First, I have 3X hands with long fingers.

The grip on this particular 586 SB is some old Bill Davis rubbers. Its the only contour that I got used to but its too small. Sometime I will take strips of inner tube and build up certain area. Looks like ****...but it works.

I don't like a thick grip in width....like factory Targets or Bill Jordan, however I like the extra material fore and aft to make a longer grip.

With this particular grip...my support hand grips my primary hand. I don't like smooth wood as it feels slippery to me.

For years I have been checking the boards, eBay for a used pair of Nills....well I still don't have a set.

unless someone directs me to a different grip....I think its time for some Nills (maybe for Christmas this year)

Those who went with custom Nills, tell me your experience, was it worth the extra $$ and did it make a difference in your shooting. This grip will mainly be for a competition gun but need the grip to be ambi.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Try a pair of sile grips for k frame.

Have you considered Herrets? You trace your hand and they build a set of grips to fit.

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Eccentric old coot

I only have one pistol with Nill grip and it's not a revolver. The grips are well made and attractive. There are a lot of grip makers in the market place some better then others. When you get into the 250-300+ range Nills would be right up there with the best of them.

Attached Images

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I would also suggest Herrett's. They'll make you a grip any way you'd like.

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SWHF #448

I’d suggest the custom-sized-to-your-hand Heretts. Nills, in my experience, tend to be on the thin side. Figure out whether you want an enclosed or open backstrap. I have big hands, but rather of the long and thin persuasion, and I prefer an enclosed backstrap model. It also straightens up the grip angle a bit, which seems to make the gun point more naturally. If you tend to favor a thin grip, Nills might work fine for you.

BTW... have you tried the LARGE size Pachmayr Presentation grip? If you can stand rubber, they might be just what you need.

I suggest... A Colt New Service.

Runs away.

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Expect the unexpected

I got a pair of Herrett's Jordan Trooper made-to-measure (hand tracing). I have XXL glove-size hands and they were "huge". A few hours with rasp, sandpaper and hacksaw and they're tolerable.

I, too, prefer an enclosed backstrap since the S&W "hump" hits my thumb knuckle (base of the thumb) pretty hard with full power loads. I may thin the backstrap more to where the bottom half of the frame is exposed, and the frontstrap part to where the bottom part of the frame is likewise exposed. I think that would be just right, but will require glass bedding to prevent breakage.

I should have mention the 2nd grip that works for me is the Pachs Presentation but prefer the Bill Davis grips slightly.

It is my guess that a covered or enclosed backstrap is what I would want. I am guessing that my preference is for the meat of the grip to be in the front and back.

I bought the plastic version of the Bill Jordan (I think they were Pachs) and while the felt good in my hand...it changed the position of my trigger finger and pressing through felt odd. I used them for one match and took them off.

I was favoring Nills over Herretts because of gripping surface. Smooth or checkered just does not invite grippiness.

I know Nills will be pricey however their stippling appears to be the gripping surface I need.

I shoot in humid weather with sweaty hands. I am looking for grip tackiness. I once had a set of Herrett Shooting Stars. Too small and slippery for me.

I would much prefer the price of Herrett to start out with ..... so suggestion of exterior that grip with sweaty hands...please.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I am looking at these

SW046XL Nill Grips

or

SW046PHG8XL Nill Grips

ouch on the price on something that I have never handled. Phil Hemphill is a big guy with big hands.

I just wished I knew someone to test out these grips before I commit.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Can I get a better pic of those Bill Davis rubber grips? Looks like something that I might possibly like for my 686. I really like the Uncle Mike's 59005 Combat Grips, designed by Craig Spegel I think.

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otis

this grip (Bill Davis Large) works but it feels small to me.

I wonder how it would feel if it was an enclosed backstrap.

They stop making these grips many years ago. They don't fit tight. If you tighten the screws too tight....they push away from the frame.

well I guess I am wrong. A google search netted this.... Davis Custom Grip - BILL DAVIS ENTERPRISES

I removed the single finger groove.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Try Hogue grips. He can make them to fit your hand if you want. There is a wide variety. I like the Big Butt grips for my 596 and 627s. I have Pachmeyer Presentations on another gun and they also fit my hands well.

maybe look at something that covers the backstrap? would be a more filling for a large hand / long fingers.

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Expert at not being an Expert.

Here's a picture of Nill grips on my 617. I did not buy them originally so don't know if they were stock off the shelf or custom ordered. I'm guessing stock. I have medium sized hands, and a K Frame with factory target grips fit me just fine. The Nill's are thicker front to back and are a stretch for me in double action. I have considered sanding the backstrap down for a better reach. But, they are perfect for single action shooting which I do the most of with this gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

H Richard....I want to put my hands on them to test for feel.

I had the opportunity (I know a guy who knows Philip Hemphill) and I was able to speak to Hemphill.

Very nice guy and gave me a lot of information. He gave me a cheap option of rubber tape but that cannot be used for NRA matches. He recalled the Bill Davis grip and said he used to rubber tape them for a better grip.

He had 10 pairs of Nills at one time and now down to 2 pair. He suggested I contact ROCO and see if they can help me out.

I have been so busy these past few weeks at work...I forgot about this post.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Well, if you are ever coming in my direction you are welcome to try them and shoot them on any K Frame you like. I still have a pair of Bill Davis grips, also carved on, and always felt small to me. Used them on a 686 for PPC shooting.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks H Richard. Who knows what the future holds.

I had this 586 reblued as it had some cosmetic issues. Anyway....I got it back last year and parked it. I brought it out this season and while I did decent in the first match this year....the action felt funny.

I decided to take it apart. Well I am glad I did. All screws were loose (even the tiny rear sight screw in the front. When I took off the side plate...I found the lack of snappy click of the cylinder stop. The spring was inserted in the cylinder stop but it was rolled upward and only had half a spring against the portion of the frame.

while it was apart....I did some judicious stoning/polishing here and there. Reinstall the cylinder stop spring correctly and HEY....back to normal.

that did nothing for my grip though....HA!

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if you're gonna be a bear...

This feels better to me....looks like ****

however, I am adding to the entire circumference not just the front and back.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

If the tape makes the grip right.... you just need to measure or remove the halves.... and duplicate.
While measuring or tracing hand size often yields acceptable results.... perhaps a foam, think custom orthodics, might be possible.

Grip/Stock making for firearms and bows should be required in all high school programs in order to graduate.
Real hand....y skills for life.

Or
Get an oversized inexpensive set and some tools/sandpaper.
You only live once! My choice as to duplicate the taped grip after measuring.

Or
Scan and CNC?

I own a Wilson Matchmaster 5 and initially had it built with Pachmayr grips, but these weren't any good due to the front heavy weight. After some time I finally bit the bullet and ordered a set of Nills. Sent them an outline drawing of my hand and they told me which size I needed.
They are expensive, but defiantly worth the money.

Which Nill did you go with?

Pics please

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if you're gonna be a bear...

The 2 best suggestions are either Herretts or Nills custom made grips using a hand tracing. I guess it would be a question of "how much" then.

Karl Nill Massgriffe | Grip Size

You won't be disappointed with Nills, but you pay for that.

Mine aren't custom made, however, the quality and amazingly tight frame fit is incredible. They used 1 block of wood so they book match. Really high quality material and work.

There are 2 US distributors of Nills, Dominion Hobby and MacTec, and they sell at a slight discount from factory prices, but not sure if they do the custom ones. I got mine from Dominion.

Here is a link to my photobucket folder showing the detail of my Nills:

Karl Nill Python Combat Grips by bsmalley23 | Photobucket

Very nice

Can the finger groove portion of the Nills be textured?

I find everything slippery these days.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

SW04XHO8, The Master II, I'm competing with it tomorrow,

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That is nice

Open or closed backstrap?

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Open backstrap

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Rank doesn't = intelligence

Hands like Bill Jordan?

Then Jordan Troopers are the answer.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

His hands appear bigger. Correct me if I am wrong....didnt BJ carry a Model 27 Nframe?

I have a set of Pachmyer Bill Jordan's (plastic)

if they are the same as wood....they are more wider than what I am used to. It changed my trigger finger placement and feel. I felt like I had no control when pressing the trigger with the BJ Pacs.

Those grips had additional material on the sides....I want the added meat to the front and back.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

If you want true custom fit, and especially if it's oversized you're after, I suggest Bondo.

I've used Bondo (auto body filler) for decades to make pattern stocks for shotguns and custom stocks for shotguns and rifles.






Start with a sacrificial set of grips. Apply Bondo, wait 10 minutes and rasp. Remove Bondo and wood where you want, add more Bondo, cure a few minutes and rasp. Finish up with sandpaper. It's fun, educational and fairly cheap.

To build custom fingergrooves and palm swells it's common to slop on a huge dose of Bondo and grip the stock while wearing rubber gloves. When you're all done, spray paint and you have a functional, one of a kind set of grips. Someday, you may use it as apattern for a gripmaker to duplicate in fancy wood.

I carved these without going the pattern route, but they illustrate purpose-made, one-of-a-kind grips. In this case, for DA speed shooting where conventional grips tend to slide down in my palm before the cylinder is empty. The "beavertail" spur at the top prevents that.

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Carry.."hope" isn't a strategy

If you are in it for fit, and not looks, Bondo can do wonders. These were built up on the original, flat, grips, I created a larger heel shelf, and a much larger thumb rest. Built up a layer of bondo, and with a rubber glove (wet), formed my grip into the bondo. Let it dry and it was perfect. The thumb rest was added to and revised several times, and felt comfortable with it. (This is strictly a bullseye gun).



I used these for 3-4 years until I had another set built to my hand by Arnie Vitarbo, which I still use.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I believe you can get these in xl.

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