642 grips.

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, All,

When I got my 642, I immediately saw that the S&W "Uncle Mike's" grips would not allow the use of HKS speedloaders. I've been using Bianchi speed strips, instead. But, recently, I remembered my old Model 60, which has the original Uncle Mike's boot grips on it, and has always worked very well with the HKS speedloaders. So, I swapped grips, and now my 642 will work just fine with speedloaders, too.

Have any of you experienced the same thing, and if so, why did S&W change the newer UM style grips so that speedloaders no longer functioned well with them? Any ideas, thoughts, or comments will be appreciated. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[jimmyjoe]

I replaced the rubber grips with older S&W wood grips. I like the look and feel of the wood magna grips. Foe conceal carry they work fine for me.

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[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I replaced the rubber grips with older S&W wood grips. I like the look and feel of the wood magna grips. Foe conceal carry they work fine for me.

Same here. I also tried a Tyler, but with the light 642, my hand size is such that my middle-finger knuckle got rapped by the trigger guard. Without a Tyler, and with a death grip on the checkering of the Magnas, everything worked fine.

YMMV.

 

[indiandave]

I also have service grips with Tyler-T Grips on the 642. This set up works well. can use with speedloaders too.

 

[johngalt]

I had the same problem. I switched the UM grips for Hogue. The Hogue grips work better, but there is still just barely enough clearance for the speedloader.

 

[aterry33]

Stephen A. Camp wrote an excellent piece on J-Frame grips here:

TexasCHLforum.com • View topic - Hideout Grips and the J-frame...

 

[Dale53]

My 642 carries Crimson Trace #305 grips (extended below the grip, rear strap covered and filler behind the trigger guard). They work extremely well for me. I have no trouble concealing the revolver and I get a "full hand" grip on the revolver which works WELL with Plus "P"s.

I have rather large hands and the factory grips do not work for me.

I carry in the right front pants pocket in a Mika pocket holster. It is comfortable and conceals quite well.

Dale53

 

[allglock]

I never had a problem with Uncle mikes boot grips and HKS speedloaders.... They have a nice cutout in the grip for the speedloader.

 

[5Wire]

I'm fond of Hogue Bantams K, L, or J Frames. Speed loaders, no problem. I thought Uncle Mike's stopped making grips.

J frame Soft Rubber:

J Frame Rosewood:

K Frame Soft Rubber on a 547:

 

[Doc Mark]

Good Evening, All,

Many thanks for your comments and suggestions! I've tried several other grips on my J-frames, but seem to like the older Uncle Mike's the best. Though I must admit, the stock wooden grips with a Tyler T-grip adaptor do work very well, indeed.

I found a pair of UM's grips on "the bay", that a fellow got with his own brand new 642. He never used them, and so they are like new. Since they fit my hand, and I like them, I went ahead and scored them, and they should arrive soon.

As for the ones that came with my own 642, they are back in the original S&W pistol case, and there they will stay. They just don't fit like the old UM's did, and in fact, one top edge is not tight against the pistol, at all. So, the UM's should work better, just like my original set of those. I was just wondering if anyone else had a similar problem with their S&W copies of the UM grips?

Thanks, again, Folks. Much appreciated. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc