Stippling Pros and Cons, And Why This Should Be Done By an Expert

Getting your gun stippled goes way beyond cool-factor. Stippling improves your grip under any conditions, wet or dry. It’s also a factor in muscle memory. Your hands and fingers will find the same place on the weapon, every time, because they become comfortable in only one arrangement.

A sniper rests their cheek at the exact same spot on the butt-stock of the rifle, every single time. Their finger pad meets the trigger in exactly the same way. Their grip is uniform, and modifying grips and stocks by methods such as stippling encourages this behavior, which increases accuracy. You’re shooting position will naturally hunt for its “happy place” by feel.

Tactile responsiveness combined with a sure, non-slip grip, will increase your proficiency with any weapon.

Stippling isn’t just for guns. It can be done on bows, hand tools, or any other item that would benefit from a more solid grip. Anything with a polymer grip can benefit from this process. And we do it all.

The cons, at least as some perceive them.

The biggest barrier to getting a stippling job on a Glock, or other self-defense firearm, seems to be the worry that it could somehow be used against you in court, in the unpleasant event that you actually need to use the weapon in self defense.

Now, we aren’t lawyers, we’re gunsmiths, but in general, the whole purpose of the court system is to look at the big picture. You may have this reservation, and that is your choice, but I urge you to consult a lawyer or try searching for any case where a cosmetic modification of a firearm was the cause of a guilty verdict. Ask yourself if stippling would show “intent” in a court of law.

The other big red flag is also made by concealed carry holders. Stippling, checkering, or any other modification to roughen the texture of your grip could be a cause of skin irritation when carrying. This might be something to consider, but while stippled guns can grab at pieces of shirt or rub against the skin, it’s usually a minor problem that can be fixed by a very light sanding to smooth out the surface, while still giving you the gripping force you crave.

Our customers are pretty smart, and for 99% of you, these won’t be issues, because you’ve already done your homework, so lets move on.

The Stippling Process

Essentially, what stippling entails in burning a pattern into the skin of polymer parts. This painstaking process is carried out by our artistic craftsman, so that you can have the look you want, and the gripping power comes standard.

The patterns can be made from simple dots, or teardrops, or other shapes to create an overall effect. Look at some of our previous jobs to see which effects would work best on which part of your weapon.

Though the process itself is straightforward, the actual work isn’t. Proper stippling jobs cannot be rushed, and that means attention to detail, intense focus, and a lot of work. Having a professional do this for you is the easiest way to avoid mistakes.

There’s also the matter of heat sinks, and other methods of making sure that the frame of your pistol, or the shape of your stock, doesn’t change. What good would all that wonderful grip be if you magazine failed to drop from the mag-well because of a mistake, that could have been avoided by going to a professional?

To put it simply, in most cases, our prices, which range from $250 to $450 dollars, are going to be cheaper than having to get a new stock, or a new pistol frame. And we can make sure that you get the look you want, because we have the experience to know how a certain technique will turn out.