686-7 MG…Couldn’t take the Bear Hugs anymore

[SLT223]

I don't have XL hands and those insanely skinny grips just don't cut it for me. Same issue as altamont's; not enough surface area especially along the back strap. The palm swell is pointless to me on grips that skinny.

I had to swap the Culina combats from my 3" 65-3 to the MG. 65-3 is back to Hogue Bantams. I think I like both guns better this way. The MG feels like a real 357 in my hands now. Should feel MUCH better when launching the heavy 357 loads.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Combats are the way! Those culinas are sharp!!! Nice choice!

 

[Yendor357]

I'm with you 100%, SLT. I don't get the Bear Hug grips at all. They don't look that great, and they feel even worse. They're just a couple of thin slabs of wood with nearly no shape to them. They fit ok, but nothing to brag about.

 

[SLT223]

I'm with you 100%, SLT. I don't get the Bear Hug grips at all. They don't look that great, and they feel even worse. They're just a couple of thin slabs of wood with nearly no shape to them. They fit ok, but nothing to brag about.

The BH's on the 629-9 MG are......OK. Fit and finish is a total joke at TGW's asking price, according to me. Again, I'd happily swap them for Culina's....Cokes in Cocobolo. (John & Jen, expect to hear from me)

Here's my 25-13 MG wearing a proper set of shoes....Culina RB to SB conversion Cokes, Mex Cocobolo. Yes, they feel as good in the hand as they look!

They have a healthy dose of palm swell that's isn't captured by the profile pictures.

 

[Engine49guy]

IMO Lipseys missed the mark with those BH grips, wood grain, meh, no medallions, meh.
Culinas are way better but dont think he could have filled that big an order.

 

[642Fan]

I've only handled the new Mountain Guns (686 and 629) for a few minutes at the NRA Annual Convention. The BH grips on the 686 felt great to me, but the 629 grips felt HUGE.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I had the same problem with my 3" bbl. 686-6 Plus...the "3-5-7" wood stocks are just too skinny for my big mitts and do not help at all with recoil. I changed out to some Hogue Tamers for the time being, but would like to put some nice wood stocks on the 686. I was looking at the Altamont Round Butt Combats (rosewood Crocback/Stipple), but SLT223 says that they're also too skinny. If that's true, I may have to keep looking.

 

[SLT223]

I had the same problem with my 3" bbl. 686-6 Plus...the "3-5-7" wood stocks are just too skinny for my big mitts and do not help at all with recoil. I changed out to some Hogue Tamers for the time being, but would like to put some nice wood stocks on the 686. I was looking at the Altamont Round Butt Combats (rosewood Crocback/Stipple), but SLT223 says that they're also too skinny. If that's true, I may have to keep looking.
View attachment 777695View attachment 777696

Anything Altamont is too small for ME. The Culina combats are just bit larger than the old 80's RB combats. I like them very much on .357's, .44 Mags, and hard kicking .45 Colts.

 

[Rock185]

The stock grips on my 686MG fit me fine; but. With 158 and 180 grain .357 ammo, recoil is enough to break the skin at the base of my thumb with the thin wood grips. I have switched to Hogue "Tamers"; too big and yeah, ugly, but no more bloodshed

 

[AC Man]

I have the new 629 Mountain Gun and the grips are fat enough, remember it is a larger frame. However, I have at least XXL hands and my pinkly is hanging off and my knuckle is against the trigger guard. Love the old N frame target and combat stocks. They are the only ones that fit me.

 

[halfmoonclip]

The Altamonts that are OEM on many Smiths are beautiful, and generally fit well. But they are thin and square, up by the humpback, for no reason I can imagine.
I've rounded those square edges, but a wider, more rounded contour would really help...that's the spot that takes a beating in recoil.
Put a set of faux cokes on a 25-15, they look and feel great...online purchase, don't remember the mfg.
Moon

 

[The Norseman]

All good to know, but I'll be replacing my S&W
686 M.G. wood grips immediately with Houge
Overmolded Rubber Synthetic grips.

I learned the hard way shooting my 45Colt
M.G. with Combat grips. That was painful
after 6 shots.

I like the Rubber Synthetic grip because of
the consistent control, resists slipping, and
comfort. Also ensures confidence.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

 

[walkin' trails]

The more I see of the 686 MG I start thinking that might be the best blend of .357 Magnum yet. Was sort of planing my next acquisition to be a Colt King Cobra or Viper, but the MG looks to be the spiritual successor to the old Model 19/66.

Anyway, this is about grips. I bought a couple pairs of preowned Herritts off eBay a couple years ago and they seem to be the more perfect blend of size and shape for my medium sized hands. Put one set on a Model 18 - should probably switch them out to my 66-1 to see how they handle with +p or magnum loads.

 

[Engine49guy]

Also a fan of Herrets rb to sb conversion stocks

 

[Engine49guy]

Seems that they have broken almost every Mountain gun feature rule at one point or another except the 4" tapered barrel and maybe the smooth trigger?
My improvement on the platform would be to offer a 3" with roundbutt and offer the 4" in square butt configuration.
That way you could fit some nice old factory grips from a bygone era.
Ps
In case a Lipsies rep is looking for another hit platform, there was never a K22 copy of the old model 19/66 ever offered, IMO a 3" rb snub and 4" sb with wide rib and jalf ejector rod shroud woukd be sweet IMO.

 

[Jerry in SC]

Also a fan of Herrets rb to sb conversion stocks

I talked to the lady at Herrett's a week ago, I had no idea they made round to square butt conversions until I spoke with her. "Sure, we make them"

 

[halfmoonclip]

All good to know, but I'll be replacing my S&W
686 M.G. wood grips immediately with Houge
Overmolded Rubber Synthetic grips.

I've grooveless Hogues on my Mt. Gun. Much as I don't care for rubber grips, these feel good and look decent.
Just finished some 830'sec .44 Spl loads; if the recoil is mild enough, might think about wood replacements.
Moon

 

[bananaman]

Another Herrett fan here! Right size & feel for me. (have around 8 sets)That being said I have real S&W Target Stocks for most of my revolvers. Altamonts are a no go for me too. Bob

 

[wproct]

The stock grips on my 686MG fit me fine; but. With 158 and 180 grain .357 ammo, recoil is enough to break the skin at the base of my thumb with the thin wood grips. I have switched to Hogue "Tamers"; too big and yeah, ugly, but no more bloodshed
View attachment 778425

I have a set of those for my GP100 and yes they are a handful but that is part of why they handle recoil exceptionally well. I definitely would put them on for magnum cartridge shooting.

 

[Gas tube]

Really like the bear hug grips on the 629. I do have S&W Houge grips if I would need them for heavy loads