I'm really surprised that there isn't a wide selection of aftermarket grip inserts...

Echo40

Echo40

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Ever since I got my M&P40c I've been shopping around for things to customize it with and while there are quite a few options out there, one which seems strangely absent to me are grip inserts.
I imagined that there would at least be a few options for improved grip texture as well as a few alternate color options like O.D. Green, FDE, or Gray. One thing that I was really hoping to see was wooden grip inserts. Yeah, maybe add a touch of old school charm and elegance to these modern polymer wonders with a nice set of Diamond Checkered Walnut Grips.

Unfortunately, no such options are available, which sort of surprises me, to be honest. You'd think that at least somebody out there wouldn't be avant-garde enough to offer some wooden grip inserts for modern M&P Pistols, but evidently not.
Weapons Armament Research (W.A.R.) made a pair once, but they're not for sale, just a personal project.

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I don't know about you, but these look pretty good to me. A bit on the cheap side, giving off something of a 1970-80s wood paneling vibe, but if they looked a bit more natural perhaps, with some nice checkering for functionality, then I could easily see buying a pair.
Heck, if I had the necessary equipment/skillset, then I'd give it a go myself. Make up a few pairs, list them online, see if anyone is interested.
 
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I guess for the owner of a firearm that feels they need something other than basic black or fde you could buy yourself some Cerakote colors a battery power or standard model airbrush and follow directions to prep paint and cure . You will find out if your have any artistic talent !!
 
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Putting wood grips on a plastic gun is a bit like putting ketchup on a hot dog. It makes a statement but the taste leaves something to be desired.

I used to put Hogue Handall's on my work guns because they were a little sticky, especially if my hands were wet. The problem was that they were just too big and they were never really comfortable. I found Talon grips and now those are on all my work guns. They add some stickiness without changing the profile of the frame substantially. Other than some dubious cosmetic changes, I'm not sure what changing the grip panels brings to the party.
 
I have seen companies in the past offering stippled M&P grip inserts, which would improve the grip texture.

The surplus factory grip inserts are pretty cheap and easy to find, if someone wants to do their own modifications.
 
I think the major problem is that the factory inserts are so thin in places that alternative materials simply won't work. It doesn't help that there would be so much waste from the process if working from a solid block of whatever.

Secondary problem, at least for non-wood alternatives, is cost for molds for a product you're not sure is gonna sell.

I had high hopes for a particular brand rifle trigger, but they finally determined that costs simply made the item too expensive to mass produce. Apparently, they made some for a government entity, but you know how our tax dollars get spent.
 
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I agree with the above statement regarding the backstrap being too thin in spots to make wood viable. Seems like the easiest way to get this look would be to sand one smooth then hydrodip or vinyl wrap.
 
First, I prefer ketchup to mustard. :)

Next, if you look at the backstrap, you'll see it is pretty thin in places. I think that makes wood and many other materials impractical for both strength and ease of manufacturing.

The 2.0 grips are already pretty aggressive but you can use 1.0 (if you can find them), or get a custom stipple job.

For my fullsize 1.0, I have all of the 2.0 backstraps (yes, they fit). Large, Med-Large, Med, and Small in both Black and FDE along with the frame tools. My CORE kit came with the 3 black CORE backstraps. Including the 3 original 1.0 ones, I have 14 different ones!!

In case you're wondering, I use the Med Core. :)
 
If you find the backstrap(s) too thin, perhaps you'll like the Talon Grips materials. I have the full rubber one on my Ruger LCP Max receiver and find it is excellent.
 
Sig hit a HOME run when they introduced their "modular" P-320's. simply remove the fire control unit (FCU) and place it in about 7 different grip's made by 7 different companies. The grip modules are endless, the Wilson grip changes the whole feel of the 365/320 guns.
 
To bad sig could not get a better since of what people wanted to begin with but hey what a few hundred dollars bills spent finding the right grip module for you !!

I think the m&p grip fits more hands better than most any other brand with two textures and now 4 insert sizes to fill most any hand well but HK P30 and may be others have several back straps and side panel inserts to change .

MP1SG Sig really hit a home run with the Not drop safe p320 that they promoted as a upgrade not a recall and offering what amounted to no grip modules of there own for a year or better do to over looking the fact that so many did not like what came on them . Or the highly promoted and long delayed 45 xchange ended up as a stand alone model not interchangeable with 9mm and 40sw like the p250 series was . Then theres the beta testers that found the drop safe issues , the first optic ready model that only fit there not so good dot optic to the first series of the X barrels had awful chamber support that caused blown to very bulged brass with standard pressure loads and sig stated it was in spec and then the quick dumping of 40sw and 357sig models !
 
More options is always better . Everyone has different tastes
I like wood grips , never really liked the aesthetic of plastic or rubber on guns - only plastic gun I own now is a nylon77
Have a few old colts with plastic grips they’ll probably stay
Have a hogue handall on my 1911 , works alright but I don’t love how it looks . Works well but will probably get swapped out for some nice wood panels eventually
 
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