Hi:
When did Smith and Wesson begin using rubber grips on their models instead of wood grips ?

If I recall it was right around 1991.

Rubber grips IMHO are just plain darn ugly!!!

There's the answer you were looking for...

Started with some models in the mid-1990s, and fairly standard by about 2005, I think.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

When suppliers started shipping in plastic containers and the factory ran out of pallet wood

Sorry, I couldn't resist

Russ

They are ugly but feel good.

I don't care for the rubber grips as they are too large for me. I normally refer to them as rubber boots. Then again, I dislike most factory grips. In S&W revolvers, I switch them out to what works better in my situation.

My 625 model of 1988 was shipped with the pachmayr grips in the picture below. Believe it was shipped in 1989.

Agreed. If I'm actually carrying it or shooting, it will likely be wearing rubber grips.

Rubber grips are not as pretty as wood, but they are more comfortable and they make sense upon a S&W designed to be shot, rather than just looked at.

I certainly hold on to the wood grips that came with my S&Ws, and I'll even shoot with them on the K-frame .38s, provided they are the larger target grips. But in general if it's .357 or larger, or if it's in a J-frame AND I shoot it, it's got rubber grips on it.

The irony is however that I don't like the S&W rubber grips either on a J-frame - they are too hard, too small and to narrow to get the job done.

Hogue Monogrips work well on the J-frames, but they interfere with the speed loaders on the K-frames where I prefer Pachmayrs.




It's easy to tell which one of these doesn't get shot much...

I don't particularly care for rubber grips but, they do serve a purpose. I'm partial to wood with one exception.....those hideous clown grips S&W shipped with my 625PC. Talk about ugly.

I have magnas and a Pachmayr grip adapter on my M10. Tried Pachmayr Presentation grips on it and didn't like them, but am considering the Pach Grippers.

My J-frame EDC has worn the same Pachmayr Compacs for seventeen years. They give me much better control for a second shot, and just feel good to beat-up old hands.

For me wood is fine for show, but rubber is better for shooting.

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Oh well, what the hell.

My 13-3 came to me with Pachmayr Presentation grips on it when I got a couple of months ago. I swapped in a set of Magna I had laying around.

One range trip & some full power 357 magnum rounds later, the Pachmayr grips were back on it and they'll stay there Much more enjoyable to shoot it with them installed.

Funny, back in 1978 I was issued a brand new M-19 when I started my first cop job. First thing I did was replace the target stocks with Pachmayr Presentation Grips. Most of the officers that liked to shoot on my department did the same thing. When S&W started doing it for us, we complained. Granted the Uncle Mike's brand suck.

Nowadays I still replace S&W Targets but now with Magnas & a grip adapter for carry. Though I still use Pachs for range sessions.

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Support your Police, & NRA

Same story here with just insert 1985 for 1978.

Oddly enough Uncle Mike's used a Spegel profile on it's rubber Browning Hi Power grips and they are still highly prized as one of the best Hi Power grips available.