Are N Frame revolvers too big for people with small hands? I have been thinking about buying one for IDPA competition. Thank you.

My 13yr old son was checking out my M29 last night, seemed to have no problems with it. It has Pachmayr Presentation grips on it. I think you will be ok unless your glove size is below youth Medium.

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No, definitely not. I'm very tall but have very small, dainty hands with skinny fingers. I use everything from the relatively small, thin Miculek grip on my N Frames to the large Jordan style Herrett stocks on my Redhawk. Keep in mind that you want finger pad (NOT crease) control of the trigger for proper DA shooting. Ed McGivern, arguably the greatest DA revolver shooter of all time, had very short fingers and it is probable that his finger tip control of the trigger allowed him to set all those DA speed shooting records with such astounding accuracy. You can read all about proper grip and trigger manipulation in his book Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting, which is now available in softcover. He also includes diagrams and measurements of his hands.

Dave Sinko

I have medium size hands and don't like the feel of the target grips, I find the Hogue monogrips to be the answer for me.

skeezix, can you show a photo with the K frame Magnas on top of the K frame Targets and same for the N frame grips?

I'm like the OP, don't care for large grips. I find I like the Magnas best and add a Tyler T Grip to J frames.

I think that grip size and configuration is more important than frame size (K vs. N) when deciding what best fits one's hands. I prefer target style grips on my revolvers because I have extremely large hands. So, my K-frame 66 and my N-frame 27 are each outfitted with square butt targets. The feel of the two guns is about identical to me.

Sir, it's not just a matter of grip size. The N-frame also has a longer "reach" from the backstrap to the trigger. It's nearly 1/4-inch longer than on a K-frame. That plus slightly bigger stocks can make the N-frame a stretch for those with short fingers.

For the OP, I'd suggest trying out an N-frame in double-action before buying one.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I stand corrected and deleted my erroneous and misleading posts.

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Lorin

Sir, your posts were neither erroneous nor misleading. They were just missing one detail.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Skeezix nothing misleading, I just would find more value in comparing Magnas to Targets for the same gun. If you can find the time I think that comparison would be very helpful. I don't have all the grips or I would do it. Thanks.

I have small hands I do not find the N frame grips are un managable. You are going to be like me. You will need to try different brands of grips until you find the right fit. For me, Ahrends finger groove grips feel best for me on N frames. K frames it does not really matter.

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M.J.Hanna

This was exactly my point. It's not about N frame or K/L frame grips. It's about Magnas and Targets. Magnas suit me on K/L as well as N frame revolvers. Target grips do not suit me well on either.

I have very small hands and find that the stocks really matter. With the right stocks, I can grip an N frame just fine. But not any N frame. I find that although I can grip a round butt N frame with the proper (for me) stocks, I have alot more trouble with a square butt N frame.

I recommend that you contact Herritts Stocks and get some custom-made for your particular hands. They are not all that expensive and they do a great job.

Here is an example of my point using a photo of bdGreen's revolvers. Identical guns but look at the difference in size and position between the Magnas and the Target grips (on the right).

I've always found N-frames to be "bozo" sized when working double action, which is the way I treat all DA revolvers, whether target or magna grips.
Admittedly, the magnas are easier but still for me, who has a pretty good sized hand and long fingers, the K-frame remains king with the L-frame second but for its muzzle heavy traits.

I've fired thousands of rounds double action in N-frames and still don't care for them. As I said,
it's the "bozo" of frames.

The best N-frame grip fit for me is the old Pachmayr two piece presentation grip. They made an N-frame "small" which is perfect for me. I snap these up whenever I find them at gunshows. I typically wear a size large glove, but do not consider my hands to be large, but those gloves fit, unlike the problem O.J. had! Most clothing items made in third world countries is not sized to the average American. I'd be a fairly big dude in Sri Lanka!

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Tony

I have fairly small hands and its more in the grip configuration/material rather than the frame size. J-frames with wrong, oversized grips can seem big.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

I was cleaning N frames tonite and noticed that they all have Hogue rubber grips. I have small hands and find the factory grips to be sized for Paul Bunyan. I really prefer the rubber grips for use. I do agree that the wood looks good for show.

I agree with vicenut regs. the small size Pachmayr presentations. I wish they still made them. I have several pair but am always looking for more. For me, it's the best of all worlds in a heavy recoiling gun; covered backstrap and still smaller than the other Pachs..
Julian

As one poster mentioned, trigger reach on N-frames are longer than K-frames. I have medium to large hands but not long fingers. The factory Pach's are OK but Spegel Boot Grips are best. I can shoot them in the traditional way at the first crease of the trigger finger but it doesn't feel right. Using the pad instead of crease such as used with single action's makes a much more comfortable grip. John Taffin, Elmer Keith and others use or have used this method. I would prefer the crease of the finger as I do with K and L frames, GP-100 etc, but grip is paramount and the gun in the hand should continue the straight line from the radius to right between the thumb and forefinger of the hand right to the barrel. The hand should not favor one side and recoil should be directly back in a straight line towards the radius.

Finding the perfect grip for your gun can be a bit of a problem. I have bought grips for some guns and initially they felt great while dry firing. When I took the gun to the range the grips would hurt my hands. For K frames all I use now is grips made by Ahrends. I just got my first N frame and for this gun I am just going to try it with factory magnas and a Tyler T Grip. If you want a good look at the different grips that you can get for different guns there's a thread I started in the 1961 to 1980 section. It's titled let see those grips guys There are a lot of pictures so it might help you with a comparison.

Viceunit and Jeffrey spoke well for my experience. I'm almost positive that you will find something usable with a RB N-frame, and Hogue is the first place to look. For SB, it's a little more iffy, but the Pachmayr SN-S (small-size Presentation) grips are the most likely place to start.

If you go custom, meaning that they want an outline of your hand, be sure that the maker knows that you will be using this gun DA. I speak from experience. (No disappointment - this was forty years ago, when DA wasn't quite as popular as now. But when I eventually started shooting DA, I needed to alter the grips significantly. And this was on a K frame.)

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Formerly Model520Fan

I think it's an individual thing. And most of it may be in your grip, stocks, and mind rather than the frame size. I have medium hands with short fingers, and I still comfortably shoot 625's in USPSA. I use a high hold with Hogue stocks that don't cover the backstrap.

I also have an interest in shooting Colt New Service revolvers. With a grip adapter and a high hold, I don't have any trouble with them either. And according to internet experts, even people wth large hands can't shoot them comfortably, to which my response is, "rubbish".

Buck

I suggest a round butt model, allowing the maximum choices for grip modifications. I like the Ajaz round butt grips for the smallest possible configuration, but this also decreased the gripability of a rubber Pachmayr compact grip or small presentation grip. I like both of these types. The one variable that can't be modified is the distance from back of frame to front of trigger in double action. Of course you can simply be satisfied with cocking with the weak hand and decreasing the length of trigger reach. You can have a square butt modified to round butt also, if you have you eye on a model that is only a square butt from the factory.

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Carson

I have small hands and agree. I carry a 5" 629 and the grip frame is workable with magnas, but not ideal. truth be told, the L frame is a fuzz big for my hands and the J frame is a fuzz small, but close to perfect. I'm seriously thinking of asking Mag-na-port if they'll convert my 629 to "K frame square butt". IMO the N frame is ridiculously large.

Best feeling and handling revolver I have had the pleasure of handling was a N-frame model 25 with the target stocks. And I have small hands. I think it had more to do with the 6 1/2" barrel, but I really liked that gun, too bad the owner wouldn't budge on the price. Just try to find a place or person that will let you handle several. Only way to know.

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I hope I copied that right

I have small hands and find that any grip that covers the back strap on an N frame makes it want to turn in my hand in order to get a good trigger purchase. I can handle the 1917 S&W but not the Colt New Service. The S&W N frame round butt combat grips work the best for me. One of my best shooting pieces is a 5" 610. I tend to wear a 'small' glove size. My first and only hand gun for a long time was an original Ruger Bearcat, if that gives you some idea of how small my hand is.

Back in the old days, one trick was to put on magnas and use a grip adapter. Another option is the new "thinner" N frame target grip S&W currently makes. It is noticeably thinner that the target grip from the old days.

Anything that makes the reach a little easier is a good idea.

Elmer had small hands and he always used the N frame, with magnas. The eagle, or whatever it was, carved length-wise into the right side grip of his guns filled the palm and helped with control.

If Elmer could hold the N frame, anyone can.