I've had Hogues on my 625-8 45 ACP/AR for some time and they're good, but I recently put Pachmayr Presentations on my Model 19 and find them really comfortable, even though I have medium-sized hands, and the fit could be better. I've also got Altamont & Ahrends wood grips for the 625 and both look great but I think I prefer rubber, even though it doesn't look as classy.

Problem is- which Pachmayrs? They don't do a round-butt version of the Presentations for the N-frames. I don't mind finger grooves; aside from the Compacts all the Pachmayrs have grooves. I'd like a "full-size " grip as concealability isn't an issue. I've got it set up for 250 gr. HC bullets @ around 900 fps. so there's more recoil than .45 ACP loads, but it's not punishing. If the Grippers (which cover the backstrap?) are no bigger than the Presentations on my Model 19 they would be OK.

I bought Pachs for my Bulldog 44 spl and the fit was really poor. Reading Pachs product material they don't go much for returning grips because of poor fit. I emailed Cheaper Than Dirt where I bought them from and said I wanted to return them for a refund. She refunded the price of the grips only but she did say I didn't need send them back. I was okay with that.
There were just to many gaps where the grips came to the frame and where they came together on the back strap. Very poor fit. They are still sitting in the box they came in.

I'd read a number of similar complaints but decided to take a chance on them. It seems tha quality has gone down in the last few years. One reviewer said he contacted Lyman/Pachmayr directy and they were less than interested. (I guess they don't read the reviews.) The fit on mine is sort of OK- only major flaw is a bit of a gap at the top on the inside of the grip. It could definitely be better. However, the "feel" of the grips on my Model 19 is really goodl so I'm grudgiingly prepared to live with the flaws on those ones.

My 625-2 came with Pachmyer presentation grips. They were ok, but I prefer a bit more palm swell. Bought Hogues, and am pleased with them. They do not slip in my hand like the Pachs. Only downside is that they are a little more difficult to remove when cleaning, but this is very minor to me.

The grips for the 500 Magnum will fit round butt N, K, and L frames and it's what I have mounted on every medium and large S&W I own with a round butt grip frame with the exception of the Pachmayer Pro's that were on my 2 1/2 inch model 19-3 when I purchased it.

Way back when I tried the Decelerator's on my 610 and it's a softer rubber that I found interfered with recoil management, so on a chance I ordered in the 500 Magnum grip from the S&W web store and it fit perfectly. IMO for the average male I believe that the 500 Magnum grips are the best grips ever made.

The 500 grips are too big for me if shooting double action. My 625 JM is currently wearing rubber Hogues w/o finger grooves. If you're mainly firing those 250's single action, though, you may like the 500 grips.

I do not care for the current production Pachmyer grips. They are to soft. I got a set of older grippers off of eBay. They do make n frame round butt grips. They are not as common.