A lot of people ask....what the best J-Frame grips are....or what the best grips in general are, and the answer for me is ALWAYS Karl Nill.

If you've never felt a pair of Nill grips you're truly missing out.

Ergonomics like none other and they drastically improve the trigger reach for larger hands.

Perfect fit and finish and looks to boot.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Those grips look really good on your gun. I have some Altamont Combat on a 638-3 that I really like.

S&W 638.jpg

Altamonts always get me right in the web of my hand, the edges near the top of their grips are far too sharp. I like the looks of the Nill set and they're clearly a lot smoother there.

I have the OP's gun but with a pinto setup (442PC)...I like my current grip/T-Grip combo but those Nill grips DO look sharp!

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Psalm 27:2

I prefer Spegels for J frames (and all other frame sizes as well)

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.............SmithNut

I heartily agree with SmithNut, Spegel rules.

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	940 + Craig Spegel's extended cocobolo boots.jpg (115.5 KB, 152 views)

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I carry my J Frames in the pocket so I prefer boot grips.
Been on Spegal's revolver list for a while, hope to hear from him when he can.
Am trying these Hamr Forged licensed Spegal copies. Just got them recently and haven't made it to the range yet.

638 with regular grips.
340PD with the high horn Hamr hook grip to try out.

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	S&W 640PD 1.jpg (64.7 KB, 179 views)
	S&W 640PD 2.jpg (64.6 KB, 156 views)

Those might be the perfect grips I’ve been looking for. I LOVE the size and shape of Hogue’s full size rubber grips for the J-frame but hate that they’re rubber. Those look pretty close in shape.

I prefer Altamonts myself. VZ grips are a close, close second place.

Hogues. It’s what came on it, and they fit my hand and pocket.

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I have no doubt that those Nills are great. Every set I've had have been exceptional in comfort.

For 2" J frames, my preference is Spegel boot grips.

I have Spegels and like them, but Curtis Harlow does nice work too.
Les

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I usually come back to Pachmayrs or Uncle Mike's Boot or three finger combat style.

He's supposedly coming out with those grips with filler behind the backstrap for those of us with larger hands. I'll probably be in for three sets when he does.

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Regards,

Chuck

I really like these Culina j frame Round Butt grips on my 642 PC.

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BEAUTIFUL!
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

My 640-1 wears Uncle Mike's Boot Grips too, compact and comfortable to shoot. Sadly, they are out of production, I read it was due to a licensing dispute with Craig Spegal.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Which model S&W is this please?

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It really depends on your hand size and shape. One the best grips I've found is the Taurus small boot grip fitted to an S&W J frame. It gives a lot of upper back strap coverage to increase my trigger finger reach but is still a boot grip style. They also convert an SA/DA hammer gun into a DA only. You can fire the gun DA, but the grip prevents cocking the hammer. Probably best used on internal hammer guns.

Uncle Mike's Spegal grips also work with my large hands, but not as well as the Taurus.

These Cool hand from amazon also work for me, but some need to be fitted to the frame.

And these VZ work well but are heavy, adding unnecessary weight to a lightweight gun.

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Watch & Pray

I bought an absolutely beautiful set of combat grips from Culina but they didn’t fit my 432UC.

Those are very nice Arceface1.I like the old Herrett shooting aces for my J smiths and D colts.

OK
You win...

I tried wood and rubber boot grips on my scandium J frame and then tried these. They ain’t pretty but they work. They totally change the wrist grip angle when firing the gun and it feels so much better to me than ordinary grips.

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Curt Harlow makes J frame grips to fit my hand perfectly!

jcelect

I thought Spegel gave up the business a few years ago.

You may be thinking of Kim Ahrends, who closed up shop in 2/2020.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Here are a couple with Nill grips!

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Thanks for the heads up on Hamre Forged grips. I have a set of Spegel grips on an L frame and have been waiting for years for Craig to call for my J frame. I received a set of Hamre Forge's without the hook, and they work perfectly on one of my 642's. These are a great option and hopefully, Mr. Spegel is getting a nice royalty for his involvement.

I use Crimson Trace lasers on my EDC, a 649-2. With the covered backstrap they are quite comfortable. My son has a 63 SB and has Herrett Shooting Stars on it. They are terrific.

Thems for shootin’

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

I like these cocobolo grips from Esmeralda. She does mainly 1911's but also gets into J frames.

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Was able to make it to the range the other day and tried both grips out. They are a little more hand filing compared to the Thai boot grips I had on the 638 previously, but my pinky finger is floating a little as expected. The 638 worked great, got very good hits and decently fast splits for follow up shots. Recoil was fine with 158 SWCHP +p carry load.

The 340PD with mid-range (power-wise) 357 was rather painful to shoot with the top of the grips being driven into my hand. Even +p 38 ammo was the same. But the +p ammo in the 638 was fine. That titanium cylinder is sure nice to carry but it does make a difference for me with the shooting.

It's only a tiny bit different compared to the steel cylinder of the 638, but it's apparently a thing at least for me.

I'm contemplating just putting the Uncle Mike's Spegal combat grips back on... They just barely fit in my pocket, hence why I would prefer to carry boot grips.

She does nice work! My only complaint is that she doesn't offer the J frames very often.

After I posted this I went to her web site and there were several sets which seems unusual BUT they were nice. Most of her offerings if you have never been there center around the 1911!

Ditto; Spegel's since 1986................

They don't look like any Nill grips I've ever seen and didn't see them on the website. What am I missing?

I go for the ultimate in concealment and use older J frame “splinter” service grips with a Tyler T grip. I use a pocket holster…bigger grips show…and for me defeats the purpose of the J frame’s concealability. I also use target velocity 148 gr DEWC’s with my J frame 38 Spl, approximately 700 fps.

I have the VZ zebra boot style on my model 60 no- which I'm very satisfied with. I have the OEM Hogue rubber boot grips on my 640 no- which work well but don't look that nice. They do tend to grab your shirt a bit which isn't good but they are compact. My 60-10 has pretty wood Altemonts which look real nice. They aren't quite as compact as they do have a pinkie rest. They do sting a good bit with magnums. Actually, magnums aren't pleasant at all. I think I'd vote for the VZ grips for being both compact and easy to hang on to, and not actually ugly. I'm sure they would also sting with magnums but my 60 no- won't shoot magnums. I have another J around here somewhere wearing something or nuther.

I haven’t seen them mentioned so I will throw Eagle Secret Service grips into the mix. I have them both smooth and checkered. I also have a pair of Ahrends boot grips which are just a tad smaller than the Eagle. I’m not fortunate enough to have come across a pair of Spegel wood boot grips but the Uncle Mikes rubber version are really the best and still available on the auction sites for around $50. The VZ are good also.

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There is no such thing as ONE best handgun grip! It all depends on the size of the gun, the caliber and load you are shooting, the frame size as well as your hand size and what the most important factor is to you (concealment, comfort under recoil, tackiness, target shooting or CCW).

IMHO, grips need to be selected by the individual for a specific purpose in mind. The same handgun can wear different grips for different purposes at different times.

I was very pleased with my Hamre Forge Hammer Hook Hip Grips. Great fit and concealability. But Summer has been brutal down here this year; so, after much searching, I've found that the Hogue Overmolded Rubber Monogrips and the DeSantis Slim-Tuk holster are an excellent combination.

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I've tried many and I am a huge fan of the original Uncle Mike's

Ran my new Hamre Forged grips on a 642 PC today. Great shape but recoil was hard on the hands and that is coming from a guy that has thousands of rounds through a 340pd with LG 405 laser grips. I may go back to the factory rubber or the wood that came on this gun.

Those might just look right on my M36 instead of the factory Magnas. Things haven't been going good lately for me, but I always like blowing money on guns & stuff; makes me happy! I might have to check them out.

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Waiting For The Sun.

I have a 442 and my wife has a 642. Long ago I put Crimson Trace laser grips on both guns. Not as pretty but easy to hit what you are shooting at very quickly. Both are car guns. Usually back ups.

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NRA & TSRA
Texas CHL Holder

You are absolutely right. I had a 686 6" PP that I bought many years ago. I often thought about putting fancy new grips on her but liked the way the original Hogue grips felt under recoil so I never changed them.
I stupidly gave it to my son because I liked that gun so well I wanted to make sure he got it if I ever die. Damn! I miss that gun!

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NRA & TSRA
Texas CHL Holder

I put some altamonts round to square on. Looks good haven’t shot with them yet

You said it!!

A lot of great looking grips in this thread! I pocket carry so I've got Altamont boot grips on my 442. My 637 PC has nice Altamont wood combat grips on it, but those are a bit too big for my pocket.

I use older J frame "splinter" service grips with a Tyler T grip for the best concealment possible.

These work the very best for my big-mitts... Then they offer and aid in a quick deployment...

Looks dimensionally identical to the Pachmayer or Uncle Mike’s rubber grips I put on all my S & W revolvers.