Wilson Combat "Group Gripper"

[Troublco]

I have nearly finished collecting the parts to build my long-awaited 1911 dedicated for bullseye competition. I was picking out a full length guide rod for it when I found the Wilson Combat Group Gripper. This is a slightly modified full length guide rod with a special barrel link. From what I read, this applies consistent upward pressure to the barrel from the recoil spring to make sure the barrel is in the same place for each shot. Similar idea as the old BoMar 'tuner' from what I gather. Has anyone had any experience with one of these, or know anyone that has? The basic idea sounds good, but I don't want to toss $50 at one of these if a $20 or $30 guide rod would wind up being a better choice.

[10x]

I have put Group Grippers in several guns. I have been using them since the early 1970s when they were first made by Dan Dwyer.

Wilson later bought the rights to this. They are made in full length and standard length guide rods. Both work the same.

If the fitting of the rear lugs is not what it needs to be to lock up the barrel properly at the rear of the slide, the Group Gripper (GG) will take care of that. The GG only helps, if the fitting is not as good as it should be. There are a lot of guns like that. On a well fit gun is does not help, but doesn't hurt anything either.

An 18 1/2 lb recoil spring, rather than the standard 16lb., is needed to overcome the GG tension and fully close the slide.

I have put them in USGI guns that couldn't hit the barn from the inside and they instantly became good shooters. I have used them on Colt Gold Cups and they improved accuracy measurably.

I have never worn one out. They will go 20,000-30,000 rounds.

This is a comparatively inexpensive and very effective accuracy aid.

[Hoser]

If you get a gunsmith to fit up the barrel correctly in the first place, you dont need one.

You wont find many masters or high masters with one...

[BPTactical]

If you get a gunsmith to fit up the barrel correctly in the first place, you dont need one.

You wont find many masters or high masters with one...

+1

It is a decent inexpensive fix for ill fitted parts. The K.I.S.S. theory comes into play here. I have seen some reports where they can be a bit finicky but I have only dealt with 1 pistol that had one fitted. The owner seemed to like it though.

[Troublco]

Well, if it's just a fix for a bad fitting pistol then it's a waste of money. The one thing it will be is well fitted; I just thought this might be a way to take another variable out of play. But it sounds like a full length guide rod is going to work just as well. Thanks, gentlemen![HiFive]