I'm looking at getting Ahrends. I'm not sure which ones I prefer yet.

I will be using these grips on a 686 in IDPA with Safariland Comp IIIs. Speed is important. Will the Retro Targets work well with speed loaders with the cut out Ahrends has?

Is there a difference with respect to speed loading between the Retro Target and the Retro Combat Square?

Would I be much better off with the One of the Tactical Square Butt grips for this use instead of one of the Retros?

If the Retros are fine speed-wise will the grips get beat up from the speed loader over time much more than the Tactical would?

When I move the Retro or Tactical grips to a 617 will either work well with the DS 10 speed loaders? Though true speed will not be important on the 617.

I am sorry I cannot speak to the speedloader issue, but I can say that Ahrends grips are great. These are the Retro Combat finger groove rnd to sqr butt conversion for an N frame (610-3). Morodillo wood, tung oil finish.

I've got Ahrend's grips on several N frames, including 45 Colt, 44 SPL, 44 mag, 41 mag and 357. They all work well with speedloaders. HKS and safariland brands are what I'm using.

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I can't speak for other brands, but HKS speedloaders work perfectly with the Retro targets on my 25-12. My dad has a set of Ahrend's fingergroove combat grips on his 686. No speedloader issue there either.

I had the Ahrends tactical finger groove grips on my 10 shot 617, and the DS-10 speed loader worked fine. It also worked fine with the Hogue factory grips.
augy

The DS-10 speedloaders work fine with these two 617s wearing Ahrends.

I use Ahrends on my 686 and they work easily with my HKS 7-shot spped loaders. Mine are smooth and round not the retro. They are the same at the top of the grip as the finge groove stocks. I would expect them to work fine with other speed loaders for the 6-shot. I shoot USPSA and use moonclips, I don't know if I would want finger goove grips. I have a pair, lovely, but not comfortable or forgiving in copetition. I'm using a Jerry Miculek grip on my competition gun. The smooth round Ahrends are on a Snubby 686.

Westczek

I believe I'll opt for the Retro Target grips.

I'm not sure if I prefer moradillo, cocobolo, or padauk. I've seen some nice grips of those three woods here that I like. Pretty sure I'll opt for oil finish.

What do y'all do to the grips for maintenance of them?