I bought a model 65 a few weeks back and also bought a set of Hogue rubber grips that day. Figured if I shot a lot of .357's in it then the rubber would be better on recoil. But after looking online there are a lot more wooded grips than rubber and it got me to wondering if they take the recoil better.
I don't have much experience with doa magnums as I've been mainly shooting Cowboy guns in CAS, blackpowder to boot, so would like to hear from some folks and get ya'll's opinions.

My personal experience with magnum guns (357 and 44) is they do wake you up with recoil. Some will say, what's the big deal. I don't work with concrete and I don't have construction built hands. Plus, I'm not fond of kick *** guns for range use. When I used one I had better luck with rubber vs. wood in those situations. Large thick rubber, not small dinky things. The grip is easier to hold onto and maybe it does accept recoil better. Another thought is the use of padded shooting gloves. Those worked for me as well.

"Goodyears" are easier on the hands, and I prefer them for IDPA because they don't slip when soaked in sweat.

However, wood grips don't grab the clothing when drawing from concealment.

For the Model 65 3" I shoot, I prefer not to shoot "a lot of magnums" except the Speer SB or reload equivalent. For "lots of magnums" I'll take a 686 every time.

I have wood grips (Ahrends) on all my smiths (K, L and N frames).

Grips feel best to me when they fill that little void behind the trigger guard.
Rubber does absorb some recoil but it also can grab the skin (and clothing when drawing), while wood is smooth on the skin and more comfortable when it is hot outside, while rubber gets that sticky feeling.
Filling the hand properly while using a frame that also soaks up recoil is what works best for me. I also like square frame grips that fill my hand since I have long fingers.
The Ahrends round-to-square conversion cocobolo grips on my 686 snubbie work wonderfully, even with heavier loads.

Wood grips are far less forgiving than rubber. My definition of misery is shooting magnum rounds with a set of wooden grips that don't quite fit my hands.

For example, my Model 27-3 came equipped with original S & W wood target grips. They gave the gun a classic look. One range session with magnum rounds was all it took, however, for me to say that they hadda go. Every round I fired drove those grips into the base of my thumb on my shooting hand with excruciating results. I tried shooting the gun with a rubber Pachmayr grip. That solved the pain problem but I hated the looks of it.

So, I orderered a set of "coke" grips from Forum member Kurac. The grips fit my hand like a glove and I now shoot magnums painlessly from my 27. They're made in a smooth birdseye maple and look great.

I've also put wooden grips by Nill on a couple of my other .357s. They're pricey (north of $250 per set for Nill "coke" reproductions) but are as comfortable as any grips I've ever used. They look great, too.

I'll throw in my two cents worth, but grips are one of those things where one size does not fit all. What works well for me may not work at all for you.

I use a lot of rubber grips on revolvers. They seem to be the most comfortable in terms of absorbing recoil, especially those that cover the backstrap. For example, the factory rubber grips on my 325NG are more comfortable than any wood grips I have tried. They are also cheap.

Some people use Goodyears at the range, then change to a different grip for carry. I don't do this because, in effect, you are training with one gun then carrying another.

I have noticed over the years that I can usually control a rubber gripped revolver better with one hand. I try to watch people carefully at the range, and one thing I have noticed is that a lot of people carry guns that they really can't control with one hand. By control, I mean deliver two or three hit on target in a reasonable time. All too often I see people shooting one handed loose their grip after the first shot and have to regrip the pistol before they get off another round. If someone is shooting a J with wood boot grips, I'm surprised if this doesn't happen.

This is important because any handgun is likely to fail to stop with just one round. I know that there have been studies published that say this round or that round have a "96%" or "98%" first stop probability. Sorry, I don't believe any handgun round can be depended on to produce such consistent results. You might need the second or third shot to save your life and you may be in a position where a good two handed grip is not possible.

There are negatives associated with rubber grips. They tend to be larger than some wooden grips, and can be harder to conceal. They are often somewhat tacky in texture. They can "grab" your shirt or jacket, leaving the gun exposed. Your hand will not slide along their surface. This makes it difficult or impossible to adjust you grip if circumstance forces you into a poor draw.

They are really ugly. There is no pride of ownership. And yes, that counts.

Charles

When I go to the range, most all of my handguns have rubber grips installed. For my N-frame M28, Hogues get the call. They really tame the recoil of .357 rounds for me. My round butt K and L- frames sport Uncle Mike's Combat grips and they work well for me with .38/.38+P and the occasional .357 rounds. For CC, it's always wood or PGS Hideout grips. That said, custom wood grips sure look nice!

I have a well used police trade-in Highway Patrolman on which I installed Pachmayr recoil reducers. Large, but rather thin grips. Like them a lot.

Shooting field pistol steel silhouettes with a M24-3 and Keith loads was not kind to the web of my shooting hand with either factory OTs or Grippers.

It is suggested that -- since everybody's hands are different -- the shape of the grips is probably more important than material in controlling recoil. They have to fit.

Bill Jordan's No Second Place Winner has a pretty good analysis of what grip shape works and why. I have found that his "Trooper" stocks as rendered by Herrett's have worked best for me, even with my average size hands. If you can find a set of the plastic Jordan Troopers by Pachmayr they work quite well and will be cheap to test. They probably got dropped from production 'cause they look cheap, but they work. If they work for you, then go for the wood version.

I like my Hogue because they are practical and work. But the wooden one's sure do look nicer. The one's that were called "combat " grips is what really got me to wondering. My gun will be used mainly for IDPA comp so reckon I'll stick with the Hogue.

If I carry a revolver in a holster OWB, I like rubber grips...quite frankly, I have buggered up a lot of fine looking wood gettin' in and out of patrol cars, hitting door frames, falling on my butt, etc.....****bber just wears better, and I don't get upset if they get banged....
pocket guns, or concealed guns, rubber seems to stick to clothing, so I prefer wood....
As far as looks, wood beats rubber every time......
At least we have choices...

IMO, wood always looks better than rubber but a Pachmayr Gripper on a K-frame fits me just perfectly. On my Redhawk, their Decelerator grip is a ton more comfortable than the grips that came with the gun. It's especially noticeable when shooting Double Tap 320 gr. moose-killers. A proper fitting rubber grip, while ugly, could help one quite a bit. I know that I shoot better with them.

What's wrong with some nice Elk Stags by Patrick Grashorn?

Combine 'em with a Tyler T-grip and you have looks and comfort . . . and you can keep those pristine original S&W stocks in the safe!



Then again . . . the original stocks DO look great!




BTW, I concur with an earlier statement . . . Hogue "rubbers" work really great in the "gun gamezzz" at preventing or limiting the gun wanting to shift in your hand during fast and furious double action shooting against the timer!

All have their places. The key is finding grips that fit YOU as a person.

Tom

PS: Let's not forget the S&W Performance Center rosewood stocks . . . like the set that sometimes is on the 3" Model 65 shown above. They look really nice, IMHO:



Ahhh . . . so many choices . . . and you gotta find works best for YOU!!!

Rubber on my guns? Oh, hell no!!!! But....if you are shooting alot, the condom grips may be the way to go. I like the Jordan Trooper grips. I have "man hands" (calloused, hard) so shooting the magnums is no problem for me.
I believe grip fit and proper hold means a whole lot more than materiel.

Seeing one like your 65-3 is what got me on this subject to begin with! Man , I sure do like that look.

I have found that personally, the fit of the grip has more to do with it than what they are made of. My 625-6 Mountain Gun has a Hogue one piece laminated wood grip with the finger grooves. It fits reasonably well, but not great. I bought a Pachmayr rubber grip to see if recoil was better for long range sessions and it actually seemed a bit worse than with the Hogue's.

When my m28 gets here I'm going to save up for some Herrett's Ropers, 'cause I like the look and feel of good wood stocks over any of the rubber ones.

I like the Hogue rubber grips, I think they are one of the best buys on the market. They seem to fit my hand perfectly. I have them on a Ruger Redhawk and full patch .44 mag loads are quite soft with this set-up.

Dwight

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Fit is the #1 thing you need the grips to do. If they fit, wood or rubber, they'll work well.

I've got both, but I prefer a well fitting wood grip. Hogue smooth finger is right for me, although there are many excellent grips out there. Ahrends, Jordans, etc.

I shoot a 3" 629 with wood grips. My round of choice is a 265g cast round @ 1200fps. I could shoot this all day long because they fit my hand correctly.

Think of grip fit like any repetitive motion comfort issue.