Bit of a stocks (grips) dilemma--M29-2

[Spook76]

My 29-2 (nickel, 4" flavor) currently wears its factory target type stocks/grips...I realize some people love this type grip, but I'm not one of them--no offense intended to those who do. All hands are different, of course, but I'd appreciate some help on selecting and sourcing some options. Please, bear with me (just don't bare with me, as I may get chilly...lol); some of this is difficult to explain.

I'll be as brief as possible, to avoid this reading like research for some kind of "Magna opus" (ha! ) on the subject.

Disclaimers, and for reference:

Why not just buy lots of styles to try?
I'm trying to be a good little boy about spending, especially as I just (yesterday) spent several hundred dollars buying our young son his own NRA Life membership. I figured that was more important--both to the org, and to him, eventually--than my silly grip nitpicking...

Intended use type, etc.:
Regular owb carry, including in field environments. Mix of DA and SA shooting. Comfort matters, but I'm not overly sensitive to recoil. Usual loads will be warm-ish specials up to light magnums. Hand size is large-ish end of medium range.

What I've tried (recently enough to recall how they felt):

Don't like--N-frame factory targets (just slightly too large), most rubber grips, huge wood types, current Altamont(?) M29 skinny wood, anything involving a Tyler grip adapter

Like--Model 69 with current/usual included rubber grips (yes, I know it's a different frame, but thought the reference might help), K/L-frame targets are somewhat okay, K/L-frame Pachmayr Grippers(?) are okay, basic 1917 style, Colt SAA and Ruger New Vaquero factory grips

So, all that said:
I *think* I've narrowed down what I'd like to the following, but would appreciate any comparisons/advice Y'all might offer, considering the above. As much as for the aforementioned money concern reason, I don't really want to have to wait months for a custom order only to discover I don't like a given style. Hopefully, all these descriptions and disclaimers help you help me.

1. Of the Keith Brown grips found in the following post, which are most likely to fit my wants/needs? I adore the look--and think I'd like the feel--of all three, but I have no way to "try before buying".
http://smith-wessonforum.com/135801333-post18.html

2. How might the Keith Brown magnas (i.e. his specific way of shaping them) in the same post differ from factory N-frame magnas?

3. Will any pair of factory N-frame magnas (from any era) likely fit my 29-2 properly?

I really would prefer to just buy a set of factory magnas to try, and a few from Keith Brown or maybe Ahrends and/or Herrett's, but that method would get expensive (losing money on resale) and some would involve long waits. Speaking of wait times, do any vendors tend to have Keith Brown grips in stock (pun, slightly, intended)? Any ideas on a better way to work this than my difficult-to-explain query, above?

It's too bad nobody runs a "rent-a-stocks" service (to try styles before buying)...heh Anyway, for those willing to suffer through the above, I thank you for any assistance.

Oh, a pic of the 29-2 in need of new clothes:

 

[Vulcan Bob]

My go to stocks with my medium size paws are both wood and nylon (not rubber) Hogue Monogrips. With the slight palm swell and subdued finger grips on the front they work well for me and don't cost a fortune. Good luck with your search!

 

[Abbynormal]

Try some N frame Magna grips with a Tyler grip. To me it is smaller, but yet
fits my hand perfectly.

Note: I've used this on .357 N frames, but not .44 Mags

While I like Magna's and Tyler grips on .357's, I also prefer reproduction
Patrick Grashorn Custom Grips {AKA Culina/Kurac} "Coke" style grips. They are smaller
than traditional S&W Targets and
conform more to the average mans hand.

 

[bigmoneylewis]

I may sound like a jerk by saying this, but here is my take on it .
Carrying a super nice 4" nickel 29-2 is like lighting your cigar with a five hundred dollar bill. It may look cool, but it costs you a lot of money .
What I mean by that is , It's a $ 1,400 gun right now, but the first tiny scratch drops it to a $ 900 gun in the blink of an eye .
Keep it mint in the box and it will become a $ 2,000 gun before long .
These old P & R N frames are a national treasure . And being 4 " and nickel , well..it doesn't get much better than that .
You will never again in our lifetime, or anyone else's , ever see guns like this being produced. We now live in a world of plastic dildo guns and internal lock mechanisms and dull finishes and rubber grips.
If you are set on actually putting a .44 cal N frame in a holster,
I'd go with the 629 . It's hard to mess up the cosmetics of a stainless gun . I know people get mad when I say things like this, after all it's his gun, he can do whatever he wants, but man, Nice nickel 4" 29-2s are very hard to acquire , and collectors like me search months / years to find them in mint in the box condition. These aren't just guns anymore, they are high end collectables to a lot of people out there , and we treasure them and the privilege of owning them .
I do have guns I shoot as well of course , that's why I do buy them with a small scratch or blemish for a thousand dollars or so, because at that point it does not matter ,but when I am lucky enough to acquire a mint gun , I respect the gun enough to keep it mint .
Carry it if you want, but you will be debasing that gun , and once it is debased, it is that way forever .
Just my opinion ,and I know I hurt a lot of peoples feelings ,so let the shoe throwing begin ..

Greg

 

[Texas Star]

Greg-

I agree and have basically told him that. I've known the OP for all of his life and he's very gun-savvy in general. Just getting more into S&W revolvers, where he should have been for years.

If the recoil-reducing Herrett's Jordan Trooper seems too large, I think I'd lean toward smooth rosewood target grips like the factory originals, but thinner. The old Roper design that Skeeter Skelton liked and which S&W sort of copied, but made too thick. Ideally, think "Cokes", as seen from the rear. S&W factory Cokes fit my hand quite well. They seem thinner than later target stocks.

Both Culina and Keith Brown make these and can presumably make them to his hand size, if he sends a tracing. I think Herrett's also offers the basic Walter Roper design and they do work to your hand size. Brown offers better workmanship and fancier woods than did S&W on the same styles of grips/stocks.
We have another member famed for his rifle and shotgun stocks who makes superb handgun stocks much like Keith Brown's. But I've seen his handgun grips only on his own guns and on a brother's. I'm not sure he sells handgun grips to the public. He's probably too busy with stocks for long guns.

Hogue grips tend to leave the backstrap of the gun exposed a little, where they aren't deep enough to fit the frame. I also don't especially like the feel in my hands.

That said, I'm embarrassed to know someone who carries a nickel-plated gun. I think he should sell this flashy thing and get a M-629-3 with six-inch barrel. He knows me well enough that he might even coax me to give or sell him my pristine Safariland M-29 holster for one. Green suede lined and basketweave-stamped.

Until he settles on a .44 Magnum to KEEP, I'd suggest Pachmayr Gripper rubbers or Uncle Mike's, if they made those for N-frame guns.

It was inspiring to read here that his young son is now an NRA Life Member. I think he'll grow up to be a fine shooter and a fine American. There's hope for the next generation!

 

[arjay]

Try the fit of a pair of cokes.The oval shape fits my medium/large hand far better than the later,blockier target grips.I believe KBs and Kuracs grips are patterned on that shape

 

[murphydog]

Factory N frame Combat stocks may be the ticket. Thinner side to side, comparably long, and narrower at the bottom instead of flaring wider.

 

[Spook76]

To those offering helpful replies: Thanks! I'll give those a look. Any ideas on how best to try before buying some of these options, especially the Coke style a couple of you suggested? Are the original Cokes available enough to source quickly, as well as easy enough to resell quickly, if I buy a set to try and don't like them?

It's not the actual cost of KB and original Cokes that concerns me; it's the wait time and/or losing money having to buy and resell over and over, should I not prefer one or another.

I'd, also, appreciate additional input from anyone else willing to help on this front.

I may sound like a jerk by saying this, but here is my take on it .
Carrying a super nice 4" nickel 29-2 is like lighting your cigar with a five hundred dollar bill. It may look cool, but it costs you a lot of money .
What I mean by that is , It's a $ 1,400 gun right now, but the first tiny scratch drops it to a $ 900 gun in the blink of an eye .
Keep it mint in the box and it will become a $ 2,000 gun before long .
These old P & R N frames are a national treasure . And being 4 " and nickel , well..it doesn't get much better than that .
You will never again in our lifetime, or anyone else's , ever see guns like this being produced. We now live in a world of plastic dildo guns and internal lock mechanisms and dull finishes and rubber grips.
If you are set on actually putting a .44 cal N frame in a holster,
I'd go with the 629 . It's hard to mess up the cosmetics of a stainless gun . I know people get mad when I say things like this, after all it's his gun, he can do whatever he wants, but man, Nice nickel 4" 29-2s are very hard to acquire , and collectors like me search months / years to find them in mint in the box condition. These aren't just guns anymore, they are high end collectables to a lot of people out there , and we treasure them and the privilege of owning them .
I do have guns I shoot as well of course , that's why I do buy them with a small scratch or blemish for a thousand dollars or so, because at that point it does not matter ,but when I am lucky enough to acquire a mint gun , I respect the gun enough to keep it mint .
Carry it if you want, but you will be debasing that gun , and once it is debased, it is that way forever .
Just my opinion ,and I know I hurt a lot of peoples feelings ,so let the shoe throwing begin ..

Greg

So, nothing helpful to add on what was actually asked? If you knew such a post could easily be seen as rude/negative, and is clearly off-topic, why post it?

I won't reply in a line-by-line manner, but will say this:

I buy things based on quality and usefulness, without primary regard for cost, especially items used for defense (whether against two- or four-legged critters). I don't carry this, nor my several-decades-old Colts and Winchesters, to "look cool"; I do it out of appreciation for their finer quality/reliability versus many alternatives. That their continued use, also, honors their very reason for existence and the craftsmanship proud workers once applied to such items is an added benefit.

Much as I appreciate the pure collector side of it all, I don't feel I should have to use only "cheaper" items, in order to avoid offending the sensibilities of those who have differing needs, tastes, goals and expectations. I plan to acquire a 629--at some point--to take over the bulk of daily brush carry, but it won't be just to save money (it wouldn't save much, anyway, given the dash numbers and condition I want).

Of course, the bulk of the questions I asked about grips--which you ignored--would apply as equally to a 629, but I guess there are unhelpful "keep it hidden in a box" 629-3/-4 types, too. Heh...

 

[Laketime]

I carried a four inch 29-3 for years, and practiced twice a month with it.As much as I liked the factory wood , my 29 had originals two piece pachmeyer presentations in it.

 

[muddocktor]

I haven't tried the Ahrends retro targets, so I can's say how well they fit, but I really love the way my Culina target stocks fit and feel on my N frames. I have 3 set of them on 3 different model 27's and recoil isn't a problem even with the stoutest loads. Of course, 357 Mag recoil isn't remotely as hard as full bore 44 Mag rounds, so I can't garranty how well they will feel for you. Unfortunately I do not own a square butt 44 Mag, just a 629-3 Classic which is a round butt gun so I can't drop my Culina stocks on it. I do have a pair of the retro round to square butt Ahrends Combat stocks on my 629 and they fit me well and don't beat my hands up even with reloads full of H110 powder, but I don't know how you like stocks that have finger grooves.

BTW, around where do you live in Texas? I work a 14/14 schedule around Midland, TX and commute back to Louisiana every 2 weeks.

 

[Spook76]

I haven't tried the Ahrends retro targets, so I can's say how well they fit, but I really love the way my Culina target stocks fit and feel on my N frames. I have 3 set of them on 3 different model 27's and recoil isn't a problem even with the stoutest loads. Of course, 357 Mag recoil isn't remotely as hard as full bore 44 Mag rounds, so I can't garranty how well they will feel for you. Unfortunately I do not own a square butt 44 Mag, just a 629-3 Classic which is a round butt gun so I can't drop my Culina stocks on it. I do have a pair of the retro round to square butt Ahrends Combat stocks on my 629 and they fit me well and don't beat my hands up even with reloads full of H110 powder, but I don't know how you like stocks that have finger grooves.

BTW, around where do you live in Texas? I work a 14/14 schedule around Midland, TX and commute back to Louisiana every 2 weeks.

Thanks for the input! I'll take another look at Culina. I see them mentioned here, a lot. The Ahrends Combat type, as well as something else I think they do, are some I had considered. I don't tend to dig finger grooves, but I'm not completely opposed to them, either.

To get this sorted, I get the feeling I'll need to just buy a few types to try (ones likely to resell fairly readily, if need be), or maybe borrow somebody's spares (with a paid deposit). As I mentioned in the OP, I'm trying to avoid that, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

On location: We're not on your direct route, though I appreciate why I think you asked. We're about a hour outside San Antonio. Sounds like you've got a heck of a drive every two weeks.

 

[bigmoneylewis]

I'll offer you some advice , wood combat grips . They feel fantastic in hand ,
if you think the target stocks a slightly larger than you want , combats are going to feel real good. At least to me. Not cheap, the last set I bought I paid around $ 400 , but worth it in my opinion. Also plenty of aftermarket wood combat style (finger grooves) on the secondary market for much less and would feel just as good .
Rubber grips look hideous in my opinion . God intended guns to be made of metal and wood.

Greg

 

[bigmoneylewis]

Just to comment on my earlier post, again, not meant to hurt feelings or ruffle feathers , but to simply educate those out there who may find themselves in a similar situation . People are always inheriting a beautiful, highly collectable firearm that belonged to their father or grandfather ,or get a great deal from a friend of the family, and have no idea what they actually have . I am not saying that is the case here , but we see it all the time . A 40-50 year old gun , never fired ,100% mint, gets handed down to someone and their first thought is
"hey..lets go to the range" To them it is just a "gun" and guns were made for shooting . They have no clue or no appreciation as to the extreme rare opportunity that they have been gifted , to own a gun on that level . Their are people out there who would walk 100 miles through the desert barefoot for a chance to buy a 4" nickel 29-2 in mint condition ,
and be willing to pay waaay more than the "price guides" say the gun is worth . My point is, if you are going to put a nickel gun in a holster , carry it around on the range , it will get dinged up, scratched, worn etc.
and that would be a real shame in my opinion . A 629 would be the way to go . Find a slightly used no dash for around a grand , and it will still be worth a grand after a hard days work . Not the case with a nickel gun . about 40 % of the value of a nickel gun is lost when that first bit of holster wear , or that first tiny scratch occurs . I just want people , especially the newer generation of gun enthusiasts, to be aware of such things and take that in to consideration . These 4 inch nickel 29-2's in this condition are trending in the $ 1,400-$ 1,600 range , and they are only going up in value , BUT, you scratch it , then it drops to about a $ 900 gun , and it will NEVER be the gun it was before . In other words, this gun is too nice to carry and use on a Texas ranch . But, it is after all your gun , and that is your decision to make. I just wanted others to get an "education" by reading this post , because their are tons of younger generation that are inheriting some real treasures , only to screw them up .



Greg

 

[cndrdk]

If you're not a stickler for originality, you could take a pair of old N target wooden grips and cut/shape them to your liking. I carried the Mod 58 and later a Mod 57 as a duty revolver and, like you, the target grips didn't feel right to me as were a bit bulky and large. On the Mod 58 I used the magna grips with the Tyler T adapter and it felt good. Later on the Mod 57 I took the original target grips and sanded/shaped/cut down to my liking ( I know, I know, I ruined the originality of the grips), but they were mine and the 57 was a working gun. Maybe psychological, but when qualifying (after the smoke cleared and feeling came back into my hand) I seemed to have shot a much better group.

 

[viceunit]

I have used a blued 29-2 6.5" for deer hunting, even though I have been told it's too nice to expose it to that use. It is an easy 98% gun. It wears a beautifully grained pair of target stocks in the safe, and like you, they do not fit my hand very well. But, in the field, I use the old two-piece Pachmayer presentation grips, like Laketime mentions. When these were produced they could be had in large or small variants. The small size is near perfect for me, and were economically purchased off a table at a gun show long ago. I carry cross draw in the woods and can cover the gun with a flap of my coat in inclement weather. Looking at it, it is hard to tell that it has ever been outdoors.

I have a 4" 29-2 blued that is even nicer than the 6.5" and came with smooth presentation stocks. I have experimented with a magna grip and Tyler-T on that one, and it is also a good fit, like someone else mentioned. A nice combination and better looking than rubber.

Not easy to settle on the right stocks and I have the requisite box 'o grips.

 

[gwpercle]

You're looking for new shoes, check out
Ahrends Retro Target....no finger grips.
I have his Retro Combats on my model 58 and they fit my normal person sized hand perfectly...unlike the S&W factory grips on your 29-2.
Gary

 

[RKmesa]

For smaller hands I love the Ahrends. They are a bit thinner and although I am not a real fingergroove guy, I have this model of their grips on a lot of K and Nframe shooters...

... enough to grab on to, but not so fat and blocky as the factory targets. Plus, they are under $100, very well built and I think they are easy on the eyes.

 

[WILDPIG]

You can't go wrong with either Culina or Ahrends Retro Targets. If you don't like them, they are easy to resell due to their quality.

WILDPG

 

[muddocktor]

Thanks for the input! I'll take another look at Culina. I see them mentioned here, a lot. The Ahrends Combat type, as well as something else I think they do, are some I had considered. I don't tend to dig finger grooves, but I'm not completely opposed to them, either.

To get this sorted, I get the feeling I'll need to just buy a few types to try (ones likely to resell fairly readily, if need be), or maybe borrow somebody's spares (with a paid deposit). As I mentioned in the OP, I'm trying to avoid that, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

On location: We're not on your direct route, though I appreciate why I think you asked. We're about a hour outside San Antonio. Sounds like you've got a heck of a drive every two weeks.

Yeah, you probably did guess why I was asking. Just to give you an idea of the Culina targets and the Ahrends retro combats look like, here are a couple of pics of mine for you to look at.

First, my 629 Classic with the Ahrends round to square combat stocks.


I find they do a decent job of controlling recoil with even the stoutest of loads and the finger grooves fit me fairly well.

Next is my newest pair of Culina target stocks, which I have put on my 4" model 27-2. I haven't even gotten to the range to shoot it with these stocks, but I know how it feels already as this is my third pair of Culina targets. I have the other 2 pairs on a 5" 27-2 and a 6 1/2" 27-5. These are done in Kingwood, BTW.

 

[Spook76]

^^^Those all look really nice, muddocktor. To get the ball rolling on this, I secured (just today--they won't be delivered for a few days) a pair of Keith Brown Ropers. I plan to, also, source a pair each of the Ahrends retro targets and combats. After seeing what I think of that mix, I'll know better which to stick with or what to try next.

Least it's a good problem to have...lol I really appreciate all the input, Y'all!