Advice on Grips`

[Vandal55]

Disclaimer- Please keep in mind I am new to the forum and revolvers.

I understand that grip choice seems to be a very delicate topic. I would like to solicit opinions and advice about what is out there.

I will say I like VZ grips on 1911 style pistols, but am sort of thinking that a textured wood grip is more...classy/appropriate/ whatever for a revolver.

I am looking more at function and aesthetics. I won't concealed carry the thing.

I suspect there is a photo collection here somewhere. Thanks!

 

[MetalMan]

And we're off.......

Ahrend's and Spegel's might be good places to start your search for a range of styles and woods.

Then let the hunt begin.

 

[ctxcummins]

For me it all depends on what revolver they're destined for and what you plan on doing with it.

I like wood and rubber for different purposes.

 

[zogger]

After trying a bunch of grips, I have now "standardized" on SW older style targets with speed loader cutout (see 1st pix) on my N and K/L frames. For my J frame, I went with a Thailand made rnd to sqr conversion with finger grooves (2nd pix).

They just feel better in my hands.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

Uncle Mike's stocks (if you can find some) aren't much for looks but they sure feel good!

 

[ABPOS]

What model, what finish, if not carrying, what are you doing with it? It seems like you want to shoot it, eh?

I don't know what to recommend you until I know what gun you are asking about. I will say this, I typically prefer some kind of grip that fills the gap between the frame and stock, magna type grips.

 

[F75gunslinger]

My advice is pretty close to the advice I give to quite a few other questions. Get your hands on as many different types that you can find and see what feels good to you.

As everyone's hands are different the answers will be all over the place and may or may not help you.

 

[bulldog01]

I just added some Altamonts to my 58. Made all the difference from the service grips. The service grips are beautiful, but in a bag full of sharks' teeth kinda way. The altamonts are the perfect color and finish and I am excited to be able to shoot again. I was really tired of the other grips. I would be willing to spend some money on the right grips, but they don't have to be expensive. I bought some that were really cool -- and really uncomfortable/poor fit. I haven't found a good way to "try on" grips yet. It's kind of a spend and hope crapshoot.

Mike

 

[sheppard]

For shooting, rubber is the way to go. If you like the good looks of wood I suggest you get a set as well as rubber. Just switch depending on use.

 

[Jtown]

I prefer the larger wooden grips, but go to rubber (Pachmayers) for Magnum loads.
Walt

 

[weatherby]

but am sort of thinking that a textured wood grip is more...classy/appropriate/ whatever for a revolver.

I am a rogue and classless sort

 

[Vandal55]

For shooting, rubber is the way to go. If you like the good looks of wood I suggest you get a set as well as rubber. Just switch depending on use.

This actually seems like a brilliantly simple plan. Are there any pitfalls to switching the grips out?

 

[Collo Rosso]

Wood or rubber, Hogue does it for me. Both their round butt and conversions fit my hand and love the palm swell they use.

 

[bulldog01]

This actually seems like a brilliantly simple plan. Are there any pitfalls to switching the grips out?

No except it is a lot of messing around with the stocks and gun. More room for a scratch or something. If you have a field gun or a truck gun, it probably doesn't matter in the long run. I did this for a while with my Blackhawk and eventually just left the most comfortable set on.

Mike

 

[Truckin]

Best way to touch and feel a large selection of grips (and guns) is to join the NRA and go to the convention. Spend at least a day with the vendors and all your questions will be answered.

 

[Wee Hooker]

For me there are allot of variables to work out in selecting grips each particular range gun. After all, beyond looking good (or not) the grip is my connection to the gun. Size and shape are #1 .
Backstrap covered? Finger grooves? Checkering? Square or round butt configuration? Length? ( i.e. The grip has to fit MY hand and give the best control for the weight and balance of the particular gun.)
Next is material. I love natural materials for dressing up any gun. A nice contrasting wood ( or Stag on stainless) is beautiful to behold but rubber has it's place for heavy recoiling and or action shooting guns. To be honest, I like rubber, I just wish they could do something fresh with their appearance.
Last is cost. While I like to support the local /custom guys, I rarely drop $150 on grips for a $400 range gun. I'm more likely to drop $50 on a mass produced set unless the gun is very special.

 

[Tom_R]

There are dozens of options with regards to grips for your smith and Wesson revolver.

VZ makes excellent grips, and if your revolver is a carry gun and you will do quite a bit of shooting, they are excellent options.

Rubber grips get the job done, and for full house Magnum shooting, they are a great way to go. I just personally hate the way rubber grips looks on a fine gun like a S&W.

Many folks, me included, like to slap a real nice set of wood grips onto their revolver o keep the traditional old school look alive.

One thing to do is look for grip pic threads, there are tons of them, and look at what you like, mark the like on that post, and then come back and re-look.

S&W's original wood, Target grips had a great look to them.

 

[old bear]

O/P welcome to the forum. Switching grips is a piece of cake, as long as you remember to do it the right way. Back out the grip screw until it is free of the right grip, then give the head of the screw a sharp rap with the handle of a screwdriver or mallet. This should loosen the offside grip and you can remove the grips. Remember to use the proper sized and hollow ground screwdriver. NEVER pry the grips off!!

Remember, rubber grips will trap moisture between them and the revolver frame. So, remember to remove rubber grips every six months or so, to check for rust. Before replacing the grips give the frame a wipe down with silicon. I learned this lesson the hard way.

 

[grip frame]

There are very few rubber grips that actually soften the blow or make recoil more tolerable. The only two that come to mind are the Hogue grips made for the Smith 500 and the pachmyer decelerator. Both put a layer of soft rubber between the back of the frame and ones hand.

The other rubber grips like the standard Hogue rubber don't do much in the way of making the revolver more pleasant to shoot.

I like the smooth/non checkered Hogue wood grips on my L and N frame magnums. They have more width to distribute recoil over a larger area of the hand and the smooth finish lets the revolver move a little in the hand during recoil instead of grabbing skin and "sticking" which causes blisters.

For these same reasons I have been hesitant to try any of the G10 laminate Hogue or VZ grips .

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I strongly prefer wood grips for looks and feel. Recoil isn't an issue since all my revolvers are .38 Special or milder. Most of mine ended up with excellent and reasonably-priced real wood grips from Thailand. I have bought grips from several of the American makers and IMO the quality is not there for the price and many do not use real wood.

 

[bulldog01]

Best way to touch and feel a large selection of grips (and guns) is to join the NRA and go to the convention. Spend at least a day with the vendors and all your questions will be answered.

I did not know that. There ya go, learn something new every day. I"ll have to put that on my secret agenda.

Mike

 

[JimCunn]

For round butt J-Frames, my two favorites are
1) the old Herrett Shooting Star conversion grips
2) Altamont Super Rosewood Combat grips

 

[shooter1911]

Please don't take this as sarcasm, but it doesn't matter what anybody likes. It's all about your hand size and grip. I ordered a beautiful pair of Spegals for my 340PD and sold then really quickly, because I couldn't adapt to them so I went back to Hogue Bantams for that particular gun. For my 629-5 Mountain Gun I had to go to the X grip tamers in order to shoot full loads, and on my old Ruger Super Blackhawk I could never control the wood grips and had to go with rubber. My advice is try what ever you are considering before you spend your hard earned money. It doesn't have to be the exact grip you are considering, or the exact gun, but try wood grips on a revolver vs rubber grips. That advice would have saved me money over the years.

 

[Dragonfly]

My favourite wooden grips are Ahrends Retro Target (square butt) and Retro Banana (round butt)...I last purchased them several years ago so don't know if those are still available. I've got small hands and they fit me pretty good. Like you, I love VZs on 1911s—I've owned quit a few sets. I tried a set of their round butt revolver grips on my CS-1 last year and like them a lot (other than when firing full magnum loads—they're hard grips!)

I wrote a post here last year with my first impressions.

 

[muddocktor]

You didn't state what revolver these are for that I can find, but I see in one of your first posts here on the forums that you mentioned you want to get a 586. If that or another full sized 357 Magnum revolver is your main desire, I would recommend that you go with wood over rubber as I don't think a full sized steel frame pistol in 357 Mag to be very punishing in recoil. I personally like the model 27 (or 28) over the L frame guns, but that is personal preference and bias. If you don't mind spending the money, I highly recommend a set of Culina target stocks. I will post a couple of mine for you to look at. They are N frame guns, but John Culina also makes the same style to fit the K/L frame revolvers too in either round butt or square butt.

First up is a 27-5 square butt gun with a set of English Walnut targets on it for you to look at:


Next is my round butt 629-3 Classic dressed out with a set of round to square conversion Olive wood target stocks:


To give you an idea on pricing, the English walnut are his signature grade and IIRC cost me $185. The Olive wood stocks are his presentation grade and I just bought them a few months ago and they ran around $220 or so. To me, the fit and finish is fantastic and they feel great in hand, even on the 44 Mag shooting hot loads.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Wood or rubber, Hogue does it for me. Both their round butt and conversions fit my hand and love the palm swell they use.

Nothing fits my hand quite as well as Hogue grips, wood or rubber. My favorites are the ones without finger grooves.

 

[Green Frog]

Five words, "Get what fits your hand!" The biggest argument I've ever had with my close friend Dale53 was over grips, and ultimately we just had to agree to disagree. Everybody's hands (and needs) are different.

Froggie

 

[DWalt]

For shooting, I far prefer Hogue or Pachmayr rubber grips to checkered wood. Hogues fit better for my hand, Pachs are a little too large. I also like smooth wood (I don't like checkered grips) and the Thai smooth wood grips sold on eBay are excellent values.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

For me it all depends on what you plan on doing with it.
I like wood and rubber.

CTX keep this a family forum!!!


OP, my $0.02 is get HORN OR BONE

 

[bigshep85]

I almost said "Don't start buying grips because it never stops". However on second thought, as some others have stated, try as many grips as you can get your hands on. Find what you like because every single person is different. Don't spend your paycheck on a set only to realize you don't really like that style or material. Give yourself options and experience and then go with that.