Rubber grips don't last forever!

[RVTECH]

I remembered I still had the original grips off my 1991-A1 .45 and decided to try them on my new RIA as they are a little thicker and wrap-around.

Well, as I was screwing one of the screws in I see a crack appear in the edge of the hole. OK, so I remove the screw and take the grip off and slightly bend it and it fully cracks through. As the other side did as well. Heck, they are only about 22 years old!

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[Tlock]

I never did like rubbers....tried them once and threw them away!

 

[CLT65]

I never did like rubbers....tried them once and threw them away!

On an unrelated note and completely off topic, don't you have something like a dozen kids?

 

[Tlock]

On an unrelated note and completely off topic, don't you have something like a dozen kids?

I was talking about ruber grips.....

 

[GrayGoose]

Well, as I was screwing ...

Yep, broken rubbers can totally ruin one's day.

 

[CLT65]

I was talking about ruber grips.....

Oh, yeah, uh, me too...

 

[gmerkt]

Yes, rubber hand grips from the factory have a finite shelf life. My experience is with Colt grips. The grips in the OP appear to have dried out. The issues I've had with some made in the 1990's are of an opposite nature. That is, they start to sweat oils out of the rubber material. They get sticky.

I've owned many pairs of Pachmayrs over the years and a few Uncle Mike's. Never had an issue of this sort with those. Colt used different outside vendors to make those. Some must've been better than others. Smith & Wesson has used Uncle Mike's as factory grips on some revolvers, they don't sweat out chemicals.

The Pachmayrs don't tend to dry out either, at least in my experience.

 

[kmk1012]

My four year old Ruger grips that came in my MKIV 22/45 tactical SUCK, they don't conform to the frame very well. I purchased a replacement set but did't realize they were for a MKIII and did the pay it forward thing with them. Still too cheap to buy a $30 set of G10's so I'll probably just buy another gun.

 

[RVTECH]

That is, they start to sweat oils out of the rubber material. They get sticky.

Oddly this was the case with these grips. They had like an 'oily' residue on them when I took them out. They had been stored in the original package the Hogues came in. It seemed to wash off ok before I installed them.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

I believe that residue is basically the crap from our hands.

 

[gmerkt]

I believe that residue is basically the crap from our hands.

On the grip panels factory installed on many 1991A1's in the 1990's, chemicals sweat out on the inside of the panels where there has been no handling. While in storage. So to some extent, it comes from chemical content.

The Colt wrap-around one piece grips are made of thinner material. Which I suspect makes them more vulnerable to deterioration.

I suppose environment has some effect on weaker "rubber" compounds as well. As in vehicle tires and windshield wiper blades that deteriorate quicker in hot and or ozone laden climates.

 

[MacReady]

You're probably looking at a chemical process called hydrolysis. Sorry it's been a long time since I took a chemistry class so i'm probably confusing terms here but, basically its water that breaks down the chemical compound bonds in rubber over time. I think it attacks the polymers. Can't remember if it's an acidic or alkaline thing. The residue is most certainly the broken-down polymer oils leaching out. Long story short keep it dry dry dry and move/handle it occasionally so that water vapor doesn't settle down inside it and start breaking things down.

This can happen to anything with polymer btw. Happens to shoes/boots all the time. If you got a pair you haven't worn in a while, considering wearing them just to work the settled moisture out of the soles. Oh and if you're a nerd it can happen to action figures too. I've heard of people losing lots of money in collectibles because of improper storage. If it crumbles before your eyes you know you done messed up.

 

[The Heretic]

The only rubber grips I've had issues with have been the "slip-on" sleeves, and only when I tried to slip them on to a factory FN FAL grip - the sleeve split right off the bat.

Other Hogue grips have not been an issue and I have a few that are more than 20 years old.

 

[Catfishmoon]

I am a fan of rubber grips on handguns, there is nothing showy or cool about them, but I get a better grip on rubber than on other material.

 

[washagonian]

The correct grips are important when it comes to effective, efficient and safe firearms operation.

See below what happens which you have the wrong grips on your handgun.



Cheers.

 

[Fatcat200]

The correct grips are important when it comes to effective, efficient and safe firearms operation.

See below what happens which you have the wrong grips on your handgun.

View attachment 2081192

Cheers.

Reminds me of the old Limbsaver butt pads.The old ones turn to goo.

 

[Stomper]

Yes, rubber hand grips from the factory have a finite shelf life. My experience is with Colt grips. The grips in the OP appear to have dried out. The issues I've had with some made in the 1990's are of an opposite nature. That is, they start to sweat oils out of the rubber material. They get sticky.

I've owned many pairs of Pachmayrs over the years and a few Uncle Mike's. Never had an issue of this sort with those. Colt used different outside vendors to make those. Some must've been better than others. Smith & Wesson has used Uncle Mike's as factory grips on some revolvers, they don't sweat out chemicals.

The Pachmayrs don't tend to dry out either, at least in my experience.

I have some Pachmayer wrap around grips on my Beretta 92F that I installed back in '87.... they're still good to go!

 

[Medic!]

I never did like rubbers....tried them once and threw them away!

Ya..... I've heard about the problems with micro plastics.

 

[Fatcat200]

Ya..... I've heard about the problems with micro plastics.

Pachmayer's last almost forever

 

[gmerkt]

Happens to shoes/boots all the time.

Yes, and I think there is a quality component to this process. Meaning, "better" shoes (more expensive) don't tend toward this as much as less expensive ones might. As a general rule but not an absolute one.

I have some Pachmayer wrap around grips on my Beretta 92F that I installed back in '87.... they're still good to go!

Same experience with one I bought for a Smith & Wesson Model 28 that I bought in the same year. I seems just as serviceable now as it did when new. Including the little factory flaw that it came with. I say "it" because this particular one came as a one-piece, wrap around. But they might've made these in a two halves version as well.