I may have amassed a decent collection of pistols over the years, but without exception, I keep coming back to my good old Gen 3 Glock 19 for everyday-carry. Like just about every firearm I own, I’ve done a bit of work to it to make it unique, but aside from a few internal doodads, a set of TRUGLO TFX night sights, and some aesthetic touches, this pistol still looks and feels a lot like it did when it came from the factory.
My love for this pistol aside, that’s sort of the problem.
While later model Glocks have a more abrasive grip (though still not quite to my liking), these old Generation 3 pistols come with grips that feel fine… until your hands are slick. Add a bit of sweat, water, or (if you’re in a fight for your life) blood, and you can’t help but start to worry about how effectively you can grab at your piece. This isn’t too big an issue for slow and steady target shooting at the range, but a rapid draw from an IWB concealed carry holster can get tricky when your hands are slipping around on the pistol.
The obvious (and cheapest) solution to this dilemma is to stipple the grips of your Glock using either a dremel tool, a soldering iron, or both. I’ve seen this done very effectively, and in some cases, in beautiful ways — but I lack the artistic talent and coordination required to make mine look good, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I love this old gun too much to feel comfortable hacking away at it like that. So what does one do when you need to add grip to your Glock, but you’re too much of a coward to pull the trigger on stippling?
You use a stick on solution.
Talon Grips offers a variety of stick-on solutions for a number of different weapons, but despite the variety, the application process is pretty much the same for all of them. Start by giving your pistol grip a good cleaning with the included alcohol swab, then simply wrap the grip around the handle of your pistol like a sticker. The grip has a fair amount of stick to it, but it’s forgiving — you can peel off portions and reapply them if you didn’t get your alignment quite right on the first pass.
Once it’s stuck on, you’ll need a hair dryer or heat gun to melt the grips into place. Heat the grips until they’re hot, but not too hot to touch with your bare hands. Then, press down firmly on the Talon Grips using your fingers to help the slightly-melted material seep in and adhere to all the nooks and crannies of the pistol. I repeated that process four times before calling it quits.
What you’re left with is a pretty damn good looking (and grippy) result that I’m certain will make me feel more confident on the draw. My only pressing concern is how long these grips will last through frequent use and the formidable humidity of these Georgia summers. After I’ve had a chance to beat the living hell out of these grips for a while, I’ll bring this pistol back into the office for round two of this review, focused on the durability and longevity of Talon’s grips.
