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After visiting a gun shop yesterday and handling a Gen4 Glock I want to change up the grips on the Gen3 I currently have to something a little rougher. I'm interested in the Hogue Handall Full Size Grip Sleeve for less than $10. In addition to the grips I'm looking to change the sights from the factory issued to the XS Express Sights. I'm a good shot with the factory sights but want to try these out for faster sight acquisition.
If you've had any experience with either or both of these products I would appreciate any feedback you have.

The grip sleeves I've seen and used add extra bulk to the grip of your gun. They are an inexpensive option and easy to remove if you don't care for them. XS sights what can I say? You'll either love them or hate them nobody I've talked to is indifferent to them. I had them on a gun and couldn't wait to get them off. I would suggest trying a gun that has them before buying.

I have XS sights on almost everyone of my carry guns. They are great and simple to increase your score on the range.

texanron wrote:After visiting a gun shop yesterday and handling a Gen4 Glock I want to change up the grips on the Gen3 I currently have to something a little rougher. I'm interested in the Hogue Handall Full Size Grip Sleeve for less than $10. In addition to the grips I'm looking to change the sights from the factory issued to the XS Express Sights. I'm a good shot with the factory sights but want to try these out for faster sight acquisition.
If you've had any experience with either or both of these products I would appreciate any feedback you have.

The A Grip product from Brooks Tactical is a superior solution. It's a cinch to install and provides a very comfortable and durable grip surface. I use it on all my polymer framed guns.

I have Hogue Handall Full Size Grip Sleeve on my keep-at-home Gen 2 Glock 19, I like it when shooting, hate it when carrying as it does fatten up the grip a bit and the friction rubber grabs shirts.

I got a soldering iron and "textured" my "carry" Glock 26 how I like it, just where MY fingertips go, not too ruch so I can still go without an undershirt and not sandpaper my side with the grip.

Glock sights ... I've used night sights and standard sights, but all my Glocks and 45XD wear advantagetactical sights with bright orange rear and bright yellow front. Nothing I've used can get me a sight picture faster than "make a triangle" advantagetactical sights do. XS Express Sights are good, just a little small for my eyes, so a sight picture takes me longer, plus, I actually have to have my glasses on, which, in the middle of the night, I'd rather grab the gun, than glasses then the gun, if I only had time for 1, and I can use the advantagetactical sights without eyeglasses...

I tried A-grip and the hogue grips but wasnt pleased with them. I went ahead and stippled my glock with a wood burning iron and absolutely love the results. You can pick up a kit at hobby lobby for 15 bucks and just practice on the glock tupperware box. As for sights, ive read some love and others dislike the XS sights. Just keep in mind the XS sights are combat sights and might take a couple of trips to get used to. Goodluck!

Excaliber wrote:

texanron wrote:After visiting a gun shop yesterday and handling a Gen4 Glock I want to change up the grips on the Gen3 I currently have to something a little rougher. I'm interested in the Hogue Handall Full Size Grip Sleeve for less than $10. In addition to the grips I'm looking to change the sights from the factory issued to the XS Express Sights. I'm a good shot with the factory sights but want to try these out for faster sight acquisition.
If you've had any experience with either or both of these products I would appreciate any feedback you have.

The A Grip product from Brooks Tactical is a superior solution. It's a cinch to install and provides a very comfortable and durable grip surface. I use it on all my polymer framed guns.

+1

other than heat stippling the grip, I think the A-Grip is the best solution for increasing traction on a Glock grip. Skateboard tape will work too, but is almost too much extra traction (feels like sandpaper). That said ...

cubbyjg wrote:I tried A-grip and the hogue grips but wasnt pleased with them. I went ahead and stippled my glock with a wood burning iron and absolutely love the results. You can pick up a kit at hobby lobby for 15 bucks and just practice on the glock tupperware box.

After trying EVERYTHING on my Glocks for years, this is what I finally settled on too. It was intimidating at first. But I practiced on the near useless "speedloader" Glock provides with the gun (or the box if you prefer), and also some other random polymer items I had until I got a consistent pattern that was easy to do and I could replicate. Obviously, there's a chance you could void your warranty doing this so that's definitely a consideration. But I've never heard of this actually happening to someone.

Anyway, here's some additional info on stippling the grip ... viewtopic.php?f=82&t=33861&hilit=stippling" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the information!

Is installing new sights something I should leave to a gunsmith or are they simple enough anyone can do it?

I recently installed XS Big Dot Tritium sights on my favorite carry weapon, a Colt Defender. While, as said above, some may hate 'em, I love 'em. Instinctive sight picture with target acquisition, night and day. Ideal for self-defense. No longer am I tempted to look for the classic sight picture -- a tiny front sight centered in a tiny rear sight -- consuming unavailable milliseconds. When I put the big dot on the target I hit it. Sight picture is much less important at expected self-defense range, of course, than is trigger control.

I had to make many adjustments when transitioning from military and NRA target competition to a realistic attitude toward self-defense shooting -- everything from stance to (horrors!) holding the handgun with two hands. I rate the XS Big Dot as one of the most important transitions I have made. Shooting to stop an assailant and shooting at paper which is not shooting back are two very different things, as all here know, and the tools appropriate to the one may need some adjustment to become tools for the second.

I have fired many, many different handguns, and I have no difficulty rating my Colt Defender affixed with XS Big Dot sights and a CT laser as being hard to beat for self-defense.

Elmo

PS I would suggest that whether or not you need a gunsmith for changing sights is one of those things that just depends. In my case, for example, the original sights on the Defender had Novak cuts fore and aft. Changing them was simple, with little needed other than a vise to hold the slide.

It is very simple if you have sight tool. I have one for all Glocks, but it will also work on the M&P.

If you are close to Irving you are welcome to borrow my tool or I will help you. It does not take long to change out both sides.

carlson1 wrote:It is very simple if you have sight tool. I have one for all Glocks, but it will also work on the M&P.

If you are close to Irving you are welcome to borrow my tool or I will help you. It does not take long to change out both sides.

Pastor - May I take you up on this offer too? I have new night sights to install on my M&P and I'm scared to hammer them out and hammer in the night sights.

geekwagun wrote:

carlson1 wrote:It is very simple if you have sight tool. I have one for all Glocks, but it will also work on the M&P.

If you are close to Irving you are welcome to borrow my tool or I will help you. It does not take long to change out both sides.

Pastor - May I take you up on this offer too? I have new night sights to install on my M&P and I'm scared to hammer them out and hammer in the night sights.

Sure. You can use it with no problem. Can't break away from duties on Sunday or Wednesday. Just shoot me a PM. I have never did M&P, but watched one the guys from the PD change mine out. I change my Glocks in a matter of minutes.

carlson1 wrote:It is very simple if you have sight tool. I have one for all Glocks, but it will also work on the M&P.

If you are close to Irving you are welcome to borrow my tool or I will help you. It does not take long to change out both sides.

Thanks for the generous offer! Unfortunately, I'm about 4 hours south of your location. I'll have to be on the lookout for a sight tool now.

The Tru-Glo brand Brite-site, tritium & fiber optic combo sites are great and always very bright day or night. They are around $80-100 installed.
I would recommend staying away from big dot front sites if you ever do any shooting at distances greater than 10-15 yards. The dot is often times bigger than the target.

I'm an avid Glock shooter and own many however I am not a fan of the new texture on nthe Gen. 4's. It's way too rough if shooting for extended periods of time. it also seems as though it would wear a hole in the fabric of your shirt in concealed carry situations. The Hogue grip is a great and affordable choice.

I have never had any issues with XS Big Dots at 75yds.