686 grips

[SixGunHunter]

Hi guys,

I have been looking at Hogue grips for my 686-1. It carrys the stock grips now.
Are the wooden finger grips all show or do they work well. I really like the look, but I need fuction. Rubber better?

Also, are there other companies out there that offer the quality that Hogue does?

 

[whip2]

I prefer the rubber grips over wood.

 

[kbm6893]

My 686 has the factory wood Goncalo Alves, and they look fantastic. However, they are awful for shooting and I put a pair of Pachmayr Grippers on the gun when i go to shoot it. Hogue's feel OK, but I prefer the Pach's.

 

[SixGunHunter]

kbm6893,

What is it about Pachmayr that you like better?

 

[Smith357]

What sort of attributes are you looking for? Do you want recoil absorption, grip, or aesthetics. The Houge finger grove grips are great for grip, as are most rubbers, if they happen to fit your hands, but with the open backstrap they may or may not help with the sting of magnum rounds, the solid wood Houges look great if they fit your hand but can really sting in a magnum. Pachmayr Decelerators fully cover the grip frame and are arguably the best choice for recoil absorption and grip but are not very pretty. Standard S&W Target grips do a nice job of spreading impact out over more surface area in you hand, again it all depends on if they fit your hand.

 

[SixGunHunter]

Thanks Smith357.

I will look for a gunshop that has most instock, so I can see what works best for me. I do have a hard time finding pistols that fit my hand, not to mention grips.
I just know that the original grips need to go!

 

[parabarbarian]

I've tried several different grips on my 686. So far the Pachmayr compact grip work best for me. I do not care much for finger grooves -- they never seem to fit right but force my fingers apart for a less secure grip

 

[one eye joe]

I've tried several different grips on my 686. So far the Pachmayr compact grip work best for me. I do not care much for finger grooves -- they never seem to fit right but force my fingers apart for a less secure grip

I agree, parabarbarian. NONE of the currently available finger groove stocks fit my hand. I use Ahrends Smooth Tactical Conversion grips on all my S&Ws that came with factory finger groove goodyears. My two no dash 686s--a 2 1/2" (converted @ S&W to a 7 shooter) and an 8 3/8" for which I have factory wooden grips (which I am trying to preserve), both carry Pachmayr grips. Those are Compacs on the snubbie which I carry, and Presentation grips on the artillery piece.....

 

[youngda9]

I had a pair of Ahrends retro combat finger groove grips for my 4" 686. They were beautiful. They were also smooth and did not provide a firm grip. The gun would jump in my hands. I prefer the Hogue round butt grips.

 

[TROB]

i prefer the hogue monogrip (round butt-to-square butt conversion)....the gun feels like an extension of my hand. very comfortable and recoil is EXTREMELY light... no sting whatsoever, even with .357 HD rounds.

 

[sodacan]

Everyone's opinions based on their personal experiences are certainly valid, but one thing about finger groove grips was not mentioned. When you use this type of grip your hand position is always the same, and takes hand position out of the equation for shooting accurately.

 

[one eye joe]

Everyone's opinions based on their personal experiences are certainly valid, but one thing about finger groove grips was not mentioned. When you use this type of grip your hand position is always the same, and takes hand position out of the equation for shooting accurately.

This is true, ONLY IF the stocks fit your hand. A consistently bad grip on ill-fitting stocks will NOT improve accuracy.....

 

[andyo5]

For 357 magnum loads especially, I prefer rubber. I like the Hogue round butt grips for round butted guns, as opposed to the 'transition' grips they come with.

 

[Bluewater shooter]

What sort of attributes are you looking for? Do you want recoil absorption, grip, or aesthetics. The Houge finger grove grips are great for grip, as are most rubbers, if they happen to fit your hands, but with the open backstrap they may or may not help with the sting of magnum rounds, the solid wood Houges look great if they fit your hand but can really sting in a magnum. Pachmayr Decelerators fully cover the grip frame and are arguably the best choice for recoil absorption and grip but are not very pretty. Standard S&W Target grips do a nice job of spreading impact out over more surface area in you hand, again it all depends on if they fit your hand.

I recently bought a 686-1 with the pachmayr Decelerators. You're right they are ugly, but the grips suit me to a tee. I have no intention of shooting 357 mag, so if I carry this gun I will carry 38+P. A friend who is an ffl and avid wheel gun shooter, said the seam along the backstrap will hurt my hand. Any thoughts?

Marc

 

[Gman56]

I have the hogue mono grips with finger grooves. I love them!I did not get the checkering. They dont need it.The wood is Pau Ferro and makes the 686 look great!

 

[StatesRightist]

I recently bought a 686-1 with the pachmayr Decelerators. You're right they are ugly, but the grips suit me to a tee. I have no intention of shooting 357 mag, so if I carry this gun I will carry 38+P. A friend who is an ffl and avid wheel gun shooter, said the seam along the backstrap will hurt my hand. Any thoughts?

Marc

I use the Decelerators and have no issues with the seam. They make the .357 very manageable. My only issue is they make the grip much larger, which is no big deal on a target gun, but a problem for CCW.

What size barrel do you have, if it's 3inch or less check out the Speer Gold Dot SB ammo, it's a good load that's about half way in the middle of .38 and .357 loads.

 

[rod330]

I really like Jim Badger's grips. You can find cheaper grips but these are worth every penny IMHO.

Smith & Wesson Pistol Grips

 

[dhorswell]

I'd like to get the same grips as you've got. Looks like we have the same era 686 6 shot no lock 357mag. I bought mine new in 1982. I have tried pachmayr rubber finger grove grips on this square but 686 however the fit is loose. what make and model grips are on the pic of your 686?

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

My 686-3 has Hogue mono-grips from day one w/finger grooves. I have small hands an they rock!

 

[bananaman]

My 686-3 came to me with target stocks on it. It remains that way. Rarely does a finger groove grip feel good/ right to me. Bob