U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- I don’t remember how long it has been now but I guess 4-5 yrs. ago I met Adam with Talon Grips which is located in Steamboat Springs, CO. I used to blackpowder hunt a lot for elk and deer north of Steamboat so I figured I had to get to know Adam. One thing led to another and I was soon testing out his grips on my Bersa .380. Since then I try to circle by and say hi every year at SHOT.
Obviously, it is imperative that when shooting you have a firm grip on your pistol. And God forbid that you ever get in a gunfight but if so, you for sure don’t want to drop your gun. Fights can pop up in a hot second and between the hitting, shoving etc. it could be easy to lose your grip. Especially if your hands are sweaty.
Over the yrs. I’ve bought various grips, new handles etc. either to help reduce recoil or to enhance my grip but I’ve never found any that I like as well as Talon Grips. I’ve tried the rubber sleeves which are basically a 2-inch rubber band that slips around the handle and they do aid in your grip but over the years these can stretch. So for what I’ve tested, Talon Grips suit me the best and are what I use on my personal carry guns.
At first blush you may be worried that you won’t apply them on straight. You may have flashbacks to when you were a kid trying to place a sticker on your model airplane. The cat passed gas and caused wind turbulence and the sticker was soon hopelessly wrapped around your hand.
Let’s dispel those nightmares. I just replaced my old grips and tried something different this time. First I loosely wrapped it around the grip so as to see exactly how I needed to lay it. Next I removed the backing off on one side and gently laid it in position. I then removed the rest of the backing and laid it in place and then pressed it tight. Wow, it took me literally seconds to install. Super easy.
But let’s back up and start at the beginning. They include an alcohol wipe so you can clean the dirt, grease and grime off for proper sticking. Give it a couple of minutes to dry and then apply your grip as described above.
Talon Grips offers four models:
- Rubber-Black: This textured rubber material is their most popular and versatile material. Great for concealed or open carry as it is non-abrasive making it comfortable when in a holster, against the skin or in the hand. Over 80% of all grip sales are in this texture.
- Rubber-Moss: This is the same textured rubber material as the one above with all of the same great benefits. The only difference here is color. This is our version of Flat Dark Earth (FDE). The rubber grips are ideal for both concealed carry and open holster carry.
- Granulate-Black: This texture is our most aggressive texture. Often compared to skateboard tape or sandpaper, this abrasive texture is non-slip. The granulate grips are more aggressive and best suited for open carry.
- PRO: The PRO texture combines the best characteristics of the granulate and rubber textures. This texture is comfortable enough for most people when carried against the skin. The surface of the grip which is made of ground up rubber, provides an aggressive grip without being abrasive. It provides a strong enough grip for competition use. This texture performs very well in wet and dry applications.
Once installed the grips won’t shift. But they can be removed and your pistol returned to normal condition. Their website says that they will last 1-3 yrs. I don’t remember but I bet I put mine on 4-5 yrs. ago. I carry my little Bersa all over. Sometimes in my holster, sometimes stuck in a pocket or sometimes in my waist band so it has a rough life. Even though the grips were getting frayed they still had another two yrs. of life left in them.
A Talon Grip is basically a pre-cut stick on tape grip. They are thin so it is not like it adds bulk to your pistol. For my smaller caliber pistols, I favor the granulated grips. Not that I can say this for sure but on some of my larger ones like a .357 or .44 mag. I’d be afraid the granulated grips may be rough on my hands so I’d put one of the other less aggressive models on them. If you stick your pistol in your belt against your bare skin you may not want the granulated grips. With the four different textures that they offer you should be able to find one that makes you happy.
The MSRP is $19.99-$24.99, according to which grip you purchase. They make grips for most of the popular pistols and a lot of the shotguns and rifles. And as is usual we will close with the specs.
SPECS:
- Trusted by law enforcement and military worldwide
- Installs easily in minutes
- Encourages faster, more accurate follow up shots
- Durable material that performs in hot, cold, wet and dry conditions
- Ultra-thin materials add minimal bulk/size
- Custom designs available in both rubber and granulate materials
- Will not move/shift once properly installed
- Removes cleanly when needed, allowing gun to return to original condition
- 30-day money-back guarantee 90-day warranty
- 100% Made in USA
About Tom Claycomb
Tom Claycomb has been an avid hunter/fisherman throughout his life as well as an outdoor writer with outdoor columns in the magazine Hunt Alaska, Bass Pro Shops, Bowhunter.net, and freelances for numerous magazines and newspapers. “To properly skin your animal, you will need a sharp knife. I have an e-article on Amazon Kindle titled Knife Sharpening #ad for $.99 if you’re having trouble.”
I have Talons on my old G21. This is quicker than stippling and replaceable.