Ok...In your opinion who makes the best revolver grips for any S&W specifically "J" frames? Any and all opinions are welcome but please be specific as to wood, rubber or composite material and a reason you chose what you like it. If the reason is as simple as "they just feel good in my hand" - good enough. Thanks all for the input ahead of time.
-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
Best revolver grips
- Thread starter Engine 21
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
novalty
Member
I picked my father up a set of Ahrend with finger-grooves, and they felt very comfortable on his 686 (yes I know not j-frame,) but they are offered for the j-frames as well.
novalty
Member
If you got the money Nill makes some amazing grips.
JCS&W
US Veteran
I have Ahrends on several of my Smiths, mainly K frames, so I do not know how they work on a J frame. On the J frames I have, I have the magna stocks and a BK grips adapter. I like the feel and have not looked for others. My 2 cents.
I ordered a set of Herrett's "Shooting Star" grips made to my hand pattern way back in the 1960s for my then-new Model 60. The Herretts currently reside on on a model 640. I've never found grips that fit more comfortably or that give me more control over a J-frame. They are not as concealable as some, but if what you want is feel and control, then I think they are unbeatable. You can still send Herrett's an outline of your hand, and they will do the rest - made by hand.
John
John
rburg
Member
I'm real out of step with you guys. The best revolver grips were made by a gun company, Smith & Wesson. Generally between about 1910 and 1940. But they're barely in business, and certainly not in the wood grip business.
So I sense you're talking about current production wood grips, and Keith Brown makes the best ones of any producer in decades. Yep, and this commercial isn't even paid!
The best aftermarket grip maker of all time was probably Kearsarge. That man sure found and used good walnut.
Another maker of good wood is Don Collins, and he doesn't limit himself to mundane woods like spectacular walnut. With Don, you can get genuine elephant ivory. But Don doesn't checker. Keith does that.
Hows this for not really answering a question the way the OP wanted!
So I sense you're talking about current production wood grips, and Keith Brown makes the best ones of any producer in decades. Yep, and this commercial isn't even paid!
The best aftermarket grip maker of all time was probably Kearsarge. That man sure found and used good walnut.
Another maker of good wood is Don Collins, and he doesn't limit himself to mundane woods like spectacular walnut. With Don, you can get genuine elephant ivory. But Don doesn't checker. Keith does that.
Hows this for not really answering a question the way the OP wanted!
I love wood and wood grips for looking at, but for shooting I will take Goodyears. It's hot all the time here and sweaty hands and wood just do not work for me.
For my shooting guns I put Pacs with finger grooves. I take of the worthless mono grips that SW now puts on guns. Why have a rubber grip with the whole metal backstrap exposed? Especially in a high powered revolver??
For my shooting guns I put Pacs with finger grooves. I take of the worthless mono grips that SW now puts on guns. Why have a rubber grip with the whole metal backstrap exposed? Especially in a high powered revolver??
oldRoger
US Veteran
For J frames: first; Nills-G, second; Pachmayr
novalty
Member
That says a lot for Pachmayr, as you have pretty much listed both ends of the price spectrum.
Last edited:
Maximumbob54
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 7,200
- Reaction score
- 1,927
Regular skinny J magnas with a double tab BK grip adapter
or
Altamont boot grip
or
Altamont boot grip
Rugskipper
Member
Craig Spegel boot grips come in several exotic woods. Thin for concealment, but with enough meat to tame +p's in my little 642 airweight. They look REAL good too.
Black_Sheep
Member
I'll probably get crucified but here goes.
For a shooter, Pachmayr makes the most comfortable and ergonomic grips; Hogue grips are a close second. Guns I shoot with any regularity all wear Goodyears.
For fancy stocks it’s impossible to choose who is “best” because I have yet to own a set of Executioners Stags or exotic wood stocks from Craig Spegel, Don Collins or Keith Brown. Kim Ahrends grips and factory Magna’s with a t-grip will have to do for now....
For a shooter, Pachmayr makes the most comfortable and ergonomic grips; Hogue grips are a close second. Guns I shoot with any regularity all wear Goodyears.
For fancy stocks it’s impossible to choose who is “best” because I have yet to own a set of Executioners Stags or exotic wood stocks from Craig Spegel, Don Collins or Keith Brown. Kim Ahrends grips and factory Magna’s with a t-grip will have to do for now....
ContinentalOp
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 6,315
- Reaction score
- 12,811
Spegel boot grips for me. I like that they're small and compact, but the palm swell helps fill the hand. I think it goes a long way towards making the gun more controllable and comfortable to shoot. The finger grooves are another plus. Normally I can't stand finger grooves, particularly on revolver grips. I don't have big hands and normally the grooves are too big and spread my fingers too far apart for good control. The finger grooves on the Spegel boot grips are low profile and are hardly noticeable; they fit my hands well. Plus, being wood, they won't snag a cover garment the way some rubber grips do.
If I were going to order another set, I think I'd probably get the checkered version to try them out. I have the smooth version and while I haven't had any traction issues I can see the improved grip of the checkering being a possible asset. I'd also be interested in trying out his custom-fit option. The grips I bought for my 642 required a little bit of fitting to blend them into the backstrap.
If I were going to order another set, I think I'd probably get the checkered version to try them out. I have the smooth version and while I haven't had any traction issues I can see the improved grip of the checkering being a possible asset. I'd also be interested in trying out his custom-fit option. The grips I bought for my 642 required a little bit of fitting to blend them into the backstrap.
otis24
Member
I've tried Hogue's, Uncle Mike's (combat and boot grips), and magna's with Tyler T-grip on my 640-1. Just picked up a set of Pachmayr Compac Pros. They are by far the best grips (feel good in my hand). I was very surprised by them. Second is the magnas with Tyler T-grip. A lot will depend on your hand size as well. Traush grips (France) makes a very nice grip for the Ruger SP101. He once hinted to me that he may make a grip for the S&W J frame. If he made a grip similar to the one he makes for the SP101 and dropped the finger grooves, it would be an excellent grip. Still hoping to see it in production!
I truly did not start to fully enjoy shooting my Smith & Wesson M66-2 until I put the Pachmayr Presentation grips on. They fit my hands like gloves, double or single action, and perfectly comfortable, not a single complaint. That's what it's all about, right?
I did find a little extra "space" between the back part of the grips and the backstrap, thought, this doesn't bother me. It's probably an easy fix with a little elbow grease.
I have kinda small hands - Hogue finger grove grips space my fingers out weird, painfully so. I liked them very much until I actually started concentrating on proper handgun grip. Smith & Wesson wood target Presentation grips, look cool, Dirty Harry nonsense, chew your hands up when shooting magnums out of a K-frame and get very slippery if your hands are prone to sweating (let's be honest about it...) I find myself adjusting every shot if I'm unloading hot Magnum loads out of a K-frame with smooth wood grips.
None of those issues, for me, with a Pachmayr Presentation grips, which absorb some nasty recoil out of such a (relatively) small Magnum revolver, and allow for a natural finger spacing on the grip itself, which is important for us small-handed fellows.
I did find a little extra "space" between the back part of the grips and the backstrap, thought, this doesn't bother me. It's probably an easy fix with a little elbow grease.
I have kinda small hands - Hogue finger grove grips space my fingers out weird, painfully so. I liked them very much until I actually started concentrating on proper handgun grip. Smith & Wesson wood target Presentation grips, look cool, Dirty Harry nonsense, chew your hands up when shooting magnums out of a K-frame and get very slippery if your hands are prone to sweating (let's be honest about it...) I find myself adjusting every shot if I'm unloading hot Magnum loads out of a K-frame with smooth wood grips.
None of those issues, for me, with a Pachmayr Presentation grips, which absorb some nasty recoil out of such a (relatively) small Magnum revolver, and allow for a natural finger spacing on the grip itself, which is important for us small-handed fellows.
Last edited:
I really like my stag grips by Grashorns Gunworks, fit great, feel good, and just enough bling for my liking.
Not cheep but well worth the investment.
Not cheep but well worth the investment.
