Grip stippling.

Executive

Executive

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I just don't understand grip stippling. Why do guys feel the need to take a perfectly fine polymer pistol and attack it with a soldering iron. Does it improve the grip that much that the owner causes irreversible cosmetic and possible functional damage?

Just looking for an argument on a boring Friday night.


Chris
 
I have wondered the same thing. I see the purpose behind it, but I think there are plenty of stick on options or sleeves that accomplish the same thing. All of which are reversable if you wanted to ever sell it.
 
MACGYVR said:
I have wondered the same thing. I see the purpose behind it, but I think there are plenty of stick on options or sleeves that accomplish the same thing. All of which are reversable if you wanted to ever sell it.
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Stippling, especially if you have a good iron, a steady hand, and some idea of what you're doing, is way better than the sleeves, and some people just don't like grip-tape.

I've stippled the (replaceable) portions of my M&P grip, and it's fantastic. I can understand why someone would do it to a non-replaceable piece.
 
Executive said:
I just don't understand grip stippling. Why do guys feel the need to take a perfectly fine polymer pistol and attack it with a soldering iron. Does it improve the grip that much that the owner causes irreversible cosmetic and possible functional damage?

Just looking for an argument on a boring Friday night.


Chris
Click to expand...

+1 I hear you there
 
It would be better if they just did it right the first time. How much extra would it cost them? A dollar?
 
I had my M&P stippled by a pro - and yes, it made a significant difference - and since done by a smith, it looks great.

I have, however, seen some do it at home jobs that look a little rough.
 
I agree some stippling jobs look bad, but those done well make a significant difference in the grip of the gun. My XD9 Tactical was done professionally, and while I was never a fan before, this was done with razor straight lines (it looks like grip tape - it's that straight), and the one thing stippling brings that grip tape or a sleeve doesn't is no additional girth. If you want more "grip," but not more "width," stippling is the only way to achieve that.

BTW, is it really that different than stippled backstraps/frontstraps on 1911's? That stippling is permanent, too, and some of it is pretty radical, too, like Ed Brown "snakeskin," or Michiguns "conamyds."
 
Sir_Macadoo said:
I had my M&P stippled by a pro - and yes, it made a significant difference - and since done by a smith, it looks great.

I have, however, seen some do it at home jobs that look a little rough.
Click to expand...

I think I have weird tastes, but I did my own M&P stippling, and think it came out at least as well, if not better, than a smith. I'm of the opinion it's all in what tip you use (and I got lucky on my second try). It's much harder to do those snakeskin or starburst patterns, and I went through a few 2$ backstraps before giving up.
 
Not weird at all, in fact +1 for you Roland.

I build my guns for ME, not for the next person I am selling them to. My custom 1911s speak to that effect. As long as I am happy with the result and the gun runs right and looks good to ME, I am happy.

(last time I was at the range, an older guy was sure my first remsport build was a Wilson Custom - he said hed never seen anything like it and the trigger was amazing. aaah-thank you! - I tightened the slide, peened the rails, did all the internals and fitting, John did help with the barrel and did melt the slide)
 
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I've only needed to do it on the M&P. Do this, get your hands sweaty or wet and grab a stock M&P pistol - then you'll know why people do it to the M&P.
 
Executive said:
I just don't understand grip stippling. Why do guys feel the need to take a perfectly fine polymer pistol and attack it with a soldering iron. Does it improve the grip that much that the owner causes irreversible cosmetic and possible functional damage?

Just looking for an argument on a boring Friday night.


Chris
Click to expand...

Shoot a 2nd gen Glock or an M+P when it's hot out with no cover (with sweat pouring everywhere) and you'll find out why people stipple plastic guns. I find I don't need it on the smaller framed guns but I've been thinking about getting it done to the side panels on my G21SF, because with that gun I can't get the same kind of hand-wrap on it as I can with the G19 or G30SF.

That said, If I go that route I'm going to have a smith do it professionally, and not attempt it at home, that's for sure. I'm not concerned about cosmetic damage because it's mine- and as time goes on I end up making less purchasing mistakes, which means resale value is less of an issue. If it's done properly it probably won't negatively impact that value, anyways, except in the mind of a minority of buyers.

The problem is that all carry guns should really have stippling like the HK USP series, or at least a Sig... but most don't, and they end up being slippery when sweat or rain comes into play.

Course, if you are lucky enough to have hands that are more on the medium-large size, none of this matters. Then you can probably get a decent grip on any handgun regardless of stippling.

-Mike
 
It's a matter of preference. If it is done right it makes a world of difference on the grip of a polymer frame gun and it can look pretty good too.There are alway slip on grips that might enhance the grip but they add bulk also.
tn_1200_DSC0026311.jpg.jpg
 
I own a few Glocks and never felt the need to improve the grip. After putting several thousand rounds through an M&P I did feel the need to improve the grip. The front strap of the M&P is just too smooth. I used a soldering iron to do the job and the results are great; I did the front (non replaceable) strap and the rear. Grip has been vastly improved and the results look pretty good to me. The only downside is that this stippling might snag on clothing if the pistol is carried concealed.

A word of warning; this stippling takes quite a bit of time which can affect the soldering iron. Cheap soldering irons can over heat and shut down if left on for too long. I checked several forums on this topic and found this complaint to be quite common, usually referring to $10 soldering irons. I purchased a Weller soldering iron for $27 which handled the job with no problems. I guess you get what you pay for.
 
Weller is the only way to go with soldering irons. I have a Radio Shack iron that I use for simple wires and nothing else, but Weller is the minimum for any sort of serious work.
 
MACGYVR said:
I have wondered the same thing. I see the purpose behind it, but I think there are plenty of stick on options or sleeves that accomplish the same thing. All of which are reversable if you wanted to ever sell it.
Click to expand...

This is my thought.

ScottS said:
I agree some stippling jobs look bad, but those done well make a significant difference in the grip of the gun. My XD9 Tactical was done professionally, and while I was never a fan before, this was done with razor straight lines (it looks like grip tape - it's that straight), and the one thing stippling brings that grip tape or a sleeve doesn't is no additional girth. If you want more "grip," but not more "width," stippling is the only way to achieve that.
Click to expand...

Do you have pictures of that? It sounds very cool looking.

Mike-Mike said:
I never understood it until I got a glock 19rtf. It is nice to grab a gun that grabs you back.
Click to expand...

If I ever went back to the hot & muggy Brazilian rainforest and could bring a pistol I'd probably want a RTF Glock, but even in the heat down here in FL my sweaty hands grip my guns just fine. The discomfort it causes me makes me think it'd only be worth it in very extreme circumstances.

drgrant said:
Course, if you are lucky enough to have hands that are more on the medium-large size, none of this matters. Then you can probably get a decent grip on any handgun regardless of stippling.
Click to expand...

I never realized that might be why I'm biased [laugh]. Oh well.
 
Two quick items:

1. I think stippling does add girth, a little bit, as peening would do. But it's subtle.

2. I ripped up my hands rock climbing last night, and my stippled M&P grip is painful this morning. Something to keep in mind if you're in the habit of cutting up your hands before shooting, or something like that.
 
Here's my XD9 Tactical, my IDPA ESP gun. The grip was professionally stippled before I bought it. Although I wasn't a fan of stippling before I got this gun, this is (to my eye) a bit more subtle and professional looking, and it certainly improves my grip purchase to a marked degree. (Plus, for what I paid for the gun, I wasn't going to bitch.)

Disregard the white spots. I just got back from a match and that's rosin still on the gun.

308ay45.jpg


e5pkr8.jpg
 

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