Cable gripper jaws and cable gripper jaw members having at least one removable, cable gripping surface insert. The gripper jaw member has a recess for receiving the insert and the insert can engage with the gripper member by means of a fixative and/or a mechanical engaging means, including mechanical interlocking means. The insert and gripper member can be of different materials, including metals of differing hardness ratings. The cable gripper jaws have utility in the cable gripping fields, including in the drilling and horizontal directional drilling industries, and as part of a method for pulling cable through space, including pulling cable through space in the pipe bursting and trenchless pipe replacement industries.