Walt Sherrill
Member
If you don't want to sand the grip texture down just a little, as suggested, you can always get a HANDALL-type rubber wrap, or just cup up an old bicycle inner-tube and slip it on the grip...
Shield 45 AWFUL GRIPS
- Thread starter daka
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ScaryWoody
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The grip texture was a big selling point for me. Aggressive yes. As a right handed shooter, I lightly sanded the left side a bit so it wouldn't rub skin as bad. You can't please everyone but at least they gave us a good start. Much better than the Shield 9/40. As a defensive pistol, I appreciate the positive grip. If it's going to be a range gun, it would be a callus builder.
cowboydave
Member
I sanded mine too and now I really like how it feels in my hand.
Will41
Member
This is the first thing I do after buying a Shield. They work great and are only $10 LGS. They do increase the size of the grip which I like.
Just curious, did sanding it a bit change the color at all, I would guess not but just wanted to be sure ?
It is NOT a target pistol. It is an SD pistol. If you sand/modify it for comfortable target shooting, i.e. 100 rds or so... then you are compromising the SD feature it was designed for. In a tense SD situation, wouldn't you rather the grip "stays put"...?? I would.
Walt Sherrill
Member
jim46ok said:
I hope that was a tongue-in-cheek comment , but fear it wasn't. If it was a serious warning...
May the Great Gun Gods in the Sky forgive the gun owner if he (or she) also later chooses to change the gun's sights!! That's equally wrong, too, because the sights on the gun are exactly right for anybody who might buys it.
We shouldn't second-guess the Gun Gods!!
We shouldn't second-guess the Gun Gods!!
In fact, the person modifying the grips may be IMPROVING the WEAPON (rather than compromising a single feature), and in doing so will have a weapon that BETTER does what it was designed to do FOR HIM (or HER) than as it came from the factory!
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I agree with jim46. In an SD situation, you'll only fire a few rounds and you probably won't even notice the texturing. Clearly, we should practice with what we carry, but the tendency to shoot 100 rounds or more for practice at a time highlights these features that are designed to enhance your grip when sweat, rain, mud, blood, (beer), etc. are present. If practical (and I know its not for everyone), practice more often with fewer rounds. I believe quality practice is more important than quantity.
cowboydave
Member
I am happy with my gun now, before I sanded it I wasn't. That's what really matters. YMMV.
Well, I don't know about an awful design, most Shield owners like the grip fine, myself included.
I just that we all have different tastes and ideas, and some shooters are more sensitive with grip.
I could see smoothing a part of the grip if it irritates you when carrying, after all, a pistol like the Shield will get carried a lot more than it will get put into action saving your bacon.
And the OP did say he was bothered after 25 rounds at the range, not from carrying the piece.
Are the grips on the .45 really rougher/different than the 9mm or .40 ? I haven't handled a .45, mine is a .40, and I wouldn't want the texture to be any smoother than it is.
I find the PC Shield to be much more comfortable to shoot than my Fullsize M&P .40. Even though the grip is thinner, and the recoil isn't as spread out, the grip on the FS is harder, like plastic, and the Shield is more rubbery. The porting on the Shield has something to do with the comfort for sure.
I will modify a gun as much as anyone if I feel it will help and give me an advantage in an SD situation.
I have found that most firearms could use some improvement.
The example that Walt used about changing the sights would be true, but only depending on the sights you changed to.
If you were to put a big blocky set of Target sights on a Shield, that would not be keeping with the intent of this pistol.
But say you want a set of Tritium sights instead of the stock ones, or some with a slightly different sight picture that you are used to.
If the ones you choose are sleek, streamlined, and rugged, then those would be a good choice.
Range use is not the same as using the same gun in a stressful defense scenario. You might have an injured hand, or hands, pouring down rain, sweat, blood, etc on them, you might have to get a shot off from a unorthodox position, you never know.
I wouldn't take a gun that is darn near perfect for SD, and change it to make it more range friendly, but that's just me.
Same as always wearing gloves at the range when shooting.
Are you gonna still have those gloves on when leaving the mall on a hot summer night, or if a home invader appears at the foot of your bed at 2 a.m. ?
Practice like you are going to fight, as close as you can anyway.
pyro
Member
In an SD situation I would rather have more than 5 rounds. Texture that is too rough would be way back on my list of concerns.It is NOT a target pistol. It is an SD pistol. If you sand/modify it for comfortable target shooting, i.e. 100 rds or so... then you are compromising the SD feature it was designed for. In a tense SD situation, wouldn't you rather the grip "stays put"...?? I would.
I cheat !
When I shoot mine at the range,I wear a shooting glove
I just recently started doing the same, wearing my Mechanix Wear Shooting Gloves.
Danby
Member
I personally appreciate the rough textured grip, and find it a joy to shoot. However, if shooting 100 rounds through it I could see it getting uncomfortable. My wife likes being able to get a good purchase on it with the aggressive grips as well, even in 45...
rock_castle
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I put rubber Talons in all my handguns, including the Shield 45. I didn't mind the stippling, but I'm just used to the Talons.
clarkg1124
Member
I got my Hogue beavertail grip sleeve today.What a PITA to install!!!!I had forgotten how tightly they fit.The work(and creative profanity)were worth it,though-the rough grip texture is obviously not an issue any more,and the light palm swells make the gun fit my hand properly.
Shipping was fast-even with the holiday only three days from San Diego to Florida.
Clark
Shipping was fast-even with the holiday only three days from San Diego to Florida.
Clark
Walt Sherrill
Member
clarkg1123 said:
If you heat the sleeve in boiling water before you try to install it, it's a good bit easier. (If you did that and still had problems, then you have my sympathy.
)
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Yea, they are truly a pain but soooo worth the effort
Like Walt said, heat in boiling water, get it goin, then I like to use a bamboo skewer up through it and I roll it around the grip to work the Hogue up slowly.
Like Walt said, heat in boiling water, get it goin, then I like to use a bamboo skewer up through it and I roll it around the grip to work the Hogue up slowly.
