'Dinging' Cokes when ejecting cases?

[Six6]

I am the proud new owner of a pre-Model 27 circa 1956-57, 8 3/8" barrel, which I've had now for about a month. Love love love it. It's in great condition, photos posted elsewhere on the site, but I have noticed at the range that when ejecting spent .357 cases inevitably the rim of a case will hit the top of those precious Coke grips.

I didn't notice it at first, but I was starting to wear a slight mark in the grips within the 'football.' From now on, since it's not a SD or CC weapon, I will be using the utmost care in extracting cases while shooting.

Is this a common / known problem?

You'd think there'd be more clearance....and .38 special hits the Cokes as well. Time for some 'range' grips methinks.

 

[H Richard]

Something to be aware of, That's why S&W continued evolving the Stocks to the larger Speed Loader cut out. Many who own these use other grips when shooting.

 

[gmborkovic]

Im an unaware "Coke" grip guy. please a small education.
Did the Cokes appear on pre-27s?
I thought only on early 44 mags and 41 mags.
Did they even have small football cuts? Dont know.

 

[murphydog]

Mike, I think they could be special ordered since they were standard on .44 Magnums; haven't seen a .357 letter with them. I think I have seen non-relieved Special Target stocks (?) but the small cutout was standard.

 

[weatherby]

Something else to be aware of is you can have a chunk break by trigger guard while "just" shooting with them.

 

[paplinker]

Something else to be aware of is you can have a chunk break by trigger guard while "just" shooting with them.

Had a set of Ropers do that also. Trigger guard fit is so tight on some frames. I assume its the frame variances.

 

[gmborkovic]

Alan, I think I read on the Forum that the term "Cokes" is a recent
collector term due to its palm swell shape. Also a larger field of checking,
diamond at the screw, and an oval appearance of the grips from a bottom view. Just called over sized target grips from the factory? I dont know.

 

[Modified]

Nearly all of my vintage target stocks have gouges from the ejector.

Somewhat hidden by the pattern, but if you look you can see it here:

Bit more clear on this set:

Most of my other sets have dings there too, these two pairs were ones I just happened to have good pictures of showing the damage.

Personally I consider it to just be part of the charm, like Gagne's sort of ugly finish. These weren't made to just look pretty, they were made to be used, and they were.

 

[Doc44]

The term "coke bottle" stocks has been used by collectors since the late 1970s and probably before then (that's when I started learning about the 44 Magnum). The factory called the stocks used for the 44 and 41 Magnums, "special oversize stocks made of Goncalo alves". I think the term special was used by the factory to denote the larger pattern of checkering as these stocks were the same overall size as other N-frame target stocks.

When extracting .357, 41 or 44 Magnum cases, you have to be careful not to damage the stocks as even the relieved area on the left stock panel is not completely out of the way. As far as the stocks breaking or chipping in the area next to the trigger guard, this is probably due to the stocks not having enough clearance in this area. There should be a visible gap, and if there isn't, the stocks are in jeopardy of chipping or breaking when magnum loads are fired. By 1975, the design of target stocks obviated this concern as the "extra wood" in this area was eliminated.

Bill

 

[Jack Flash]

Anything I take to the range inevitably acquires little dings and dents, no matter how careful I am. If you really like cokes for their shooting qualities, use them but resign yourself to the fact they will get some dings.

If that's unacceptable, maybe you can find some beat up cokes to use while the good ones stay home in a box. Then there are always coke copies made by various grip makers.

 

[Six6]

Here’s a photo of my rosewood Cokes, I will have to get a letter from the Factory

 

[Six6]

I also figured out today at the range if I place my right thumb on the football while ejecting problem solved.

 

[H Richard]

The Non-Relieved Target stocks on slightly earlier N Frames were even more difficult to avoid the marks. I was very careful with this Pre 27.