I've been carrying and practicing/qualifying with some kind of Airweight/Airlite J-Frame for over 30 years. Always pocket carry, I only use a holster when required for my annual qualification. Finally, my hand is starting to feel the abuse.

My first move was toward lighter loads, but even my light handloads get annoying after 50 rds, and those aren't good practice for carrying +P.

Next move was a heavier gun, but I need to go to an all-steel J-frame in order to make much difference in recoil, and that's too much for my pocket.

I tried a Pachmayr Decelerator grip (rubber), that was a big improvement but there are problems:
The Decelerator is way too long for my pocket, so I cut it off level with the bottom of the grip frame. That kinda works but the Decelerator is too thin for best gripping, and it has no palm swell at all. And it looks awful, if that matters.

What I'm looking for is:
SOFT rubber covering the backstrap.
Slight palm swells.
No longer than the grip frame, or easily cut off to desired length.

I can't find anything that meets these standards, but perhaps someone here has found something. You'd think a dozen people would be making a similar product, but no...

Check this thread out, it's about modifying the 3-finger Uncle Mike's Combat grips to 2-finger grips: Cut off Uncle Mike's third finger!!!

Photo from member Maximumbob54:

Thanks for the reply.

Actually, I have a set of those grips in my box, and have seen the threads about the cutoff, and considered doing it myself.

However, the set I have are made from rubber that is hard as an old truck tire. They don't seem to have any more cushioning ability than wood, and what I really need is a nice squishy backstrap.

But if someone has a set made from soft rubber, I'd be in the market.

I know that they are pricey, and you may not like laser grips, but the crimson trace lg-405 grips sound like they would be exactly what you are looking for. I had a set on my 340MP, and they have a soft rubber pocket at the top of the backstrap, and palm swells, and also leave the bottom of the grip frame exposed. They may be too narrow for you though as they are made for concealment. I really liked them when I had them, but I no longer have any j-frames. Here is a picture of them on my 340, and the box label.

Take a look at these. You can find them on Ebay, several people sell them.

Attached Images

Grips.JPG (49.2 KB, 113 views)

I like Pachmayr compact grips. They tame the recoil and conceal well.

IraIII's suggestion might work.

The Hogues are way too long in original form, and they mount by using a screw through the bottom of the grip. I don't think it's practical to make them as short as I need.

The Pachmayr compact grips would need to be cut off, and then I'd be back to about what I have now (cut-down Pachmayr Decelerator grips)

Still hoping for something cheap and easy...

What's wrong with the standard rubber grips S&W puts on its newer J frames? I have them on my 642 and a model 60. I have large hands and they seem to do the trick. Look an awful lot like the Uncle Mike's pictured here, without the need for a saw.

The one's I've seen all have the backstrap exposed.

As stated in my original post, I need something with soft rubber on the backstrap.

Is S&W using some new J-frame grips that I haven't seen?

How about leaving the backstrap exposed and using a glove for extended range sessions? Easier on your hand and you don't need different grips for carry and practice.

I have never found a "rubber" grip that doesn't hang up when trying to draw from a pocket.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

How about two guns- a heavy one for practice, and a lightweight for carry? I own several Chief Specials, & they are all set up about the same: uncle mike boots, bobbed hammer, polished trigger, and duty-tuned with a 13# rebound spring. One has LG105 laser grips instead of UM boots. I do my practicing with the model 60 or one of the model 36's, but my favorite to carry is the pre-model 37 airweight Chief. I figure practicing with the heavier guns but carrying the airweight is OK, because they all feel the same in the hand and have almost identical DA triggers.
I own another Chief, a nickel 36 with stock magnas & unaltered hammer & trigger, but it's pretty much a safe queen and BBQ gun. If I ever decide to take up pimpng, I'll get a set of pearl grips and start carrying it.

Did you miss the one I added a picture of? The backstrap is not exposed.

I do have a 640-3, which is ok to shoot with .38's even with the Bantam grips. And I also have a 43C, which is the same gun in .22
But I prefer to shoot my actual carry gun, though the others are reasonable substitutes.

I carry the gun in my pocket, gloves don't work for the pocket draw.

That's the Hogue, correct?
AFAIK, it mounts with a screw that goes through the bottom of the grip into a stirrup mounted on the frame. That would make it too long for pocket carry and I can't figure out a good way to shorten it.

My fingers cover the right side of the grip as it's being drawn, and my thumb keeps the pocket fabric away from the grip on the left side. No problem at all for me, but different grips/hands/pockets; might n ot work so well.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
So far, it look like IraIII's idea to use the Crimson Trace laser grip is my best bet, I'll try to find a set in the local stores to examine.
But if you have another idea, don't be bashful!

I also have both a 340PD and a 43C. I replaced the rubber on the 43C with wood (Eagle Secret Service grips). The 43C has no recoil so the wood is perfect. But I wouldn't dare shoot the 340PD with wood grips. It's just too much recoil to control. I feel the best choice for the 340PD is the old Uncle Mike's as a first choice and the original 43C grips second. If your J Frame grips don't expose the backstrap and bottom of the grip frame you're losing concealment. The various Hogue grips are a bit sticky but they feel good in the hand. And sticky grips can be good. They prevent the gun from squirting out of the pocket when I wear loose clothing. If I'm expecting any kind of trouble, my hand migrates to the pocket and I take a firing grip. Anticipation can prevent a clumsy draw. You just have to work around the various "disadvantages."

Dave Sinko

I've had factory rubber, unkle mikes and houges prior but have found the CT-305 to suck up the most recoil in my 360PD. That air pocket in the web is the key. With the 305's even +P 38 spl is comfortable.

__________________
Dave

+1 for Pachmayr Compacs. I am partial to the old ones that do not have the company logo in the middle. I have them on my 940PC for summertime pocket carry.

My grip box had a pair of the discontinued Uncle Mikes grips shown in post #2. I cut off the bottom, just like the pictures show in the linked thread.

They look good and feel good in the hand. But in side-by-side testing with the Bantam grips that come on the 340PD, there was no improvement in control or comfort. The Uncle Mikes hurt just as much, they just hurt in a slightly different place. I think it's because the rubber is so very hard.

Oh well...