Textured grip

[Buzz]

This evening while I waited for a coat of Watco Danish Oil Finish to soak into a wood buttstock I decided to attempt a project that I've had in mind since Saturday morning at the range. SHooting outdoors in Georgia can be a hot proposition, and that means sweat. The Cetme/HK/G3 grips tend to be rather smooth (with a very light texture, but I wanted something more agressive. And since I work extensively sculpting and finishing plastics I decided to try my hand applying a textured finish to a grip. The initial results are below. Mind you, it is only a first effort. Future efforts may be less agressively textured or restricted to certain key parts on the grip. The photo tends to exaggerate the textured effect. This grip is the ABS plastic Black Widow grip and the other grips seem to have a rubber component to them, so how they will do remains to be seen.

I'll be experimenting with different textures. This is just one for starters that I call a "Reptilian" finish that I use with my sculpting. Different techniques can be used for various textures, some more agressive, others more subtle.

[Fido Dog]

I like it! It sure looks like it would be comfy while still having a good "sweat" grip.

I've got the Falcon Industry grip and the textured finish is so fine that it kinda' irritates after a bit.

How do they feel?

[Fido Dog]

P.S. I wouldn't call it "Reptile" I would call it "May 1982 Nugget Pimp Ring"! :airtight:

Cetme grips by Buzz........Now with more Bow Chica Wha Whaa!! :bash:

[Buzz]

I like it! It sure looks like it would be comfy while still having a good "sweat" grip.

I've got the Falcon Industry grip and the textured finish is so fine that it kinda' irritates after a bit.

How do they feel?

It has as smooth feel as the top of the peaks are buffed out. But, in the recesses there is a good bit of "rough" surface so that it serves to offer more purchase when the surface of the skin is pressed in. It's a broad enough pattern that I can't imagine that there would be irritation with recoil. Of course, the proof is on the firing. I actually developed the texture years ago for added grip of a pipe tool, a pipe tamper.

Of course, another option is to apply the texture to key areas such as over the arched thumb grip, between the front finger recesses, and along the backstrap.

[Buzz]

P.S. I wouldn't call it "Reptile" I would call it "May 1982 Nugget Pimp Ring"! :airtight:

Cetme grips by Buzz........Now with more Bow Chica Wha Whaa!! :bash:

Unfortunately the finer textures look good but can irritate. I noticed it with my Falcon grips on my AR and may well switch to Hogues. A very shallow nugget type of texture is less likely to irritate, or so I'm guessing. The tops are buffed flat.

I can't honestly say I'd display the gun with grips like this, but I might put them to use during shooting.

[Buzz]

BTW, the texture is not applied to the grips for looks (that's for sure). The look isn't my taste at all for a military rifle. The idea is to create the best most comfortable no-slip surface possible. Maybe I can find something better looking, but function comes first.

If anyone wants to know how to do texturing just drop me a message and I'll tell you exactly how to do it, which will serve as a starting point. All that is needed is a Dremel (preferably with Flex-shaft) with any number of cutting tools, and a 1725 rpm (not 3450 rpm) buffing motor with a couple of buffs, and a few different buffing compounds.

(note: the "C" stamp that marks the grip a US part for 922r purposes was not obiterated as it is located on the inside of the grip)