molding target grips anyone?

[22lr]

hi tribe. I am thinking about molding my own target grips for couple dedicated target pistols. I have basic idea of how molding works - release agent, mold release angles etc. But I have never done it before and do not want to re-invent a wheel, so if someone has already done it before please through your suggestions here.

Right now I am thinking about epoxy mix with wood filings as a filler. Either that or glass microballoons instead of wood dust. Maybe there are other media to work with? Like curing rubber maybe?

 

[BCRider]

Epoxy on it's own is fairly brittle. One way around that is to fill it with chopped glass fiber with the fibers being between 1/8 and 1/4 inch long. It doesn't need to be all glass either. Some microballoon or wood dust filler will help keep them light as well but be sure to use mostly fiber for some reallly good shatter resistance.

It can be a lot of work to make the mold and all. What about making the prototypes from wood? Or another way is to "mold in place" using epoxy putty.

Watch the skin contact thing though. Epoxy in any form is hard as hell on your skin and the resins are absordbed through the skin to build up in your body over time. Wear gloves or at least a good barrier cream if you go the "squeeze to fit" putty option.

 

[tootall]

I have heard of using some sort of auto body filler to build up the grip area on a handgun.
While it is still soft, you grip the gun normally and make the goop conform to your grip.
As BCRider says, wear a latex glove or similar.