986 Grips

[KJS]

I have a new 986 which I like quite a bit, though I would like to change the grips to something which covers the back strap (to provide for a longer trigger pull) and I'm not a huge fan of the the finger grooves that Hogue is so exceptionally found of. I'm looking for something to fit my XL paws.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

This is my first post to this forum, but I've been shooting for several years now.

Nice to meet all of you and thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Karl

 

[TANZER]

986

Nill ? Knock off cokes.

 

[tomcatt51]

I'm looking for something to fit my XL paws.

Herretts' Jordan Trooper.
Gun stocks available

 

[Alk8944]

You don't say rubber or wood. You are aware Hogue makes it's wood stocks without finger grooves if you want?

 

[KJS]

Herretts' Jordan Trooper.
Gun stocks available

A couple problems I see. Their order page states:

"Note: Many of today's pistol manufacturers have increased frame dimensions and tolerances. This is especially true in Single Action and Stainless Steel Guns. In order for us to fit to these frames we will need to have the gun and there will be a $100.00 fitting charge applied. There will also be an additional charge for return shipping of the frame."

That's a very expensive grip by the time it's fitted & shipped.

They said you can just send in a tracing of your grip frame and if it fits one of their standard frames then they simply work off their sample frames, so no shipping and no such expense. My 986 should just be a standard "L" frame. As you likely know, "K" & "L" frames wear the same grips.

 

[KJS]

You don't say rubber or wood. You are aware Hogue makes it's wood stocks without finger grooves if you want?

But Hogue still refuses to make any for S&W that cover the back strap unfortunately.

 

[KJS]

Nill ? Knock off cokes.

Those are some very attractive grips on your gun. Other than not covering the back strap, they're just about perfect.

Are they walnut? Is that the wood one should go with? Or should one go with a harder exotic wood? I like how you got checkering for a good grip.

I'm not sure about finger grooves. If a grip was custom made to fit my hand then I might actually like finger grooves. I've never liked finger grooves because they've never fit my XL paws right. Now if they were made specifically to fit me, well, perhaps I might like them. I'm really not sure.

For example, I recently tried Hogue rubber finger groove grips on my Beretta 92A1. I decided to return those as the finger grooves don't fit my fingers. Ended up putting on notably more expensive & vastly more elegant checkered coco bolo grip panels.

 

[TANZER]

986 GRIPS

Wood is walnut.
I also have wood Hogue grips and the Nill's are larger in diameter.
Where are you located ?

 

[peterthefish]

The new style S&W rubber grips for the L Frame cover the backstrap. Nice feel as it cushions the recoil so the backstrap doesn't dig into your hand. They're about $30, I'll try to dig up the part #.

 

[KJS]

Wood is walnut.
I also have wood Hogue grips and the Nill's are larger in diameter.
Where are you located ?

I'm in Wauwatosa, a suburb of Milwaukee.

 

[KJS]

Herretts' Jordan Trooper.
Gun stocks available

I like how they custom make to hand size (Hogue is under this odd impression that all hands are the same size. My hands prove differently.

As for finger grooves, I'm not sure I wouldn't like them. They might actually be nice if sized to fit my XL hands. I mean the reason I don't like them is because avoiding finger grooves automatically means avoiding finger grooves that don't fit your hands. Consider how 1911s -- without finger grooves -- seem to be loved by virtually everyone from teen girls with tiny hands up to huge men with bear paws that make even my hands look small by comparison.

I really like how they offer checkering. Seems I'd definitely want to get that option for traction. Grips can get quite slippery when wet with sweat (something that's hard to think of now, but I know it will be July again eventually).

Karl

 

[tomcatt51]

This is always a "can of worms".

All my (10+) S&W revolvers (the only revolvers I have) except my carry 342 have Herretts' Jordan Trooper grips.

I buy them "oversize" (based on my hand outline) and finish and shape them to suit me. They keep notes in my file so ordering more has been no problem. Herretts has been great to deal with.

I have longish thin hands and a fused right (strong hand) wrist so I adjust the grips not only for trigger "pull length" but also so the gun "points" correctly. I buy them unfinished and "adjust" them to suit me. I shape them slightly differently for iron or (higher) optical sights. With the usual open backstrap grips having the trigger where the front of the trigger guard is would be just fine...

Finger grooves always seem to be potluck. The thickness of your fingers and how you hold the gun makes so much difference.

The only good "hand comparison" I've found is to grab a 12 oz can and see how much gap there is between your thumb tip and finger tips. It seems to pretty accurately represent what size grips you may need. You'd be surprised how many women (who seem are always assumed to have small hands...) really don't have small hands...

I think checkering sucks. It just eats your hands... Yrs ago a friend and I did close up slow mo video of me (fused wrist) and him shooting. He had the usual "muzzle flip". I had NONE. The barrel stayed horizontal and the gun (and my hand) just moved up and down. Only time I get "muzzle flip" is if the gun slides in my hand. Well shaped grips stay put without checkering.

I finish my grips with Minwax Antique Oil Finish. Gives a nice (fairly grippy) semi-gloss or rubbed finish depending on how you apply it. There's a (small) bottle of corn starch in my gear bag for my hands.