I have not shot this gun yet, and am getting ready to place an order for a red dot.

I'd like to get different grips.

Does this gun absorb enough recoil to go with VZ or or wood grips? Or should I get some heavy Pachmayer grips or similar?

My wife shoots a M&P 340 357 mag J-frame with no problem. IMHO your worrying about nothing. The large frame and longer barrel should absorb the recoil.
I run a couple cylinders through my 500 mag. After that everything is like a 22 lr.

I own and shoot a 340 just like your wife. I have Houge wood boot grips on it, and, no way is shooting full hosue magnums any fun. In fact, it's the only revolver I own that I won't even attempt to shoot the full house stuff from.

I own a 386 night guard with Houge wood boots, and can shoot full house without issue, but, wouldn't want to make a day at the range out of it. Only for practice or chronograph purposes. The Ahrends Tacticals with the third finger groove make it better.

My 686+PC with Ahrends Tacticals is no issue at all to blast off full house 125s, or 158s, as long as I want.

Same goes for my 586 l comp .... no issues with the Ahrends.

I just want a comfy day at the range with the TRR8. Not an almost comfy day, a comfy day.

The Ahrends just put my hand in the right spot, and fill my hand perfectly. That helps a ton. If the VZ's do the same on the TRR8 I would think that enjoyable day at the range should be obtainable.

I have big hands and normally swap out for a set of Pachmayr's first thing, but I hesitated on my R8 and am glad I did. I find the stock grips are very comfortable even after a full day at the range. I'd give the original grips a shot (pardon the pun) and see how you like them first.

Wood Pachs or rubber Pachs?

The rubber Houge's on the gun now are Ok in terms of fit. The Ahrends on my Lframs actually position my hand a bit better but not by much.

I'd just like to dress it up a bit, and those VZs I find pretty sexy.

I usually use rubber Decelerator Pachs. They fit my hand well and absorb recoil.

The TRR8 (35 oz dry) is easy to shoot with full .357 loads. I don't care for the look or feel of Hogue rubber grips. At the moment I have Crimson Trace grips on mine for home defense, but I may swap them for Ahrends round-to-square grips with another revolver (.44 M Mountain Gun) I'm more likely to carry.

Ahrends grips fit my hand perfectly, even on an N-frame. If your hands are larger, you might want grips that cover the backstrap.

Just got my VZ grips, and, they seem like the exact same thing as the Houge rubbers that come on the L-frame guns.

Really like the way they fit my hand.

I have a TRR8 and have left it totally stock. Shoot it before you spend any money. The factory grips are great and the stock sights (gold bead) will surprise you.