The grip is the control center of a double stack 1911. It determines how securely the pistol locks into your hand, how consistently it returns during recoil, and how confidently you can shoot at speed.
Most new double stack 1911 pistols ship with plastic, polymer, or composite grip modules. Those grips work, but many serious shooters upgrade to aluminum because they want a more rigid feel, sharper traction, better durability, and a more premium interface with the gun.
Why Upgrade from Plastic or Composite?
Plastic and composite grips help keep cost and weight down. That's why many factory double stack 1911 pistols use them. But the same material that keeps the pistol affordable can also feel flexible, slick, or less precise under hard use.
Atlas Gunworks explains the aluminum advantage plainly: “The aluminum grip's going to be better for you to hold on to,” and says magazines can “drop more freely” while the trigger can “run more freely” in the aluminum grip setup. Atlas also describes plastic grip flex during firing and states that aluminum grips are “way more rigid,” improving return to zero.
For shooters, that means the upgrade isn't just cosmetic. A rigid aluminum grip can make the gun feel more planted, more predictable, and easier to control during fast strings of fire.
Aluminum Gives You Traction Without Relying on Stippling
Texture matters. If your support hand can't stay locked in place, the pistol moves, your sights lift inconsistently, and your follow-up shots slow down.
A good aluminum grip can be machined with aggressive, repeatable texture that doesn't depend on molded plastic or aftermarket stippling. Lead it Out notes that metal grips allow “considerably more aggressive texture options” and says that, when shooting for speed, added texture “does offer an advantage.”
The Weight Penalty Is Smaller Than Many Shooters Expect
Some shooters assume aluminum will make the pistol too heavy. In reality, aluminum sits in a useful middle ground. Cheely Custom Gunworks lists its polymer grip with mainspring housing at 2.8 ounces and its aluminum version at 4.7 ounces, while stainless is much heavier at 12.8 ounces.
That makes aluminum attractive for shooters who want the benefits of a metal grip without jumping all the way to a heavy steel setup. Lead it Out summarizes the benefit this way: aluminum gives shooters “the benefits of a metal grip without such a large weight penalty.”
Price Matters Too
Premium 7075 aluminum double-stack 1911 grips have long carried premium prices, typically landing between $500 and $700. Phoenix Trinity lists options from $525 to $700. Miller Precision Firearms prices its billet 7075 module at $500 to $550. Cheely's L2 kits land between $550 and $625, and its E2 kits climb from $600 to $675. That's the field. Now meet the exception.
cosClutch™ aluminum grips from Your Extra+Points™ were precision designed by Greg Mooney, President & CEO of Cosaint Arms®, a leader who previously served as President & CEO of STI International (now Staccato), President of the Benchmade Knife Company, and General Manager – US Operations at Benelli USA. His pedigree is built into every grip: true 7075 aluminum performance, engineered to undercut the established field by a wide margin.
Choose your finish:
- Raw aluminum: $380
- Black anodized: $410
- Cerakoted: $430
- Black DLC: $450
Every tier sits well below comparable aluminum grips while delivering exactly what serious shooters demand: genuine aluminum construction, improved traction, upgraded feel, and a more confident control surface. Premium build. Proven design. A price that finally makes this upgrade affordable.
Choose Compatibility, Not Guesswork
Double stack 1911 parts aren't all the same. If you want flexibility, choose an aluminum grip manufacturer known for multi-brand compatibility.
cosClutch™ aluminum grips are designed for broad double stack 1911 compatibility, including but not limited to:
- Cosaint Arms COS21
- Staccato XL
- Staccato XC, all models made prior to August 2024
- STI International
- Springfield Prodigy
- Bull Armory
- Alpha Foxtrot Romulus
- Tisas
- GP Arms
- Nighthawk
- Phoenix Trinity
- Taran Tactical
- MAC-9
- Watchtower
- EAA/Girsan 2311 models
- Live Free Armory
- Great Lakes Firearms & Ammunition
Compatibility is especially important if you own more than one double stack 1911 or if you plan future upgrades. A grip that works across multiple brands gives you more flexibility and reduces the risk of buying a part that only fits one narrow setup.
Why Domestic Manufacturing Matters
An aluminum grip is a precision part. Fit, finish, trigger clearance, magazine release geometry, and coating quality all matter. For that reason, many buyers prefer domestic manufacturers that can offer better accountability, clearer communication, and faster support if a fitting or compatibility question comes up.
The goal isn't just to buy a cheaper part. The goal is to avoid problems. A well-machined domestic aluminum grip gives the shooter more confidence in the material, the tolerances, the finish, and the support behind the product.
The Bottom Line
If your double stack 1911 still wears a factory plastic or composite grip, an aluminum grip is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make. It changes the way the pistol feels in the hand. It improves traction. It adds rigidity. It gives the gun a more premium, purpose-built interface.
For shooters who want better control without paying $550 to $700 for a competitive aluminum grip, Your Extra+Points™ offers a strong value: cosClutch™ aluminum grip upgrades starting at $380, with finished options up to $450.