Pachmayr vs Wood

I agree with most of the above statements. Wood looks nicer, but for powerful handguns it can hurt and even cause blisters. I am currently using Pachmayr Grippers on several handguns, and they really tame the recoil. But I am considering putting the wood grips back on and using the weight lifters gloves that I recently bought to shoot my XP-100. The palm and web area between thumb and index finger are padded and the glove protects me from the extreme recoil from my XP-100, which is essentially a rifle mounted on a handgun grip.
 
Last edited:
Pachmayrs for shooting, wood for display, My M-57 came with a beautiful pair of rosewood grips but S&W grips do not fit me-it wears Herrett's. My 4' nickel M-27 came with Pachmayrs, now that is visually pleasing.
 
My favorite rubber grips are Pach presentation grips. Favorite wood grips are the S&W targets. I shoot both well. I have a set of Pach presentations on a shooter grade 15-4. It came with a super nice set of woods targets that were in way better shape than the gun. I stored those in the safe. I have some beat up wood targets on a very worn K38. Prob my favorite revolver.
 
I had a Model 19 2 1/2 incher. With the stock grips, it was painful with Magnums. A set of Pachmayr Compacs like the OP's fixed the problem. Once upon a time, those Pachs were THE thing to put on a revolver and for good reason.
 
Grips

Pachmayrs for shooting, wood for display, My M-57 came with a beautiful pair of rosewood grips but S&W grips do not fit me-it wears Herrett's. My 4' nickel M-27 came with Pachmayrs, now that is visually pleasing.

Yeap. Wood for "show", Goodyear for "go":D
 
Generally speaking, I like wood grips. But I don't shoot heavy loads in anything. Even when I had a couple of 44 Magnums, I didn't shoot really hot loads. If anything they were mild 44 Specials, so recoil wasn't a problem.

But I don't dislike "snow tires" either. On some guns, I think they look like "serious business." I had a 21-4 Thunder Ranch special that I had a set of Hogue Monogrips on. Not only were they a LOT better than the slick wood grips that came on the gun, they covered up most of that ugly "golden chicken" on the side. Win/win.

Today I've got Pachmayr's on two of my guns. One of them a Model 10 (no dash) came with diamond Magna's. I didn't want to mess them up so they went into storage, and a set of Pachmayr Grippers I had laying around went on. I gotta do a picture of that one.

The other, a Model 24-3, came to me with Pachmayr Presentation grips. I sort of halfway would like to have a set of the proper factory grips for it, but...the Pach's don't look too bad. That "serious business" thing.

 
Thank you everyone for the advice. I went out and shot them today, then I put the wood target grips from my model 65 onto my blue 19-4 to compare. Honestly they did not feel that different recoil wise. I do agree wood grips with like new checkering does scrape at the skin. But as long as they are a bit smoother I think I prefer wood still.
If you find the checkering rough, you could go to smooth target stocks, as on my 586. Bob
 

Attachments

  • 10-5 &586 007.jpg
    10-5 &586 007.jpg
    219.1 KB · Views: 24
  • 10-5 &586 009.jpg
    10-5 &586 009.jpg
    190.2 KB · Views: 26
I generally prefer wood. The only Pachmayers I have are a set of Presentations on my Model 29. They do a good job of taming that recoil.
OTOH, there's rubber and then there's rubber. Most of my serious use K-frames wear the old Uncle Mike's/Butler Creek rubber grips. Not so much for recoil, they just fit my hand perfectly. They aren't made anymore, but you can still find them on the various auction sites. ;)
 
I like my guns to stay with their original grips. However two of my guns have pach grips on them. One gun (19-4 snub) I just bought yesterday and have not shot it yet to feel the grips in action, the other gun (19-4 4") I have fired with the pachs and I am not a fan, they are too short and ugly. I have heard that they are more comfortable however rubber grips can cause rust. My question is, is it safe to have these grips on or should I toss them and buy the better looking, but more uncomfortable, safer for rust, wood grips?
I don't really understand this post. First you tell us you don't like Pachs, then you ask whether it's safe to keep them on the gun, because wood grips are worse. Your question about rust has probably been answered. Myself, I would say use RIG under the grips and check them every once in a while, and you will not rust the gun.

However, the real question is why would YOU have Pachs on your guns? I would, of course, because they fit MY hand very well. What idiot told you that Pachs are more comfortable for YOUR hand than wooden grips? Was he looking at your hand when he said it? It sounds like you already know better. Go look for some wooden or even rubber grips that you like, and use them. BTW, the internet is NOT a good place to buy grips, and only so-so for even discussing them. Go to your local gun store (LGS) and try out what they have. If that doesn't work, see if anyone at the range has something you can try. You could then actually buy on the internet if you find what you want.

Remember, grips are usually cheaper at the LGS, because you only have to buy one pair for each gun. Mail order, you stand a good chance of buying two or three sets before you get the right one.

Good luck!
 
If you like wood, then look at the Kim Ahrends stocks or the Culina, LLC stocks. For the Ahrends, go to eBay and look for a vendor named gripseller. They have a wide assortment of Ahrends stocks in various styles. John Culina also sells on eBay but his selection of stocks are usually pretty limited as I think he makes most to order. As to price, the Ahrends generally go in the $70-90 range and the Culina stocks are around $200, but are definitely worth it IMO. I believe I will be ordering another set of Culina stocks in the very near future myself.

I agree 100% with this. I have several Ahrends. They are great and everybody who has handled and shot my revolvers wearing them comment on their comfort. Just got my first Culina stocks. Beautiful and comfortable with good palm swells. Love them.

WILDPIG
 
I don't really understand this post. First you tell us you don't like Pachs, then you ask whether it's safe to keep them on the gun, because wood grips are worse. Your question about rust has probably been answered. Myself, I would say use RIG under the grips and check them every once in a while, and you will not rust the gun.

However, the real question is why would YOU have Pachs on your guns? I would, of course, because they fit MY hand very well. What idiot told you that Pachs are more comfortable for YOUR hand than wooden grips? Was he looking at your hand when he said it? It sounds like you already know better. Go look for some wooden or even rubber grips that you like, and use them. BTW, the internet is NOT a good place to buy grips, and only so-so for even discussing them. Go to your local gun store (LGS) and try out what they have. If that doesn't work, see if anyone at the range has something you can try. You could then actually buy on the internet if you find what you want.

Remember, grips are usually cheaper at the LGS, because you only have to buy one pair for each gun. Mail order, you stand a good chance of buying two or three sets before you get the right one.

Good luck!

I was curious about keeping the pachs on the guns in case I take too long finding the right wood grips. I wanted to know what I could do to help protect the frame while waiting.
As for buying wood grips locally, unfortunately I live in quite a small town and just cannot seem to find them so far. I did find some at a gun show once but believe it or not the man told me that he refused to sell larger grips to a woman. Needless to say I stopped talking to him.
 
I was curious about keeping the pachs on the guns in case I take too long finding the right wood grips. I wanted to know what I could do to help protect the frame while waiting.
As for buying wood grips locally, unfortunately I live in quite a small town and just cannot seem to find them so far. I did find some at a gun show once but believe it or not the man told me that he refused to sell larger grips to a woman. Needless to say I stopped talking to him.
Thanks! Now I understand your situation a little better. The dogmatic answer of the character at the gun show sounds foolish, but even though he is bound to be wrong occasionally, his attitude is based on a well-founded assumption (women usually have smaller hands, and large grips on a K frame SB can sometimes be a mistake even for a man) and a basic honesty. Even if your hands are not rather large, Hogues may work well. Custom grips from Herrett's may be in order. Unfortunately, actually trying the things in your hand is still the best.

Have you considered Magnas and a Tyler? Or service grips (either factory or aftermarket) and a Tyler?
 
Until you find the right grips spray the grip frame with Birchwood Casey Barricade or Sheath then put the Pachs back on and blast away!
 
None of my revolvers wear rubber anymore. Well fitted wood dissipates recoil in the hand without discomfort. Also, I like open back stocks, so much of the benefit of rubber is lost. And to me, they are butt ugly! (Pun intended.)
 
I had a Model 19 2 1/2 incher. With the stock grips, it was painful with Magnums. A set of Pachmayr Compacs like the OP's fixed the problem. Once upon a time, those Pachs were THE thing to put on a revolver and for good reason.

I did exactly the same thing with my 19 2-1/2 back in the early 80's. It was almost standard practice pick out a gun like the 19 and then almost in the same breath ask the guy behind the counter "okay, so where is your Pachmayr inventory so I can get some descent grips for it?" I kept the wood, but I shoot the rubber.
 
Thanks! Now I understand your situation a little better. The dogmatic answer of the character at the gun show sounds foolish, but even though he is bound to be wrong occasionally, his attitude is based on a well-founded assumption (women usually have smaller hands, and large grips on a K frame SB can sometimes be a mistake even for a man) and a basic honesty. Even if your hands are not rather large, Hogues may work well. Custom grips from Herrett's may be in order. Unfortunately, actually trying the things in your hand is still the best.

Have you considered Magnas and a Tyler? Or service grips (either factory or aftermarket) and a Tyler?

I understand my hands my be smaller than my husbands. It is just the way he talked to me, like I didn't know what I wanted. My favorite grips to shoot with are actually my Model 65-2 with it's big wood target grips.
As for the Tyler's I honestly have never really looked into them. I have held a model 36 with Tylers on before and it felt nice, but I never got to shoot it (it was at a pawn shop). Do Tylers fit any magnas and service grips?
 
Back
Top