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Old 07-30-2018, 03:49 PM
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Default Square butt J frames... Let's talk about them.... Carrying them......

If I ever get around to fulfilling my dreams of a new carry revolver, I would like a steel frame over the 442 I carry. Plus it would be good to have a back up anyways....

So, do any of you carry a square butt J? I don't even know what all models have one. I know the 36 does. Maybe a 60? Anybody know?

And also, if anyone has a pic of a square but J next to a round butt with bigger grips, like pacs or hogue tamers, I'd like to see what the difference is.

Personally for me, round butt J's are just a bit too small and need something. I realize they're good for the pocket, but if you carry on your belt, I might be able to get away with a square butt J.

I also would like a Model 10 2"er but I have a feeling that might just be too heavy for me one a regular basis. But may be good for limited carrying. Round butt though.

Last edited by ABPOS; 07-30-2018 at 03:50 PM.
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Old 07-30-2018, 03:58 PM
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The "J" square butt is a fine handle. One of the few that's near perfect with service stocks. I have carried several of these and never found them any harder to conceal than a round butt. They are also much more comfortable.

I would love to have some of Spegel's square butt boot grips for my revolvers ... pricey and a long wait. But they look nice. I have been well served by some factory rosewood targets but they could be a little better sculpted.


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Old 07-30-2018, 04:34 PM
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What model J's do you have that have a square butt? And would you mind posting pics?

ETA: Nice!!!! Yeah, I figure a square butt J with some standard sized grips and a tyler T grip would be ideal. But I would like some checkering on them. Otherwise I prefer rubber. I don't think I can do smooth.

Last edited by ABPOS; 07-30-2018 at 05:58 PM.
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Old 07-30-2018, 04:40 PM
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Edited to add picture ... just changed away from a locked up Photobucket account ...

Model 51, 34 and 36
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Old 07-30-2018, 05:00 PM
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Here's my carry Model 36 ca. 1973 square but with targets





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Old 07-30-2018, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ABPOS View Post
What model J's do you have that have a square butt? And would you mind posting pics?
J square frame 31-1 .32

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Old 07-30-2018, 05:24 PM
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...my square butt no dash 36...with Pachmayr grip adapter...

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Old 07-30-2018, 05:29 PM
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I had a 2" Model 36 nickel with a square butt but years ago I gave it to a friend. I like round butts better on Js and Ks.

Quote:
Personally for me, round butt J's are just a bit too small and need something. I realize they're good for the pocket, but if you carry on your belt, I might be able to get away with a square butt J.
Tyler Ts solve the problem ("need something") of the stocks being too small - see M649 front and in the center between those K frames:



Quote:
I also would like a Model 10 2"er but I have a feeling that might just be too heavy for me one a regular basis. But may be good for limited carrying. Round butt though.
2" M-10 round butts are as easy to carry as any small handgun you can think of.

M 64



M 10

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Old 07-30-2018, 05:44 PM
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Default Sq not for me

I had a M36 Sq butt, 3" barrel. A little too big for concealment on both ends. My brother dumped his sq butt 2" also
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Old 07-30-2018, 05:59 PM
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I had a few square butt J's and K's over the decades, but got rid of them in favor of the round butts. The square butts just didn't feel or conceal to my liking.
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:07 PM
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Model 60 no dash square butt smooth targets.
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:07 PM
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Yoda, when I say "need something" I do like filling that gap. But really, the other issue is that if I use a round butt J, without something over the back of the frame, my right thumb gets in the way of my trigger finger a lot. I mean I feel like it has to be broken down to stay out of the way. If my grip is optimum it's fine. But sometimes when I practice drawing and don't have a perfectly perfect grip. the trigger finger will rub against that right thumb towards the end of the trigger pull. And it kind of throws me.

I don't have that problem with bigger grips of of course. And I think the square butt would alleviate that.

Right now my compromise is some rubber bands over the standard boot grips on my 442. It gives a little extra dimension. Enough that my right thumb stays out of the way. And then I can still pocket carry it at church when I'm wearing a button down shirt tucked in. I usually carry it AIWB during normal days with an untucked shirt. Heck even with a tank top it's fin. As long as it's not super tight.

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Old 07-30-2018, 06:08 PM
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So far it seems like the only J's that have square butts are 36's and 60's. Eh?
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:22 PM
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1983 Model 36ND with OEM grips....

This just feels right in my hands.

Not a “pocket” gun but it conceals just fine IWB; no different than its RB siblings.
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:27 PM
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Default Tale of two guns....

Model 38 round butt - My wife wanted that gun but it was unshootable for her without Hogue grips. Standard defensive loads still smarted. 100% improvement and still concealable.

My Model 36 square butt. Didn't really need soft grips, but after such good results with the mod 38 I thought I'd try it with the Pachmehrs. Shoots GREAT, but it kills the concealability.
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Old 07-30-2018, 08:05 PM
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My EDC is a 36 square with an adapter:


You can also find the model 37 in square butt if you look around for them:


If you're considering a K frame snub the Model 12 (airweight) is worth checking out:
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABPOS View Post
So far it seems like the only J's that have square butts are 36's and 60's. Eh?
At the very least, I know there's also the stunning M31 posted above in .32 Long, and the M33 in 38 S&W.

I get the feeling just about every S&W revolver has been made in the RB and SB configuration at some point in time.
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:59 PM
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All my J’s are round. The 36 has Pachmayr Compacts. They are a little chubby but are very good for recoil. They fill the hand. I only carry it in the waist. One off my 442s has the Hogue Tamer. I like the feel of it better. It’s a little thinner than the compacts. The Tamer can also fit in most pockets. It also is great for softening recoil. Try the Hogue Tamer for Centennial Frame on your 442. The stock Uncle Mikes Grips are great for pockets but limited use at the Range.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABPOS View Post
So far it seems like the only J's that have square butts are 36's and 60's. Eh?
Nope. 34, 35 (I think), 43, and 37. For me, SB is FAR superior to RB when using factory Magnas and a Tyler on both, and just as concealable. If target grips or Goodyears are used, there is usually no difference between SB and RB, but then the gun is often not concealable.

P.S. Also 63, and some or all of the earlier .38 S&W and .32 revolvers.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:41 PM
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All my J’s are round. The 36 has Pachmayr Compacts. They are a little chubby but are very good for recoil. They fill the hand. I only carry it in the waist. One off my 442s has the Hogue Tamer. I like the feel of it better. It’s a little thinner than the compacts. The Tamer can also fit in most pockets. It also is great for softening recoil. Try the Hogue Tamer for Centennial Frame on your 442. The stock Uncle Mikes Grips are great for pockets but limited use at the Range.
I do like the tamers. I've had them on my 442 and they work well. I shoot well with them on too.

But I was thinking if I get a steel framed J, I might lean towards the square butt to see how I'd like it. I can always keep the 442 for pocket and use say a square butt 36 for AIWB. I don't think the handle would be any harder to hide than a round butt J with some of the bigger grips on. I found the pachmyr ones to be kind of annoying cuz they're tacky and clothes sort of stick to them. Although I don't think it was overly obvious to anyone else, there was always a bulge there. I like the idea of a square butt with wood grips with some checkering and a tyler T.

I always found that set up with my Colt DS to be really good. And may be closer to square butt.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zipty6 View Post
My EDC is a 36 square with an adapter:


You can also find the model 37 in square butt if you look around for them:


If you're considering a K frame snub the Model 12 (airweight) is worth checking out:
You're right. The model 12 might be the way to go if I can hide the dimensions of a K frame on me. Other than I don't think you're supposed to not shoot +p's. But I don't shoot them now in my 442. Well, not usually. I did a few times. LOL.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:55 PM
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Model 31-1 2" and Model 31-1 3"

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Old 07-31-2018, 04:55 PM
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Here's my carry Model 36 ca. 1973 square but with targets





Kobsw
JMO, the Bianchi 9R2 (upside down sprung shoulder) holster is a perfect pace to carry your square butt M36.
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Old 07-31-2018, 05:45 PM
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Here's my carry Model 36 ca. 1973 square but with targets





Kobsw
Each time I look at these photos, it looks to me like it's a round butt with targets on it. Could you confirm is this really is a square butt frame? It looks like it curves in......
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Old 07-31-2018, 05:49 PM
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After googling it, I think I might be correct. There were factory OEM grips like this for a while..... I might want to try a set like that......
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Old 08-01-2018, 10:22 AM
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The issue I've always had with the 2" J-frames is that by the time you find a set of stocks that give you proper control, they're usually so big that you loose all the advantage of the gun's small size.
Many people use the factory stocks with a T-grip added. I have used this combo, but find its still a bit small for my hands.
The factory targets are great on longer barreled guns as are the various rubber type grips. But on a 2", most are just too big for pocket carry or deep concealment.
On a round butt 2", boot grips are the answer. They're perfect on these guns. The problem is that nobody, and I mean NOBODY, makes boot grips for a square butt J-frame unless you have them custom made.
I have a square butt 2" Model 36. I bought it cheap and it had a set of Pachmyers on it so I didn't realize it was a square butt until I took the goodyears off. Yeah, I know, my mistake.
What I ended up doing was buying a set of well worn Herrett's Shooting Star grips cheap and then cutting off the bottom even with the grip frame. Thus creating my own boot grips for the gun. It works fine. Shoots good and conceals very well. Recoil is a bit stout. I don't shoot a whole lot of rounds through it at the range. But it works just fine for concealed carry.



BTW: last year I picked up a round butt 642 and with the factory rubber grips, it works very well. My square butt Model 36 is pretty much retired.
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Old 08-01-2018, 11:13 AM
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This'n........




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Old 08-01-2018, 11:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayfox View Post
The issue I've always had with the 2" J-frames is that by the time you find a set of stocks that give you proper control, they're usually so big that you loose all the advantage of the gun's small size.
Many people use the factory stocks with a T-grip added. I have used this combo, but find its still a bit small for my hands.
The factory targets are great on longer barreled guns as are the various rubber type grips. But on a 2", most are just too big for pocket carry or deep concealment.
On a round butt 2", boot grips are the answer. They're perfect on these guns. The problem is that nobody, and I mean NOBODY, makes boot grips for a square butt J-frame unless you have them custom made.
I have a square butt 2" Model 36. I bought it cheap and it had a set of Pachmyers on it so I didn't realize it was a square butt until I took the goodyears off. Yeah, I know, my mistake.
What I ended up doing was buying a set of well worn Herrett's Shooting Star grips cheap and then cutting off the bottom even with the grip frame. Thus creating my own boot grips for the gun. It works fine. Shoots good and conceals very well. Recoil is a bit stout. I don't shoot a whole lot of rounds through it at the range. But it works just fine for concealed carry.



BTW: last year I picked up a round butt 642 and with the factory rubber grips, it works very well. My square butt Model 36 is pretty much retired.
I think what you did is smart. In my opinion the big problems is there are not really any choices between small boot grips that really are in my opinion too small to be useable for shooting all on their own. Which is why I wrap some rubber bands around them. I realize some guys use them just fine. So I'm not saying this is for everyone. But you have the tiny boot grips, and then when you step up to a grip that covers the back strap some it's probably the hogue tamers. I wish someone made something sort of in between. Cuz like you say, most of the bigger grips kind of hurt the pocket carry. But I think there is a possibility to make something in between. Like the pachmyr compacs but have them cover the backstrap just a bit. Something that extends the frame slightly and the backstrap slightly.

I shoot well with the hogue tamers and they do help recoil. I forget if they work well for pocket carrying. I think I did manage it a few times but it's not ideal. And depends on pants. I think in dress pants they were fine, as those usually have a pretty generous pocket. But they cause my right thumb to be accosted by the take down lever every time I shoot it. And I'd rather have my thumb placement a bit different. I know some guys suggest smoothing out the takedown button and I guess that's a solution. But I still think someone should make an inbetween grip. LOL. I mean it's not like these guns aren't popular, you would think someone would've thought of that by now and acted on it.

I mean the pachmyr ones I bought are just huge. And I don't really shoot very well with them. It did change the placement of my thumb too. But I just don't like them. I don't really like the way they look either. And to me that little scoop at the bottom doesn't fit right and is unnecessary. And makes them look even weirder. All I can think about is it looks like a scrodum. LOL. Just what I want to be doing. Thinking about holding onto a scrodum while shooting.

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Old 08-01-2018, 11:47 AM
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Those Pachmyers don't follow the lines of the hammerless guns. Just sayin'.
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Old 08-01-2018, 12:44 PM
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I don't think that really matters. If it had a hammer, that's where the cut out for the hammer would end up. It's not like the position of the grip / handle is lower on a hammered gun to make up for it. It is nice that the hammerless allows you to get higher on the gun if you want.

Maybe you're saying that's why I didn't shoot it as well. And that could very well be. But I think some people shoot 36 and 60's just fine even though their hand is a bit lower on the grip / frame. I don't have one to know if I'd shoot it any better. I would like a steel framed J eventually though.
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Old 08-01-2018, 12:55 PM
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I certainly lack the photographic skills of most of you fellows. And I love looking at your work. I had these smooth targets, round to square grips on a model 36 I had and loved the way it looked and felt. But once I put them on this model 38, I though "Now that looks like doo doo", but they still feel good. Guess I need to get another "J" frame for them.

I've never noticed much difference in carry with the square butts, and they fit my hand so much better, especially with a grip adapter.
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Old 08-01-2018, 01:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABPOS View Post
Each time I look at these photos, it looks to me like it's a round butt with targets on it. Could you confirm is this really is a square butt frame? It looks like it curves in......
ABPOS, I've been asked this before and I agree that the butt looks round do to the curve but here's a pic that clears it up.



Best Regards,

Kobsw

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Old 08-01-2018, 01:44 PM
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I really prefer to carry a snub-nosed revolver to any other handgun. However, I prefer a round butt to a square butt. I have large hands and long slender fingers. I do not find a round butt difficult to hang onto. Below are some photos of some of my snubs.
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Old 08-01-2018, 04:12 PM
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Quote:
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ABPOS, I've been asked this before and I agree that the butt looks round do to the curve but here's a pic that clears it up.



Best Regards,

Kobsw
AAaaaah. I think I was reading that both round and square can be used with those types..... I think. Thank you for the pic and that is a beautiful 36.
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Old 08-01-2018, 04:27 PM
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I had a 36 square butt from the NYPD equipment section, the square butt was the only model 36 they sold. Now you could buy the round butt, but you had to get it inspected at the range and then you could carry it. I didn't find it too difficult to conceal the j frame with the square butt.
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Old 08-01-2018, 08:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OLDNAVYMCPO View Post
I really prefer to carry a snub-nosed revolver to any other handgun. However, I prefer a round butt to a square butt. I have large hands and long slender fingers. I do not find a round butt difficult to hang onto. Below are some photos of some of my snubs.
Great post, great guns!!!!
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Old 08-01-2018, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABPOS View Post
I think what you did is smart. In my opinion the big problems is there are not really any choices between small boot grips that really are in my opinion too small to be useable for shooting all on their own. Which is why I wrap some rubber bands around them. I realize some guys use them just fine. So I'm not saying this is for everyone. But you have the tiny boot grips, and then when you step up to a grip that covers the back strap some it's probably the hogue tamers. I wish someone made something sort of in between. Cuz like you say, most of the bigger grips kind of hurt the pocket carry. But I think there is a possibility to make something in between. Like the pachmyr compacs but have them cover the backstrap just a bit. Something that extends the frame slightly and the backstrap slightly.

I shoot well with the hogue tamers and they do help recoil. I forget if they work well for pocket carrying. I think I did manage it a few times but it's not ideal. And depends on pants. I think in dress pants they were fine, as those usually have a pretty generous pocket. But they cause my right thumb to be accosted by the take down lever every time I shoot it. And I'd rather have my thumb placement a bit different. I know some guys suggest smoothing out the takedown button and I guess that's a solution. But I still think someone should make an inbetween grip. LOL. I mean it's not like these guns aren't popular, you would think someone would've thought of that by now and acted on it.

I mean the pachmyr ones I bought are just huge. And I don't really shoot very well with them. It did change the placement of my thumb too. But I just don't like them. I don't really like the way they look either. And to me that little scoop at the bottom doesn't fit right and is unnecessary. And makes them look even weirder. All I can think about is it looks like a scrodum. LOL. Just what I want to be doing. Thinking about holding onto a scrodum while shooting.

I put the Hogue Tamer on one of my 442s. These are for the Centennial Frame. They feel good in the hand and are great for recoil. I like the Pachmayr’s for the 36
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  #38  
Old 08-01-2018, 09:54 PM
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There is a Square butt Model-37 at the 2 o'clock position in this picture:

Others are Ruger Speed-Six at 12 o'clock, 442 at 5 o'clock, M&P at 7 o'clock, and Kimber K6S at 10 o'clock.
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Old 08-01-2018, 10:47 PM
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For some reason that K frame doesn't look that much bigger than the 442 next to it. Seems like that pic makes the difference looks less than it actually is......

How do you like the K6?
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Old 08-18-2018, 06:19 PM
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For some reason that K frame doesn't look that much bigger than the 442 next to it. Seems like that pic makes the difference looks less than it actually is......

How do you like the K6?
I love the K6S. I foolishly let a S&w 13 3" RB get away from me some years ago, and kicked myself. Well, the Kimber is every bit as good, probably better. It handles well, carries well, and I can shoot it well.
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Old 08-18-2018, 06:43 PM
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My favorite concealable grip for the J frame is the Pachmayr Compac pro. Just enough grip but still plenty concealable.

I like the regular Pachmayr Compac grip too. Does not look great on the 642/442 but works well and is still somewhat concealable for me.
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Old 08-18-2018, 07:03 PM
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At the risk of being labeled a heretic, I must say the K frame square butt stock S&W grips feel really awkward in my hands. To me, it's like holding an up-side-down funnel. With recoil the gun wants to slip deeper into my grip until the hammer is crowding the web of my hand. I just don't like having a big, mass of grip in the heel of my hand.
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Old 08-18-2018, 08:20 PM
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Here’s my contribution....

A 1983 vintage Model 36 SB....

(I need to get a better photo but you get the idea....)

And next to my 1968 Model 36 RB...
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