I know rubber grips are just plain ugly, but is it just me or do the Pachmayr grips really seem much comfortable than the Hogues? On the other hand I have noticed the fit and finish of the Pachmayrs are not as good as they used to be, or maybe I just got a bad batch. Though when shooting full house loads that covered backstrap is a blessing!

I have a Hogue monogrip for my S&W 64 and some Pachmayrs for my Ruger Security Six. The Pachmayrs seem to be better in every regard. Though both those guns wear wood stocks.

I do use Pachmayr Compac grips on my Charter Bulldog and they do a lot to tame the recoil from that little slugger. They look, feel, and fit better than the factory rubber too.

I like Houge as far as quality and as a company. But their wood grips always stick out from the backstrap creating a hard edge...no fun when shooting.

A lot of it is just personal preference. I used to put pachmayr on all my revolvers, but transitioned the hogue. The factory wood grips that came on my 629 PC looked great, that was about it. Glad it also came with a set of hogues.

I have found Hogue the best fit and quality for my needs but I will admit I only have them on a Sig P229R and my S&W 15-22 AR lookalike. Not crazy about the look of rubber grips either but they do work the best for me. Not sure who makes the new synthetic grips on the new 629 N-frame revolvers but I like them. Saying that I have changed out the stock factory 629 N-frame black rubber grips for the S&W factory X-frame rubber grips which I like even better and I believe are made by Hogue.

__________________
44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

Thanks, I thought it was just mine that didn't seem to fit right. The rubber ones fit great on my 586. So I got a nice wood one without finger groves, but it has that gap you speak of. I was wanting a set of Miculek grips that are also made by Hogue I believe. Does anyone know if they have the same gap problem? I have never tried Pachmayers, so I can't say anything about them except that I personally just don't like the way they look compared to the Hogue.

I favor rubber grips on my shooter guns. And Pachmayr grips suit me better than Hogues.

I like the feel of the Pachmayr's......Hogues just don't fit my hand as well.

I put Pach's on my revolvers I'll be using for any outdoors activity or at the firing range for the comfortable feel, and I don't want to scratch-up a good pair of wood stocks (the wood can always be put back on for "show and tell" ).


Don

__________________
Laus Deo! <><

Pachmayr Presentations are the only rubber grip I can tolerate.

They fit both the SB and RB K and L frames too. I have a set on my 10-14.

I have limited experience with the Hogue grips but unquestionably like my Pach's better. Took my Pachmayer Compac's off to try a set of Hogues and did not like them at all. They felt bad in my hand and just had a cheap feel and sound (if that makes sense) to them. I put the Pach's back on. However, this is strictly personal tase and impressions and someone else could feel totaly different about them.

The two biggest differences I see between the two are that they use different material to make their grips and they are shaped very different. Hogue is using what I think is called "santoprene" and Pach is using rubber. They are the same in that apples and oranges are differnt but they are both fruit. Then the grip shapes are made to fit different hands and the feel in the hand.

If the wood Hogues aren't fitting and they leave a gap then they either aren't fitting correct or you have a K/L grip on a N or vice versa.

I kind of like the wood Hogues that don't have finger grooves, but I only have one set that I don't care for them on the gun they fit. Sounds like a good enough excuse to go buy another gun...

Just my .02;

I put rubber grips on all my Smiths for shooting.

In my experience, I prefer the Hogues over the Pachmayrs in every case. The Hogues, IMHO, provide a smaller circumference at the circle formed by the middle finger and the base of the thumb.

The only Pachmayrs I have left are those for the square butt J-frames as Hogue does not make anything for that combination.

At one time I raved about the Pach. Decelerators for .357 use. But they are just too big around for my hand.

__________________
But then, what do I know?

It's all just personal preference. I prefer Hogue grips myself. I have a set for most of my revolvers. Pachmayers Presentation and Grippers just don't feel as good to me. I do enjoy the set of compact Pachs on my 66 snubby though. The just feel right on that gun.

I don't think either brand is better then the other. You just need to try them all and go with what works for you.

Opinions were asked for.....I don't like either one of them, but I dislike the Hogue more because of the way it mounts.

Hogue's customer service is terrible. I needed a pin and emailed Hogue, twice. So far they have not even shown the courtesy of replying.

Back to Pacmayr.

Bill

I've had both. Pachmayr wins hands down. Aside from how nice they feel, they are much more attractive. Rubber is bad enough. Pach's are much more tolerable.

I phoned Hogue for a saddle and screw and they sent it out instantly.

I have used Hogue rubber (too squishy, IMHO) Pachs were good in the day, but the various new ones just don't feel good in my hand.

The only rubbers I really liked are the ones from Uncle Mike's. Of course they are discontinued and never available for the N-Frame.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

The one thing they have in common is that many people can't spell their company names correctly!

I like the feel and the recoil management of the Pachmayer Gripper. I have rather large hands, but my wife who has average size hands also likes them. I don't care for the appearance of any rubber grip though.

My J Frames all have Pachs, as does my Model 28 (a leftover from the 70's). K Frames all have Hogue. It really comes down to personal preference, a Chevy vs. Ford sort of thing. Different hand size, grip strength, weight of gun, ammo, all play a part in the decision. What works for you, not necessarily for me, is the criteria.

One thing they have in common is that they all land here:

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

It's all a matter of fit to YOUR hand and the answer isn't the same for every frame size. For me, Pachmayr makes the better grip for J frames, and good ones for K, L and N frames. But for my 325PD, the Hogue was a real lifesaver. You have to try them yourself. In some cases, you can't even be sure which is best until you fire the gun. I wouldn't rely on anyone's advice without knowing his exact hand size, although some of the posts above do mirror my experience. You must try them out yourself.

Any gun I have gotten that had Hogues on it was immediately cleansed of the Hogues. I do not like them at all, either for fit or looks. My 25-7 came with hogues and when I removed them there was rust on the bottom of the grip frame from the clip that goes on the stock pin. I will use only Pachmayrs if I want rubber, or better yet, Herrett's Jordan Troopers.

Plus one....the one-piece Hogue traps any moisture and I have already said that I do not like the "bailing-wire" approach to their mounting system.

What difference is there between Pachmayr decelerator grip and Pachmayr regular rubber grip? I can see the difference in the presentation grip. I have only viewed the grips online.

I have found the Pachmayrs fit my hands better. They also seem like the quality of materials are better than Hogue's.
But my favorite for my J frame round butt are Uncle Mike's.
Mike

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

For rubber, Hogue all the way. I think they're the standard for rubber grips, especially with so many gun companies using them as well. The only exception is the one I have on my Glock since the Pachs I got get rid of the finger grooves. Otherwise I've had nothing but positive experience with Hogue both as a company and their products as long as they fit my hands. They have one of the best customer service too. They've gone above and beyond to make sure I was a satisfied customer.

Pachs on the other hand, all the grips I've gotten with the exception of the Glock sleeve I mentioned above had been a negative experience. The most recent was a pair of Decelerators I got for my 627. It had extra mold "flash" that was really sharp that I had to trim off with a knife. The grip screw provided was way too long and the grip itself felt like a sponge instead of solid grips. When i contacted Pachmayr about my screw being too long, they told me it was easy to modify. When I cut the screw just short enough to not stick out on the other side, it was still loose. When I contacted them about it again, they told me they couldn't give me a refund because I modified the product.

I grew up liking the Pachmayrs, but lately I too find their quality in question. The medallions are not inserted into the rubber straight as they used to be.

I like the Hogue rubber grips for my 1911s. I like rubber grips for my shooting pistols. The wood grips are for my fancy BBQ pistols.

Safe shooting,
Vv

I have pachmayr on my S&W 357 revolver and i like them.I have Hogue on my Ruger 357 revolver and i like them.So it's whatever you prefer.

Since my first post I have also added Hogue rubber grips ( these are S&W Tamer grips made by Hogue sold by S&W ) to my 629-6 5". They work the best for me and have great customer service. No need for me to try anything other than Hogue.

I agree rubber grips are ugly but for my outdoor working guns they fill the bill better than any other grip material. Absorb recoil better and provide a better grip even when wet. IMHO.

__________________
44 Garrett Defender Ammo 4 me.

I have Bianchi Lightning grips (made by Pachmayr) on my 3 inch Model 13-3. While they are brown and ugly, they make concealing and shooting it easy.

I have Hogue Bantams on my nickel Model 37, but I'm going to put smooth service grips and a polished aluminum Tyler T-Grip on it. The Bantams aren't bad, but they're sticky in the pocket and..., well, they're rubber.

My brother has a pinned and recessed 4 inch Model 65 that came with butchered/mutilated N-Frame target grips (made to fit with Plastic Wood). I sold him Pachmayr Grippers for it, and he loves 'em. (The Grippers came off my wife's Model 681 when I put CT laser grips on it.)

ECS

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I own several Hogues and a one set of Pachmayrs. I've had a handful of other pachs but have since gotten rid of them all.

The Pachs are better if you want the backstrap covered for magnums.

Hogues are better for everything else - unless they don't make a grip for something. For example, Hogue makes nothing for a square butt J frame - so you have to go with the Pach.

I would add that they both have issues with quality. Pachmayrs often, if not 100% of the time, have a problem with the screw & interface (metal insert that screw goes into). While Hogue seems incapable of matching their production grip with the curvature of the gun butt which the grip is designed for leaving exposed edges that cut into your hand.

IMHO; if anybody wanted to go into this business, they could make a fortune if they took the time to do it right. Tyler can't ship a T grip in less than a month, Hogue, Pachmayr and the rest of them all have serious quality problems. It's all about 10X the pain in the $%^ that it should be - getting grips for a gun that's been in production for 100 years...

__________________
But then, what do I know?

I agree. Compared with Hogue Grips, I prefer Pachmayr Compacs on small revolvers, and Presentations on large, because they're wider side-to side, shorter front-to-back, cushion the backstrap, feel less sticky, and don't have finger grooves. I've also noticed a slip in the quality of newer Pachs, rougher edges on the molding, and a price increase of ~$10 a pair.

As some have already said, it's to a large extent a question of taste and personal preferences.

I don't like the looks of the Hogues and they feel sticky and too soft in my hand but that's just me.

I find the Pachmayr much more pleasant to the eye (although nothing compares to wood). More importantly, the fit my hand perfectly. Another advantage of the Pachmayr, at least for us S&W users, is that they have a wide selection of grips to accommodate virtually any need. I for instance have small hands and use the Compac Professional in my square butt K frames and the Compac in my J frames.

For semiautos, however, the Pachmayr are usually too thick (their grips for the 1911 are the only ones I find tolerable).

I put a Hogue Monogrip on my Airweight BodyGuard and I like it a lot.I had a set of Eagle custom Secret Service grips on it but they were way too slippery for shooting +P ammo.They are beautiful looking rosewood but way too slippery for rapid fire.I carry this pistol in a DeSantis Pancake holster made for the BodyGuard and I have no concealment problems with the Houges.
Golden Eagle

I second that and I never really considered a Pacy "ugly" it just looks like "business" on both my 586 and 629 I also have a set on my cherished model 16 .32 H&R magnum!

I agree. I think wood is super nice to look at, nice for concealment (doesn't stick to clothing) and can make a gun individualized.....
but, the Pach Pro Compac, to me, is also concealable, is free of finger-grooves (allowing me to draw and fire more quickly, since I am not committed to the grip's ergos) and is not ugly to me, be rather, business-like. (Tactical for revolvers...)

I've used Pachmayr and Hogues. Pachmayr just fits my hand better.

I have medium-to-large hands which are very arthritic--crooked fingers, lumpy knuckles, the whole deal. Finding the grips that are comfortable and give me good control of the gun takes precedence over my great fondness for walnut magna stocks. Price is also very much a consideration. My EDC for a good many years has been A 640 no-dash. As soon as I bought it I put Pachmayr Compacs on it (I had seen them on a Colt DSII and they felt great) and have never looked back. They give me a higher grip on the piece and much better recoil absorption. A few days ago I sadly removed the magnas and Tyler T-Grip from my 10-5 and replaced them with new Presentations. Haven't shot it yet, but they feel good and, as shipped, fit fine with no QC problems.

I've never liked the feel of Hogues, either shape or the softness. For one thing, finger grooves don't work with my buggered-up paws.

So yes, it has to be a very personal choice, and that's fine with me.

Shouldazagged I'm with you on the goodyears. At 74 my paws ain't what they used to be and I'm too bullheaded to shoot 38s' out of a 357. ( Never did understand why folks bought 357s' so they could shoot 38s' from em' Oh well.) While I confess I miss the wood grips on my 28 and 686 I have to go with the Pachmayr presentation. I still shoot full house maggies. Bull headed I reckon. Also I shoot one handed mostly and my old paws just don't get along with the woods anymore. Two hands no trouble. Lastly my only issue with the Hogues is I have a tendency to split the web open between my index and thumb. The presentations seem to fit the bill better for me.

I have a set of Pach grips on my old Remington 870 pump.
However, I've never cared for their revolver grips, one bit. They feel too blocky, and covering the backstrap is a deal killer for me. It's one reason why I don't tend to buy Ruger revolvers.

Hogue grips, on the other hand, are on almost all my guns. Their aluminum Beretta 92 grips are second to none, and it's the first mod I make, along with a "D" spring.

I've got both their rubber grips and wood ones on my Smith revolvers, and they're amazing.

And as someone also said, above, their CS is fantastic! They're also in my state, and not even that far from where I live. So, it feels like I'm buying local. I like that.

Well, rubber stocks are ugly I will admit. Personal preference is for the Hogue over the Pachmayr as the finger grooves happen to fit me and I've never liked Pachmayrs. Lately I've been using the Hogue Bantams on the RB L-frames I'm shooting. They don't stick out as much on the bottom as the full size versions.

My suggestion is that those who like Pachmayrs shouldn't buy Hogues and those who like Hogues shouldn't buy Pachmayrs. And those who hate rubber should buy wood stocks...but that's just my opinion. (smile)

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

On all my third generation semi-autos with single stack mags, I much prefer Hogue Grips. Double stacks I leave with the S&W factory grips on them.

For my revolvers it is Pachmayr all the way. I put the presentation/compac grips that cover the backstrap on all my revolvers with RB stocks. For my hand they are just right in size and they really help with the felt recoil.

I really don't like any of the custom wood grips, as I am at an age where I am developing some recoil sensitivity, and the rubber grips make a huge difference. I have mostly RB revolvers. I have not yet changed out the grips on my Square Butt revolvers. They don’t get much use now anyway.

I am not concerned about having pretty fancy wood grips, but I am concerned about having functional grips that help me shoot better. The rubber grips are just too functional for me to spend extra money on fancy wood grips, no matter how good they look. Twenty years ago it would not have made much difference to me as recoil then was just not a problem.

This is my first post (I’m hoping that this is the right place to post this as the current thread is related to the question of the best grips… I have a slightly different question that may not have been considered).

After years of using other brands of firearms, I finally came to the conclusion, “I’m a Smith & Wesson man”. So, I got rid of my Rossi revolver and was able to pick up a Model 10-5 2” .38 spl snub (square bottom grip).

I believe it is from the late 60’s or 70’s. Lot’s of wear on the blue. But mechanically sound, and shoots every time. It has the original wood grips. So, here is my issue…

My grasp on the grip is not as comfortable as I’m used to (I also have a Model 66-2 with Pachmayr grips that is very comfortable to shoot). I want to use this snub as my CCW. I’m going to replace the wood with Pachmayr, or another similar brand. However, I have one concern. Will the replacement grips interfere with using a speed loader? Here is whay I ask…

I replaced the grips on my Rossi with Pachmayr and noticed that the cylinder and the speed loader did not line up as well as it had when it had the wood grips installed. The thickness of the Pachmayr grips appeared to be the cause of the problem. I had to come in at an angle and release the rounds when they were slanted to the cylinder. That sorta worked, most of the time.

Plus, the Pachmayr interfered with ejecting the rounds, as the one on the inside caught on the grip.

So, I have read many of the posts that ask what grip is best, but I think my question is a little different… what non-wood replacement grip would avoid this problem with loading and unloading rounds (note that I do not have this same problem with my 66-2).

Thanks in advance.

When I got my 625-6 used, it was wearing the factory Hogues and just did not feel "right." Probably because my original 625 (1988 Model) had worn the Pachmayr Grippers (also factory) when purchased new by me. After refitting with the newer version the Decelerator Gripper, it feels like an old friend! As noted above, it is probably all personal preference. I also prefer the Compac for my 3" Model 60, rather than the factory Hogues or Uncle Mike's Boot Grip. To my grip it seems like trying to point and shoot a banana.

These are Pachmayr Compact Professionals on my 2" Model 10. They are only available for round butt. I don't have any problem using a speed loader and the empties usually clear the grip if the gun is held vertical when ejecting the rounds.

Pachmayr Compacs. (There. You can lock this thread now)

I prefer the Pachmayr...

__________________
C & L

uncle mikes
when it comes to recoil, not familiar with pachs but the hogues (X frame) help.

I bought my 325PD used. It has "rubber" grips on it but they have the S&W logo on them so I don't know actually who made the grips. I do know that they tame that recoil from that 230 grain ball ammo bearable for my right hand, even with arthritis.