them, and so does Midway USA (hell, you can even order them on Amazon.com). I’m not sure which Canadian retailers have them in stock, but it won’t be long if they don’t have them already. They came in a simple cardboard box, the same cardboard style of packaging as the rest of Magpul’s product line (very earth friendly, haha!).
http://4.bp.########.com/-ZBXT8Doqyec/UsuOejzTdjI/AAAAAAAASsk/5ChUHnQQcbw/s1600/DSCN4664.JPG
Inside the panels were in a plastic bag, and there were simple folded instructions inside (as if you need instructions on how to install these). They weren’t completely flat and I’m not sure if it was a manufacturing flaw, or they were designed like that, but either way, it didn’t really matter because as soon as you tighten the screws down, they were a perfect fit and there was no gap between the grip panel and the frame.
http://4.bp.########.com/-QyKOBQhlZlI/UsuOk24SWsI/AAAAAAAAStA/iOD53_Dfmqo/s1600/DSCN4666.JPG
http://3.bp.########.com/-DTl8Vs8Ks8o/UsuOnMZue0I/AAAAAAAAStI/UWy-wKVCdr8/s1600/DSCN4668.JPG
Aesthetically, they look good. I’ve heard some people say they are not fond of the design. The original concept version didn’t look very good, but I think they’ve definitely improved on it appearance wise.
Original concept:
They were easy to install, and a perfect fit to my Norinco 1911A1 Police. My Norc has an ambidextrous safety which it is supposed to be compatible with, and there was no interference whatsoever after they were installed. The panels are a thin design, and will work just fine with the standard 1911 grip screw bushing.
They’re made of a carbon-reinforced polymer (plastic) and they have a sort of cross-frame underside which is supposed to provide more strength and rigidity. It’s not rubberized like the Hogue grips, so if you’re looking for a sticky grip panel, this is not it.
http://3.bp.########.com/-Dpun_9FKAho/UsuOjFTj1KI/AAAAAAAASs4/32bOcACpzlA/s1600/DSCN4667.JPG
The surface is textured with a pattern of tiny mag pulls, just like their Railed Forward Grip (for some reason, I can’t remember the grip pattern on the MOE Grip, and I’m away from my AR at the moment). It provided a firm tactile surface that prevented slippage with dry bare hands, I’m sure they’d be just as fine if you were wearing gloves.
http://2.bp.########.com/-5S3D0Tg9Uo8/UsuOwc8lFgI/AAAAAAAASto/F030A2YhEZg/s1600/DSCN4675.JPG
There is a massive thumb groove in-line with the mag release. It provided good access to the mag release with little effort to reach it, and it had a sort of secondary function for the way I personally grip. The thumb groove on the left panel provided a reference point and almost a slot for my left hand thumb pad to seat.
http://1.bp.########.com/-y_OwJ_TplBM/UtAQsIMln-I/AAAAAAAASwY/u0LOQU0e0mM/s1600/IMAG4085.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-neCVn2OhIyg/UtAQsAxBXuI/AAAAAAAASwU/AIqnFeS0Nrs/s1600/IMAG4086.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-qvRRru1pm0Q/UtAQp1vW79I/AAAAAAAASwI/AiiNvYfEnXc/s1600/IMAG4082.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-hKonaiysLoE/UtAQp0anAkI/AAAAAAAASwA/j2oHg611Fmc/s1600/IMAG4083.jpg
Overall, I’m pretty happy with the grip panels. They appear to have been designed with input from shooters, with the purpose of pure functionality. The only artistic touch is the little mag pulls, but in the end, even they serve a purpose and it seems to work. And last, but not least, as with many Magpul components, they are inexpensive. I’m sure they won’t be ever body’s cup of tea, whether it’s because of the design, the feel, the material (plastic versus wood), or even the brand (some people love the brand, some hate it), but at $20-25, depending on the retailer, you really can’t go wrong. I’d say give them a try, and if you don’t like them you’re not losing a whole lot of money and you can probably flip them and get most of your money back.
http://3.bp.########.com/-PL9Tu9rlrOE/UsuOuFjOLZI/AAAAAAAAStg/QnaJ5vykaoI/s1600/DSCN4674.JPG
http://2.bp.########.com/-5l4vCxcoRDo/UsuOy4XGM3I/AAAAAAAAStw/Cnxhmg6JU3k/s1600/DSCN4676.JPG
http://4.bp.########.com/-ZBXT8Doqyec/UsuOejzTdjI/AAAAAAAASsk/5ChUHnQQcbw/s1600/DSCN4664.JPG
Inside the panels were in a plastic bag, and there were simple folded instructions inside (as if you need instructions on how to install these). They weren’t completely flat and I’m not sure if it was a manufacturing flaw, or they were designed like that, but either way, it didn’t really matter because as soon as you tighten the screws down, they were a perfect fit and there was no gap between the grip panel and the frame.
http://4.bp.########.com/-QyKOBQhlZlI/UsuOk24SWsI/AAAAAAAAStA/iOD53_Dfmqo/s1600/DSCN4666.JPG
http://3.bp.########.com/-DTl8Vs8Ks8o/UsuOnMZue0I/AAAAAAAAStI/UWy-wKVCdr8/s1600/DSCN4668.JPG
Aesthetically, they look good. I’ve heard some people say they are not fond of the design. The original concept version didn’t look very good, but I think they’ve definitely improved on it appearance wise.
Original concept:
They were easy to install, and a perfect fit to my Norinco 1911A1 Police. My Norc has an ambidextrous safety which it is supposed to be compatible with, and there was no interference whatsoever after they were installed. The panels are a thin design, and will work just fine with the standard 1911 grip screw bushing.
They’re made of a carbon-reinforced polymer (plastic) and they have a sort of cross-frame underside which is supposed to provide more strength and rigidity. It’s not rubberized like the Hogue grips, so if you’re looking for a sticky grip panel, this is not it.
http://3.bp.########.com/-Dpun_9FKAho/UsuOjFTj1KI/AAAAAAAASs4/32bOcACpzlA/s1600/DSCN4667.JPG
The surface is textured with a pattern of tiny mag pulls, just like their Railed Forward Grip (for some reason, I can’t remember the grip pattern on the MOE Grip, and I’m away from my AR at the moment). It provided a firm tactile surface that prevented slippage with dry bare hands, I’m sure they’d be just as fine if you were wearing gloves.
http://2.bp.########.com/-5S3D0Tg9Uo8/UsuOwc8lFgI/AAAAAAAASto/F030A2YhEZg/s1600/DSCN4675.JPG
There is a massive thumb groove in-line with the mag release. It provided good access to the mag release with little effort to reach it, and it had a sort of secondary function for the way I personally grip. The thumb groove on the left panel provided a reference point and almost a slot for my left hand thumb pad to seat.
http://1.bp.########.com/-y_OwJ_TplBM/UtAQsIMln-I/AAAAAAAASwY/u0LOQU0e0mM/s1600/IMAG4085.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-neCVn2OhIyg/UtAQsAxBXuI/AAAAAAAASwU/AIqnFeS0Nrs/s1600/IMAG4086.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-qvRRru1pm0Q/UtAQp1vW79I/AAAAAAAASwI/AiiNvYfEnXc/s1600/IMAG4082.jpg
http://2.bp.########.com/-hKonaiysLoE/UtAQp0anAkI/AAAAAAAASwA/j2oHg611Fmc/s1600/IMAG4083.jpg
Overall, I’m pretty happy with the grip panels. They appear to have been designed with input from shooters, with the purpose of pure functionality. The only artistic touch is the little mag pulls, but in the end, even they serve a purpose and it seems to work. And last, but not least, as with many Magpul components, they are inexpensive. I’m sure they won’t be ever body’s cup of tea, whether it’s because of the design, the feel, the material (plastic versus wood), or even the brand (some people love the brand, some hate it), but at $20-25, depending on the retailer, you really can’t go wrong. I’d say give them a try, and if you don’t like them you’re not losing a whole lot of money and you can probably flip them and get most of your money back.
http://3.bp.########.com/-PL9Tu9rlrOE/UsuOuFjOLZI/AAAAAAAAStg/QnaJ5vykaoI/s1600/DSCN4674.JPG
http://2.bp.########.com/-5l4vCxcoRDo/UsuOy4XGM3I/AAAAAAAAStw/Cnxhmg6JU3k/s1600/DSCN4676.JPG
