1eyedfatman Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I haven't done stipling or fitting of holsters so I just wanted to get some opinions before I do anything. I received the Patriot Defense plastic grips today. For the price and material, the quality is excellent as well as the fit and texturing. Went on my Lim Pro with no problems and came with extra long screws. They feel great in the hand. The left side (I'm a righty) is great for resting the left palm on the grip swell. The right grip I'm going to try out but may end up filing some to reduce the palm swell. It feels good with a normal grip, but may be a little too much swell and the mag release is harder to reach. They are definitely keepers and I'm going to try to make them work as my primary grip, but as anything with the Tanfo, with some tuning. BTW, I where men's medium gloves. Any recommendations on what to use to file down the palm swell on the grip? Sandpaper by hand or dremel? Any particularly grit or attachment you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalShooter69 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I once asked my wife what color Sharpie I should use on the Picasso hanging in the home office. (Not really, but do you see what I'm saying)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JusticeOfToren Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I know PD has decided not to make thin or med swell versions, but I really wish they do. I am running SSI scale v2 on the left side, EGD on the right. Perfect fit for my small hands.Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Personally I'd use a belt sander. Or a large flat surface with sandpaper glued to it, and then smaller wooden sanding blocks to form curves and the like at the end... then stipple with a soldering gun. Unlike @SoCalShooter69 I already see a desire to carve mine up a bit too. In particular, to create about a 1/16" deep channel where my thumb wants to lie along then when hitting the mag release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmo2011 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Although crude in nature I've found it's easy to control how much material is removed by using a large flat file. You can use coarser or finer based on your needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbu Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 4 hours ago, MemphisMechanic said: Personally I'd use a belt sander. Or a large flat surface with sandpaper glued to it, and then smaller wooden sanding blocks to form curves and the like at the end... then stipple with a soldering gun. Unlike @SoCalShooter69 I already see a desire to carve mine up a bit too. In particular, to create about a 1/16" deep channel where my thumb wants to lie along then when hitting the mag release. I carved a channel with a belt sander. mounted the sander in a vice and ground the thumb clearance on the curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTaylor Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 Dang. I just gave them an hour of dryfire before giving up! Haha you guys are crazy with the modifications! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotDefense Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 18 hours ago, JusticeOfToren said: I know PD has decided not to make thin or med swell versions, but I really wish they do. I am running SSI scale v2 on the left side, EGD on the right. Perfect fit for my small hands. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Not exactly, we're focusing on getting the Small Frame and CZ models out before we release a smaller profile palm swell grip..... all great things come in time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotDefense Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 I've experimented with dremels, belt sanders, sand paper, etc..... Remember these are 3D printed and not completely solid. The infill is 60% so once you break through the top 4 layers of material; it leaves pretty quickly. However by switching to a finer or less course material you can then smooth it out to your liking. Also when stippling you dont need as much heat as you would on a normal polymer pistol frame, you stipple them up pretty darn quick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MemphisMechanic Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 1 hour ago, SCTaylor said: Dang. I just gave them an hour of dryfire before giving up! Haha you guys are crazy with the modifications! Givng up on these grips and switching back? Giving up and sanding them to fit your hands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTaylor Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 Yup. I didn't see any improvement for me during the time using them. In fact it messed with my draws and reloads. Maybe in the off season I'll try again. Going a bit off topic - but I don't have the time with family commitments, work, etc. to spend filing, sanding, and fitting. That time that I make away from those commitments is spent dry firing or going to the range. Everyone is different but for me with a wife, a young son (first child), and work I prioritize getting better rather than tinkering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbu Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 I too had a bit of getting used to the new grips. Took a few hours and a couple minutes with the sander too. still not done tinkering. But i don't want to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 These grips fill my hand in just the right places. I had to file down the left side to get to the catch. It feels like my small frame witness now. I love them. Going to take them to Mid-Atlantic this weekend. Hope I make weight..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClintMorris Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 If you need to borrow a belt sander I'll bring one to our next match Mike. I want to get my hands on them before you modify them though to see how I like them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JusticeOfToren Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 On 6/22/2017 at 8:14 AM, PatriotDefense said: Not exactly, we're focusing on getting the Small Frame and CZ models out before we release a smaller profile palm swell grip..... all great things come in time I held the plastic version yesterday at a match. It felt great on the left side - definitely the best grip surface area for my weak hand palm, even for a guy with tiny hands, among all the EGD/Henning/SSI grips I own. The concerns on the right side I had when I first saw the pictures were confirmed. I have to rotate my strong hand slightly more to reach the mag release button, because the swell on the right side is a bit too much. I know people will argue that the panels have very slim neck, thus right hand thumb reaching the mag release button has nothing to do with the swell on the right side. It does for me. So I really hope PD can reconsider making "med or thin" swell panels when the metal version comes out. I will be totally converting to PD grips if that's the case. Right now, I am planning to get the PD metal grips, but only use the left side panel, with SSI scale 2.0 or EGD right side panel on. BTW - what surface pattern will be on the metal grips? The tiny dots/bumps on the plastic work well, but I am not sure if they will be as effective on metal surface. I like the new Henning surface patterns, probably the most grippy among all metal Tanfo grips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaserracer Posted June 26, 2017 Share Posted June 26, 2017 I received my PD grips last week (thank you guys!) And my experience was similar to JusticeOfToren - They felt comfortable/consistent on the weak hand side with the increased surface area and traction due to the palm swell (previous grips were Henning checkered) but I have not been able (yet) to get comfortable with the angle/swell on my strong hand grip. I mainly experienced the inconsistency with sped-up reloads and draw drills (4 aces/El prez/Bill drills) but it wasn't as evident when reloading on the move or shooting more deliberately. I have been hammering the dryfire with these for the past several days with one day of live fire as well. I'm new in this game so don't take my word for it, and at $36 i think they are definitely worth a look. +1 on the idea of making 2 sizes available to the market but from a manufacturing standpoint I can imagine what an ordeal that may be. One thing is certain, if/when PD makes that option available - ill be buying them. Again. -Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1eyedfatman Posted June 27, 2017 Author Share Posted June 27, 2017 Let me tell you guys what feels fantastic. I put the PD grip on the left side and a Lava grip on the right...works great and for those guys concerned about weight, this is a very light weight option. I have taken my dremel to the PD right grip panel and have taken a lot off while keeping a similar profile and smoothing it out. I will try to file it down to the right fit for me and then stipple it. This could be really good if it works out since all grips I've seen are mirror images of each other, but these can be custom fitted with each side being different than the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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