N Frame and Small Hands

[rWt]

I have small hands-a glove size 8+, or men's small. I can't shoot my Model 25-5 worth a hoot. I do shoot my Model 65-2 with 3" barrel very, very well with Crimson Trace Grips.

Do you have any suggestions for grips I could try? Do you think a Tyler T might help?

Thanks!!

 

[Rolan_Kraps]

I have the smallest hands of any guy I've met. A Tyler T-grip makes a huge difference!

 

[jpwhel]

Welcome to the forum.
The magna style grips put my hand too far away to have a good pull on the trigger. I use a tyler T on several guns that I have with the magna grips. I like them a lot. Recently I ordered the Ahrends retro target stocks. These stocks are thinner than the S&W targets and also work well with those of us that have small hands (or in my case, medium size hands with short stubby fingers).

 

[tjtoolbox]

I shot my Model 28 N frame with a Tyler T and Pearlite Grips,Very Good.
I was able to put my finger on the "Sweet" part of the trigger ,Very Good Shooting that day.I have a Medium size hand and short fingers. Works for me.
S&W all the way.

 

[Ron H.]

I have small hands-a glove size 8+, or men's small. I can't shoot my Model 25-5 worth a hoot. I do shoot my Model 65-2 with 3" barrel very, very well with Crimson Trace Grips.

Do you have any suggestions for grips I could try? Do you think a Tyler T might help?

Thanks!!

Sir, the biggest problem with N-frames for short-fingered folk is trigger reach, rather than grip size. When your finger is at full extension--or worse, straining to reach the trigger face--it has very little leverage and strength. You end up struggling just to get the trigger started moving, which makes it hard to shoot accurately.

A Tyler T-Grip should help, as should most any grip that provides a slight filler behind the trigger guard. Compared to plain magnas, the T-Grip's filler changes your grip angle and moves your second finger down out of the trigger finger's way; thus, your trigger finger has a straighter (shorter) path to the trigger.

Another thing that helps is a narrow trigger, particularly for double-action shooting. A wide target trigger moves your trigger finger outboard, from where it has to make a sharp turn inboard at the last knuckle; this effectively increases the distance your trigger finger has to reach. A narrow trigger gives a much straighter, and thus shorter, path to the trigger face.

Slender grips, such as Ajax magnas, help some, but not as much as you'd expect. They also increase felt recoil, a dubious trade-off.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[David Sinko]

If you want to continue to use minimal wood that exposes both the frontstrap and backstrap I'd suggest the Tyler T Grip. I believe the smooth version would be best. I have a T Grip with fingergroove for my short Redhawk and I'm not at all happy with that setup. That fingergroove is not in the right spot. You can always have custom grips made that expose the backstrap but fill in behind the trigger guard. That's what I prefer for S&W revolvers. I also agree that narrow .265" triggers are best for DA shooting, and I prefer grooved triggers. I also believe that the pad of the trigger finger should contact the trigger, and NOT the crease. This is the method used by Miculek and McGivern, and they are the fastest and most accurate who ever lived. But you must properly condition both of your trigger fingers with lots of practice.

Dave Sinko

 

[Iggy]

If all else fails, you can get custom fit grips from Herret Gun stocks.

They ask for a pattern of your hand and make them accordingly.

 

[Nightowl]

I have found the Hogue rubber grips the best fit for me. And they are affordable enough that I have a good many sets. Actually, I prefer the ones that Smith sells, that have the logo on both sides. They do not have the large area that covers the sideplate like the Hogues.

 

[tom turner]

Hi,

I too have hands that would be great for a dentist or gynecologist. Not to worry . . . . I do my very best double action competition shooting (tactical, pin, steel, etc.) with my N frames! If shooting is great in double action . . . you know the grip to hand ratio is good. The key is the right grips.

Two types really work well for me:

Hogue rubbers for match day/Hogue wood for "show," and . . .

Magna style like you've got WITH a Tyler T.

Get a Tyler for your N frame and I think you'll be extremely pleased with the results you get. All my self-defense revolvers have been converted to Tylers, including my favorite . . . my big, custom Model 25-2 in .45ACP with it's short 3 1/4" barrel. I've won a LOT of matches with this one, in blazing times too and it is the gun I reach for always when something goes bump in the night.

It is pictured here, on top of course, with a pair of J-frames. BTW, the big N-frame's super wide target trigger face was smoothed, rounded and narrowed . . . for the best double action results:

Tom

 

[David Sinko]

More T Grips with that damned hump near the bottom! Why do they put that there? My finger wants to be right where the point is and I can't stand it. I know I have seen pictures of T Grips that are smooth. Are they still available this way?

Dave Sinko

 

[Sportsterguy]

Hi,

I too have hands that would be great for a dentist or gynecologist. Not to worry . . . . I do my very best double action competition shooting (tactical, pin, steel, etc.) with my N frames! If shooting is great in double action . . . you know the grip to hand ratio is good. The key is the right grips.

Two types really work well for me:

Hogue rubbers for match day/Hogue wood for "show," and . . .

Magna style like you've got WITH a Tyler T.

Get a Tyler for your N frame and I think you'll be extremely pleased with the results you get. All my self-defense revolvers have been converted to Tylers, including my favorite . . . my big, custom Model 25-2 in .45ACP with it's short 3 1/4" barrel. I've won a LOT of matches with this one, in blazing times too and it is the gun I reach for always when something goes bump in the night.

It is pictured here, on top of course, with a pair of J-frames. BTW, the big N-frame's super wide target trigger face was smoothed, rounded and narrowed . . . for the best double action results:

Tom

Tom,

That 25 turns me on every time I see it. Still haven't done the same to my old 57. Great advice too.

Regards,

Roger

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I find with "magna" like grips, if you hook your pinky under the grip and use it to index the hold of the gun every time, you will get much better accuracy.

Yes better grips help, but why not step up to the challenge of trying to shoot magna's well? I am still solving the magna problem then I will start learning out to shoot "service grips"!

 

[Smithboomer]

+1 to nightowl. I feel the same way about Hogues.

 

[Dragonfly]

As jpwhel mentioned upthread Ahrends Retro Target work well for small hands. They look great and feel better--much slimmer side to side (especially around the bottom of the grip) and with the exposed backstrap the trigger reach is kept to a minumum. Here's a set in moradillo on my 28-2:

 

[J. Galt]

Nice, Dragonfly! I'll have to try those Retro Targets. I too am cursed with stubby fingers and a love of N-Frames.

 

[otis24]

I had an an N frame .357. It was too large for my hands. After selling it, I saw one on here that someone had converted from a square butt to a round butt. I actually have that one saved as the background on my computer screen. I would think that a round butt conversion would fit one's hands much better if he had smaller hands. My next N frame will be converted to a RB.

 

[TDC]

Lots of great suggestions from several sources in this thread. I would add one other to tom turner's post and suggest you not only smooth, narrow and round the trigger, but give it a very high polish on its face. It's amazing how that changed the feel and function especially in DA for me.

 

[Sprefix]

Contact VM

VM is a forum member and does some great work with grips. I have a set of S&W grips that he "trimmed" for me and they feel really nice. Just an option for you................Sprefix

 

[m657]

I'm with the 'hogue rubber grips work best for me' bunch....

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

You might try older service grips (NOT magnas) with a Tyler, or maybe even without, but you should also try Pachmayr SN-S (the second S stands for small) grips. They haven't been made in a while, but I believe that there are still some around, and generally not expensive.