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When you shop for revolvers, you'll often notice a variety of grip styles. One type of prevalent revolver grip is a molded grip — one that is grooved to accommodate your fingers. Molded grips are available in different materials, including the common options of plastic and rubber. If you don't already own a revolver with a molded grip and you're thinking about buying your first, here are some positive and negative attributes to keep in mind.

Pro: Ease Of Control

One of the big advantages of using a revolver with a molded grip is that your fingers will slide into the grooves and allow you to grip the firearm tightly. Even if the grip isn't rubber and, therefore, not overly sticky, you'll still feel as though you have a high degree of control when you're using this weapon. This control can help you to effectively handle the gun against recoil, and may also make it easier to retain possession of in the event of a struggle against a home intruder.

Con: May Not Fit Your Hand

You could find that if your hands are significantly larger or smaller than the average, the molded grip of your revolver may not be comfortable. For example, if you have huge hands, your fingers may not rest within the grooves of the grip. Instead, they could partially sit on the raised areas between the grooves, which might not feel good.

Pro: Improved Appearance

While your first priority with firearms should be their function, there's no discounting the fact that gun owners want their weapons to look a certain way. Simply put, a molded revolver grip can look good and give the handgun a tactical appearance that you favor. This may be preferable to buying a virtually identical gun but one that has a standard grip.

Con: It Could Snag

If you buy a revolver with a molded grip to carry under your clothing, there could be a change that the grip causes the firearm to snag in your clothing as you attempt to draw it. Although this isn't always the case, some molded grips have a semi-sharp area between the grooves. Depending on the type of shirt you're wearing — a wool sweater, for example — these elevated areas could potentially catch in the fabric and impede your ability to draw the revolver. You should plan to talk to a firearms expert at your local retailer to further evaluate these pros and cons.