Author Topic: micarta grips are slippery (Read 1460 times)

shilo · « **on:** October 31, 2006, 02:10:47 PM »

The micarta grips (factory) on my FA 83 are too slippery. I know single actions are supposed to roll up in the hand upon firing, but these grips are so slippery it makes just aiming the gun somewhat difficult. They are more slick than any wood single action grips that I have. Anyone else have the same problem?

MS Hitman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2006, 02:27:31 PM »

Not one bit.

All three of my FAs wear micartas as does my .500 Linebaugh Bisley. You really do not want a grip that is "grabby" when touching off the heavy loads.

shilo · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2006, 02:35:30 PM »

I've shot single actions for 21yrs and I understand how a single action is supposed to handle recoil. It just seems to me that these grips are so slick it actually makes getting a consistant grip on the gun somewhat difficult.

MarkH · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2006, 01:48:40 AM »

Maybe a little slick out of the box, but they get pretty tacky after a while, shooting cast bullets and getting lube residue on them. Another good reason to only clean your guns when they quit functioning.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2006, 04:38:19 AM »

I can appreciate the problem. I've got a set of slick and pretty wooden grips that I don't like because they're too slippery for me to get a consistent grip on. I've seen quite a few FA premier guns retrofitted with Pachmayr grips. They're not pretty, but I like them better, and it does solve that problem. Another option is to put a little target shooter's rosin or beeswax on the grip to make it tackier. That helped with my fancy grips, but I switched to Hogue rubber grips instead to get a real improvement in the grip. The issue was not so much gripping the gun while I'm practicing in the house, but when in damp or sweaty field conditions. The wood was just too slick for me.

HuntingGuy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2006, 05:16:09 AM »

Quote

The issue was not so much gripping the gun while I'm practicing in the house

You get to practice in your home? Lucky....

shilo · « **Reply #6 on:** November 01, 2006, 06:43:21 AM »

I've thought about the Pachmayer's and haven't ruled them out, but I like the look of these much better. One thing that might help is getting the grip reshaped. Its got way too much flare (width) for me at the bottom. I was comparing these to my Ruger Bisley, which I don't have any problems with, and the Bisley grip is much thinner.

La Verne · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2006, 06:48:22 AM »

I agree that Packmeyers are the way to go and have used them on all my FA's. A smooth unfinished wood grip is also good if looks are a concern. BTW, what is micarta? It's a plastic isn't it?

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #8 on:** November 01, 2006, 07:50:39 AM »

Marcata (excuse the spelling if that isn't correct) is a fabric that is embedded together with some type of "epoxy" (although I am not certain if it is actually an epoxy per say) like product. It reminds me a lot of fiberglass in appearance and concept, but functionally it is not like fiberglass. It is very very hard. Your not going to break it like fiberglass could. It is almost impossible to scar, and if you do you can simply rub a wax on it to make it look essentially new.

Just for the record, I have abused one of my knives far too much when rushed...actually using the handle as a hammer to pound in some nails. Each impact did leave a small blemish in the material, but like I said I rubbed it with a wax and those blemishes disapeared. I am NOT ADVISING someone be so impatient of course, but to me the knife I was using simply does not mean anything to me except as a tool...so I used what I had. Today, no one would ever know any different and it is still as solid as day one. I have had that knife for about 5 years of abuse.

I also have marcata on tip overlays on many traditional bows. It absorbs the impact of the string on the tips of the bow when the bow is shot. I have never scarred it.

Ironically, it is easy to sand too.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #9 on:** November 01, 2006, 09:44:56 AM »

"switched to Hogue rubber grips"

Do Hogue have rubber grips for FA?
They said they didn`t have - when I called them

?

Broom Rider · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2006, 12:53:00 PM »

Put a little rosin on your palms just prior to shooting and you'll hang onto the gun better.
I wouldn't do it, but it would change the conditions you speak of.

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2006, 01:01:08 PM »

You might just try removing the oils from your hand and grip using alcohol before each use. I can't imagine the grips being that bad without some contamination of oils on them.

Questor · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2006, 02:58:07 PM »

I doubt that Hogue makes them for FAs (mine are for S&W). The rosin idea is fine except that I didn't like it for field use. It's typically damp or I'm sweaty enough for the smooth wooden grips to be unpleasant.

Steve P · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2006, 03:28:47 PM »

Hogue does NOT make grips for FA. I called trying to get them for my silhouette guns. Hogue did say the Super Blackhawk grip could be modified to fit on FA. I have ruined two of them giving it a try. I have the packmayrs on two of my FA. I don't like them near as well as I like my .22 with the micarta's. If anyone hates their micarta grips, let me know and maybe we can work out somekind of trade.

Steve

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2006, 04:51:52 AM »

Uncle Ed always reviews problems pragmatically, and deals with them accordingly. I checked with him on this topic and he said that his approach would be to remove the grips from the revolver, take a wood rasp to them to roughen them up a bit, then replace them. Why didn't I think of that?

Lee Robinson · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2006, 04:59:58 AM »

I wouldn't do it, but I wonder what a checkered grip would feel like under recoil?

Questor · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2006, 03:17:38 AM »

That's been tried, at the expense of removing skin from the hand.

dave hall · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2006, 07:50:37 PM »

I know this is a FA forum,but I had a Ruger Birdshead Vaquero with these grips in 45 colt.An using CorBon HardCast loads I had to use my shooting gloves.If I didn't it felt like it was coming out of my hands. ::)I will never buy any gun with these grips again.I'll stick with wood.Dave.

2 dogs · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2006, 12:09:45 PM »

Be the Gladiator. With a steely look in your eye reach down and rub sand on your palms........

shilo · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:28:02 PM »

I think what I was having problems with was not the grips being slippery after all. It was the grips were the wrong shape for my hand. The other day I decided to remove most of the flare in width in the grips. From the grip screw down to the end of the grip there was a very pronounce increase in the width of the grips. I think it had the effect similiar to that of trying to hold an upside down wedge. Well I removed almost all of that. Now the grips are a gradual taper from the top of the grip to the bottom of the grip. It also had the effect of making the bottom of the grip more oval in shape instead of round. (when viewed from the bottom of the grip) I went out and shoot today and I feel like I can get a much better hold on it than before. I can control it better in recoil and when aiming it doesn't feel like it wants to roll around in my hand.