Recoil absorbing grips for a 1911

Looking for suggestions for recoil absorbing grips for a 1911.
 
First, some background.  I have injured my shooting arm's elbow.  My doctor diagnosed it as tennis elbow (I got it doing work around the house).  My doctor cleared me to continue shooting but with reduced caliber.  So I am laying off the .45 for a while.  When I get back to shooting the .45, I wish to use some type of grip that will have more recoil absorption than the slaps I use today.  Once I am back into the grove, I will switch back to my pre-injury grips.
 
In my research, I found the Hogue wrap around grip.  The rubberized material covers the two sides and the front strap.  But it leaves the metal mainspring housing exposed to the hand.  I also saw that Hogue makes a mainspring housing from G10.  But I do not know if G10 has any kind of recoil absorption compared to a metal mainspring housing.
 
I have also looked at the Rink grips.  Pricy, but they cover the mainspring housing and the sides.
 
Thanks for any suggestions.

Pachmayr rubber mainspring housing.
Jon

Thanks Jon, I will check it out.

Use reduced loads in the .45 and don't grip it too hard. I find over gripping to lend itself to tendonitis pain.
Jon

If you want to go a step further, there is the Pachmayr 1911 rubber grip safety, but first find out if it's suitable for your pistol.

Jon Eulette wrote:Use reduced loads in the .45 and don't grip it too hard. I find over gripping to lend itself to tendonitis pain.
Jon

Get stronger tendons!

I broke my back and I have given a lot of through to this. 

Aside from something like a Springfield XDM which has a recoil system integrated into the action, recoil is a matter of physics because the energy is transferred to your arm. So its about transferring the energy through your arm in such a way it's not causing the bone to pull the tendons off the muscle. 

If you are not already shoot slabs, I find Shark Skin, Herrets or these in the winter (because of sweat)

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/447352/pachmayr-renegade-laminate-wood-grip-1911-government-commander-half-checkered-charcoal-silvertone?cm_mmc=pf_ci_google-_-Gunsmithing+-+Grips-_-Pachmayr-_-447352&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0ejNBRCYARIsACEBhDPuKSk6hVqLXKaIJTeD-F_uyNNlEhLswLR7TpCFrYMh9aoxbQnMO70aAmrwEALw_wcB)

Tennis Elbow Stretches http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/stretching-exercises-for-tennis-elbow

Motrin

Check your alignment, I have nerve damage in my back and if my grip is canted off center it irritates the nerve. 

+1 on the light loads. I am shooting 4.1 WST under a 185gn lead bullet. A swagged bullet like a Zero 185hn HG68 is softer than cast. BE, or VV310 I can go as low as 3.6gn, slide mount #11  spring. With Wst in the summer time, above 80 degrees, you can go as light as 3.8gn.

Thanks Rich.  Sorry to hear about your back.  My tennis elbow is nothing compared to a broken back.  Yikes!
 
Yes, I agree that leftover recoil energy (that not used up by the weight of the gun, recoil spring, etc) makes its way from gun to hand to arm, which is why I am looking for something between gun and hand that will absorb some of that energy.
 
I use cast lead 185 gr for 25 yard and 200 gr for 50 yard with 3.85 gr of N310 for both.  I have tried swaged in the past but for some reason, my bullet seating die gets gummed up about every 25 rounds and I have to stop and clean it.  I don't have that issue with cast. 
 
When I can, I take an ice pack with me to the range and use it to keep the inflammation in check.
 
My pre-injury slabs were Herret.  I am partial to the D45 because they are thicker and allow me to get a good feel as well as a good grip.  I like the rough surface of the Shark Skin but I find them too thin.
 
Springfield XDM ... you know, I will have to admit I am using my injury to justify a gun purchase....well, kind of.  I am working to get my .32 ACP back into operation (I set a goal of not using my .32 this season and shoot the .45 for both center fire and .45 so I can get better with the .45, but the injury changed all that).  I am hoping the .32 will fall into the low caliber category my doctor 'prescribed' (with a wink).

160gn Dardas?

It is kind of a catch 22. If you grip it too loosely and have a lot of recoil absorbing rubber on the grips then you risk limp wristing the 1911. The 1911 is designed to be held firmly to function properly. You have to change the recoil by changing the load and the recoil spring. Keep working the load and the spring down until you have something you can shoot and enjoy. You might have to load it down below what normally is accepted as an accurate load. But you will still be shooting and still having fun instead of pain. The 160gn Dardas is a good place to start.

Len  (just my .02)

Also check out the thumbtack
Magnus number 805 155gr

Rich, Len, I assume you are recommending the 160/155 gr for the short line.  Or are you suggesting it for both the long and short lines?  Thanks.

This is one area where I might recommend ortho type grips.  Mostly to get the grip pressure spread over more area and reduce the forearm muscle tension if you are trying to go to a lighter grip.  However, I found it will take more work to gain grip pressure consistency with a lighter grip.  But at least you'll be shooting. 

Not exactly on topic, but you should also look at your shooting position.  I found in the past that if the arm / elbow joint was not fully extended, the tennis elbow condition would sometimes crop up.  And then because of the pain, the arm would be even more "bent" because the extension and recoil was a little painful.

By making sure my arm was fully extended at the joint, but in line and "bone on bone" feeling at the elbow so the recoil was coming up the arm and directly back into the elbow joint, the recoil effect was reduced and more directed into the whole body mass.  I'm one of those that can't "lock" or over extend the elbow, so I have to make a conscious effect to train for keeping the arm fully extended. When I started doing so, I did not have any tennis elbow issues in years.  

(Now, weight training on the other hand tends to aggravate it a little.  But I keep an eye on position and form when working with weights.)



 CR

Thanks Cecil for the reminder.  Full extension of the arm is something I am inconsistent with.  I do think of it occasionally, but I need to make it an automatic step in my shot process.

I was recommending lighter bullets for the short and the long line. The pistol would have to be set up for the reduced load. I wouldn't switch back and forth and risk hurting more.

Len

G10 is not flexible [it is a hardened fibreglas] and the Pachmayr rubber parts don't have effective recoil reduction - the rubber coating simply is not thick enough. 

Your best bet is to seek out a physical therapist to build grip/lower arm flexibility and strength.

LenV wrote:I was recommending lighter bullets for the short and the long line. The pistol would have to be set up for the reduced load. I wouldn't switch back and forth and risk hurting more.

Len

I prefer a slide mount but if tendinitis was very severe I would shoot irons with a light recoil spring. 200gn Wadcutter with 3.5BE will hold the 50 yard ten ring if you have a good gun ad you can certainly clean the short line with that load.