As as follow-on to my ongoing "GP100 In Local IDPA Match" thread https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....cal-IDPA-Match, I decided to post this grip discussion as a stand-alone thread, but I'll probably also attach it to the original thread for those who want the continuity in one thread.
Recap: Starting with the Ruger/Altamont Compact rubber grip with laminate inlays, moving to the Ruger full-size rubber grip with laminate inlays, then to VZ Twister and 320 G10 grips, and now....to Hogue's rubber Tamer grip, with a sorbethane cell foam/gel insert in the backstrap area.
The reason for the grip quest was simple: Seeking to find an effective, ergonomic, and non-painful grip when shooting the GP100 with full-house, 158 gr 1250 fps .357 magnum cartridges. My use and evaluations concentrated around IDPA matches, where there would be concentrated 100+ round-per-match use, which would serve as a good evaluative venue.
What I found encompassed several areas of shooting-there was a good learning curve for me. First of all, if I fired more than 50 rounds using my autopistol thumbs forward and thumbs adjacent grip, a painful blood blister would develop on the inner surface of my strong-hand thumb; essentially, the support hand kept it in forcible contact with the left side of the revolver grip, where torquing forces abraded the area. Switching to a lowered strong hand thumb with support hand thumb over strong hand thumbnail provided an effective, non abraiding grip on the revolver.
Second, while the ergonomics of the Ruger Compact and VZ G10 grips were excellent, even with the revised grip shooting full-house .357 was still painful, with recoil forces directed into the web of my strong hand, and painfully so. While I was never unable to shoot effectively, and never had to leave a match due to the pain/discomfort, shooting the GP100 simply wasn't a lot of fun.
I experimented with moleskin bandages and shooting gloves. Both mitigated against the pain somewhat, but since my primary purpose for competition shooting is to help and reeinforce my EDC and duty use, I saw a limited viability to the bandage/glove approach.
I'd briefly had theearlier Hogue rubber GP100 grip. I didn't much like it, especially compared to the Ruger Compact grip. The Hogue was angular, bulky and aesthetically ugly. It was much harder to carry conceiled, so after a brief trial period, I gifted it to a friend for use in his sister's GP100-by all reports she is satisfied with it.
I really appreciated the two VZ G10 grips. Their ergonomics are exceptional, and the raised surface ridges and grip incised cuts on the Twister I found to be exceptional. The problem? They are painful to shoot full-house 158 gr .357 magnum cartridges through...there simply is little to no recoil absorbtion provided by the hard, dense G10 material.
Now the reality is that I could be comfortable using either the Ruger Compact or VZ G10 grips defensively, as the reality is that most armed encounters are resolved with less than a cylinderful of cartridges, by FBI tracking results. Additionally, the discomfort is with .357 cartridges-I can fire .38 Special +P cartridges with no discomfort whatsoever.
But, I have dedicated my GP100 to .357 use, and my Security Six to .38 Special +P, so I felt I should orient the GP100 package so that I'd achieve competance in all of my venues-which meant that much as I liked (and still like and appreciate) the previous grips, my quest would continue.
Enter the Hogue Tamer. This is a grip that Hogue has specifically aimed for the larger Ruger Super Redhawk revolvers, and some tactical shotguns and some Smith & Wesson revolvers. The Tamer has a revised and slightly more compact profile than the original Hogue rubber grips for the GP100. After Letts Grips disappeared from the scene, Ruger began instuting the Hogue grips and the OEM Ruger grips for may of their revolvers, especially the GP100. While Ruger purists raised their noses at the bulkier, less concealible, less aesthetically appealing, they persisted for years as the OEM grip, until in the past year Ruger has begun to increasingly offer other grips as their OEM grips for revolvers.
The Tamer was probably introduced as a recoil-reducing grip for the larger-calibered Super Redhawks, what with their heavy and jarring recoil forces, but a happy coincidence is that the Super Redhawk and GP100 share the same essential frame grip contours. The Tamer provides a recoil absorbing Sorbethane foam/gel cell incorporated into the grip's internal backstrap area. Additionally, I much prefer the Tamer exterior profile to that of the original Hogue rubber GP100 grip; the backstrap angle is better, and there's less flaring and protrusion at the heel and butt of the grip, rendering it more concealable.
And-Here's the key thing-It flat-out works. I was able to fire an IDPA match with 1250 and 1000 fps .158 gr .357 cartridges in a 7 stage match with absolutely no discomfort whastsoever, both during and after the match. I'm going to continue to run the GP100 with these grips; mmuch as I really like the alternatives, particularly for their aesthetics and easier concealibility, the Hogue Tamers are operationally more comfortable and desirable. I prefer to have the same set-ups on my EDC/duty guns as IDPA-so while I could EDC/duty carry the Ruger Compact or VZ grips (particularly the VZ Twisters) the Hogue Tamers are simply a better all-around selection for me.
Some comparative images:
The GP100 with Ruger/Altamont Compact grips:
The GP100 with VZ Twister grips:
The GP100 with VZ 320 G10 grips:
The Ruger and VZ grips compared: From left to right, Ruger Fulls size, VZ Twister, Ruger Compact
The GP100 with Hogue Tamer grips:
And yeah, the purposful, business-like aesthetics of the Hogue Tamers are growing on me...
Best, Jon
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Originally Posted by JonInWA
