642 ccw grip reccomendations

[Eep02b]

Hey everyone,
I recently purchased a 642 to go along with my 3913 for when i cant carry the 3913 or want to carry a BUG. I took the 642 to the range today, and as much as i like the gun, it physically hurt to shoot, like literally my hand bled from firing the pistol. I say all this because im considering switching the grips to something that absorbs more of the recoil. The biggest issue is that they still need to be slim as i will be carrying this in an ankle holster at times. Also, would you guys post pics of how you hold it when shooting?? I tried a high grip, and the cylinder release took a bit of flesh from me, so trying to compare with some of the more knowledgeable people here.

 

[Alnamvet68]

If you don't mind the rubber/synthetic grips, then the full size S&W synthetic grips work just fine. While there is always the possibility that with time, and with a sporadic maintenance regimen after each shoot, the grips will deteriorate due to chemical reactions to cleaning solvents and lubricants it comes in contact with. This potential issue can be alleviated with thorough cleaning of your revolver, with the grips removed. Synthetic or rubber grips can be maintained with a simple washing with dishwashing soap and a toothbrush, A thorough drying to include using canned air blasting of the screw holes in the grips will eliminate any moisture left over after drying of the grips. Personally, I like wood grips, combat grooved style, like the Altamonts, as well as the magna panel grips coupled with the Tyler-T grip. I also use shooting gloves, and use only normal pressure and low recoil loads for practice. Of course, you and others may have different results; I do use the full size rubber grips when I plan on shooting a hundred or more rounds from one of my J frames, but remove them and use wood grips for carry.

These I use for practice View attachment 95067

Thes I use for carry View attachment 95068

 

[steamloco76]

Keeping the 642 concealed requires a compact grip like the original.SInce I prefer wood, I like the old S&W "banana" style grip, the magna grips with a Tyler T-Grip or the new BK adapter or Altamont's laminated wood boot grips. The best rubber grip I've ever used on a J-frame was Pachmeyers discontinued Compact Professional model.

The best advice I can give for range sessions is wear shooting gloves and do most of your shooting with standard target velocity ammo. Finish your range session with two cylinder fulls of your chosen carry ammo. The Ultralight J frames are NO fun at the range, but that is the penalty for having the lightest possible handgun which still packs a punch.

 

[wrangler5]

Consider the Crimson Trace 405. Probably the thinnest J frame grip I have, but it has a padded backstrap (up high, for the web of your hand, where the recoil goes) and the advantage of a laser. Apart from the magic of putting a hole wherever the laser spot is, it allows much more precise shot placement if you have the time/presence of mind to focus hard on trigger control. It also allows accurate shot placement without having the have the gun in front of your eyes, which lets you get on target sooner. I find the dot to be visible in all but bright sunlight - mine worked superbly in a recent IDPA/BUG match shot outdoors in the morning on an overcast day.

But best of all, a laser grip is probably the best dry fire training aid out there. The first time you try to hit the spine of a particular book on the shelf across the room, you may not believe how much your actual point of impact wanders around during the trigger pull. But being able to see it allows you to work on taming it.

It's still not a lot of fun to shoot a lightweight with these grips, but it's better than the un-padded stock boot grips. If you can handle the extra size, the slightly larger CT 305 has room for your pinky finger (the 405 only goes to the bottom of the grip frame, like the stock boot grips) and is slightly fatter, so maybe more comfortable to shoot with (I've only handled a 305 in the store, never shot with it.)

If you don't want a laser, the most comfortable grip I've found for a J frame that's still relatively concealable is the Pachmayr Compac. Padding all the way down the backstrap and room for the pinky, but still a pretty small grip. You'd have to check whether your particular pants cuffs would fit over it in an ankle holster (I've never had an ankle holster, so don't really know the details of how they fit and work.)

If even the Compacs prove too large, the Hogue Bantam is no larger than the stock boot grips. It has no padding on the backstrap, but is a bit fatter in the web of the hand, which is where recoil hurts me the most. You still won't enjoy shooting a 642 very much - I don't like my 442 very much with these grips either - but I do find 'em to be a slight improvement over the stock grips.

The MOST comfortable grip I've tried on my lightweights is the Pachmayr Decelerator. It's actually very thin, but quite large in the other two dimensions, with plenty of room for all fingers and a thickly, softly padded backstrap. You'll feel like you're shooting a shrunken gun stuck down in a big, cushy medium frame grip, but I've put a hundred rounds through a 442 at one range session without much problem. I can easily conceal a J frame wearing these grips in a belt holster, as long as it holds the gun snugly against the body - as I say, the grips are quite thin. But I doubt they'd work well in an ankle holster.

 

[Eep02b]

If you don't mind the rubber/synthetic grips, then the full size S&W synthetic grips work just fine. While there is always the possibility that with time, and with a sporadic maintenance regimen after each shoot, the grips will deteriorate due to chemical reactions to cleaning solvents and lubricants it comes in contact with. This potential issue can be alleviated with thorough cleaning of your revolver, with the grips removed. Synthetic or rubber grips can be maintained with a simple washing with dishwashing soap and a toothbrush, A thorough drying to include using canned air blasting of the screw holes in the grips will eliminate any moisture left over after drying of the grips. Personally, I like wood grips, combat grooved style, like the Altamonts, as well as the magna panel grips coupled with the Tyler-T grip. I also use shooting gloves, and use only normal pressure and low recoil loads for practice. Of course, you and others may have different results; I do use the full size rubber grips when I plan on shooting a hundred or more rounds from one of my J frames, but remove them and use wood grips for carry.

These I use for practice View attachment 95067

Thes I use for carry View attachment 95068

What kind of grips are these?? Particularly the ones top right, ad bottom right??


-EP

 

[Alnamvet68]

What kind of grips are these?? Particularly the ones top right, ad bottom right??


-EP

The top right and top left are the Altamont snakeskin checkering, rosewood and silver/black respectively. The bottom left appears to be a basketweave type of checkering. You need to go to the Altamont main web page, and click on the new J frame offerings; the web site has not been updated, so you should call in the order, and ask for those grips. You can get these grips without the laser engraved logo, and instead, request the S&W medallions be installed. Price for either offering is $55.00. I have both the black and the rosewood grips with metal S&W medallions....they are beautifully made and fit perfectly. Altamont, in case you aren't aware, makes the grips for S&W.

 

[les strat]

Try Hogue bantams, or if you want to drop a little money for some good looks, the Bantams in wood.

That said, I always curl my pinky under the bottom. It's not like the j-frames are a pleasurable pistol to shoot like a 1911, but you can get efficient with them enough for SD without pain.

 

[hotrod150]

I like the uncle mike boots, p/n 59010. Not much fun shooting more than about 50 rounds at a time, but do-able. And very compact. S&W has them for about $22 shipped.
I'm pretty old school, but I've finally decided to give some Crimson Trace laser grips a try. Too hard to focus my 55 year old eyes (which weren't too great when they were young!) on the little 1/10" front sight on my Chiefs. I'm gonna buy the LG-105 open-back boot style, I'm hoping I'll like how they fit my hand..

 

[snubbyfan]

I use Pachmayr Compact grips I've clearanced for speedloaders. I carry concealed either in my pocket or on my belt.

 

[Imaposer]

I second the CT LG-405's. Very thin, good cushy pad up high on the backstrap where it counts, but a bare backstrap down low to minimize overall grip size. Of course, as wrangler said, the laser is a great bonus as well, but even without it, the grips are good.

 

[TheTinMan]

+1 on the Hogue Bantams

S&W J Frame Round Butt Rubber Bantam Style grip [61000] - $22.46 : Hogue Inc., The Best Value In Handgun Grips, Rifle Stocks and Accessories - Bar None!

You are right - if the gun is biting your hand, you need to change your grip. There has to be a good video on YouTube showing how to grab a J-frame.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Another Pachmayr Compaq user here, I normally carry IWB...

 

[diamonback68]

+1 on the Hogue Bantams

+2 on the Hogue Bantams. They work great on a 3" 65 with a three finger grip also.

 

[getoff]

pach. professionals.

 

[Eep02b]

K, so I've narrowed it down to the houge bantam, the pachmayr professionals, or the altamont boot grips with snakeskin checkering and the s&w medallions. I'm going to try to find the two rubber grips it the local gun store, and make a decision that way. Still kind of clueless of what would fit me best though.


-EP

 

[OLDSTER]

I shoot my 642 quite a bit ( 100 rounds a month), and use full sized Pachmayrs for the range, plinking, etc. The gun is very enjoyable to shoot. For carry, I install the Pachmayr Compaqs ( also comfortable to shoot). I have a 637 and 642, and have never liked boot grips.

 

[sipowicz]

The biggest issue is that they still need to be slim as i will be carrying this in an ankle holster at times.

Rubber and ankle do not go well together as the pant will not slide down them easily...and the pachmayr compacs are big for ankle.....the best ankle grips are wood....I find the stock magnas and a t-grip work best.

Here's mine in a rengegade ankle rig...the checkering makes for a good grip but the smooth edges don't catch on the pants.

 

[Eep02b]

This is the ankle holster I have ordered already. I think I'll go with the wood grips for carry then.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[M&P Freak]

Another Pachmayr Compaq user here, I normally carry IWB...

Where do you guys find these without the Pachmayr medallions?

 

[Eep02b]

So an update to my dilemma, I got my renegade ankle holster (an awesome ankle holster btw. Worn it a couple times, and it's 1000 times better than the ankle cheap fobus holster I had when I had my lc9. It's sooooo comfortable and secure!!) and the stock grips pull on my pants if the pants are anything but heavy denim. I decided to go with the altamont boot grips instead of the other rubber boot grips. I got the half moon checkered w/laser etched s&w medallion in rosewood for my 642. I'll post pics whenever they come in.



-EP