First ever attempt at grip tape. MK9 E'03.

[Droolguy]

CURRENT STATE OF FIREARM:

10/13/15: So, here's some updated pictures showing the grip tape wear (or lack thereof) and the firearm in a less "mall ninja"-y configuration. ~350 rounds fired, ~218 hours carried.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Firearms/20151013_105658_zpspkak70ur.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Firearms/20151013_105658_zpspkak70ur.jpg.html)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Firearms/20151013_105648_zps4m1fsn9l.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Firearms/20151013_105648_zps4m1fsn9l.jpg.html)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Firearms/d5768628-871c-44df-9cee-4ea34876371d_zpsxeyklmfm.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Firearms/d5768628-871c-44df-9cee-4ea34876371d_zpsxeyklmfm.jpg.html)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Firearms/20151013_105738_zpsiyrtsg0o.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Firearms/20151013_105738_zpsiyrtsg0o.jpg.html)

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ORIGINAL POST:

Hello everyone. I have been lurking on the forums for a while and finally decided to contribute.

Just finished grip taping my MK9 and thought I would share. I think it turned out fairly well, all it cost me was some blood from my index finger. Razor blades are sharp, who knew?


http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_130232_zpsudwazfoi.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_130232_zpsudwazfoi.jpg.html)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_132942_zpsbos3vvlj.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_132942_zpsbos3vvlj.jpg.html)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s286/Droolguy/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_133006_zps6e6omngh.jpg (http://s155.photobucket.com/user/Droolguy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150926_133006_zps6e6omngh.jpg.html)

Used the "Gt-5000" grip tape. It's not abrasive but has decent stick to it, I find myself wishing it was slightly softer (it's rubber-like but still a bit plastic-y, not sandpaper) but it seems to break in a bit with use.

Helps considerably with not-perfectly-dry-hands operation of the slide.

Anyone else grip tape their EDC?

[CJB]

I dunno, but that thing looks awful mall-ninja to me.

Sorry to burst the first post bubble... keep up the great input, and welcome!

On third thought... whats the point?

To make it rot your pocket out? Give you a chafed waistband? Make it HARDER TO DRAW?

Folks want melt, to create snag free pistols... and this is sort of anti-melt, but... whatever creme fulls your twinkie... I guess.

[muggsy]

There's at least one critic in every crowd. If it pleases you it pleases me. Hang in there, Droolguy The nice thing about grip tape is that if it doesn't workout you can always remove it. No harm no foul.

[Bobshouse]

Wow, that grip tape looks just like wood! Great job! One quick thing though, did you dip your slide in charcoal?

Seriously though, let us know how it holds up after a few rounds, hope it doesn't start slipping after a little heat.

[CJB]

There's at least one critic in every crowd

Hey ol' man... I'm just fillin' in for ya, while you get well, and get back to being the pain in the butt curmudgeon you was born to be!

[Droolguy]

Eh, to each his own I suppose. I did get a bit of a giggle about the mall ninja comment though.

The wood grips are there because the stock ones are entirely too slick and the wood is easier to get a better hold on the gun.

The grip tape is there because the MK9 has a relatively small slide and a recoil spring in excess of 20lbs, making it difficult for even guys to manually rack with dry hands, let alone sweaty or greasy hands which make it *difficult*.

The laser is there because the sight radius is incredibly short and statistically if I were to need to use it, it would be at a time or in a place with relatively low lighting. Same reason it has night sights.

It's not meant to be pretty although I did attempt to make it look somewhat presentable, it's meant to be as functional as possible.

I would like to comment on the "harder to draw" thing though, not once, ever, have I had a gun that was so hard to draw as to create any kind of disadvantage. I strongly suspect that this is a placebo effect for most people.

On that point though I do find it funny that people "slick" up their guns only to tighten their holsters as much as possible for retention, if they carry at all.

Oh, and hello everyone, nice to meet you.

[b4uqzme]

Welcome. Them MK9's are sweet shooters. I got a IDPA BUG match coming up soon and I think I'll take mine this time. I gotta give you credit. Kahrs are hard guns to personalize IMHO. You did it in spades! Hope your finger heals quickly.

[muggsy]

Hey ol' man... I'm just fillin' in for ya, while you get well, and get back to being the pain in the butt curmudgeon you was born to be!

Thanks CJ, it's nice to know you have my back. :)

[muggsy]

Don't worry, Droolguy, after a couple thousand rounds Kahrs get a lot easier to rack and your forearms will look like Popeye's. :)

[Droolguy]

Thanks b4, I didn't know how it would turn out when I started, I have AlOx'd race guns in the past but it seemed like that would be a step past practical for an EDC.

[Droolguy]

Ha, I would imagine so.

The issue came up when trying to rack it after eating a bag of chips, which is a test I like.

First gun I have ever owned where I struggled to get it to come back, especially when attempting to manually lock the slide. Gave it to my buddies, still with chip grease on it, to make sure that it wasn't just me being a weakling or something. Out of all four other people there, only the last guy managed to get it all the way back on the first attempt.

I suspect because the grease had been rubbed off by his turn.

[OldLincoln]

Not a criticism, just curious how the tape on the slide will hold up when hot. Also something that gets slippery with sweaty hands is the mag. Doesn't help if it slips out of your hand when most needed. I think of that last match trying to light a fire in the rain. Course it's been over 60 years since I've done that!

[OvalNut]

I'd frankly be more concerned with how the grip tape would/could snag on my clothing and print. A defensive situation is much different than range time comfort shooting. I don't mind getting used to the cheese grater grip of my PM9 since if/when I NEED it, I will only be firing maybe a full mag and a reload. Comfort be darned at that point.


Tim

[Droolguy]

Difference is a mag only weighs a few ounces and can be slid into place with little to no resistance, whereas the slide has several pounds of pure resistance you need to overcome with roughly the same grip-able surface area as the magazine.

I do agree with the sentiment though, dropping a mag would be quite bad.

I will let everyone know how the tape holds up when hot, just picked up a couple hundred rounds I am going to run through it when time permits.

Hopefully it will stay stuck since the company swears up and down that the tape is made specifically for firearms.

[Droolguy]

I'd frankly be more concerned with how the grip tape would/could snag on my clothing and print. A defensive situation is much different than range time comfort shooting. I don't mind getting used to the cheese grater grip of my PM9 since if/when I NEED it, it will only be firing maybe a full mag and a reload. Comfort be darned at that point.


Tim

This was my concern as well, since AlOx'd guns snag on just about everything. So far so good though, it's not snagging on anything and I have been wearing it for a couple hours now. Pretty sure it's because the tape is actually smooth and not sandpaper like at all. It's similar to the material in hogue grips almost, just not as soft.

[JohnR]

Ha, I would imagine so.

The issue came up when trying to rack it after eating a bag of chips, which is a test I like.

First gun I have ever owned where I struggled to get it to come back, especially when attempting to manually lock the slide. Gave it to my buddies, still with chip grease on it, to make sure that it wasn't just me being a weakling or something. Out of all four other people there, only the last guy managed to get it all the way back on the first attempt.

I suspect because the grease had been rubbed off by his turn.
LOL I'm picturing a bunch of muscular bad as$ dudes passing around the little MK9 trying to rack it as a hazing ritual.

The stiff slide is definitely not one of Kahr's better features.

[yqtszhj]

I like the wood grips and the mk9. Very nice.

On the grip tape if you get tired of it there are those of us that have put grip tape in the grooves of the slide just like you did and it makes getting a grasp on the slide much easier. I think a person or 2 has also put it on the forward sides of the slide. If it works for you on top go for it.

[CJB]

the slide has several pounds of pure resistance you need to overcome with roughly the same grip-able surface area as the magazine.

You need this:


http://www.complete-strength-training.com/images/improve-grip-strength-hand-grippers.jpg

Makes me wonder if a shooter who cannot rack the slide for lack of grip strength, will also be able to avoid limp wristing whilst firing.

[Ikeo74]

When I am eating chips I stay away from handling my MK9, or any other gun. Chips with salt and grease will not be good on the wood and the SS slide. I use a good soap to get the grease and salt off my mitts before I reach for my holster.

[Alfonse]

E


The laser is there because the sight radius is incredibly short and statistically if I were to need to use it, it would be at a time or in a place with relatively low lighting.

Oh, and hello everyone, nice to meet you.

I did not realize that the Crimson Trace Laserguard would fit the MK. Is that an LG437 like the ones for a plastic Kahr?

Welcome!

[berettabone]

I use it on my grip, and it doesn't affect my draw at all.........................................

[Bobshouse]

I missed out on a sale of a p380 cause one of our senior members couldn't rack the slide. What good is a self defense orientated weapon if you cant chamber a round?:faint2:

[Ikeo74]

Keep 1 in the chamber and it will rack itself. (Have a youngster rack the first one) OK, they do get easier to rack after 200 practice or break in rounds. I am a senior and I can hand rack both my 9mm Kahrs.

[Bobshouse]

Well, mine has about 600 rounds through it and he still couldn't do it. Guess I should of mentioned he is a senior senior (78), but in excellent shape.

[Droolguy]

When I am eating chips I stay away from handling my MK9, or any other gun. Chips with salt and grease will not be good on the wood and the SS slide. I use a good soap to get the grease and salt off my mitts before I reach for my holster.

Until that day something happens and you didn't clean your hands.


You need this:


http://www.complete-strength-training.com/images/improve-grip-strength-hand-grippers.jpg

Makes me wonder if a shooter who cannot rack the slide for lack of grip strength, will also be able to avoid limp wristing whilst firing.

Well, here's an old video of one of my other firearms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbFx5i1fnXE

It's not a grip strength problem, I can rack it just fine as long as my hands are clean.

The difference being my hands wont always be perfectly clean.


I did not realize that the Crimson Trace Laserguard would fit the MK. Is that an LG437 like the ones for a plastic Kahr?

Welcome!

Yep, I pulled that one straight off my P45 when I noticed that the trigger guard shape was almost identical between the two firearms.

[Alfonse]

Yep, I pulled that one straight off my P45 when I noticed that the trigger guard shape was almost identical between the two firearms.

Isn't that something. Thanks.

[OldLincoln]

I can see it now.... Carry guy eating salads in McDonalds instead of burger and fires so he can handle his gun it the bad guys come for him. Good way to loose weight and wifey will be impressed. :) I do agree it could be a problem though especially if your greasy hands sweat when life is threatened, could be like Barney Fife as you draw and the gun flies out of your hand. Perhaps grip tape is a good thing. Please let us know how it works out for you.

[Droolguy]

Well, logging about 14 hours a day IWB with it, over 30 hours now and no issues. Riding in an uncle mikes soft nylon holster.

The grip tape does drag on the nylon, but doesnt snag.

Due to no retention device on the holster I actually like this. Before the weapon could simply fall out of the holster, now it must actually be drawn.

[DeaconKC]

DG, welcome to the place. if the grip tape you used doesn't hold due to stiffness, DecalGrip is very flexible and easy to cut.

[Droolguy]

Just an update, removed the laser.

After carrying it for an extended period I decided it added too much bulk to the firearm, not in weight, but area.

When shooting I noticed that my shots were hitting to the left, took a while but I figured out that this was because the laser occupied so much space that it was actually supporting a good deal of the tension on the firearm (when holstered) and bending.

Carrying in the 1-to-2 o' clock position when seated the laser would dig into the forward part of my hip bone and shift it's point of aim.

Grip tape is still sticking, with no signs of wear.

[Droolguy]

So, somewhere around ~350 rounds through the MK9 at this point with the grip tape applied and ~170 hours carried.

Grip tape shows zero signs of wear, no snagging, and adhesive is still sticking.

[Dbholfo]

Good stuff.

[Droolguy]

Added more pictures to the OP. Nothing much to report, everything is going well so far.

[Alfonse]

I imagine that does make it easier to manipulate the slide.