These come with short K/L frame "boot grips" from the factory. And that's good for concealment but bad for hangin' on to.

So, just for fun I put these Hogue finger grove rubber (gasp!) and tried it out shooting these high dollar 44 spl rounds.



I can actually hang onto this lightweight and hit something with it. I'm gonna' leave them on awhile, it's nice to have a place for your little finger to help hold on.
These are great "Airlite Ti" revolvers that were discontinued to soon, IMHO.

GF

I love the 296 but found mine so unpleasant to shoot that I added a steel 696 cylinder to give it some extra weight. I haven't yet gone to a larger grip, but may.

I also added a tritium Big Dot sight to mine. It definitely improves the target acquisition for these aging eyes. (Not that a threat within the 5-10 yard design range for these guns would be hard to misjudge in the first place.)

__________________
David Wilson

I changed out the original stocks on my 296ti as well. I put a set of Ahrends on mine, and while it is still a handful, I feel more comfortable with the Ahrends.

Fact facing time. Little lightweight guns kick with powerful ammo.

This can be lessened with better, usually bigger grips.

IF you are carrying a gun in a pocket, grip size matters A LOT.
if you are carrying the gun in a belt or shoulder holster, grip size does not matter so much.

So I see nothing wrong with putting bigger, more controlable grips in a "little" gun, depending on how it is being carried.

Also nothing wrong with having a couple of different grips for different carry situations, as long as you preactice with the different grips.

Also, I can say that if you have to use your gun to protect yourself, you will not notice the muzzle blast, noise, or pain of the recoil.

It is one thing to shoot a few rounds or a few cylinders full of rounds in self defense, vs a bunch of rounds at the range.

Just practice with all the grips, and all the different manners you carry your defensive guns.

Ad absurdium, my 296 briefly sported an X-frame/.500 Magnum monogrip from S&W Accessories:



Yeah, padding that backstrap really helps. Of course, it fits perfectly - and takes the 296 from it's forte - a pocket protector - to something you need a shoehorn to get into cargo pants pockets, never mind getting it out of them - especially in a hurry. One range trip and the OEM boots went back on. It was never meant to be anything but protection - like my 642.YMMV.

Stainz

Maybe that's why it was DC'd, to big for this & to bulky for that.

I'll get a shot of the open toped holster I carry it in, it's a OWB affair (of course) and it's about as easy to conceal as a my 2 &1/2 inch Mod 19.

I don't mind shooting this gun with these grips and it's light as a J frame to carry. Best part is look at those recovered rounds at the bottom of the photo ..... ... it makes big 44 cal holes.

GF