All this talk about rubber grips

[kwselke]

On the big bore magnums I like the OEM stocks generally.

My .454 Casull has beautiful wood grips which slip in my hand when the gun is fired. I bought aftermarket rubbers for it after it drew blood on my right hand three times. That one is wood for show, rubber for use.

Next there is the Ruger Super Redhawk .44 with OEM rubber/wood stocks. It's a ***** cat so there is no reason to alter factory.

Then there is the Bisley Blackhawk .44 with wooden OEM stocks. They work fine for me and look good. Putting rubber on that would mean it's not a Bisley anymore.

Finally I come to my 629-3 Classic with OEM Houge rubber. It's original. It is my favorite. It has been used in inclement weather as well as fair weather and never failed or hurt me. I do not think it right to to change what is original and works for me perfectly.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I have lots of both grips, wood looks better for sure, but in "J" frame, rubber makes a big difference to me when shooting.
Do shoot the m28 4" & M21 4" with wood grips & carry with them.
As stated, what ever fits & feels right.

 

[4barrel]

So I am relatively new to this forum but I have had a model 28-2 for 30+ years. It had the factory target grips on it when I bought it. Lately I've had more time to shoot and discovered that after 100 rounds or so it became really uncomfortable to the index finger on the shooting hand. So.....I tried some "rubber" grips and settled on a set of Hogue's. Very comfortable to shoot. Then I see all the hate for these grips on this forum. I know the wood grips look better but the Hogue's are much better for actual shooting. So are you guys shooting with the wood grips? Or are they just for for the awe factor?

IF U shoot a full charge 44 mag or 500 s@w or 41 mag fill what makes your mitts feel good. IF IT HURTS U R GONA FINCH- DO what u think is ok. If it works don't worry what others think.

 

[Donn]

I've had a Model 29 since 1978. The factory checkered grips look great, but would bloody the heel of my hand at the range. The Pachmayr's look awful, but make the .44 a lot more comfortable to shoot.

 

[Quakertown]

I have target grips and just ordered a set of bonded ivory magna grips for my model 29-3 in nickel, but for shooting, I prefer Hogue's. They just feel good in my hand.

I'll take pics of it with the other grips on it, and show them to my friends with those grips, but for controllability and accurate shooting, my choice is rubba.

 

[chief38]

I've pretty much gone full circle. When I first got into shooting 35 years ago I changed most of my revolver and 1911 grips over to Pachmeyer's and when the metal inside started coming through the rubber and scratching the frames and bluing, I went out and got Uncle Mike's rubber grips. After a few years the Uncle Mike's grips started breaking down and getting sticky and gooey. I then tried a few pair of the Hogue's but after only a short while I changed all my revolvers back to the original Factory grips. The smaller wooden grips now have either a Tyler "T" or (older) S&W "T" installed and I have never looked back.

I also like the fact that the wood grips do not stick to clothing or on the inside of your pants pocket while pocket carrying. I truly find that the Magna-grips along with a "T" Grip is the best for me.

YMMV

chief38

 

[A10]

Like many others here I think it's and aesthetics thing. I do like shooting my Nframe magnums with wood magna grips though, they seem to sit in my palm well and the guns are quite controllable with them. I use pac compacs on my 629-4 because the round butt is too small for a decent grip for me.

 

[arroyoshark]

I like the timeless look of wood grips on S&W revolvers. My hands are not massive enough to get a good grip on S&W target grips, but the magna or service grips feel better. On harder kicking pieces, small or large, my hands fit perfectly around Hogue finger groove grips. I believe these finger grooves help control recoil better than any other grips I've shelled out $$ for. I have tried Pacs and Uncle Mikes, but they are not as comfortable for me. I particularly like the Hogue bantam or boot style grip on K/L round butted revolvers, especially for snub nose configuration, and particularly on a 696.

I have tried shooting w the Uncle Mikes finger groove grips, sold by S&W, as well as wood finger groove grips by altamont. In both cases the tip of the second finger groove would ride on my third finger and was not comfortable or controllable. Additionally, grabbing hold of a cold grip with dry hands was not
controllable with these grips. The general tackiness of Hogue rubber grips gives more immediate control of the piece for aiming and followup. I don't worry about the beauty contests out in the field.

 

[snowman]

I shoot with factory smooth targets(with an exception or two which I'll mention in a moment). They don't hurt any part of my hands or fingers. I find that they fit my my hands better than any other grip I've tried. I've replaced all the checkered ones I had with smooth ones; I don't like checkering, primarily for aesthetic reasons, but also because they tend to dig into my hands during recoil.

The exceptions: My defense guns, both for carry and for the house. The house guns have Hogue rubber ones. I use these for one reason only: they are 'sticky'. In the stressful circumstances surrounding a defensive encounter I don't want the gun to slip in my sweaty palms. But they don't fit my hand well -too narrow. I put up with it.

My carry piece is a Ruger SP101, with factory rubber & plastic panels. This grip fits my hand well but is also 'sticky', so I won't be replacing it.

I recently bought a model 34 J-frame with a magna grip. I'm not sure yet what to do with it -it's too small for my hand.

Andy

 

[shawn mccarver]

So I am relatively new to this forum but I have had a model 28-2 for 30+ years. It had the factory target grips on it when I bought it. Lately I've had more time to shoot and discovered that after 100 rounds or so it became really uncomfortable to the index finger on the shooting hand. So.....I tried some "rubber" grips and settled on a set of Hogue's. Very comfortable to shoot. Then I see all the hate for these grips on this forum. I know the wood grips look better but the Hogue's are much better for actual shooting. So are you guys shooting with the wood grips? Or are they just for for the awe factor?

Wood might be prettier, but it is really hard to beat the Hogue rubber for actually shooting.

So, if your aim is to constantly polish and take pictures for posting, get wood. Otherwise, you made a fine choice.

 

[no-logic]

Wood might be prettier, but it is really hard to beat the Hogue rubber for actually shooting.

So, if your aim is to constantly polish and take pictures for posting, get wood. Otherwise, you made a fine choice.

I have both so I can dress for the occasion. I have thought about picking up a set of wood grips in the Hogue style also just to see how I like them. Never hurts to have choices.

 

[rwsmith]

If you shoot a lot of heavy loads

I like wood grips but when shooting a lot of .357 magnums you don't get nearly as fatigued when you are shooting with Pachmeyers.

 

[Kemosabe1951]

My two S&W's had the big wooden target grips on that my Dad liked. After I inherited them, I bought new Hogue wooden grips for both. One Cocobolo, the other Rosewood. They have finger grooves and I love them --- not as bulk as the S&W originals. I'll attach a photo of one of them.

 

[Simmer down]

I like form over function. I dump the rubber bulb stuff first thing and replace them with eagle grips, stag, or bone when the price is right.

I can pretend the 29 doesn't sting that bad but I can't pretend ugly away.

 

[Maximumbob54]

It depends on if they fit your hand or not. A wood grip that fits your hand is going to transfer recoil over a larger surface than the rubber bending out of the steel grip frame's way and pushing the grip frame into your hand. I like Ahrends Retro Target and Retro Combat grips for S&W N frames:

I have been using an X frame grip on my 629-6 but that grip wraps rubber around the whole grip frame:

 

[Rio Vista Slim]

S&W Model 686-6 Plus w/factory rubber stocks.

The same revolver with Eagle Grips Secret Service stocks.

My revolver with Magna stocks from the S&W store.

The 686 w/Pachmayr Compac grips.

Okay, which ones?

Shooting .38 Special +P I like them all.

Shooting .357 Magnum, only the Pachmayrs.

 

[Stophel]

I don't like Hogue grips at all, as they put my hand way too far down on the gun.

Pachmayr grips (I've only shot with the fingergroove "gripper") have a nice shape that fits me well, but the seam in the rubber at the front behind the triggerguard is VERY uncomfortable for me. The ones I have simply don't meet up there very well.

 

[5Wire]

Different strokes, I guess. I am a total fan of Hogue Bantams.

Saved the knuckle on my middle finger, strong hand shooting 124 Gr Gold Dot Plus Ps in the 9mm Model 547:

Have 'em on this 686P snubby, sorry no nekkid gun picture:

and I have a set on on model 19 snubby, no pic.

Pachys on this 65-6

Uncle Mikes an a 642-1

They are made to shoot with. I keep the wood for dress up.

 

[Joe in SC]

When it comes to shooting hard kicking loads the rubber grips are where it's at. Most everyone I see at the ranges that are shooting serious numbers of stout rounds are shooting with some sort of recoil absorbing grips, myself included. For my purposes I shoot with them because I get much better results when the hurt is minimized.

Wood sure looks good, better than rubber anyday. We can all probably agree on that. But when it comes to results on targets though, looks don't count.