I need some 686 wood grip recommendations. I have a 4" 686 with the factory hogue finger groove grips. I actually kind of like the shape and size of the grips. I just want some nice wood grips. I am mostly looking at Ahrends grips. I am leaning toward the retro combat grips. An input as to the size of these compared to the Hogue or any others i should look at? As always pictures are welcome.
686 wood grip recommendations
- Thread starter rc51kid
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panamajack310
Member
Is the revolver a round butt or square butt??? I personally love the look of the target grips and service grips on the L frame. If it is a round butt S&W, Hogue, Eagle and Altamont all have these types of grips n several different materials. I like the Altamonts as they have a round to square butt target grip that is close to the orig. square butt target grips.
Hope this helps
Altamont Company - Smith & Wesson
Full Size Conversion Grips - Round to Square : Hogue Inc., The Best Value In Handgun Grips, Rifle Stocks and Accessories - Bar None!
Grips - Smith & Wesson
Hope this helps
Altamont Company - Smith & Wesson
Full Size Conversion Grips - Round to Square : Hogue Inc., The Best Value In Handgun Grips, Rifle Stocks and Accessories - Bar None!
Grips - Smith & Wesson
willstill
Member
I'm with you! I just bought my first s&w. I got a 686 with a 4" bbl. I'm looking for some nice wood grips too. What do you guys have?
mr-mom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
mr-mom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
slickracer
Member
Those are my favorite grips, Ahrends Tactical Finger Groove. Search for "Gripseller" on Ebay. You can see the actual pair you will get. I've purchased 4 sets from Terri and she's excellent to deal with.
Hillbilly77
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I like my Altamont Super Walnut grips.
Nice fit & finish and available with S&W medallions on them, and to me, this is an important feature - I gotta have my medallions.
Just remember that your 686 is an L-frame and both K-frame & L-frame grips are the same size.
Some suppliers (like Altamont) don't show a listing for L-frame - you have to look at the K-frame selection.
Altamont Company - Smith & Wesson
EDIT - This quote from post 12:
Not sure who Ken was talking to, but I added a pic of the left side of my gun anyway.
Nice fit & finish and available with S&W medallions on them, and to me, this is an important feature - I gotta have my medallions.
Just remember that your 686 is an L-frame and both K-frame & L-frame grips are the same size.
Some suppliers (like Altamont) don't show a listing for L-frame - you have to look at the K-frame selection.
Altamont Company - Smith & Wesson
EDIT - This quote from post 12:
Awesome!Those are some great looking grips. Can we see a pic of the left side too? Thanks!
Not sure who Ken was talking to, but I added a pic of the left side of my gun anyway.
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Hotshot10
Member
Another vote for Ahrends here. I have those on my 686. They're solid.
I had a friend with some of the wood Hogue grips (the $100+ ones). They split. Hogue replaced them. Within another 100 .38 Specials, they had split again. He got a refund and purchased the Ahrends. I've not heard of this being a common problem, but it was a pain in the rear.
I had a friend with some of the wood Hogue grips (the $100+ ones). They split. Hogue replaced them. Within another 100 .38 Specials, they had split again. He got a refund and purchased the Ahrends. I've not heard of this being a common problem, but it was a pain in the rear.
Ahrends are great grips and have many styles to fit your hand and great choices in wood types. When I bought he grrps from them I called them and even told them what kind of grain I liked and they tried to meet my desire and they always did.
Model 64 no dash with Ahernds Coco Bolo grips
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Yet another 686 in Ahrends -
Exactly which Ahrends are these? I love them.
That is the right picture with me
Ahrends makes round, round to square and square butt grips. The wait is relatively short, or Top Gun Supply stocks coca bolo grips. I have six sets in my menagerie.
Combat grips have a squared front, which helps snap into the correct alignment. The filler behind the trigger guard may bite with heavy recoil (.44 mag), but I've never had that problem with a 686.
Retro grips are rounded in front, and are very comfortable to shoot, but take more practice to draw without needing adjustments.
Ahrends grips thicker across the back than Hogue grips, and facilitate a higher grip position and better recoil control, IMO. I've tried both, but settled on Ahrends. Someone with really large hands might prefer grips that cover the blackstrap, like Herretts or Nills.
Combat grips have a squared front, which helps snap into the correct alignment. The filler behind the trigger guard may bite with heavy recoil (.44 mag), but I've never had that problem with a 686.
Retro grips are rounded in front, and are very comfortable to shoot, but take more practice to draw without needing adjustments.
Ahrends grips thicker across the back than Hogue grips, and facilitate a higher grip position and better recoil control, IMO. I've tried both, but settled on Ahrends. Someone with really large hands might prefer grips that cover the blackstrap, like Herretts or Nills.
loeman
Member
rc51,
I have a 686 square butt with a 4 inch barrel and recently posted a vote for it as the gun I would own if I only could have one. Both S&W Targets and the Hogue grips came with the gun. I hate both. The Targets are WAYYYY too big for my medium sized hand and the Hougues are too wide from backstrap to front. The problem was solved with Ahrends Tactical Smooth. They fit me perfectly. I'm not a fan of finger grooves as they never seem just right. Anyway I love both the Ahrends Tactical and Retro Targets as they both have essentially the same grip. Fantastic for people like me that do not have large hands.
I have a 686 square butt with a 4 inch barrel and recently posted a vote for it as the gun I would own if I only could have one. Both S&W Targets and the Hogue grips came with the gun. I hate both. The Targets are WAYYYY too big for my medium sized hand and the Hougues are too wide from backstrap to front. The problem was solved with Ahrends Tactical Smooth. They fit me perfectly. I'm not a fan of finger grooves as they never seem just right. Anyway I love both the Ahrends Tactical and Retro Targets as they both have essentially the same grip. Fantastic for people like me that do not have large hands.
Michael J. Spangler
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I'm bringing this thread back from the dead.
Thanks to all that posted pics and links. I'll be ordering some Ahrends grips for my 686 at the very least. I thought I liked the Hogue wood grips best until I saw the Ahrends.
Thanks to all that posted pics and links. I'll be ordering some Ahrends grips for my 686 at the very least. I thought I liked the Hogue wood grips best until I saw the Ahrends.
