Is there a better grip than Uncle Mike's Boot Grip for carrying J frame revolvers?

I have model 37 and model 38 revolvers in 38 Special that I occasionally carry in the front pocket or on my ankle. In past 20 years I've tried most of the grips out there and I find myself coming back to those Uncle Mike's rubber boot grips over and over again. They absorbe recoil better than anything else I've tried and it doesn't add any to the size of the revolver. Only other grip that is as functional is the origional factory wood grip with Tyler T grip adapter.

They are ugly rubber grips... but they work for me.

Is there any other grips that works as well or better?

No. All the J Frames I own have them too.

Dave Sinko

I usually have a J frame with Barami's and a Tyler T in the carry rotation. Makes for a good alternative to pocket carry.

They are on all my Js too, I won't use anything else. Everytime I try something different, I end up with the UMs on again in short order.

I like the Hogue Bantams better -- not much, but a little.

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Pisgah

The only thing better than Uncle Mike's Boot Grips are the Craig Spegel boot grips they're modeled after.

Buck

I like the Eagle brand Secret Service grips for my carry J frame Smith...

Are the Uncle Mike's what come on the new S&W J-frames nowadays?

If you like magnas and a grip adapter, the new four tab BK is the most solid feeling adapter I have ever used.



I also favor Altamont boot grips:

nothing made by UM feels right to me.

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One gun is never enough...

I do too, as they fit my hand better.
Dave

badger, or s&w diamondwood with a tyler or bk grip adapter. rubber is great for shooting, but i find it hangs up on to much when carrying concealed.

I found a Crimson Trace grip to be much more comfortable for shooting .357 out of my lightweight 340sc. I think the comfort comes from the covering of the backstrap. It's not pretty, but it's very effective for carry purposes!

Uncle Mike's produced lower priced products, but occasionally they come up with something pretty good. I haven't tried the boot grips yet. Interesting to see the positive comments on them. I learn something new every day. Of course, with my memory, everything is new everyday.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Craig Spegel

I know that you have all seen or used PC magnas, but I like my DC, (dog chewed), magnas. These are the original stocks numbered to the gun. The gun is 43 years old. I have tried pach compac pros and the Uncle mikes, but these fit my hand better for some crazy reason. I think that is what it all boils down to anyways.
Now if my J frame happened to be a .357 or one of the ones that are rated for .38+P's, then I would definitely have to have some type of grip with the finger grooves and a high degree of recoil dampening.
P.S., The chew marks make up for the worn checking too.
Here is a pick of a gun that is carried everywhere all the time.
keep praying for the U.S.A.
GordXX

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better have that checked

The Precision Hideout grips are good. They don't grab your clothes and are indestructible. They come in fingergroove models as well. Here is a set on my 642. They are about like a T grip and factory grips. Just a little bigger.

I had a Mod 60 38 with boot grips and they were perfect for me. The gun was stolen. I located another 60 in 38 but the grips are not around. Anybody have an idea where I can get one?

I had a Mod 60 in 38 with boot grips. They were perfect for my hands. The gun was stolen. I located another 60 in 38 but the grips are not around. Anybody have an idea where I can get one? I am not great with this posting stuff so please, complicated looses me quick. Charles

I have Pachmayr Compac grips on a M63 22lr. I don't carry it, but I like the grips and they would work well for carry.

Welcome to the Forum! Can't have too many new members! Re UM Boot Grips: Go to the S&W website. Punch the STORE button. From there, hit CLOSEOUTS, you'll see the UM Boot Grips at about $15.00. Since you'll pay tax and shipping, perhaps you'll want to get more than one? Hope this helps.

My EDC J-frame (pocket carried, in a good pocket holster) has worn Pachmayr Compacs for over twelve years. Only a little harder to conceal than boot grips, don't drag on clothing, cover the backstrap, and give a secure hold with purchase for the little finger. I really like them for my old and arthritic hands, but lots of younger shooters do too.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Pachmayr Compacs on my 640-1, 642 and 60-10. 25 qualifying rounds with .357 in the 640-1 with Compacs is no fun but it works.

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60-10,640-1,G30,G41MOS,1911

One thing I like about them is that on one of the Centennial series guns--mine's a dashless 640--they give a higher hold that helps control muzzle flip.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Spegel's, but then I don't like any rubber stocks

I carry my 442 with Pachmayr Compacts. It's still easily concealed in either my pocket or on my belt. They work great with my large gimpy hands.

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+1 on the Hogue Bantams. It shortens the grip enough for pocket carry on my 60-9.

Pachmayr Compacs are a good option also - they have a place for your pinky, but I found them wider (fatter), they also cover the back of the frame which is more comfortable for shooting - it lessens the felt recoil on your palm. I used those on a 36 I carried for a long time until I got the 642.

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But then, what do I know?

Have a box of grips that I bought for my J frames over the years. For pocket carry I still use the Uncle Mikes rubber boot grips.

A round butt K-frame or L-frame...or even an N-frame if you're big enough and have the right holster.

YMMV,
Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

I've tried wooden Altamonts, Ahrends, & Badgers, and rubber Pachmayr Compac & Hogue Bantams, but I keep coming back to the uncle mike boots. The bantams weren't bad, but I don't like Hogue's one-piece pry-on/pry-off design- plus UM's fit my hands better anyway. I have 6 sets, two of which I bought last week from S&W- cost me about $40 delivered. I've thought about trying the hideout grips, but I doubt they'd be an improvement on the UM's. I suspect they'd feel about like the hard plastic Crimson Trace LG-105 laser boots- not bad, but mot as good a feel as the UM's.

For my money, the S&W OEM synthetic grips do everything all the other rubber grips do, and probably for less money. Boot or full size, take your pic.

I agree - but it's no fun just sticking with the factory grips.

That would be too simple.

Part of the fun is trying lots of different grips.

And, you have to switch back and forth between different ones from time to time just to justify all the money you spent.

I see......

The 'lemon peel' (magnas?) grip with T-grip adapters work best for pocket-carrying my M49. They also help maintain the classic appearance.

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Registration? NEVER!

For the pocket I prefer wood (Ahrends or Eagle or Spiegal secret service or boot grips). They don't grab the inside of the pocket when you need them most. Brownells sells a hard nylon grip that looks like it would do well in that department also so I may give them a test run. For holster carry the Uncle Mikes or Hogue Bantams work very well also.
Chip King

Altamont company makes some nices grips,in the USA.

I like the Compaq - covers the backstrap for a better fit for my hand. Took the checkering off with a dremel, added some pseudo stipples to front/rear strap to add to grip. Sprayed with clear polyurethane to take out some of the grabbyness (rubber grip to cloth pocket), but that still grabbed a bit until it was dusted with cornstarch. Sounds odd, but it works.

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Sauer

I wonder if they've changed the formulation of the rubber they use. Mine were never grabby, to the best of my recollection--I've used the same set for going on thirteen years. There's a little smoothing of the checkering on the right side (I'm right-handed and carry the gun in a pocket holster) but otherwise they look pretty much as they did when I bought them.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Hogue Bantams are very nice indeed. Don't overlook the Eagle Secret Service grip.

Nothing better than UM boot grips. Stop looking. I've been carrying a J frame for 25+ years and tried about everything. All mine wear UM boot grips.

Factory UM's, they even look good ......for rubber.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

Maybe I need to re-think this. I have tried the UM boot grips a couple of times, but I had a hard time getting used to my little finger hanging off the bottom. I went back to the original banana shaped grip that came on my model 60-9 and 60-10. They do however conceal well. My hands are just medium sized. Do you that use the boot grip find that you do get used to the diminutive size with use? If I could get used to the feel, maybe I will take another look at them. wyatte

The factory, OEM, not made by Uncle Mike, full size synthetic grip is the answer.....

The grip on the left is the new S&W synthetic boot grip; the middle is the new full size grip, the far right is the older and discontinued Uncle Mike Boot grip.

Alnamvet68 - The discontinued Uncle Mike's grip as shown in your picture on the right is the one that I tried, and had a hard time liking. It was just so short. Maybe the newer OEM as shown in the left picture is the answer. The UM did conceal well, but was just very hard to get a hold on for me. wyatte

I agree with this analysis 100%! I have the exact same grips shown in this picture for my 60-12, tried them all several times, and always come back to the full size synthetics shown. They are a little on the large size for concealment, but are oh so much more comfortable to shoot. I have large hands.

My vote is for the Crimson Trace LG-405 laser grips for the J-frames I pocket carry. The LG-405s have an "air pocket" along the backstrap that really helps soak up recoil. They are rubber, so I suppose they do "grab" in the pocket, but I've never had a problem with that.

Regards,

Dave

I am not esp recoil-immune but I don't have a problem shooting warm-ish 38 spl loads out of my Chiefs with uncle mike boots. I have four Chiefs in the EDC rotation, and all of them are set up the same (bobbed hammer & smooth narrow trigger)- three have UM boots and one has boot-style LG-105 laser grips. The bigger grips are no doubt easier and/or more comfortable for shooting, but for me they are just too large to work for concealment.