HandleitGrips Gun Grip Review

Somewhere between just putting skateboard tape on the grip of your gun, and springing for/doing a full stippling job are several companies producing adhesive grip enhancements for your firearm. Amongst those is veteran-owned-and-operated HandleItGrips.

Out of the blue, the crew at Handleitgrips kindly provided me with a nice sampling of their products, including grips for the SIG SAUER P365 SAS, Magpul MOE-equipped AR15s, the H&K VP9, and the GLOCK 30.

A few days after getting notified of the impending care package, the HandleItGrips grab-bag arrived in it’s shiny black/red/silver packaging.

How did it all work out? Read on…

And yes, I’m reviewing an adhesive gun grip. I’ll review any firearm, or firearm component you send my way. Send me a castle nut and I’ll wax eloquently about it’s pros and cons…

Anyway…

Grip Matters

Well, before we get into the nitty-gritty of the HandleItGrips, we’ll cover the basics of grip. It’s rather simple. The better grip you have on your gun, the more accuracy and precision you can achieve. There’s a ton of techniques and dry-fire drills you can do to improve your grip. However, you do run into the limitations of your hardware with most firearms at some point.

With mass-market pistols such as GLOCKs, the ergonomics usually represent an overall average of customer requests and preferences. Some people like rough grips with the texture of sandpaper. Some don’t. The designer’s challenge is to find a happy medium, which they usually do. But, if the grip doesn’t suit you, you’ve got options.

The first option that comes to mind is, of course, stippling. To keep it simple, stippling is where one takes a soldering iron, and melts the polymer of the firearm grip surfaces in a dot-like pattern to create texture.

Stippling is an art, and it isn’t something you should do casually. If you make a mistake, you can damage your firearm. In the case of most pistols, the grip is part of the frame, which is the serialized component. Thus if you mess it up, you’ve voided the warranty and you’ve got to purchase a new firearm and most likely deal with the time and fees associated with the background check process. Professional stipplers like Pewfessional over at CW Gunwerks have years of experience, and they ensure the proper stippling technique.

However, good stipplers are in high demand, and you will have to pay accordingly.

But, if you’re on a budget and a time crunch, that’s where adhesive grips like HandleItGrips come in.

The HandleItGrips Gun Grip For The GLOCK 30

Like I said at the beginning of this spiel, the kind folk at HandleItGrips sent over a decent smorgasbord of their products, including some for the redheaded step-child of the GLOCK family, the GLOCK 30 .45 ACP compact pistol.

For my first foray into the world of grip modification, I chose the GLOCK 30.

“Why?”, you may ask be asking yourself, “Isn’t your go-to gun the H&K VP9?”

Well yeah, it is. But think about it this way.

• At the time of receiving the HandleItGrips, I had never done any major modifications to the grips of any of my guns. If that’s how the grip came, that’s how it stayed.

• Though I knew the HandleItGrips could be removed with ease if needed, I didn’t want to change things up right away on my EDC gun. Even a little tweak has an acclimation curve.

• One thing I don’t like about the GLOCK 30 is the grip (too smooth) so I figured why not?

Applying the HandleItGrips

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m kind of a caveman when it comes to fine craftsmanship. Maybe it’s all the Bang Energy I drink, I don’t know.

Anyway, the application of the HandleItGrips turned out to be rather easy, maybe taking 30 minutes on the outside if you do it right.

The first step is to clean the area where the grips are to be applied. In your HandleItGrips package is an alcohol wipe if you don’t have anything else handy.

The key really is to double-check the positioning and fit. Before peeling the grips off of their backing, you can do a “test”, and line everything up. Once you’re sure of the alignment, the fun begins.

What I did was pressed the grips lightly at first, just enough to stick, but not so much to be permanent. HandleItGrips says the grips can be un-stuck a time or two for the final fit and finish.

Press firmly, making sure there’s no air bubbles. Then whip out a hair dryer and “cure” the application, while pressing down to further adhere the grips. Concentrate on the edges, since that’s where it’s most likely to peel.

Rinse and repeat.

Done. For kicks I let the gun sit overnight without bothering it.

The HandleItGrips In Use

So, how do the HandleItGrips stack up? On a Generation 3 GLOCK 30, the difference is night and day. The grip feels rougher, and more secure, which is a good thing. Again - grip matters. More surface area, more of a sure grip.

Aesthetically, they’re great. They don’t look like a low-budget add-on in the least. Applied properly, the HandleItGrips add a utilitarian aesthetic to the gun.

Worth noting is that the material itself is quite thin, considering what it does. Of course, the GLOCK 30 feels different, but in no way does it feel bulkier, nor does it impede essential functions like holstering and unholstering the weapon. It’s a world away from just wrapping skateboard tape around the grip and hoping for the best.

Recommending The HandleItGrips

Would I recommend the HandleItGrips? Definitely.

Unless you have a stipple job done, this is a great way to add a little ergonomic enhancement to your favorite pistol or rifle. And at that low price point, it’s definitely in impulse-buy territory. Plus, it’s non-permanent so if you decide to change up the grip color or you’re selling the gun and want to return it to factory settings, at it were, it’s super easy.

With minimal skill and maybe 30 minutes of time, this is a highly-recommended upgrade.

Check them out at handleitgrips.com

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