First‐ and second‐order reflection effects in oblique incidence surface acoustic wave gratings are examined. A general formulation usable for both metallic and same material grooved overlays is provided. The existence of several important effects, particularly a reflection effect at the second harmonic of the grating and a velocity shift at the first harmonic for grooved gratings, are demonstrated, and the behavior of these effects as a function of incidence angle is examined. For angles of incidence of interest in the production of reflective array compressors, these effects are analyzed as a function of metallization ratio.