686 hogue grips

[herbie1]

I was at the gun shop the other day and I got a chance to fondle the Hogue rubber grips that come on the 686. I really liked the feel of these grips. They were flatter that any of the grips that I am used to. Obviously, I wasn't able to test-fire the gun with the Hogue grips.

I'd like to know how these grips feel from those of you who have been shooting with them? Also, what grips are generally accepted as the best for this gun (I know that everyone's hands are different that is why I mentioned 'generally accepted').

Thanks.

H.

 

[herbie1]

I was at the gun shop the other day and I got a chance to fondle the Hogue rubber grips that come on the 686. I really liked the feel of these grips. They were flatter that any of the grips that I am used to. Obviously, I wasn't able to test-fire the gun with the Hogue grips.

I'd like to know how these grips feel from those of you who have been shooting with them? Also, what grips are generally accepted as the best for this gun (I know that everyone's hands are different that is why I mentioned 'generally accepted').

Thanks.

H.

 

[herbie1]

BTW: full sized or mid-sized grips are what I am interested.

 

[scooter123]

I have the same grips on my new 620. They are OK for 38 spl. or 38 +P but way too narrow for full house 357 Magnum loads. I also think the trigger reach is too short for me so I am now looking into getting something about 1/2 inch wider.

 

[USAF385]

I have that grip on my 681. I really like it. Nicely fits my hand, very comfortable. I can soot any 357 loads with no issue. FAR better than the wood grip it came with.

 

[davel686]

It the only grip that will allow me to hold on to my 686 6" with one hand and shoot it with full house loads.
I highly recommend them.
the gun I'm talking about is my avatar.

 

[biggs357]

+1 on recommending hogue grips all the way.

 

[Stainz]

I have a drawer full of OEM Hogues... big yuck on them here. I like wood... my only 686, a plus 5"-er with a partial lug, came as a 'Stocking Dealer Exclusive' sporting a square conversion, with fg, Ahrends cocobolo grip. They feel great for my .38s to mild .357 Magnums. I haven't shot 'real' .357 Magnums in my revolvers - but I have in wood gripped 19s & 28s. Not totally uncomfortable, especially if you've ever shot an old wood-gripped 29!

Now, for a bit extra reach - and a padded backstrap for recoil absorption - try the X-frame grips S&W fits on their .460 & .500 Magnums. They are 'universal' - they will fit K, L, N, & X-frames. They are currently only available from S&W Accessories (~$37). Below you'll see them, pardon the absurdium, on my 296 AirLite-Ti, an L-frame:

Obviously, the pocketability of the .44 Special 296 is totally loss like that, so back to the OEM boots it went. It wasn't meant to be a 'fun' shooter. The next one - below - is! It's a scoped 6" 629 - great 'plinker' so-gripped - even with moderately mean .44 Magnums. The grips add a bit to the trigger reach as well as padding that backstrap.

My favorite non-wood OEM S&W grips have been the Uncle Mike's Combats in square conversion. These are still the OEM grips on S&W 10, 64, & 67 models pictured in the S&W '09 catalog as well as on the 619, the fixed sight version of the 620, as depicted on S&W's site. They cover the backstrap, too.

Stainz

 

[H Richard]

These are the same shape and size, but nicer looking.

 

[Oldrifleman]

I hate rubber grips, I LOVE Hogue Wood grips!

 

[Wayne M]

Luckily, they're not expensive. You've just got to try some to see if they're right for you. I've got big hands and the Hogue rubber is the only girp I'll use to shoot. Wood is great for display, rubber for shooting.

 

[MTAustin]

As much as I also favor wood, I use Hogue rubber grips on my working S&Ws (a 686, a 629, and a 17). They fit my hand extremely well, and I have no trouble shooting my heavy loads with heavy lead bullets.

They are thin enough for concealed carry, but in my experience Hogue's tacky rubber tends to stick to clothing, making you more likely to show or print if you carry under a shirt or jacket.

 

[10-12]

My hand grew used to the old wood combats S&W offered in the 1990s that I used on duty. They are now hard to come by so I used the Hogues that came on my 686 and they were the next best thing for shooting. They really tamed recoil for me on full load magnums. The wood Hogues aren't all that bad either but the old S&W combats still work best for me or I would be using Hogues.

Hope this helps.

Bill

 

[indiandave]

I like them on my 686. They don't look as good as wood but they shoot just fine.

 

[stevieboy]

They handle really well, they're comfortable, and they're really, really ugly! I figured I only go around once so I replaced the Hogues on my 686 with some ultra-nice and ultra-expensive Nill grips. The Nills are at least as comfortable as the Hogues and they're MUCH nicer looking.

 

[2fingers]

I put a pair on my 19-3 .357 and shot some 158gr. jhp at the range. Went home and put a pair of Pachmayr Presention grips on it. Shot it next week at the range and left the Pachmayr's on. They just feel better where they need to and still coushin the recoil.

 

[Steel609]

I have the rubber grips on my 686, and want to get a pair of S&W wood grips, which IMO, looks beautiful.

 

[herbie1]

My new 686SSR came with a set of nice looking wood grips and an extra set of rubber grip (Uncle Mike's). I tried the rubber grips (dry fire only) and the did not feel comfortable to me. The seem like okay grips, they just didn't feel good to me.

The wood grips fit my hands much nicer (and look much nicer too), except at the range I found the gun a bit more difficult to control when shooting .357s. Also, the web of my shooting hand is raw, sore, blistered, and bleeding from the recoil. This was after shooting just one box (50 rounds).

So I guess I am seriously on the hunt for new grips. I think that rubber, rather than wood, would handle .357s better. Wood grips seem a bit too slippery. My concerns about the Hogues are that they are too thin in back, transferring and focusing the recoil into to the shooting hand. Also, the back strap is open allowing recoil to be transferred directly from the frame.

H.

 

[surfdog76]

Originally posted by H Richard:
These are the same shape and size, but nicer looking.

H Richard, I'm digging those grips!

I wasn't considering the Strip Cap until I saw yours. If you don't mind me asking, what wood is that? Laminate or solid?

Love the wood Hogues! No screw, only the beautiful grain. And that Strip Cap looks very sharp!

If it only had S&W Medalians... I suppose I could add them, but maybe that would be too much?

Now seriously considering the Rosewood with the Cap Stripe (Thanks!):

http://www.hoguestore.com/inde...224&products_id=1320

 

[scooter123]

Originally posted by herbie1:
My new 686SSR came with a set of nice looking wood grips and an extra set of rubber grip (Uncle Mike's). I tried the rubber grips (dry fire only) and the did not feel comfortable to me. The seem like okay grips, they just didn't feel good to me.

The wood grips fit my hands much nicer (and look much nicer too), except at the range I found the gun a bit more difficult to control when shooting .357s. Also, the web of my shooting hand is raw, sore, blistered, and bleeding from the recoil. This was after shooting just one box (50 rounds).

So I guess I am seriously on the hunt for new grips. I think that rubber, rather than wood, would handle .357s better. Wood grips seem a bit too slippery. My concerns about the Hogues are that they are too thin in back, transferring and focusing the recoil into to the shooting hand. Also, the back strap is open allowing recoil to be transferred directly from the frame.

H.

I am 100% in agreement with you. I don't know why thin grips are so "in" but they seem to be. As does short trigger reach. I can very nearly "second joint" the trigger on my 620 and my hands are average in size.

To correct this, I just placed orders for both the X frame Monogrip and the Pachmayr Decelerator for the L frame Round Butt. Hopefully, one of them will fit me well. If not, I'll be purchasing a couple of blocks of Walnut and doing some whittling.