I went the full circle. When I started out many years ago I thought I needed targets. Now I seem to like the smaller magnas or similar. I also prefer a smooth grip with no checkering.

Put me firmly in the magna camp for barrels of 5" or less. Either one fits my hand okay and I've used both variety over the years but I like the look/balance/feel of the targets on 6" or longer.

Like Commander Cody always said, "one mans meat is another mans poison"

To each his/her own I say. If targets work for you, then go for it. If something else works better, then do that.

I have hands that resemble catcher's mitts and yes, I can palm a basketball. Targets and I do not get along, not even a little bit. The shape of the grip in combination with the way that I grasp a handgun means that the top of the left side grip will be driven into the base of my right thumb with every round. In years past I've sustained fairly serious bruising and torn skin from firing .357s out of my 27 when there were targets on the gun.

For whatever reason, the thinner the grip the better the gun feels in my hand. Magnas work well for me, although Pachmayr Grippers work even better. Although the Pachs are rubber they actually present an extremely thin profile.

I believe Elmer Keith liked ivory magnas with steer heads on to fatten them up a bit on his Model 29. I think he had small hands. I like Herritt Jordan Troopers for my size 12 hand. Nobody else likes them way to big.

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T. Johnson

Old thread, I know, but it has valuable info that I learned from and would like to add my experience.

On my K-Frame, I can tolerate magnas, but the gun shifts in my hand requiring me to regrip the gun after every shot. Target grips keep the gun in my hand and don't require any adjustment after shots. On my N-Frame, I don't really like magnas. Targets are much better here in my opinion.

I noticed that on both guns, target grips hold my hand in a more natural, anatomical arrangement of knuckles, when viewed from the side. They also allow me to continue shooting the gun without adjusting my grip, especially advantageous when shooting double action. I've tried both magnas and Targets, as well as Ahrends, and I like Targets best. I also have noted cleaner ejection of empty shells with target grips. None of the grips actually caused me any pain, but the targets were most comfortable.

Oh, and for the record, I can palm a basketball.

O.K. Ladies,Let's get on the right track. Some of you boutique babies think the " look" is the deal. Well, whatever. We have a lot of pretenders and wanna be's on the net so, whatever puts your panties in a wad is O.K. by me.However, please remember Elmer Keith used carved ivories on his 4" .44Mags., that were ,for all intents and purposes, magna shaped grips.Now, I was never able to afford bulls head carved ivory grips, but I did go to magnas [actually N frame P.C.s] with a T-grip and found the recoil was not as bad or objectionable as previously experienced.So, maybe less is more,rather than more is better to cushion recoil.Weight and size is not necessarlly the answer. Maybe, the grip is the bottom line. Try it,you'll probably like the results.Nick

I have put magnas/service stocks (Alimont composite ivorys) on all my S&Ws, from my J-frame to my model 28-2 and 1917. They just look and feel right to me. I bought BK grip adapters because all the "experts" said magnas are worthless and uncontrollable without them...I hate the grip adapters, they just are not for me.

Target grips always felt like trying to hold a 2" X 4" to me.
Magnas on any size frame I shoot, for looks, well targets are on several "N" frame revolvers....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I cannot stand the Magna grips. And I will say the Target Grips are not the right shape either.

Magnas with a Tyler feel much better, and I have slimmed down several sets of Target grips, and used ojnesuch set on my 44 Mag duty revolver for several years.

Back in the Day, IF I would have been the Boss of S&W, I would have designed a set of grips, that felt like a set of Service Magnas, with a Tyler T Grip... They would have been the Standard grips for the J frame up to the N frame...

For me it is simply a matter of size. I like the way targets look on a
4" or longer barrel but they seem to overwhelm a 3 1/2" gun. But target
grips, N or K are just too big for my hands and so all my Ns and Ks
wear magnas. If I get a new N or K frame with targets on it I remove
them imediately before firing the first round from the gun. I know that
some people don't like them but I have found that a nice pair of factory
magnas can be hard to top with any after market grips.

Hey, fellas, between what "looks good", what "feels good", and what works, you gotta set your priorities.Fifty years ago,I marveled at a little Idaho cowboy that was burned so badly that he finally had to have his dad break his wrist back to a normal position.That did not deter him from being one of Americas premier handgunners. Note "Mr.Keith" invented the .44 mag. and study the fact that he used a 4" .44[although he was given a 6&1/2" by S&W]. On that 4" notice that he used carved ivory grips about the same shape as Magnas.
If you look at the carved bulls heads of old,they are on the palm side of the gun[right side if you are a righty,left if that is the way you roll].That bulls head carving fits perfectly in the crease of your palm, helping to stabilize the gun in recoil.
I found that ,although I couldn't afford fancy carved grips, I could do MUCH better with Magnas or PC Magnas than the target grips from the factory, and adding the T grips helped a lot.So, it depends a lot on your hand size[mine is med.,size 9 gloves] and your mind set.
I remember thinking,WOW, this thing is going to KICK,but after going to grips that fit me I was able to control the gun with less recoil effects and I could shoot better.Sometimes fellas "less is more". Try it before you discount it . Nick

I would be saddened to have only a binary choice between Magna's and late production Target's . ( I know this discussion is initially about N Frames , but I will also refrence K's .)( And yes I have XXL hands.)

In general I don't care for finger grooves , as they are dependent for your fingers to align to their grooves, and mine rarely do. The sole exception are the 1980s vintage factory Finger Groove Combat wood grips. In N frame they fit my fingers perfectly , and makes them my all time favorite factory grip. BTW , the K frame counterpart is all wrong for me.

The best fitting non-factory N frame grips I've used are a set of 1950's vintage Fitz "Combat" grips. Much thinner than Current Targets , only a little below grip frame , pronounced palm swells. I suspect these are at least somewhat similar to Cokebottles , but I haven't had the privledge to try an N frame set. These are comfortable , natural piointing , and good control.

In K frames I have had the opportunity to do extensive testing with Magnas & grip adapter , in parallel to Gripper Pro . The gripper has an overall feel similar to Speigels , the pointability is quite good , but they shift in the hand more than Speigels. From a K frame shooting .38Spl , still acceptable.

I did have a set of 1950's smooth Targets for K frame , and those were great. The only drawback is they weren'n designed for speedloader clearence. HKS could still be used , but had to carefully work them in , and simetimes wiggle a little. At the time I always carried at least one BUG , so on balance they were acceptable , and I didn't carve on vintages grips.

Back in the days when personally owned M19s andM66s were popular with uniformed and plainclothed LE , there was a set of highly common grip modifications. Grip shortened to just below the frame butt , aggressivly sanded down to thin the butt , and remove most of the sharp checkering. Imagine the blending of a set of lengthened Speigels and size Small Pac Presentations rendered in wood.

I'm a bit late to this party but what the heck I'll toss in my two cents worth. Handgun stocks seem to be a personal fit thing and as such everyone has a different fit thus a different opinion. For me the Magnas are just right on all grip frames. I have a permanent lump on the thumb of my shooting hand between the first and second joint, I call it my N frame lump. I've tried a lot of different stocks but I find that the Magna stock works best for me as it doesn't let the frame shoulder smack my thumb. I do however really like the looks of target grips on certain revolvers and vanity demands them being on for show but not go.

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Stay safe people!

The Coke profile grips were the last target grips that I think Smith got right. The latter target grips are like holding a 2x4. I have magnas on my 58. 25-2, 24-3's (2 four inch and one 6.5), pre 29 4 inch, 29-3 6 inch, pre 27 3.5 inch and a set of seriously size reduced target grips on my 1976 vintage 29-2 8 3/8 inch. If they were good enough for Elmer, they are good enough for me!

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Have Canon, Will Travel

Have to join the crowd that likes magnas - in certain circumstances.
A 'work gun', or LE gun like a M58 looks strange to me with targets, as does ANY fixed sight S&W.

And the first 1/2 of my involvement in guns, it was all about the Pachmayr's. - ie., 'The mark of a real shooter'. LoL!
Now - can't stand'em. I do like any quality grips that bear the S&W escutcheons/medallions, and wish more aftermarket grip makers offered them as an option.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Speaking of grips / aftermarket grips, one of my square butt K frames has what I think are checkered service grips, and I really am not fond of them. So, I'm trying to figure out what to try as a replacement. Years ago, I replaced the original service grips on my 63 with a Hogue checkered wood finger groove grip, and I really like it except that it's apparently not a perfect fit and the revolver can rotate just a bit in it. I don't know if I just got one that fits poorly, or if that's what happens when you slip the butt of a revolver into a one-piece wood grip.

I don't think I'd be happy with any play in the grips on a larger caliber revolver, so I'm hesitant to order a K-frame Hogue. I think I'd like finger grooves, and checkering...but more importantly, stability and something to take up some of the space at the top of the grip behind the trigger guard so I'm not reaching down for the trigger.

Magnas! The S&W grip!

I want a set of the collinscraft round to Square conversions. Anyone have experience with them?

Now that I found B.K. Grips, all my K and N frames with Magnas now have grip adapters!

All you magna lovers please send me your targets for proper disposal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

I've got a couple pair of targets that I don't need and i'll be
glad to send them to you for proper disposal. All I ask is that
you send me a little of your spare cash for proper disposal.

Are you part blood hound of truffle pig? Soap Days!

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A republic if you can keep it

just tried a beautiful set of magnas on my .44 with a 4" barrel....look great and ok with special but mag loads it actually kicked back so hard into web of thumb it hurt....put some nice thin boot grips on and excellent feel no kick and very accurate...also have a pair of newer targets and they do look big but shoot even nicer...like the boot grip for my 69 L frame and the target on any n-frame....but gotta admit the magnas look good on any short barrel but then stupid over 5"

I'm with AllenFrame......... Spegel Boot grips on guns with 2-3.5inch barrels and Extended Boot grips on 4-6 inch guns.

Must admit I like those Extended grips on that 3 1/2 inch N-Frame.

I do have one 4" 66 with Boot grips for concealed carry....all my 3" 66s wear standard boot grips

Put me in the targets camp. The only S&Ws I prefer the magnas on are the J and K frames, and not much on the K frames. However, my 65-3 shoots much better for me with its original magnas, due largely to a fair amount of dry firing. I much prefer smooth targets on my K-22s. Just got a set of factory cokes back from DWFAN, and they're back on the 57 they came with. Much better in the hand, and look better. Can't wait to shoot it with them on!

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50 Years of DSOTM

I've got a box that holds all of my Magna stocks...they reside right next to the Targets. I don't like either. I like Ahrend's Tacticals...I have both finger groove and smooth and like them both (but only have photo of grooved).

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No good deed goes unpunished.

I’ll take the Magnas over all of them. I get so sick and tired of having to track down Magnas for almost every revolver I buy because they always have those recycled condoms masquerading as grips.

Bought my first M29 in 1973, a 4 ich BL in the case. Had a M1917 that someone had put Magnas on. Put the Magnas on the M29. Elmer had them, so why not? Six shots was enough. Put the targets back on.

Didnt have too many custom grips back then. The Targets worked just fine.

I think the rubber grips were a boon for the 44 Magnum. Took a lot of the sting out of the full loads. Had an 8 and 3/8" nickel M29 with the large size Presentation grips and it made shooting comfortable. Wasnt too pretty.

For fast double action work, I find the Gripper Professional and Hogue the best. Just fits my hand and really help control.

The Magnas are just fine for the N frame in 357 Magnum. Certainly better for concealment. The grip adapter makes a nice addition. Above 357 recoil, I want a larger grip.

It all depends on how they fit your hand.

I am in your camp!! For me, there's nothing ergonomically correct about magnas or target stocks; the magnas are too small, the targets too large and blocky - like a fence post...

For my money, I find Ahrend's to be the best bang for the buck - great looks, options and ergonomics.

In the almost 4 years since this thread was started, the obvious answer is "it depends."

The only revolver targets feel OK to me is a 6" barreled Mdl 24. Maybe it's because the longer barrel helps the fit to my hand (I know...that sounds weird, but it's true).

Targets look strange on my "pencil" barreled Mdl 10. Magna's work fine.

As for the rest of my N & L frames, either custom grips (Hogue or Herrett) have worked.

And somewhere in the bowels of this site is a thread showing the grinding down of target grips, especially in the area below the checkering. I so modified one beater target for a Mdl 586 and am messing around with a second set for either K or L frames. Kind of fun; it's kind of like hot-rodding your old Chevy.....

This is, of course, correct, but it is a classic band-aid, and uses the original grips without marring them very much. It's like nail polish on the front sight. De gustibus non disputandum erat. [Note the past tense. These days all we do is argue about taste.]

I cringe at the thought of nail polish anywhere on my 1955 357 Magnum.
But the Tyler T's are just fine:

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Vote Responsibly

I know this is a bit after the fact, but I would never, ever under any circumstances change out my magna style grips on a Smith & Wesson. To me they give it that classic look, even on a gun with up to a 4" barrel. Longer than that I would, but I don't like barrels longer than that so I have no issue. I see sooooo many complaints about guns hurting people's hands with magna grips, but I can't understand how or why. If you're older and/or have arthritis or other issues of the hand, I can understand, but I've never found a gun that hurts my hands with magna grips. To me they are as essential as anything else to that classic style of S&W from the days of 'ol. I even bought a Taurus 605 which is a J frame size, 5 shot gun in .357 mag, with a 2 inch barrel, and as quickly as I could I took off the stock rubber grips and out on magna style grips I found online and they are great. Shooting a .38 felt like a .22 (keep in mind it's a full weight gun, not an ultralite). Target .357 barely kicked any more, 158 grain hollow point .357 barely kicked either. I could shoot them all day long without a problem. I have in fact. The only ones that kicked hard were the 180 grain Buffalo Bore flat nosed lead slugs, but even those didn't hurt, and it pounds. I do work with my hands for a living, so maybe that helps, but I'm just so surprised to see so many people feel this way about them. A guy on YouTube with a snub Model 19 with magna stocks just kept complaining about how it hurt, and I just am dumbfounded. He appears to be in his early to mid 30's and he complained at least 7 or 8 times and swore he was going back to rubber. I don't believe I would own a Smith and Wesson without magna stocks on it ever. It takes away from the classic beauty in my opinion. However that's just what it is, my opinion. I expect no one to agree with me just because I feel that way, but I'm amazed at how many people prefer oversized grips on a revolver. To each their own, but I just feel that they made those guns with those grips for a reason, and I for one am extremely happy that they did!

Magnas with Tyler T-Grip ... Ahhh...

The Chief of the city PD I worked for did not like rubber or after market grips. Our issued sidearms at the time were a mix of S&W 66 & 686, that all came with Targets. So after awhile I changed mine to Magnas with a grip adapter and never looked back. My range scores improved as well.

The previous department I had worked for allowed us to use what we wanted and I carried a M-19 with Pachmayr Presentation grips which fit my hand perfectly.

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Support your Police, & NRA

Not an N frame but i was lucky to pick up a 19-3 last week. It came with the original target grips. After a cleaning I installed a set of magnas. Now it's right for me. Love a purple and blue revolver.

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I add Tyler-Ts. Easy fix.

From what I read in Six Guns, the post war configuration where the manga continues all the way to the top of the frame was Elmer Keith's request from Smith & Wesson.

CONGRATULATIONS!! that is the exact 4" 19 I hope to have one day. It looks beautiful. I understand why people change out the grips in favor of Pacmayr and so on, but they just look so exquisite with the magnas. That is an exceptional looking piece my friend. I really like the nickel ones too, but I want a blued one. I am desperately seeking a blued snub 19 as well. It's all a matter of preference, and I am sure plenty of people think the guns done look good with magnas, but I always figure if Smith was going to sell them that way, why not? I know they also sold them with target grips as the stock grips, but I'm just, saying be proud of those magna grips. Until I saw this post, I was beginning to think I was the only one left!! Glad to see there are others as well. This was an old thread, but I couldn't help but comment. In fact I signed up on here just to comment on it! I also love the 3rd issue Colt Detective Specials with the magna style grips from the first or second issue DS. They look incredible. I just see constantly on forum pages here and other forums and on YouTube videos constantly about people griping about how it hurts their hands. It makes me sad. It's a gun, it should kick!! If you're worried about your hands hurting, go bake a cake or something (no one take offense to that please, it's a general catch-all statement for thousands of people I've seen complain). If my gun doesn't kick hard enough, I'm out looking for hotter rounds! Just glad to know I'm not alone in my feelings and to you whom I quoted, that is an incredible firearm, be proud and it looks amazing with the magna, I'm very proud to FINALLY hear someone took OFF the target grips so they could put ON some magnas. Makes me wanna sing the National Anthem! Haha

I like the look of magnas on most any frame, but I love shooting with targets on 4" and longer models. The shorter barrel lengths, I prefer to shoot with some type of compact Pach or Hogue (but mostly pach). I also tried magnas with the grip adapter and didn't care for it.

And they'd look like this.
Some stocks by schofieldkid81

Grips/stocks are like underwear. One size or style does not fit nor feel right for everyone. hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Agreed. N frame magnas fit my hand pretty good while K frame targets are just right. It is all about what works for each person. I do admit to having a aesthetic preference on N frame grips. 3 1/2in N frames just look off with targets. 4in can go either way and I like the look of targets on 5in to 8 3/8in guns.

I have large hands, my S.O. has small, so for our K frame M15 house gun we have Magna with Tylers.
Both of us are GTG with that.

On my K frame M17-4, .22 LR, I have K targets and they are perfect.

On N frames, I've noted a lot of differences of feel of width between different targets.
Some too big, some right, some feel like a K frame grip on an N frame (but weren't)
some with too much palm swell, adinfinitum................

So I settled on the following solution:

N Frames:

M28-2, 4", .357 Magnum: used for woods walkin', plinkin' and some steel and makin' auto shooters jealous,
my everyday do anything, kill anything in the Midwest gun:
Std N frame Magna's with a Tyler adapter. S.O. can deal with 1 cylinder in this configuration.

M629-4, 4" Mountain Gun, .44 Magnum: Kurak round to square converions with a Coke shape.
Nuthin' better, spreads the recoil across your hand rather than a slender area!
Plus speedloader cutouts! Your nutz if you think she'd shoot this.

M27-2, 6" ,357 Magnum: Standard speed loader cut Targets. Perfect for my hands. She can hit
the broad side of the barn with it!

M29-3, 6" .44 magnum: Kurek Cokes with speedloader cutout. Are you f'n nut'z, I'm not gunna
shoot that monster!
Combination of Cokes on an N frame with targets with speedloader cuts. Perfection!

I like Magna grips, just not with magnum ammunition.

Can someone tell me how to post a picture on here without a URL?

don't like the look of magnas on any N frame, least on 6'' barrels, just too beady up front and too light in the back. A 4'' 28 or 58 with proper target or smooth target, that looks hot and feels and shoots great for my 2 cents.

Here is my 15-3 and 36 no dash

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I miss SaxonPig and his, uh, opinions on stocks, +P .38's, and a whole raft of things.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I never was a big fan of magnas, but I could work with 'em. Especially after adding a Tyler T grip. But for me, its more about function than looks. Several of my guns use this combo.
Regardless of frame size, all the guns I tend to shoot mostly in single action wear target grips. I wrap both hands around those and it gives me a good solid hold for target shooting.
Guns that may be called on for defensive use mostly wear aftermarket grips. For N-frames, I'm quite fond of the Herrett's Shooting Stars. My Model 29 wears Pachmyer presentations.
On K & L frames, my perfect grip is the old Uncle Mikes/Butler Creek Combats or on a snubbie the boot grips. They fit me just right and used to be quite cheap. Darn shame they don't make them anymore.

A couple of times, I've modified grips to suit my needs. For example, I wanted a set of round to square N-frame boot grips for my 3" Model 24-3. Nobody makes one. So I bought a cheap set of aftermarket grips, cut off the bottom, thinned and reshaped them a bit until they fit me. You can see them in this picture. You might also notice the Herretts on the 4" gun.


However, time marches on and things do change. I now have a touch of arthritis in my hands and the middle finger on my shooting hand won't close completely. I can't use magnas at all because the back of the trigger guard beats the snot out of that middle knuckle. It only takes a couple of cylinders full to bust it open and have me bleeding.

Anyway, bottom line is use what works for you. Who cares what anybody else thinks?