It was the second day in a row that the daily high hit 105°F, which is just shy of Indianapolis's all-time* record of 106, set back in the summer of '54, and the fourth day in a row that the mercury climbed into the triple digits.
I need to do something to texture the grip of my M&P; my palms were so sweaty that that thing squirmed in my hands like an eel every time a shot broke. I don't know how much texturing you can do with a CTC Lasergrip
, though... Maybe deck tape? Given the fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk conditions, the range wasn't terribly crowded. I was pleased to note that, out of the eight hardcore paying customers who braved the blast furnace to put lead downrange while we were there, two were decidedly non-ofay and five of us were chicks. #People_Of_The_Gun.
This is what winning looks like: Taste the ash heap of history, Sarah Brady.
*For weather purposes, time began in Indianapolis in 1871. Prior to that, the land here was without form, and void; and darkness lay upon the face of the White River.
Perhaps a bicycle tire inner tube sliced into a sleeve? 'Jus thinkin...
ReplyDeleteAs to the heat, I am certain you are mistaken. Today MUST be the all time high record, as 1954 was before the discover of Man Made Climate Change and Global Warming. Therefor, it's simply not within the allowable agenda to have a recorded temperature higher than whatever day it is today.
Mr. Naive here had to look up "ofay"!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if your grips could be coarsely checkered? I have used a shooting glove (which of course ,you wouldn't have at the time you need a defensive weapon) but I am doubtful how well some adhesives actually adhere in hot and damp conditions.
Second the inner tube. I've taken classes in 95+ high humidity and they are great.
ReplyDeleteWow, only 90 here in Houston today. How about an indoor range. I spent two days bearing my new toy, a beretta Px4 45! It's so good!
ReplyDeleteI thought about going to the range yesterday. And then I thought about all you all having to perform CPR on me. So I figured I'd spare you that.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, the weather report in Indianapolis prior to 1871 went like this: "Tonight: Dark, with scattered patches of light toward morning."
I'll refrain from speaking of large Canadian lows which are not the same as a Mexican high.
indoor range for me today. methinks. :)
ReplyDeleteLast year, Oklahoma experienced its lowest low on record, -31° on 02/10/11. It went on to break lots of heat records during its hottest summer on record, with 63 days of 100°+ temperatures. At my house, the hottest we recorded was 114.6° (yes, it was in the shade), with a handful of 112°, lots of 110°, and day after day of 108°.
ReplyDeleteSo, I suggest you get your mind ready for what's coming, 'cause you don't really know how bad it's gonna be.
I shot an IDPA match in TN yesterday. I did alright till the last stage and brain went numb in 107 heat.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't complain but 5 guys from 5th Group looked as hot and ragged as us old guys did.
Gerry
So not only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun? I thought all normal people were in the basement re-loading ammo for shooting trips in cooler weather...
ReplyDeleteMyself, I am far to delicate for that nonsense. I spent the afternoon cutting checkering on one of my 1911's. First attempt, took 5 hours and my hands are worse for the effort, but a nice sense of accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteAs for grippy M&P stuff, Dawson Precision makes some pretty good kit. They even make numbered tape for the base of the mags and have a variety of colors, though no pink for you gals :)
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80001380-1327700972
3M traction tape at Home Depot. It is for the front lip of stairs, tc. It's abt 1" wide and I think it is 20 yards long - plenty for years of shooting. Cut with scissors to fit, peel the backing and stick it on. I used it for years on my 1911's front strap. The stiky stays put until hit with Hoppes or such ut then it comes right off w no residue. 3M knows sticky!
ReplyDeleteSkateboard tape on my Glock Model 20 has worked out quite well.
ReplyDeletehttp://greatbluewhale.blogspot.com/2012/07/we-often-say-gun-control-means-hitting.html
Silly thought but instead of texturing, have you considered treating the other side of the problem?
ReplyDeletePalmar Hyperhidrosis isn't uncommon (and personal experience seems to suggest a causative link between it and asking a lady to dance), and don't you mean "my palms were so [glowing]"?
I seem to remember a (spurious?) old wives tale about using creosote, but when spending some time in the sand box (and having trouble holding my L1A1) I was sent a deodorant by an Actress/dancer friend -no, not that kind, I'm much too classy [cheap!] to associate with those. It worked wonders (although it didn't help with the flushed face and panting - also associated with 'ladies' and 'dancing', I tried a number of cures but my Sergeant insisted having a local 'thespian' [very reasonable prices over there] standing fanning me apparently 'was not the done thing').
It's apparently used by professional performers all the time (called Mitchum, contains Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly).
The other options is climbers chalk or gymnasts rosin. You could hang one of those little bags on your belt and use as needed (don't know the technical term as we here just call them spanners).
I have a Hogue Monogrip on my G20, but I have huge hands.
ReplyDeleteThe drawback to using an antiperspirant is it works by plugging up the sweat gland pores. I'm thinking that the stress of a self-defense encounter might have them un-blocked right quick.
ReplyDeleteI think there are medical ways to turn off the sweat glands in the hands, if this is a problem in general for you.
Rosin works pretty well. Any sporting goods shop that has baseball stuff will have it.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some stippled like any other polymer part.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/pictures.html
ReplyDeleteat the top on the right, he explains the limits of working with CT grips. It can be done, he's probably the guy to do it. Not that expensive, either.
I was mildly surprised to notice that damp hands make friction (baseball) tape slightly tacky. Can't speak for dripping wet yet. It does conform nicely to finger grooves and such. To discourage glowing hands, watchmakers' soap. To encourage traction, tincture of benzoin. I used to put the last one on my hands, but maybe it would work on the baseball tape, ready for short notice jobs.
ReplyDeleteYep, one more training issue, and it sounds like you managed it. We had that last weekend, but it was ONLY 96... Stair tape is an option, but it will chew up your hands over a long range day.
ReplyDeleteOldNFO,
ReplyDelete"Stair tape is an option, but it will chew up your hands over a long range day."
I've done 20-lpi checkering over a three day Awerbuck course in Indiana in August. Deck tape'll be like a baby's bottom by comparison. ;)
Someone told me that a light application of formaldehyde will keep the hands dry for a week.
ReplyDeleteRHH
I read that bloodbeast tusk was supposed to be a very grippy handle material, better than ivory.
ReplyDeleteWait . . that was fiction. (Marque and Reprisal, Elizabeth Moon, p97 on Google Books) "That's bloodbeast tusk, from Xerion. It shares with Old Earth ivory the characteristic of remaining grippy even if one's hands should sweat, but it has much better impact resistance."
Never mind.
Do what I do when there is an "exessive heat advisory" in Phx.
ReplyDeleteMake a tee time and go golfing. The courses are empty except for the other fools.
Just pull the pin!
ReplyDeleteI have an idea....cut te M & Pframe to allow for real grips to be installed. Ill bet RoBar could do it.
ReplyDeleteThen, get some nice ivory grips installed on your M & P.
Ivory is grippy, the cream color would contrast pretty nicely with the M & P black, and you would be the only one on your block with an ivory handled M & P.
Ivory is what I use on my carry 1911.
It works.
Just a thought.
"This is what winning looks like: Taste the ash heap of history, Sarah Brady."
ReplyDelete"Winning" lasts just as long as Democrats are kept from power. There is a difference between the two parties, although I'll readily admit I'm not half happy with everything the GOPers get up to.
Mike James
Golf glove. Most golfers wear them to improve their grip when their hands get sweaty. You could cut the index finger off it if you are worried about feel on the trigger. My hands don't seem to sweat, so I don't wear one. So obviously I don't have the same problem at the range. BTW it was 107 here yesterday afternoon, my son and I had a great time at the range - had the whole place to ourselves...
ReplyDeleteDavid, golf glove is a poor answer for practicing with your CCW, when you don't wear a golf glove in your daily life. Far better a strip of skateboard tape. That's what rides on the frontstrap of my 1911, and damn the finish.
ReplyDelete