A GRIP HACK FOR THE POORS
The grip of a weapon is a highly debated point for many individuals. It is the part of the gun that connects the shooter to the simple machine. Beyond being to hold the weapon securely and point the weapon, the grip serves little purpose. On pistols it is usually housing the magazine well. On rifles, the grip is a great place to store an oil bottle or batteries.
AS A FUNDAMENTAL
Since the beginning of handheld weaponry, the issue of grip has been an issue. Having control of the weapon can make or break your performance, to a point. Holding the pistol and being able to keep a consistent hold is essential for fast followup shots. It is suboptimal to have a pistol that jumps around in your hands or rotates while cycling. This causes inconsistency in shot strings and slows you down.
SUBJECTIVITY
I have found over the years that grip is a combination of physical size, strength, training, and the individuals experience. One person who shoots recreationally will be fine with slick grips while practitioners who shoot under stress and high heat will demand grip and texturing. Of those wanting texture will have a range of what they consider acceptable. In essence, grips on a firearm are largely subjective and one size does not fit all or most.
HOCKEY TAPE
On my Glock 17 (as seen above) and my HK45C Tactical, I have used hockey tape for over a year. The tape is just barely tacky in a way that leaves the smallest film. Even when you have sweaty hands, you get a good hold on the fabric that the tape is made of. The tape can be bought on Amazon for cheap. It comes in a variety of colors, and they even sell it in pink for those that put compensators of 9mm pistols. Once you feel that the tape is no long holding on, just take it off and rewrap the grip.
In terms of how to wrap your grip, I recommend a 1/3 overlap, meaning only overlap the last strip of hockey tape with 1/3 of the next strip of tape. This prevents the tape from inconsistently thick. In some cases, I have seen operators that do a triple wrap of tape right under where their middle finger rides the undercut of the trigger guard.
FRICTION TAPE
Friction tape is something I still see on pistol grips in SWAT and SF holsters. This stuff has been used for decades to add grip to magazines, grips, and other items that need to be manipulated and held securely.
I used friction tape on the Glock 27 I had because the grip was nice and had a nice set of finger grooves, but it just was not enough for me to get the best purchase possible when I was actually training and drenched in sweat. Yes, the tape did leave a residue feeling on my hands and it did mark my side with a black residue where I was carrying the pistol, but it never became slick when I sweat all over it. I NEVER had a concern about my grip on the pistol.
SKATEBOARD TAPE
The old school way of getting an aggressive grip on a pistol was to use skateboard tape. You could apply the tape at the weak points or attempt a DIY grip wrap like what Talon Grips offers. This is not going to be a quick process, but it could be a fun project for you to figure out with a scalpel. I have used this type of grip tape a couple of times (Thanks Hickok45) and I never had success either with Talon Grips or skateboard tape. After a few long days of carrying and dry fire practice, the tape starts loosing its adhesion. Maybe I installed it wrong, but either way, I have lives with more affordable options since then.
DIY STIPPLING
The last option is to do some stippling with a soldering iron. This is something I would never consider, but it is something many brave individuals are happy to try. The big issue I have with this is that it would affect my resale value on my guns. It would make it hard for a shop to take my gun at a good price. I am all about resale value to be able to trade in my guns that I am not using for newer models that I might work better with.
WRAPUP
Grip texture and method of improvisation is a very personal thing. I will not try to pretend that I know everything about DIY grip options, but I do know my patterns and my needs. I work great with Hockey tape and I love that it is removeable and easily replaceable. If i absolutely had to have the guns for life, I probably would be practicing doing some grip modifications. But there are other considerations such as cost of tools, time available, risks involved, and the effect it will have when carrying. Will friction tape make a mess on a nice shirt? Will a DIY stippling job chew up your shirts and snag stuff like a thorny vine (Looking at you M&P 2.0)? Will hockey tape or skateboard tape give your grip the right balance of grip to comfort balance? You may just have to experiment with these concepts to find out what works for your needs. All I can do is introduce you to the options.