Stupid Gun Inventions: Rubber Grip Sleeves

Posted by Mostly Genius – December 15, 2008

Assuming a person has something approaching normal size hands I cannot figure out why anyone would want to make their pistol “fatter.” After a certain point the wider the grip, the harder it is to hold onto. Since the grip sleeve isn’t actually affixed to the pistol (except by its own tension) they are susceptible to turning and shifting, especially in hot climates. Moisture has a tendency to get beneath the sleeve and the actual grip panels. On metal framed guns this can promote rust, and any grit that gets between the sleeve and the frame can grind through the finish. Rubber grips also tend to stick to clothing more than wood or plastic. 

If you really need a “fatter” a grip then replace the grip panels, but for most people this isn’t really necessary. I replaced the grip panels on one of my 1911s in favor of panels that were even slimmer than stock. If a single stack pistol is too slim for your hands then why not get a double stack gun?

  • Student
    I also dissagre in big hands perspective. and also - why should I buy an double stack gun? then it would be much thicker than the single stacky with rubber sleewe on it. and another thing - building moisture, becoming unstable from heat and etc... What the ....???? As long as i'm not shooting beduins in a Sahara desert it absolutely doesn't bother me. So no way mister I'm going to accept this invention as an unessecery one.
  • @Lance A proper grip is required for accuracy, I agree. If you are shooting smaller guns you are going to have to compromise. I don't get both hands touching the grip on my J-frame revolver because the grip is too small for that. I wouldn't make the grip larger because that defeats the purpose of having a small gun.

    I agree that touching more surface area gives you more control over the gun, but I don't agree that making it 'rounder' is the way to control twist, making it 'flatter' is the way to do that.

    I have no problem telling people with small hands to get smaller guns, so I don't have a problem telling people with big hands to get bigger guns.
  • Lance
    I appreciate your perspective, but I must kindly disagree--at least in some instances. I have particularly large hands, and you know what they say... That's right! Large hands, large gloves. Handguns that use single stack mags are often too small for my hands. Some firearms have replaceable grip panels and rear inserts (like the Walther P-99), but some handguns do not.

    A proper grip is required for consistent shot placement. A good two handed grip should leave some space on the "handle" of the pistol on the weak side, where your fingers stop. You put the thumb side of the heal of your palm in that space so that you cover all of the handle. Increasing surface area contact helps to control handgun twist within your hand. If my fingers on my dominant hand are wrapping completely around the pistol handle and nearly touching the palm heal of my hand, then I have nowhere to grip the panel with my weak side palm. In that type of situation I would try to increase the diameter of the handle.
  • Tom
    Personally I like them on certain guns. I use one on my Glock 32, but not on my Beretta PX4. I find that I get a better hold on the gun, maybe due to my large hands and once I get a grip, there is less slippage, or at least less sensation of slippage of the gun in my hand. It's also amazing how much that little grip dampens recoil which also further aids control. For certain types of carry, the "stickiness" with clothes can be a good thing. For example it really helps with t-shirt holsters like the 511. My $.02
  • I would sand down your Kel-Tec if it is biting you (the nice thing about polymer pistols, all of of gunsmithing can be done with an emery-board.) I can't abide "sharp" pistols myself. I can't speak to the 22/45, as I don't shoot any bullseye-type competition and I am not familiar with the gun in question (my MKIII had removable grip panels, but the stock ones suited my purpose.)

    I have seen an awful lot of purchases where sitting on the counter with the new-in-box gun of choice, the single box of the cheapest ammo, a crappy holster, and one of the Houge gun condoms.
  • I only use them on two guns. One is the Ruger Mk.III 22/45, because I find the built in plastic grips, which are not changeable, to be too small for competition purposes. The other I use them on is my Kel-Tec... and that's only because the plastic grip on it is brutal otherwise. I don't have one on my Glock, which is what I carry most of the time. Truth be told, they won't make a gun that grips badly for you suddenly fit like a glove, but they can make worse feel a little better.
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