Injection marks on XCompact module

Thomas Lee said:

I’m seeing these circles on the X compact grip modules (there are some on my regular black version too) and I’m a little bummed they couldn’t hide those better. Am I being too harsh? Are marks like this necessary evils or did they cheap out? 90 bucks for this premium grip…. What do you guys think? View attachment 461300

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It's only a handgun.

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Double Tap said:

It's only a handgun.

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And polymer at that.

I've not noticed them until now, but it doesn't bother me. Maybe they can be buffed out? I have switched a number of mine to Icarus Precision just because I prefer a metal grip module over polymer.

I have 2 X-compact grips and your bottom "circles" are about the same as mine. But on my grips I don't' notice the top marks at all. My grips are both black. It looks to me that you have a fine pistol. Personally, I wouldn't sand/polish it because I'd probably scratch it up and make it worse!!

hauki said:

I have 2 X-compact grips and your bottom "circles" are about the same as mine. But on my grips I don't' notice the top marks at all. My grips are both black. It looks to me that you have a fine pistol. Personally, I wouldn't sand/polish it because I'd probably scratch it up and make it worse!!

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That pretty much describes me... as I grab power tool and say "hold my beer and check this out!"

Thomas Lee said:

I’m seeing these circles on the X compact grip modules (there are some on my regular black version too) and I’m a little bummed they couldn’t hide those better. Am I being too harsh? Are marks like this necessary evils or did they cheap out? 90 bucks for this premium grip…. What do you guys think? View attachment 461300

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It’s a mass produced piece of plastic! Shoot the heck out of it.

All of the polymer grip modules are like that.
It is due to how the are molded.

GoneBallisticInAlabama said:

All of the polymer grip modules are like that.
It is due to how the are molded.

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Yep. The part has to be ejected from the mold.

Mr Lee, it’s not a FERRARI

I had never noticed that on mine until I saw this. Mine is very light and half of it is under the manual safety lever. So I would have never seen it. I did see a little blemish gouge on the under side of the module close to the muzzle. I think I got it today shooting off of a rest. And I see a slight wear on the trigger and the safety levers from carrying it in my pocket. The good thing is that honest wear doesn't bother me. It shows I use it. I don't have any queens. All of mine are shooters.

esh21167 said:

Yep. The part has to be ejected from the mold.

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Yup yup, all plastic parts have those marks, period. Injection molds leave tags and marks.
Don't like them, buy an all metal/alloy gun.

My SIG Tungsten Infused XSeries TXG grip has them too, and I can only wish that it had cost me $90, mold release marks and all..

Sprue marks and mold lines are easy to clean up with sandpaper. 320, 400, 600, 800 grit should be more than sufficient.

If you have access to a sand blasting cabinet you can finish the part with a uniform peen to mimic the factory texture.

When I shave off a beaver tail or bevel an accessory rail, I find that I can blend the factory finish into the refinished area with sandpaper alone. Most people couldn’t even tell it didn’t come that way from the factory, even on close inspection.

It's not uncommon for folks to reprofile their P320 grips.
If done carefully the final result is hard to tell from factory.
Getting rid of mold marks such as those would be well within possibility for anyone who wanted to do a bit of googling.
It's actually pretty straightforward.

Edit to add: I see that I responded a hair slower than @strikerfire.

Thomas Lee said:

Haha I like your style. However, I have this X Carry Grip Module that I can't find a single mark like that. So it seems possible to hide these types of marks if you try hard enough.

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Y'all are great, your responses are fantastic. I will shoot the **** out of this thing and those marks will not bother that one bit. Was just curious!

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I don't know anything about plastic forming but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there are different techniques which leave different artifacts from the process.
Perhaps Sig uses multiple vendors as well. Just a thought...

Sorry, not into plastic. Maybe they’re all like that.

I hear you. I
Can live with them but I bet there is enough room in the profit margin that they could clean these up, especially on the special-higher level grips. Hell, my Wilson Combat grip modules have some mold marks or whatever. I didn’t really notice them until… well Putin and Russia…

Thomas Lee said:

Haha I like your style. However, I have this X Carry Grip Module that I can't find a single mark like that. So it seems possible to hide these types of marks if you try hard enough.

View attachment 461349

View attachment 461351
Y'all are great, your responses are fantastic. I will shoot the **** out of this thing and those marks will not bother that one bit. Was just curious!

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I hear you Thomas. Just depends on how the the mold is made as to whether or not a prominent
tag remnant is left over. It "was" there but some marks can be filed/shaved of at the factory.

Regardless, I'm with you, Just go shooting and don't worry about it.