What are you guys views on stippling a polymer framed gun. glock,xd,etc.

I really like the small dot stippling, not so much a fan of the rip your skin, kind of stippling.

Don't all those plastic guns have some sort of grip enhancement texture molded into the plastic?

Generally, grip texture is a compromise between no-slippage under firing conditions and ease of grip adjustment while NOT firing.
EG.  unholstering, target acquisition, rehosltering, and reloading.

There are only a few reasons I can think of that would mandate additional texture.
1-formal non-combat target shooting
2-you have exceptionally feeble hands requiring an aggressive texture.

I suspect the higher quality manufacturers did some research on grip frame textures and incorporated the best compromise into the design.

I do not own any plastic guns, but I have shot many of them. They all seemed to have plenty of grip for me.

They do but some are better than others i.e the gen 2 glocks are not as aggressive to begin with and tend to get smoother over the years. That combined with the fact that I have extremely sweaty hands makes the plastic grip extremely slippery in my hands. Hey for all purposes I could run the gun as is and it would be fine. But for a modification that could help, and definitely could not hurt id be interested. I get what your saying though, just trying to get some opinions on it.

After doing it to other stuff, I actually having a stipple job is a must now.

I have a definite list of things that I like to do with my Glocks.  Stippling is a standard item on that list. 

I have a definite list of things that I like to do with my Glocks.  Stippling is a standard item on that list.

:-):-):-):-)
I saw your handiwork. ..Beautiful stuff.

talon grips are good.  I'd suggest those.  cheap and you don't screw up your resale value!

I'm not a big fan of stippling pistols.

In my opinion, it weakens the structural integrity of the frame.

Here are 3 of the most notable people in the shooting world speaking about various Glock modifications that they have done to their personal weapons.  Larry Vickers mentions m4carbine.net as an excellent resource for information and I agree as I am a member there also.  Might want to check out the site.  If you do, read a lot and search for answers before asking questions.  I go by the same screen name there also. 

In my opinion, it weakens the structural integrity of the frame.

This is a common misunderstanding.  The frame integrity suffers when people get extreme with chopping grips or removal of material.  Surface stippling done correct will have no noticeable adverse effects over the life of the weapon. 

I think it boils down to personal flavor. Ive seen both amazing professional stippling jobs, as well as some horrible looking (but incredibly functional) ones.  I think it depends on the gun, and the users preference.  For instance, my XDM has plenty of traction, but my xd-40 does not, and when my hands get sweaty, I can feel the difference.

This is a common misunderstanding.  The frame integrity suffers when people get extreme with chopping grips or removal of material.  Surface stippling done correct will have no noticeable adverse effects over the life of the weapon.

what is your personal view on stippling?

Post #5 in this thread

ahh forgot about that.

what is your personal view on stippling?

Just to go into a bit more detail on my thoughts... I really appreciate the added traction that the texture provides.  Back in the day everyone was adding skateboard type grip tape to improve grip traction, of course many still do it to this day and now you can buy pre-cut panels but texture is a more permanent solution for those who like it.  Stippling or the idea of texturing is nothing new to firearms as custom smiths checker 1911's and they have aggressive texture grip panels, rifle stocks get treatments, so it was almost a natural adaptation to polymer pistols.  I started doing it a few years ago as a more permanent solution starting with Sig Sauer grip panels.  Eventually when I got into Glock pistols it was a natural jump and the techniques were starting to catch on at a more mainstream level.  There are now specialty manufacturers offering Glocks, M&P's with the treatment done, not to mention those just doing modification work professionally.

As far as the Glock goes the Gen1 - Gen 3 pistols needed a better texture.  The RTF textures sucked for the most part, but the Gen 4 texture is improved and would be adequate.  However the big downfall to the Glock are the finger grooves on the front strap.  So if you remove them, matching the original texture is difficult, so many want an entire texture job that matches.  1911's have been customized and hand fitted for a long time and I am a long time 1911 guy, but the great thing about many of the polymer pistols, especially the Glock, is that they are easily custom fit to the shooter.  You can run in basketball shoes and shoot a stock Glock and do great, but just like a fitted pair of running shoes makes a big difference, a hand or custom fit pistol can also make a big difference.  Just depends on your shooting style.  If you plink from the bench, no rapid fire, no big deal.  But if run the weapon hard in all kinds of conditions, a custom hand fit weapon is a nice thing.

So as I mentioned earlier, depending on what I am going to use the pistol for, I have certain things that I like to do to a Glock and stippling is one of those things.

Yeah I've been aware of companies like Bowie tac etc for quite some time. I'n fact a longstanding glock gripe has been the grip angle and the finger grooves. I've considered doing the "fill the blackstrap with putty mod " and grind the blackstrap for a more neutral wrist angle such as that on the 1911 but it's a helluva mod to undertake. There is a beaver tail attachment that claims to change the grip angle as mentioned in the video you posted. I'd like to try that out. Don't get me wrong I'm not bothered by the stock angle but a more natural point of aim would be nice.
I wonder if the polymer  material will take to front strap checkering like the 1911 once the fringer grooves are grinded down.

Yeah I've been aware of companies like Bowie tac etc for quite some time. I'n fact a longstanding glock gripe has been the grip angle and the finger grooves. I've considered doing the "fill the blackstrap with putty mod " and grind the blackstrap for a more neutral wrist angle such as that on the 1911 but it's a helluva mod to undertake. There is a beaver tail attachment that claims to change the grip angle as mentioned in the video you posted. I'd like to try that out. Don't get me wrong I'm not bothered by the stock angle but a more natural point of aim would be nice.
I wonder if the polymer  material will take to front strap checkering like the 1911 once the fringer grooves are grinded down.

i believe some people grind the finger grooves, then stipple

HNL firearms has a metal replacement frame for the glock that changes the grip angle to 1911 style
they are regularly $400, but are on sale now for $200
these are discontinued, so this is pretty much your only chance to see/buy one

Yeah I've been aware of companies like Bowie tac etc for quite some time. I'n fact a longstanding glock gripe has been the grip angle and the finger grooves. I've considered doing the "fill the blackstrap with putty mod " and grind the blackstrap for a more neutral wrist angle such as that on the 1911 but it's a helluva mod to undertake. There is a beaver tail attachment that claims to change the grip angle as mentioned in the video you posted. I'd like to try that out. Don't get me wrong I'm not bothered by the stock angle but a more natural point of aim would be nice.
I wonder if the polymer  material will take to front strap checkering like the 1911 once the fringer grooves are grinded down.

I owned 1 Glock since around the 1994 time frame and didn't own any others until about 3-4 years ago.  As a long time 1911 guy I really hated it and it took a long time before I accepted the pistol but I couldn't ignore the fact that it dominated in certain categories and was huge in the shooting world in general.  Besides the feel of polymer vs steel the thing I hated the grip angle.  However I stuck with shooting the pistol and noted that my times given speed and accuracy were amazing.  The amount of control I had over the pistol with the minimal amount of recoil was puzzling at first.  Reviewing video I noted that my support wrist being canted at a greater angle was more aggressively locked out and that provided more control.  It definitely took a bit of re-learning a new natural point of aim, but the results I saw on timed drills was clear.  Now IMO the angle is what really benefits the Glock pistol when a good aggressive thumbs forward technique is used. 

On the other hand the Grip Force adapter does indeed help with reducing the angle bringing more into what most Americans are used to.  Grip reductions on the backstrap also provide this same effect.  I do not generally advise people to do their own DIY fill and sand jobs as those are the ones that fail the most.  Improper prep, technique and use of correct filler often causes it to break loose over time.  This is also were you can get into frame integrity issues discussed above.  In general I prefer to use a heat and roll method to reduce the hump on the backstrap.  Keeps the pistol frame solid.

A couple of my personal pistols.  Texture design is a matter of taste and texture can go from mild to aggressive.
Gen4 G17



Gen4 G19 set up in a carry configuration so only the front strap is textured after finger groove removal. 

I owned 1 Glock since around the 1994 time frame and didn't own any others until about 3-4 years ago.  As a long time 1911 guy I really hated it and it took a long time before I accepted the pistol but I couldn't ignore the fact that it dominated in certain categories and was huge in the shooting world in general.  Besides the feel of polymer vs steel the thing I hated the grip angle.  However I stuck with shooting the pistol and noted that my times given speed and accuracy were amazing.  The amount of control I had over the pistol with the minimal amount of recoil was puzzling at first.  Reviewing video I noted that my support wrist being canted at a greater angle was more aggressively locked out and that provided more control.  It definitely took a bit of re-learning a new natural point of aim, but the results I saw on timed drills was clear.  Now IMO the angle is what really benefits the Glock pistol when a good aggressive thumbs forward technique is used. 

On the other hand the Grip Force adapter does indeed help with reducing the angle bringing more into what most Americans are used to.  Grip reductions on the backstrap also provide this same effect.  I do not generally advise people to do their own DIY fill and sand jobs as those are the ones that fail the most.  Improper prep, technique and use of correct filler often causes it to break loose over time.  This is also were you can get into frame integrity issues discussed above.  In general I prefer to use a heat and roll method to reduce the hump on the backstrap.  Keeps the pistol frame solid.

A couple of my personal pistols.  Texture design is a matter of taste and texture can go from mild to aggressive.
Gen4 G17



Gen4 G19 set up in a carry configuration so only the front strap is textured after finger groove removal. 

nice work, surf
you should start a business modifying and building guns
i think you would do well

This is a common misunderstanding.  The frame integrity suffers when people get extreme with chopping grips or removal of material.  Surface stippling done correct will have no noticeable adverse effects over the life of the weapon.

Yet you void your warranty with Glock when you stipple or do a grip reduction job.