Prefer Pachmayrs? No
I prefer the look and feel of proper Wood or Ivory grips on most handguns
Use them for specific applications? Absolutly
I do like the Pachmayr Compac for some of the undercover firearms like the Smith & Wesson Night Guards
While I would prefer the Factory Combats on these from a shooting perspective. The smaller profile of the Compacs helps concealment while still providing an adequate grip and the all black look draws less attention
When recoil reduction is paramount, I prefer the Hogue Tamer grip that was designed for the Smith & Wesson 500s. These will fir K, L and N frame Smith & Wessons
Like most finger groove grips, the finger spacing does not fit my hand with its fat fingers. So I remove the bottom finger ridge which makes them far more comfortable for me.