Grip Tape for IDPA

2rott · January 25, 2008, 11:05 AM

Just came from Lowes where I saw a roll of SHURTAPE Outdoor Tread Tape. Black, all weather & 2" wide. It is very thin, self adhesive & has a very course sand paper finish to it. Has anyone used a product similiar for their grips? Does grip tape made for handguns have a very course finish?
My daughter & I just started IDPA & I thought this product might be useful.

Jim Watson · January 25, 2008, 11:44 AM

Yeah, it is less expensive than skateboard tape and a lot less expensive than precut grip tape. I used something similar for a while but went to the 3M product which has a nubbly rubberized surface instead of grit.

RickB · January 25, 2008, 12:27 PM

I'm also using the 3M stuff. I've had the same piece on one of my guns for at least two years, and there's no peeling around the edges; it's really stuck on there. And, I think it actually looks pretty good, too. It doesn't look like you glued a piece of sandpaper to your gun.

2rott · January 25, 2008, 01:57 PM

Can anyone tell me the full name of the 3M product & where to get it?

RickB · January 25, 2008, 03:05 PM

I do not have it handy, but it is sold in pre-cut strips, to be applied to stairs or ladders. The strips are on sheets of paper, with maybe 6-8 sheets in a flat, red, rectangular box. I got mine at Home Depot or Loew's, and I'm sure it would be easy enough to find, or have the "fellow in yellow" point you in the right direction.
Edit - Well, I was close. The box is blue, sort of a cardboard envelope that can hang on a hook, and it's called "Outdoor Strips", from 3M.

2rott · January 26, 2008, 12:16 PM

Thanks guys. I'll check out a couple of stores tomorrow.

Pahoo · January 26, 2008, 03:00 PM

I also prefer the 3M tread tape and found mine, in rolls, at Menards. At first I had a problem with finding the right color and finally found it in Black. I form and overlap each strip just slightly for added grip. Not cheap but works great and easier on the hand than the grit type. Be Safe .

9mm1033 · January 27, 2008, 02:02 PM

This is the tape you use on steps. I think it is made by 3M. I've seen it at Home Depot. It works great for me.

jmorris · January 28, 2008, 10:14 AM

There are different “grits” of grip tape available. I use a fairly fine skate board tape. It sticks a lot better if you sand the checkering flat before application.

1SOW · February 4, 2008, 10:08 PM

9mm1033 : Nice job on the tape. Smooth cuts and rounded corners prevent lifting.

Is that an XD-9 Tactical? If so, I'd appreciate any info you'd share on a thread farther up. "XD-9 Tactical for USPSA?"

S391 · June 7, 2009, 08:06 PM

I have some of the 3M stuff but I'm not sure how I'm going to put it on my gun. Can you guys post some pics showing how you did it?

S391 · June 8, 2009, 06:04 PM

I played with the 3M grip tape last night and it seems to work pretty well. I would have liked to have used the TruGrip but I couldn't get it in time for my match next weekend.

Here is how it turned out.

Japle · June 8, 2009, 06:27 PM

I use the 3M tape on my Glocks. I carry the G19 every day and shoot it in IDPA.
Good stuff.

January 25, 2008, 11:05 AM	#1
2rott Member Join Date: December 11, 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 96	Grip Tape for IDPA Just came from Lowes where I saw a roll of SHURTAPE Outdoor Tread Tape. Black, all weather & 2" wide. It is very thin, self adhesive & has a very course sand paper finish to it. Has anyone used a product similiar for their grips? Does grip tape made for handguns have a very course finish? My daughter & I just started IDPA & I thought this product might be useful.

January 25, 2008, 03:05 PM	#5
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I do not have it handy, but it is sold in pre-cut strips, to be applied to stairs or ladders. The strips are on sheets of paper, with maybe 6-8 sheets in a flat, red, rectangular box. I got mine at Home Depot or Loew's, and I'm sure it would be easy enough to find, or have the "fellow in yellow" point you in the right direction. Edit - Well, I was close. The box is blue, sort of a cardboard envelope that can hang on a hook, and it's called "Outdoor Strips", from 3M. Last edited by RickB; January 25, 2008 at 10:37 PM.

January 27, 2008, 02:02 PM	#8
9mm1033 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: A big city with far too many cars and people. Posts: 932	This is the tape you use on steps. I think it is made by 3M. I've seen it at Home Depot. It works great for me. __________________ No one reads or cares what is written in ones signature box. So I'm not writing anything worth reading or remembering.

January 25, 2008, 11:44 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Yeah, it is less expensive than skateboard tape and a lot less expensive than precut grip tape. I used something similar for a while but went to the 3M product which has a nubbly rubberized surface instead of grit.

January 25, 2008, 12:27 PM	#3
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I'm also using the 3M stuff. I've had the same piece on one of my guns for at least two years, and there's no peeling around the edges; it's really stuck on there. And, I think it actually looks pretty good, too. It doesn't look like you glued a piece of sandpaper to your gun.

January 25, 2008, 01:57 PM	#4
2rott Member Join Date: December 11, 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 96	Can anyone tell me the full name of the 3M product & where to get it?

January 26, 2008, 12:16 PM	#6
2rott Member Join Date: December 11, 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 96	Thanks guys. I'll check out a couple of stores tomorrow.

January 26, 2008, 03:00 PM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	I also prefer the 3M tread tape and found mine, in rolls, at Menards. At first I had a problem with finding the right color and finally found it in Black. I form and overlap each strip just slightly for added grip. Not cheap but works great and easier on the hand than the grit type. Be Safe .

February 4, 2008, 10:08 PM	#10
1SOW Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: South TX Posts: 269	9mm1033 : Nice job on the tape. Smooth cuts and rounded corners prevent lifting. Is that an XD-9 Tactical? If so, I'd appreciate any info you'd share on a thread farther up. "XD-9 Tactical for USPSA?"

June 7, 2009, 08:06 PM	#11
S391 Member Join Date: November 19, 2008 Posts: 51	I have some of the 3M stuff but I'm not sure how I'm going to put it on my gun. Can you guys post some pics showing how you did it?

June 8, 2009, 06:04 PM	#12
S391 Member Join Date: November 19, 2008 Posts: 51	I played with the 3M grip tape last night and it seems to work pretty well. I would have liked to have used the TruGrip but I couldn't get it in time for my match next weekend. Here is how it turned out.

June 8, 2009, 06:27 PM	#13
Japle Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2004 Location: Viera, Florida Posts: 1,340	I use the 3M tape on my Glocks. I carry the G19 every day and shoot it in IDPA. Good stuff.