Which Grip Texture is Better for You?

Your firearm grip plays an important role in your overall comfort and accuracy with your firearm, and we aren’t just talking about your grip strength itself. The wrong grip texture may be playing a big factor in your consistency as a marksman, which can be deadly if you are in a self-defense situation, so you want to be accurate at any distance with your everyday carry gun. No matter if you carry a Glock, a Sig, or another brand, you want to be as accurate as possible at all times.

In this guide, our team at ECM Precision will explain the differences between smooth-textured and rough-textured grips so you can make an informed decision on which to purchase for your everyday carry firearm. 

What are Smooth-Textured Grips? 

Smooth-textured grips are grips made from soft, non-abrasive materials such as: rubber, acrylic, polished wood, or metal (like the ECM Hex Grip Insert). Smooth-textured grips are the go-to for most people who carry concealed fire-arms. Due to the variety of ornate materials, smooth grips look great on show-pieces. 

However, they transfer less energy into the body, meaning that they move more from recoil after each shot which can lead to decreased accuracy. They also are not ideal for hotter or humid environments as it’s hard to have a consistent shot grouping when your firearm is slipping in your hands due to sweat. Also, it can make the draw from the holster a bit trickier.

• Greater perceived recoil due to less friction 
• Slippage between rounds may lead to less accuracy in shot groupings 
• Little to no damage done to hands or clothes 

What Are Rough-Textured Grips? 

Rough-textured grips are grips made from abrasive materials. They can also be made from softer materials like rubber or polymers being machined into rougher shapes (like the ECM 360 Brass Cheese Grater Palm Swell Grip Insert). Made for maximum stability and accuracy, these grips won’t slip regardless of environment. 

Rough-textured grips also provide better recoil control to ensure closer shot groupings. They aren’t perfect though, and they do come with their set of drawbacks. Rough-textured grips tend to tear into people’s skin during long sessions, and they also catch on clothing leading to slower draws and potential tears in clothing. 

• Reduced perceived recoil
• More consistent shot placement 
• May tear clothes and scratch hands 

Which Grip Texture is Best For You? 

Determining the grip on your firearm mainly comes up to personal preference, although each is suited to different general uses. Rough-textured grips are best suited for sport-shooting, firing larger caliber firearms, and people who’re struggling with consistency in their aim. The increased security from the texture allows for a better transfer of energy into the body, as well as ensuring the firearm doesn't slip in between shots, usually leading to closer shot groupings, which is great for competition shooting.

When it comes to practicing at a firing range, or in most self-defense situations a smooth grip is can be more practical. A smooth grip won’t tear up your hands as much, and also tend to be quicker on the draw as they don’t run the risk of snagging on any loose clothing, so you can draw and line up your sights easily. Their main drawback for smooth grips, as mentioned earlier, is the potential for decreased accuracy due to higher recoil. 

Final Thoughts 

While your comfort and accuracy when shooting could be caused by flaws in your grip and technique, your current firearm grip could also be playing a factor. Whether your firearm feels as though it’s shifting or slipping every time you fire, or your current grip is tearing up your hands and clothes. Our team at ECM Precision has you covered for any scenario. Make sure to check out our shop for various grip inserts and modules to bring your marksmanship to the next level!