[Atticus]

I took the S&W 625 to the range yesterday for the first time. It shoots very well, but after 15 minutes or so, it was squirming around in my sweaty palms. It came with smooth Gray/Black laminate wood grips (backstrap exposed). Does anyone have any creative ideas on how to reduce the slippery nature of the grip - without severly destroying their cosmetic appeal? I really don't want to spend $100 on a set of checkered Hogues, and I would prefer not to stick grip tape all over them.

[Brian Williams]

Sand off the shiny smoothness and refinish with some boiled linseed oil.

These were Ajax grips that were super shiny and I files them to fit me and removed all of the way to shiny and slippery. I handrubbed in a little boiled linseed oil till I have the finish I like and enjoy.
http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=443581

[C.R.Sam]

Nice job Brian.

Sam

[Atticus]

Very nice. I'll give that a shot.

One idea I'm toying with, is to stipple/distress the front of the grips, prior to sanding and refinishing. Anyone here ever done that?

[mete]

You could use an old shooters trick -- Varnish the grips with polyurethane and while the grips are still wet sprinkle fine sand on the grips.

[bogie]

And if you just like the "rough" look, instead of sand, use salt or sugar. Then dissolve it.

[Atticus]

Hmmm.....interesting ideas.

[C.R.Sam]

Visions of ants crawling up the inside of the trousers to get to the sweat dissolved sugared grips.:rolleyes:

Sam

[Penforhire]

How about some of that "stick-um" they outlawed for Pro football a while ago? Not sure where you'd get it (sports supply?) and it might stain or look grungy.

Then there's a shooting glove. May seem too European to you though.

[Quartus]

I like the Perfessr's approach, Atticus. For final smoothing I like to use rottenstone. Takes the gloss off a urathane finish quite nicely.


Glad to see you're shooting again. How's the hand doing?

[Atticus]

Hi Quartus (new THR handle?): The hand is ...uh..stabile. I never really stopped shooting though. Gotta maintain that lackluster level of precision ya know.

[Standing Wolf]

Stippling works just fine, and you can do your own with a nail, although I recommend a Dremel tool.