If you are ever shooting, and the gun slips from your hands, let it fall to the ground.
Never try to catch the gun midair because if you grab the trigger… well… it could end badly.
A Burley, Idaho man who we will call Fred learned this lesson the hard way.
One afternoon, he was showing his friends his new Kimber pistol.
When one friend handed the gun back to Fred, it slipped from his hands.
Fred tried to grab the pistol in midair, and it fired.
The bullet went into his lower left leg according to the police report.
Three witnesses explained that the gun was loaded and cocked as they handed it around.
Fred went to the hospital where he was treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg.
Fred made a full recovery.
Of course, this isn’t the first time this type of accident has happened. But, luckily no one died because of this mistake.
Obviously, you should never be passing around a loaded and cocked firearm.
But it also helps to have a solid grip on your gun, something to give even wet or sweaty hands a firm purchase.
And when it comes to pistol grips, some people like to swap out the factory grips for aftermarket options.
But another option that more people are turning to is “stippling” the gun grip.
What is gun grip stippling?
Grip stippling is a gun modification that takes a slick factory gun grip and adds dots, ridges, and other formations to it.
The goal is to produce a texture that’s a better fit for the shooter’s hand.
The technique is growing in popularity because it can be customized for the particular shooter.
For this reason, many gun owners feel stippling is more beneficial than buying an aftermarket grip.
Benefits of stippling your grip:
The obvious reason to stipple your grip is that you will gain better traction and grip when shooting.
Whether it’s rain, snow, or sweat, a stronger grip is a huge factor when shooting outdoors.
And in a stressful situation, a proper grip is critical because you will know your hand is in the right position.
While I hope you never find yourself in this situation, blood on a gun can be very slippery.
If your hands have blood on them it could be difficult to get a solid grip, but a stippled grip could make a difference.
Plus, a stippled grip can be designed to fit the individual shooter.
This means that every time you draw the weapon it will be a familiar grip that you have trained to shoot with.
Drawbacks to stippling your grip:
The biggest problem with stippling the grip of your gun is that it is permanent.
And if it’s customized to your hand, it might not be a good fit for anyone else.
If you buy a brand-new Glock for $600 and stipple the grip, it will decrease the value. (If you don’t ever plan to sell the gun, then it doesn’t matter.)
Also, if the person who does the stippling makes a mistake it can’t be undone…
And the problem you were trying to fix could end up being much worse.
Plus, if you have any type of warranty with your gun it will likely be void if you stipple the grip.
Now, if you do decide to stipple your gun, I wouldn’t risk doing it yourself.
One mistake could completely ruin the firearm.
Instead, talk to your local gun shop and ask if they have a custom gunsmith that does stippling.
Depending on the gunsmith, grip stippling can cost from $150-$200.
But if it keeps your gun firmly in your hand in a lethal shootout, it is money well spent to save your life.
