Is Grip Tape Even Necessary??? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

M2XD · 04-05-2008, 03:12 PM

OK, I've had some grip take on my XD45ACP Service for a while now, and about the only thing it does is rub my back raw when I wear my IWB holster at the 7 o'clock position. I thought the stock grip was pretty sticky, and the grip tape I got has been even stickier; but I am not sure it is even necessary.

So, I am looking for opinions from those who have put on grip tape and kept it, and those who put it on and later took it off. If you have tried neither, please don't post...I am looking for firsthand experience.

The bottom line is: Is grip tape even necessary?

Cheers! M2

CaseyChaos · 04-05-2008, 03:13 PM

I can't answer your question, but I am tearing up this forum looking for a template so I can try it out on my XD45 Service.

A little help?

ichy_trigger · 04-05-2008, 03:17 PM

I have the Trugrip on all of my range guns. Its the best thing since PB&J!

texas_rebel_1980 · 04-05-2008, 03:20 PM

i don't have it but am considering it and let me tell you why. i was in the shower and heard a crash in my house and i was the only one home. i got out grabbed the xd and noticed that it was a little hard to hang onto with a wet hand. now i imagine in a high stress situation, where your palms are really sweating, it would be beneficial. it seems like it would really hold a good shooting grip as well.

(and keep the off color comments to a minimum!

)

BMC6765 · 04-05-2008, 03:29 PM

I dont plan to take mine off. Grip feels more solid. And "wet hands" is a good point.

MGD 45 · 04-05-2008, 03:47 PM

I've had grip tape on both my Glocks & my XD45 for the past year or so now. I love it & it works great except that it has chewed through the right side of about four of my dress shirts!

Now understand that as an LEO who works in Investigations, I have to wear dress attire everyday with a gun on my hip. So I guess I'm probably more susceptible to this wear & tear than the average guy.

I took the grip tape off the left side of the gun (which was the side tearing through my shirts) and kept the tape on the right side of the gun. This worked perfectly, because as a right handed shooter, it still allowed my strong hand the benefit of the tape, & there wasn't any noticeable felt loss in traction on the gun.

I imagine this might work for you, since the left side would be against your skin........

Jim B · 04-05-2008, 04:26 PM

I have been using grip tape, or at least what I found to work (it's anti-slip tredding by 3M for steps) and right away I ran into the same chafing you mention. Rather than take off any of the panels I have on the grip I used a scrap of it to buff off the roughness on areas my waist comes in contact with. So far so good, not sure what will happen with shirts, but even if the roughest parts of the surface are sanded down there is the area under the trigger guard and back side of the grip that are pretty much original texture. When I was shooting in the snow up here it made a big difference.....fabric gloves on hard plastic just slip....

J

The Knight Of Light · 04-05-2008, 04:34 PM

I have grip tape on my pistol but I shoot competition where a bad grip will kill your score.

I cover all that is legal on my grip. I might have Scott's grip treatment done to the next XD9tac I get.

M2XD · 04-05-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGD 45

I took the grip tape off the left side of the gun (which was the side tearing through my shirts) and kept the tape on the right side of the gun. This worked perfectly, because as a right handed shooter, it still allowed my strong hand the benefit of the tape, & there wasn't any noticeable felt loss in traction on the gun.

I imagine this might work for you, since the left side would be against your skin........

That's a great idea, but unfortunately it wouldn't work in my case as I use a lefthand IWB so the right side of the grip is against my back.

I have a shoulder rig that I use when I can wear a jacket but being that I live in southcentral Texas, we don't have many times where wearing a jacket is necessary. Also, I hate not being able to take the jacket off. But I do use the shoulder rig under my motorcycle leathers, as it is a perfect solution for how to carry when riding.

Keep the ideas coming...

Cheers! M2

bobert1 · 04-05-2008, 06:40 PM

Have TruGrip on my competition guns, not on my CCW.

View Poll Results: I've put grip tape on and...
found it to be a lot better than the stock grips	19	61.29%
found that the stock grips are sufficient, so I took it off	12	38.71%
Voters: 31. You may not vote on this poll

04-05-2008, 03:12 PM	#1
M2XD XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 413	Is Grip Tape Even Necessary??? OK, I've had some grip take on my XD45ACP Service for a while now, and about the only thing it does is rub my back raw when I wear my IWB holster at the 7 o'clock position. I thought the stock grip was pretty sticky, and the grip tape I got has been even stickier; but I am not sure it is even necessary. So, I am looking for opinions from those who have put on grip tape and kept it, and those who put it on and later took it off. If you have tried neither, please don't post...I am looking for firsthand experience. The bottom line is: Is grip tape even necessary? Cheers! M2 __________________ Springfield XD-45 ACP Service Springfield M1911-A1 GI Government 1954 Colt .357 Magnum Plus a few others...

04-05-2008, 03:17 PM	#3
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,398	I have the Trugrip on all of my range guns. Its the best thing since PB&J! __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

04-05-2008, 03:20 PM	#4
texas_rebel_1980 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seguin,Texas Posts: 1,171	i don't have it but am considering it and let me tell you why. i was in the shower and heard a crash in my house and i was the only one home. i got out grabbed the xd and noticed that it was a little hard to hang onto with a wet hand. now i imagine in a high stress situation, where your palms are really sweating, it would be beneficial. it seems like it would really hold a good shooting grip as well. (and keep the off color comments to a minimum! ) __________________ It may be 5'clock somewhere, but its Beer Thirty here!!!

04-05-2008, 03:29 PM	#5
BMC6765 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 174	I dont plan to take mine off. Grip feels more solid. And "wet hands" is a good point. __________________ “People will continue to kill each other for the rest of humanity's life. As long as there are humans on this planet we will kill each other. There is nothing you can do to prevent it. Taking away our ability to defend ourselves is simply going to make us ALL targets”. Quote from, The Knite Of Light

04-05-2008, 03:13 PM	#2
CaseyChaos XDTalk Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Humble, TX Posts: 43	I can't answer your question, but I am tearing up this forum looking for a template so I can try it out on my XD45 Service. A little help?

04-05-2008, 03:47 PM	#6
MGD 45 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Perry Posts: 939	I've had grip tape on both my Glocks & my XD45 for the past year or so now. I love it & it works great except that it has chewed through the right side of about four of my dress shirts! Now understand that as an LEO who works in Investigations, I have to wear dress attire everyday with a gun on my hip. So I guess I'm probably more susceptible to this wear & tear than the average guy. I took the grip tape off the left side of the gun (which was the side tearing through my shirts) and kept the tape on the right side of the gun. This worked perfectly, because as a right handed shooter, it still allowed my strong hand the benefit of the tape, & there wasn't any noticeable felt loss in traction on the gun. I imagine this might work for you, since the left side would be against your skin........ __________________ " Don't sweat the small stuff...& it's all small stuff. "

04-05-2008, 04:26 PM	#7
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	I have been using grip tape, or at least what I found to work (it's anti-slip tredding by 3M for steps) and right away I ran into the same chafing you mention. Rather than take off any of the panels I have on the grip I used a scrap of it to buff off the roughness on areas my waist comes in contact with. So far so good, not sure what will happen with shirts, but even if the roughest parts of the surface are sanded down there is the area under the trigger guard and back side of the grip that are pretty much original texture. When I was shooting in the snow up here it made a big difference.....fabric gloves on hard plastic just slip.... J __________________ Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. - C.S. Lewis

04-05-2008, 04:34 PM	#8
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,331 Blog Entries: 12	I have grip tape on my pistol but I shoot competition where a bad grip will kill your score. I cover all that is legal on my grip. I might have Scott's grip treatment done to the next XD9tac I get. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #A56661 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

04-05-2008, 06:40 PM	#10
bobert1 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 544	Have TruGrip on my competition guns, not on my CCW. __________________ XD9 Service Bi-Tone for Production XD9 Compact Bi-Tone for carry XD45 ACP Tactical Bi-Tone for L10 w/ PG SS Magwell ROCK RIVER CAR A4 w/EOTECH for side matches USMC Veteran USPSA CRO - TY51981 (forever 'C' Class)

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