All posts tagged Glock Grips

Get a grip if you haven’t already!

Hogue gripsEveryone has a different way of getting the job done, which is why the best firearm instructors always train, realizing, that not everyone will do things the same way. One way to profile for getting good firearm instruction is to listen to the attitude of the guy who is teaching.  Teaching “a way” is the correct attitude and saying “this is the only way”.    There are different shooting positions and shooting stances and not every one will work for you in every situation.  Another thing that seems to have put the military and Law Enforcement community into a reality check, is that, adjustable stocks on rifles,and adjustable back straps on firearms is extremely important of you are going to have an operator become effective and proficient.

Gun accessories and tactical gear can help an operator get the job done, but the firearm whether it is a rifle or handgun needs to fit properly. Many gun manufacturers are starting to catch on to this, but Hogue grips have known that factory grips on many firearms just don’t cut it. Having rock solid control of your firearm in a Defensive shooting situation is extremely important and knowing that your bullets are hitting the same place because your control is all there, can mean winning the fight. Hogue gun grips can work on your AR15 or your Sig 220 or any of your Glocks.  The 1911 is still very popular in the military and LEO community and Hogue pistol grips go hand in hand. You will notice better control and felt recoil in your hands by upgrading to these and they look and feel great on revolvers. Finger groves are available for some models.

Top

Lasers for communication and targeting, not just for plinking

crimson trace laser gripsThe whole laser and light debate seems to make people’s heads spin because so much of it is about scenarios or hypothetical situations.   You have to train to use those tools and they can all be a liability.  Just like hunting deer, you gotta watch how you move and worry about being downwind so you have a better change of getting your game, well being in the military or Law Enforcement, they are trained to use various tools like ballistic shields, flash bangs and breaching shotguns.   Home owners should really train to  use their firearms in situations that pertain to the dimensions of their houses.   If you measure out areas where you might potentially defend yourself, you are being more practical and build muscle memory and confidence.  If you don’t have that, you may want to switch firearms or put a laser grip or a laser light combo on your gun.

There are several products that we sell that each do things a little different so you might want to call or email us questions if you are not sure about various features.   The reviews we have gotten on the Crimson Trace Laser Grips make it our number one most sold, but if you got the money check out Viridian or even the Streamlight laser light combos.   Crimson Trace Laser grips can work well on revolvers for hunting (on private land) or for adding confidence to your CCW .380 or J-frame guns.   You can also use lasers to point to certain areas and also to identify where a threat might be hiding.  Don’t forget that even though you might have gotten in trouble in school for using a laser pointer, you can use them in the same way on your firearm, as long as you pay attention to the 4 safety rules.

Top

The gun may not fit your hand, but it could

There are a lot of things to think about when you are choosing a primary firearm for concealed carry purposes.  Not  only will you have to find the right holster configuration and see if it works for you, but you may have to think about another mode of carry if the seasons change and you have to wear a t-shirt or a winter jacket.   I have carried 1911s in the past, but the more I had to wear as far as clothing, the less I liked carry them.   The notion of having to disengage a manual safety after moving a vest or jacket out of the way, seemed to be too cumbersome, and after having too many problems disengaging the safety, I moved on to a different firearm.

Another thing to think about when choosing a primary CCW gun is how well  your hand falls into place.  If you have to constantly adjust your grip on the firearm, you may want to consider swapping out the pistol grips and try something different.  Many firearms are now coming out with new generations with adjustable backstraps that will help you with fitting the gun, but to actually retain the firearm better you may want to try Hogue pistol grips or some other brand.

Top

Military handguns and gun grips

I know several first hand bitchin and moaning concerning both the 1911 and Beretta 92FS or both.   I rarely engage in these arguments because I am experienced enough to know that people have preferences and forcing someone to carry a firearm that does not fit them very well is not wise.   I expect that the military will eventually move towards an handgun that is more versatile as far as adjusting to varying hand sizes much in the way that the M4 Carbine is adjustable for various operators.

The guns that seem to have improved operator control with gun grip changes were the Sig family of firearms.   There is something serious lacking in the factory grips because in my humble opinion they feel too slippery and that is not something I think is good.   Every Sig that I have seen in a Defensive Training course had altered gun grip and everyone was using the Hogue pistol grips, wrap around, finger grooves or standard ones.   My Beretta 92FS felt smaller by putting finger groove grips on it and the Sig 239 I own feels like it’s suppose to, an extension of my hand.

 

Top

Pistol Grips

Pistol GripsHogue grips are molded from a synthetic rubber that will help you keep your grip during rapid fire or slow fire engagements.   There are other options for replacing your factory grips on semi-autos and revolvers.   Remember that it is normal to have to customize a firearms grips because all of us are not the same, and one way to improve our accuracy, and shooting skills is to customize a firearm to our particular tastes.   You may want to think about this the next time you go to a gun shop and check out the same model firearm, but with different grips.

Some firearm manufacturers have caught on to this and are now selling the handguns with removable backstraps which will adjust the distance the trigger is from your hand.   Glocks are being sold this was as well as  the M&P line of pistols.  I have a lot of friends that have put packmayr pistol grips on there Glocks long before Glock caught on.   As firearms evolve so will the accessories adjustability.   Decal gun grips are a simple answer to having a better hold on older model Glocks.

Top

Upgrades and improvements

Pistol Grips

Some of the guns we see that people often swap out the grips for are Sig Sauer factory grips.   While some people may like this, many find them to be a little slippery and could use something that helps keep the hands tight during firing.  Hogue Grips come in fingerless and fingered grips.  These grips will help fill in the space between your fingers and make you feel like you’re holding a pair of brass knuckles.   I’ve done many tests where I took 2 of the same handguns to the range and let novice shooters try both, I asked them which gun they preferred and they almost always preferred one over the other.   After they decide, I tell them it’s the same gun, just different grips and the cost of the upgrade is under $25.   Sometimes using the gun you have and making a small tweak is all you need to improve your shooting skills and confidence.

Sometimes we find our preferences as far as the look and reliability of a firearm for duty carry or self defense.   The reality of finding a firearm for an operator that works for them is customization and pistol grips can be the key.   No handgun or rifle will fit everyone.   There are plenty of firearm manufacturers that are putting out combat reliable firearms, but with handguns, gun grip is extremely important.   There is a lot of BS that comes from from training instructors and the gun boards about which firearm is the BEST, but the one that works the best for you is the one that fits you.  Rifle stocks can be meastured by measuring from the inside of your elbow to your trigger finger, but pistol grips are a little bit different.

 

Top

Defensive training with laser grips

crimson trace laser gripsI was not a big fan of putting flashlights on rifles until I started working in the field and realized that having a light on a rifle was the most practical thing to have with a firearm after having bullets.   It may sound funny to hear such a simple observation, but it’s true.    How many times during the day do you think you’ll need to pull a firearm for defense in your home and how many times do you think you may need it at night?  Most criminal activity occurs in low light and not having a light means not identifying your target.

Lights and lasers as they say, can go both ways.   The bad guy can see them and you can see them.   I put a crimson trace laser grips on my S&W and I believe I have increased the effective range and accuracy of the firearm by atleast 25yds.  Heck, I may attempt to hit targets out to 100yds with it and see how well it does.   I don’t think I’d ever use a 38 special at that range, but it’s always nice to know that it’s possible, but let’s be realistic.    Many novice shooters may feel more confortable knowing that the little red or green dot is approximately where the bullet is going to go and giving them this comfort level as opposed to spending 20hrs or more to teach them to be a bullseye competitor.   There are times where someone needed to acquire a weapon for self defense and sending them for 20hrs of training wasn’t practical.

Top

Understanding the mindset of using lasers

Crimson Trace Laser GripsThere has been much talk over the last 2 decades about lasers and flashlights being a liability to an operator more so than an asset.   In about 45 seconds of teaching closer quarters combat and inside the home self defense, a laser is an obvious outing of a users location.   I understand that if you are trying to sneak around  your house and take out a threat, a laser that is turned on will tell the threat you are near.   Flashlights run the same risks if they are used incorrectly, but try and tell a SWAT Team to enter a dark room and determine where a threat may be hiding and whether or not an innocent bystander is hiding in the dark.
The simple tactical solution…. know when to turn your laser on and off.   I could twist the scenario around even more.   If someone broke into your home at night, and you or your wife was hiding upstairs, pointing a laser on  your downstairs wall or floor will notify the threat that you are waiting for them and the gun is pointed in their direction, do you think  they will choose to come  upstairs?  Flashlights can temporarily blind a bad guy, but it will also tell him which direction to shoot.   If you are in your home and a break in occurs, turn all of the lights on in your house and you won’t need a flashlight.     Crimson Trace Laser grips need to be thought of in offensive and defensive tactics.   There are times in football that you go long, and other times you just gotta block and stay on the line of scrimage.

Top

An Arguement without end

Crimson Trace Laser GripsWhich gun is best for CCW?  Which caliber is better than X?   9mm Vs. 45acp, which has more stopping power?   I’ve been shooting guns for decades and carrying for close to 30yrs.    I remember the early days when I was carrying a full size 1911 because I expected the worst and wanted the biggest possible gun I owned to be on me 24/7.    As the years went by I got more involved in reloading bullets for handguns and then I started to notice the differences from caliber to caliber.   I was amazed at the number of guns that are being used nowadays that all shoot the same bullet, but at different velocities.

For many conceal carry owners out there, the 38 Special seems to be towards the bottom as far as firepower, but the more I started to notice the instructors that were teaching advanced shooting skills all carried J-frame revolvers.    I realize having 5 bullets of any caliber vs a Glock with 17rds is considerable, but there are different reasons to carry a gun.  A duty weapon vs CCW are two different modes of carrying.    The arguments against the snubbies is that they are hard to shoot and the sights generally suck.  Well, technology has been catching up, the first time I got a  lot of a Crimson Trace laser grip, it was on a Smith & Wesson Model 637, the gun seemed to be more powerful and I felt like I couldn’t miss anything under 20yds with this thing.   If you want to cut down on the weight of the guns you are carrying, consider a J-frame revolver with laser grips to increase your piece of mind.

Top

Gun Modifications that are worth it

Pistol GripWhile there are many arguments about which firearm may suit you, one issue that the novice shooters often need to be educated about is that even if you are shopping for a gun that is reliable and a caliber you can handle,  everyones hands are different and knowing that a gun grip can be easily customized or modified is something often over looked.

I have picked up various firearms over the years and one thing I have ended up doing was replacing the factory versions of the grips to Hogue or Pachmayr.    There are some drawbacks to using fingered groove grips, some complain about hand cramping after long range sessions, but the reality is that you have to try it before you know it feels right.   Accuracy is another improvement I see whenever I reccomend people try different pistol grip styles for the same gun.   I’ve seen shooters change their opinions about which gun to buy just bases on the grip they were using.

Top
Page 1 of 1