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This being my first full year with a CHL and hence the first summer carry experience, I thought I'd warn other newcomers to regularly remove the grips from their pistols and check for rust. I wipe my pistols down carefully after each time out, but I noticed that sweat was wicking underneath the grips on both my 1911 and my P64. I had a Hogue Jr rubber grip on the P64 and the sweat wicked under it and generated a lot of surface rust on the front strap. A little Kroil and elbow grease removed it. I have now removed the Hogue grip from the P64! The frame of my 1911 also had some surface rust underneath the grip panel that rides against my body.

I oiled both frames under the grip panels generously and will now be checking them more often!

Good heads up

Great tip!

I also make the effort to wear an undershirt, (yeah, I know it's HOT!), that seems to help a lot. Also, I've ordered all my holsters with a sweat shield, that helps as well.

Good advice.

That is good advice since I just switched from my HK USP 45 to my Sig P220R. Getting use to the removing grips.

Both of my IWB holsters have sweat shields but they only cover the slide region and not the grips. Its the grips that always get sweaty. I'd noticed that early on and wipe them down, but never thought about the sweat wicking under the grips.

I have worn a T-shirt on occasion and as you said - it IS HOT! Maybe I should take to doing this more often though.

All that - there is something to be said for those modern Dura-Cote finishes!

Same happened to me. I don't normally take the grips off, but after 500 rounds in one day, I thought I would give the gun a really good in depth cleaning. I was a little shocked when I took them off. Not bad, but being in Houston, there is going to be moisture if you carry!

Now I am checking weekly.

oh, and while you're at it, blow out all the lint...

Rather than a cotton t-shirt, you might consider an UnderArmour (or similar brand) t-shirt against your skin. They're much better at wicking sweat away from your body and therefore (IMHO) are more comfortable. Pricey, but worth it, especially if you're going to be out in the Texas heat for any significant time.

Yankee Girl wrote:Rather than a cotton t-shirt, you might consider an UnderArmour (or similar brand) t-shirt against your skin. They're much better at wicking sweat away from your body and therefore (IMHO) are more comfortable. Pricey, but worth it, especially if you're going to be out in the Texas heat for any significant time.

I personally can't stand them in the heat, here or overseas. Maybe it is just me.

Thanks for the heads up ... After reading this I pulled my Hogue Handall grips off my Glock, luckily no rust.
(Just kidding, but I better check my Taurus .357 revolver, even though it is Stainless)

Purplehood wrote:

Yankee Girl wrote:Rather than a cotton t-shirt, you might consider an UnderArmour (or similar brand) t-shirt against your skin. They're much better at wicking sweat away from your body and therefore (IMHO) are more comfortable. Pricey, but worth it, especially if you're going to be out in the Texas heat for any significant time.

I personally can't stand them in the heat, here or overseas. Maybe it is just me.

There are two kinds - one for wearing in hot weather (called Heat Gear) and one for retaining heat. But if you don't like clothes fitting close to your body, yeah, it wouldn't be a good option.

Yankee Girl wrote:Rather than a cotton t-shirt, you might consider an UnderArmour (or similar brand) t-shirt against your skin. They're much better at wicking sweat away from your body and therefore (IMHO) are more comfortable. Pricey, but worth it, especially if you're going to be out in the Texas heat for any significant time.

I have some of those shirts that I wear when exercising, and by wicking the sweat away from the body it just wicks it right to your pistol.

I'm halfway tempted to break down and start carrying one of my "tupperware" guns in the summer time. :-)

I use cheapo t-shirts with the sleeves cut out underneath my button-down work shirt. Creates a sweat barrier and no sleeves makes them a little cooler in this Texas heat.

After reading this thread on Friday, on Saturday I took the grips off my Kimber 1911 and my S&W 442. Sure enough, there was a TINY bit of rust on the Kimber under the Hogue grips. I was able to clean it up, and I put a light layer of oil under the grip on both pistols. I will have to start checking more often under there, especially during these hot summer months.

This morning I took my Taurus PT145 instead of my S&W 442 when I went for my morning jog with the dog.

MojoTexas