Are the old magna grips comfortable on j frames?

ryland

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I have been looking at grips and I love the look of the old magna grips but how comfortable would they be on a 642? I assume they would be easily concealable.
 
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Yes! Especially if you have small hands. If not, the addition of a Tyler T-grip will fill in the gap (so to speak) nicely.
Also unlike the rubber grips they put on 'em today, wood doesn't grab cloth or make you concealing garment ride up! Dale
 
I have tried probably a half dozen different grip types on my M60 over the past 35+ years. The service grip/T-Grip combo is my final choice. Comfort: adequate, concealability: the best. Everything is a compromise. This one works for me...

m60.jpg
 
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Well I ordered some today so I'll post some pics in 7-10 days when I get them!
 
FWIW: The service grips on my Model 60 LS beat my hand up. I cannot get a good grip because there isn't enough to hold for my short fingers, even as small as my hands are. That leaves a loose grip, and the gun hammers my hand on recoil. 38+P feels like full 357, and full 357s are at 44 mag level felt recoil.

Maybe they would work with the adapter to give my hand more to hold, but I put them in the box after one day of shooting and went back to the normal wood LadySmith grips.
 
Wow that looks great! I hope mine loks that good! Mine will be a little different because they are going to have that diamond in the middle. What I did was order the grips off of a model 36. What is the difference between your grips and the ones I ordered? Just the diamond? Whats the history between the two?
 
Not only "yeah," but "HECK YEAH!!!"

For ME, I've found there's nothing better . . . even better than "rubbers" like Hogues and Uncle Mike's. Those now rest in my junk drawer and all our J frames (the wife included) use their stock magnas (or Executioner stags) in conjunction with Tyler T-grips.

Ummm . . . my wife likes this set up better too on her "hard kicking" Model 37 Airweight . . . saying that even the 158gr. LSWC-HP +P loads are pleasant to shoot, so that's saying a lot, IMHO.

And since all threads need photos . . . here are my two:

2454596IMG1153pcropped10.004t.jpg



2448398IMG1154e2.jpg
 
Those look great too! How do they feel to you without the T grip? Is the T grip essential to you?
 
Wow that looks great! I hope mine loks that good! Mine will be a little different because they are going to have that diamond in the middle. What I did was order the grips off of a model 36. What is the difference between your grips and the ones I ordered? Just the diamond? Whats the history between the two?

The diamond stocks are the new ones that S&W sell in their online store. They look nice, but did not fit as well as the originals which I lost over the years. Wood was "proud" all around. Took a fair amount of filing/sanding/refinishing to get them to fit properly. You will probably be better off with the Model 36 stocks.
 
Cool Factor!

I, too, have probably spent more over the years on grips than on guns. (Okay, maybe not more, but close to it!) And, in the end I always seem to come back to the magnas. Not just on my j-frames, but on my M66 2.5" as well. To me, they are very comfortable. And, I have to confess... they just look COOL!
 
"Are the old magna grips comfortable on j frames?"

No, but with a t-grip adapter they're ok. The trick for me is the balance between comfort and concealment. For that the stock stocks (sorry couldn't resist) and a Tyler T-Grip adapter offer the best compromise.

/c
 
Those look great too! How do they feel to you without the T grip? Is the T grip essential to you?

For me, a Tyler-T is a must. Otherwise I end up with a busted nuckle on my middle finger from the triger guard.
 
If one orders the Dymondwood Service Grips from Smith & Wesson, the fit on your revolver might be similar to that shown in the following photographs.
IMG_3315.jpg

S&W Model 637

IMG_3320.jpg

S&W 686-6 Plus

I have no discomfort using standard .38 Special loads in either gun, but +P or full power .357 loads (only for the 686) will draw blood. The S&W revolvers I bought in the 1970s mostly had the Magna stocks, so I became fond of the look of those types of stocks.

As others have said, if you want to shoot it, the Tyler T-Grip is not a bad idea.

For concealed carry, my 637 wears the Magnas, but I have Eagle Grips Secret Service stocks on the 686.
 
I have been looking at grips and I love the look of the old magna grips but how comfortable would they be on a 642? I assume they would be easily concealable.

Sir, FWIW, I like them on my Model 49, but that's an all-steel gun. Not sure I'd like them on a lightweight like a 642.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
I think the magnas are the best looking original grips smith made. they look good on any frame size. but......and I do mean but... they feel like crap for shooting no matter what gun size they are on. they force your hands too high and give a cramped feeling. and I have not met any women who like them either. if you can find a tyler they are a must for shooting. if you just want to put your magnas on a gun to look at and keep in a safe don't waste your time with the tylers, not worth the headaches to obtain.
 
I think the magnas are the best looking original grips smith made. they look good on any frame size. but......and I do mean but... they feel like crap for shooting no matter what gun size they are on. they force your hands too high and give a cramped feeling. and I have not met any women who like them either. if you can find a tyler they are a must for shooting. if you just want to put your magnas on a gun to look at and keep in a safe don't waste your time with the tylers, not worth the headaches to obtain.

Why are they hard to obtain? I think they have a website. Either way I'm excited for my grips to get here and I hope that they are comfortable for me because I love that classic S&W look. I remember holding one in a gun shop a couple years ago but I dont remember if I loved the way it felt in my hand or hated it. I do remember having a strong opinion though! Not that that really helps me.
 
Yes! Especially if you have small hands. If not, the addition of a Tyler T-grip will fill in the gap (so to speak) nicely.
Also unlike the rubber grips they put on 'em today, wood doesn't grab cloth or make you concealing garment ride up! Dale

Exectly what I was thinking!
 
You can dig around GB or FleaBay and probably find a Tyler, if you order direct they take 3+ months according to those who have orders in on them.

I got my T-Grip for my Model 60 on GB, the J-frame Tylers seem to be common.

I do not find the wood J-frame round Magnas "comfortable" for shooting, but J-frames weren't designed to be range guns. I have no use for rubber grips on a CC gun, and if you have to use your CC gun comfort isn't an issue. If you can put 20-30 rounds center mass on a silhouette at 7-15 yards in DA with the magnas, they do their job. The grip frame was designed for easy carry and concealment, the square butt J-frame may be better but I don't have one.

The wood grips look great on the J-frames, but when I am going to the range to shoot 3-400 rounds it's not a gun I choose.
 
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