Badger Banter: Which Grip Material Is The Best?
Share
Which grip material is the best? Like many questions in the realm of firearms, the answer is nuanced and not one-size-fits-all.
Badger Custom Grips offers two laminate options--Dymalux and SpectraPly--along with a wide selection of natural hardwoods. Let's look at the differences between the options, then delve into the "best" material for various uses.
Dymalux
What is it?
Dymalux is a color-dyed laminate that is infused with a resin, then pressure-kilned. This material is dense, hard, water-resistant and easy to maintain. Many of you reading this likely have a Dymalux (or similar product) grip or stock on a firearm you already own. If you have an OEM wood stock or grip, the odds are very high that you have a laminate product like Dymalux. Gun manufacturers love this product for wood grips. There's virtually no maintenance required and the grips last a very long time, even with intense use.
Why is it a good choice?
This low-maintenance option is our most popular grip material for good reason. The unique colors available combined with the extremely long life of the product make it a no-brainer for many customers. Simply wipe this material off after going to the range and you're good to go.
SpectraPly
What is it?
Next is SpectraPly. This product is essentially the same thing as Dymalux, minus the resin/pressure-kiln process. Without the resin, the colors are more vivid and the level of contrast can be significantly higher. This results in a more vibrant grip appearance. This material is not as hard as Dymalux and requires more attention to the finish. We recommend our high gloss finish on this product to preserve the color contrast.
Why is it a good choice?
SpectraPly is lighter than Dymalux, but still a very resilient product. The lamination lends strength, and we've actually found SpectraPly grips to be our best suited option for very high recoil (e.g. .454 Casull, .500 S&W Magnum). In those calibers, a bit less rigidity can increase comfort and durability.
This option is much more porous than Dymalux and can be susceptible to dulling with an oil finish. The high gloss finish is our durable water-based polyurethane. This finish holds up very well and does a great job of preserving the color contrast that makes SpectraPly so eye-catching.
Hardwoods
What is it?
Finally, we have our natural hardwoods. I'm an unapologetic hardwood evangelist, so beware of my bias! We offer a large selection of hardwoods, and each one is unique in its characteristics. Our standard hardwoods include woods such as American Black Walnut, Birdseye Maple and Bocote. We also offer premium grade hardwoods that offer even more dynamic appearances. Depending on the finish selected, some maintenance will be required to ensure the durability and beauty of the grip.
Why is it a good choice?
No two wood grips are the same, so each hardwood grip that goes out the door is totally unique. This selection can readily be finished in either high gloss or oil finishes. Additionally, with proper care, hardwoods can be every bit as durable as either of the options listed above.
Our high gloss finish is a water-based polyurethane and is extremely durable. This is the low maintenance solution for hardwoods. An oil finish requires a bit of maintenance, but it is so easy that anyone who can properly care for a revolver can get wonderful results from their oil finished wood grip.
Note: I highly recommend our Gunstock Oil for ease of use and quality of results. Wipe it on and wipe it off and you'll have a great looking grip for many years of hard use.
Each hardwood has its own characteristics, and the right finish choice can really impact which option is the correct one for you. For example, I regularly encourage customers to select an oil finish for guns that are regularly carried and/or used regularly at the range. If these grips get scratched, dented or dinged, you can lightly sand the grip and apply a new coat of oil to restore the original beauty.
Conclusions
In truth, there are no bad options available to you. If the material isn't good enough for us to stand behind, you won't find it in our lineup. The "best" material is going to depend heavily on what's important to you. Low maintenance? Dymalux. Vibrant colors? SpectraPly. One-of-a-kind grain patterns? Premium Hardwoods. Combine this with the finish options, and there's sure to be a solution for you at Badger Custom Grips.
-Jacob