Decided to put a used pair of Pachmayr Grippers on my K/square butt 10-8. Overall I love the feel of them, but the fitment at the front strap is, well, not fitting.


Is there anything that can be done to fix this? Remove some grip material maybe?

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I've been seeing complaints over and over about gaps and fit issues with pachmayr's wrap-around grips. They don't have their molds dialed in. You could use an exacto and/or dremel to remove material on the inner surface of the grips to see if you can get the gap to close. For me, the gap in the picture would be unacceptable, and the surgery on the grips couldn't make things worse.

Yup, had the same problem with a Charter Arms .22 Pathfinder.
The Pachmayr grips fit fine 'cept it had a gap on the front strap.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Just curious, are they made in USA or Mexico. I’ve heard the Mexicans don’t fit as well.

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Who are those guys?

I use Pachmayr grips on several K frames with good luck. I have noticed that it is easy to overtighten the screw and slightly distort the grip. Maybe not an answer to your issue but worth a look.

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Useless political propaganda

This is a great point.

On such wrap-around grips, I've held some success by holding the 2 sides together with hand pressure and then tightening the grip screw. Sometimes smacking the grip where it contacts the backstrap can force the grip a smidge forward and may help seat the grip to allow it to close more fully. And, yes, the 1970s grips were molded finely and fit w/o any gaps.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

The Mexico made Pachs are severely lacking in quality. The last set I got gapped like that and I got them to close finally but cannot remember how. The next set of rubber grips I got were Hogue to avoid that problem.
Lyman products are under the same company umbrella, as I understand, I had bought a Lyman 66 receiver sight and the slide had so much play in it it was useless. Lyman never responded to emails about this. The rifle now has a Williams FP.
Quality at that shop is last priority apparently.

I have one set of K frame Pachs...took some playing with them,and they fit half way decent.....notice I said ONE set!

Some polymers can be temporarily soften, more pliable by soaking in acetone.

Once soften, try putting the grip on the frame.

Once the acetone evaporates the polymer should return to it's normal properties.

Edited to correct many auto fill typos. Typos from using an Android.

Maybe if enough folks take the grips back for a refund and not do surgery on them, Pach would get their act together.

It's a shame how poorly modern Pachmayrs fit and how much cost cutting Lyman seems to have done. I much prefer Pachmayr checkering and medallions, and their softer rubber compound, over Hogue's comparatively ugly monogrip. Hogue fit is usually perfect though.

I bought a new set for an M66. Except for over flash that needed trimming, they fit fine.

I suspect OP’s grips are severely warped by over tightening the screw.

I would remove, drop in a pot of hot water till they are soft, put on a flat surface and weighted to get them flat again.

M66 with new Pachmayer’s.

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You might take a peek at the inside.

I have a set with S&W square molded into the grip, but when you take a look inside the grip is for a round butt. How they managed to get this screwed up I don't know.

I sent back several sets and they kept trying to find a good pair . The last set they just sent me a pair and told me to keep the other. I have had luck with the compac's for J frame.

"USED PAIR..."

I'd bet a baker's dozen of donuts that they've either been exposed to too much heat or some kind of chemical that warped them.

I've never had a bad set of Pachs.

Well, its definitely a square butt and is also a older Monrovia, CA 1984 patent mark, sooo, not Mexico?

I tried to loosen them up first in hot water for about 5min, wrapped them around the gun and dunked the butt in cold water to try an stabilize them. They are better, but still not right.

I think tomorrow I'll take a crack at removing some material inside the grips, but not too much

After trimming, Maybe heat them up, install them and use electrical tape to keep the gap closed while they cool?

My hopes is o won't have to heat them up again, but if I do, got a few heavy duty rubber bands on stand by to keep them pinched shut

How old and how "used" are those Used Grips ...
They may have taken a "set" while installed for years on another gun ...
If you can't get a satisfactory fit (Fitment - a fixed item of furniture , in a house ) try a newer pair that are flexible ... take the gun to a local gunshop and "fitment" them there before buying .

I love the way people use the word "fitment" and have no clue to it's correct meaning or usage .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I went and reread my post. Thank goodness I used "fit" and not "fitment".

Make sure that the little grip pin on the frame is fitting into the accompanying grip holes.

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otis

If I recall, the old ones had a sheetmetal plate molded into them. That internal plate may have gotten bent, making the rubber follow the bend. I would get a straightedge of some kind and see if the inside is flat or convex. It should be flat. If it's bent, it shouldn't take much force to bend it flat again.

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protocalldesign.com

The only Pachmayr grips I have owned that fit properly were the ones
that came as original equipment on some stainless Colt Pythons.
I have tried several times over the years to fit them to various L and J frame Smith's,
but gave up because I couldn't stand the ugly gaps.

Here are a few of my K frames with Pachmayr grips:
Model 65 with new grippers
Model 15 with new grippers
Model 19 with older presentation grips
Model 10-7 with older grippers
Model 10-8 with older grippers
The older grips have less gap but that is potentially due to age and having more time to set? Anyway, I do have another Model 19 with Compaq grips that don’t fit that well but it isn’t too terrible IMO.

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Useless political propaganda

Poor fit is a problem Pachmayr has been recognized for for many years now. If you happen to get a pair that fits, you're in the minority. Something happened with them where their fit turned to, uh, well, you know.

After having to repeatedly return grips, I finally gave up. I only use Hogue rubber grips and have never looked back. They make good products that fit right.

Update - I did do a little material shaving, heating, and dished the grip pin holes at the bottom. Its better than before, but still not right.

They're completely usable so I'm gonna keep them on there. But just disappointed with Pachmayr in general. I think I'll just chalk it up to a learning lesson & move on.

My theory is that they are removing them from a mold before they have cooled enough. The grips I had that seemed problematic, seemed as tho they had shrunk . Just my theory. Speed up the production or else ease of removal or ????

My pachmayr Grippers served me well for +30yr until I eventually chose to upgrade to Hogue grips for the added comfort they provided. Yes, comfort, NOT fit or fitting.

FWIW, I still have these Pachmayr Grips, as well as the OEM box and original handwritten receipt from August 1986 when I purchased my first S&W 4in 686 for the academy. Oh, and did I mention that my original S&W Gonçalo Alves are still in-the-box "NEW"...? I have only mounted them for photos maybe three times...

Truth-be-told, my Pach's have been perfect for +30yr, so nothing to B&M about. If you don't like them, buy something else before B&M-ing... Just my $0.02 worth...

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I’ve heard the horror stories and read the negative reviews on Amazon. I currently have 7 pairs of Pachmayr Gripper grips on 6 guns. The 6 grips that are on the guns were bought new by me in the last two years or so They are on:

A Model 10
A Model 67 (bought last week)
A Model 681
A Ruger Police Service Six
A Ruger GP100
A Model 640

All fit perfectly. The set on the Model 10 might have a hair of a gap. The set on the GP100 replaced the set that was on the GP when I bought it. The set that was on that gun had a bad gap

When it comes to rubber grips, Pachmayr is the only way to go for me. They significantly increase my accuracy.

Maybe I’ve gotten lucky, but I’ll continue to only use Grippers. I’ve tried the Hogue. They feel ok but they’re ugly as hell and I don’t like the mounting method.

I got a new set for an N frame that don’t “gap”, they won’t close at all. Thought they may have been mis-marked and were actually K frame but that’s not it. Another set given to me for K’s that fit is terrible.

I bought some old two piece Pach’s off eBay and they fit perfect.

I’ll not be buying anymore new ones.

Dan

Took some advice given and tried a different set

Much much better. But also turns out these are a slightly different ver, a Gripper (SK-GP) for 'Pro' ? Would that make my original set just regular Grippers? Didn't realize there was such a thing

But got these pretty cheap. Advertised as NOS, and they looked it. But it had that funky green tint on the surface. After some soap & hot water, it cleaned right up.

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Well the Gripper SK-G has the back strap enclosed by cushioning rubber, the SK-GP is the “Professional” which has the grip frame back strap exposed.

The Professional model is often a better fit for small to average hands, the SK-G is a better fit for average to large hands and the SK-G is likely better for mitigating felt recoil on the heavy thumpers.

Looks great, OP.

Never even knew of such a difference until all this debacle. Hand size would make sense, the SK-GP does feel better in the hand than the SK-G

All of mine have the exposed backstrap. Maybe that's why they all fit so well. Glad you got it worked out.

One thing to watch w/all of the rubber revolver grips is rust forming on the frame under the grip. They tend to trap oil & moisture against the sideplate & grip frame & can cause rust.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

All of my revolvers are stored with the grips/stocks off. I purchased a S&W Mod 60-9 dated late 90's and the Uncle Mikes that were original had never been off for cleaning, what a surprise I got when removed them for cleaning and found rust and corrosion. It had spent alot of its life in "A rainy night in Georgia. And also the value then was less than I paid. A small screw driver goes with me on every in person inspection now.