Stipple? Slide cuts? Drop-in barrels? Opinions?

[SurielXV]

Who here has experience with stippling, milled slides, red dots on pistols drop in barrels, etc.?

Viable performance enhancers or pure cosmetics?

I have seen some milled slides and frame work that look really good. Same with aftermarket barrels and I think that on some pistols they can do quite a bit aesthetically but wanted to hear from you if there is more to these upgrades/enhancements than meets the eye.

 

[scattershot]

I can only speak to the drop in barrel question, but in my experience they work quite well to change calibers and I have them for just about all my.40 pistols. As for stippling, you can save a bunch of money by buying Talon or Traction grips for your pistol, rather than having someone stipple it for you.

 

[SurielXV]

I do currently have Talon Grips on my Shield and they work as described but a part of me kind of like the way that some of the stipple jobs look, though, I know if I were to get work of that type done it would be MOSTLY for the grip.

 

[Backon4]

I’m a believer that guns are tools and should be treated as tools. I use and beat the hell out of them. Never been all about looks. Function first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Raisin]

I agree with Backon4. My guns are for shooting bad guys, if needed. I don't need add on's just to show off how much money I can spend on toys. I try to impress folks with how well I shoot, not how cool my gun looks.

 

[zephyr]

I wouldn't do any of that for aesthetics.

All of those enhancements might be entirely justified to help with certain issues but I would only do them if needed.

Regarding stippling, it might be helpful if the grip was a little slippery like 1.0 M&P's and Glocks. For 2.0 M&P's the stippling is very good OOTB.

Red dots can be great for some people, especially those of us with older eyes.

Other extraneously milling on slides I don't think adds any real value and might even cause issues with longevity and function.

Drop in barrels are generally only needed if you have a bad one or if you are changing caliber. Other wise generally not needed.

I would just shoot what you have for a while until you are comfortable enough to determine if you really need anything other than ammo and practice.

 

[SurielXV]

I have put Talon grips, ordered Ameriglo Pro I-Dot sights and am going to get an APEX duty/carry kit and flat trigger shoe but thats all I have actually planned to have done. Granted I may, in the future after some parts start to ear out, get some other things done. I only have about 1100-1200 rounds through mine ATM so I still have some time.

 

[old&slow]

I have a stippled M&P,, and a M&P ,, a Shield , & a Glock 17 L with Talon rubber grip tape on them..
I prefer the rubber grip tape.
It doesn't snag on your clothes , has a better feel to me, & doesn't alter the firearm..
The same for the sand papper grip tape. It's OK for competition but a little to aggressive for carry.
If there is nothing wrong with the factory barrel. If it is good and it is accurate. Why would you change it ?

 

[SurielXV]

The threaded barrel is a point of contention for me. I do not own a suppressor nor do I own a compensator so I have no NEED for one but I would like to in the future. Though, I would probably just wait until I had one before purchasing a threaded barrel.

 

[SurielXV]

I have a stippled M&P,, and a M&P ,, a Shield , & a Glock 17 L with Talon rubber grip tape on them..
I prefer the rubber grip tape.
It doesn't snag on your clothes , has a better feel to me, & doesn't alter the firearm..
The same for the sand papper grip tape. It's OK for competition but a little to aggressive for carry.
If there is nothing wrong with the factory barrel. If it is good and it is accurate. Why would you change it ?

Who did the stipple work to your M&Ps? Does the stippling add a greater degree of traction on the pistol grip despite being a little snaggy?

 

[old&slow]

I did the stippling. A modified soldering iron tip and a little practice on a extra grip panel. If you do it yourself be careful the grip panel reacts differently than the plastic frame..

I much prefer the Talon rubber grip tape.. Plus if you don't like it you can take it off..

( sorry not a very good picture but , the only picture I could find that showed the stippling ,)

 

[greeenteeee]

These things could be done if they improve function.

Haven't had to consider stippling, but I really like undercutting the trigger guard.

I did my Glock 19 and Shield recently after first doing it on a spare P320 grip module (not as permanent as it is with the Glock and Shield).

Glad I bit the bullet because the grip is much improved for me.

 

[SurielXV]

These things could be done if they improve function.

Haven't had to consider stippling, but I really like undercutting the trigger guard.

I did my Glock 19 and Shield recently after first doing it on a spare P320 grip module (not as permanent as it is with the Glock and Shield).

Glad I bit the bullet because the grip is much improved for me.

Now an UNDERCUT seems like something really nice or even at the very least contouring of the trigger guard. When I am at the range and a run a few hundred rounds through my shield I get some stabby pressure on my middle finger that I would like to mitigate.

 

[SurielXV]

I did the stippling. A modified soldering iron tip and a little practice on a extra grip panel. If you do it yourself be careful the grip panel reacts differently than the plastic frame..

I much prefer the Talon rubber grip tape.. Plus if you don't like it you can take it off..

( sorry not a very good picture but , the only picture I could find that showed the stippling ,)

I think that it looks good, amateur or otherwise I like the 'sun burst' pattern

I have read that if the stippling texture is too aggressive that some light work with steel wool can help soften the edges without damage the pattern/removing too much material.

 

[old&slow]

I think that it looks good, amateur or otherwise I like the 'sun burst' pattern

I have read that if the stippling texture is too aggressive that some light work with steel wool can help soften the edges without damage the pattern/removing too much material.

I used my wife's finger nail emery board ( sort of a popsicle stick with sand paper) on it to soften it up a bit while watching TV...

( Don't tell her )