Grip advice for 686 /6 inch barrel

[snakeditch]

I'm new to revolver shooting and would like to ask for advice regarding grips for a model 686 with 6 inch barrel. I searched the archives and web and have not found enough info to make a decision yet.

I'm tall but have medium sized hands. Not concerned with concealment and will be shooting about 80/20% : 38sp/357mag (a guess). I find heavy recoil to be a little unfriendly.

What should I be thinking about with regards to a final grip selection (size, wood vs synthetic, finger groves vs smooth, checkered, other)???

Any suggestions or pics of your favorites would be appreciated???

 

[snakeditch]

I'm new to revolver shooting and would like to ask for advice regarding grips for a model 686 with 6 inch barrel. I searched the archives and web and have not found enough info to make a decision yet.

I'm tall but have medium sized hands. Not concerned with concealment and will be shooting about 80/20% : 38sp/357mag (a guess). I find heavy recoil to be a little unfriendly.

What should I be thinking about with regards to a final grip selection (size, wood vs synthetic, finger groves vs smooth, checkered, other)???

Any suggestions or pics of your favorites would be appreciated???

 

[sumo61]

If you are looking at aftermarket look at the Hogue Monogrips with the finger groves. I have a set on my 686 4inch and I love them. They are only around $25.

 

[Milton]

Go to the Ahrends Grip site and look at their revolver grips.I have their grips on all of my 686's.

 

[bountyhunter]

I have found pachmayr decelerator grips to be the best for comfort and gripability. I have them on all my SW's now.

 

[cobra44]

Hello
I took all of my wood grips off of mine and use the rubber grips. I find the rubber grips to be more comfortable and easier to hold onto.
I would recommend going around and see if you can find some 686's with the different types of grips to check out.
Different people like different grips, and the only way to know is to try them yourself.

 

[snakeditch]

Thanks for input. Anyone have pics to show as possible examples?

 

[stevieboy]

Depends on whether you've got the older square but model or a newer round butt model. For a square butt K or L frame revolver I like Smith's wooden target grips. They're big but I have very large hands. Presently, on my round butt 686 6" I have Uncle Mike's combat grips, also from Smith. The finger grooves on these are perfectly proportioned for my hands. Hogue rubbers just don't fit me that well. The problem that I find with the Uncle Mike's is that, overall, they're rather small for me. I'm thinking of buying a pair of Ahrend's retro round-square targets as a substitute.

 

[zeeew]

I like the square butt target grips on my non-dash 686.
I have stock finger groove grips on my 610-3 round butt and dont like them much, I am looking at round to square butt conversion grips like Ahrends.

 

[mm6mm6]

For alot of shooting, rubber Hogues will probably be pretty good. If you're going to the range and firing 50 - 100 full house .357's, this is the way to go.

For some carrying and showing and a little bit of shooting, I sure like my Executioner American Elk Stags with a Tyler T-Grip!

www.grashornsgunworks.com

www.t-grips.com

 

[buckyjames1]

Snake, just my 2 cents.
heres some questions you should ask yourself,
Do you want grips for looks or usage. I hate to start an argument but just remember everything is subjective. I own a 686 in 4 inch and the stock hogue rubbers do everything they are supposed to do except: not all peoples hands and fingers are made the same so those finger grooves sometimes interfere with one's natural grip and finger placement. My input on finger grooves (100-200rds per month) If you must or like finger grooves, go with the single finger. Sometimes its better to have a "no finger groove or 1 finger groove only" grip. Checkered or smooth is going to be a judgement call, I personally went with a smooth grip after 3 different grips. It seemed to allow me to make corrections on hand placement better than checkered 2 groove grips. The stock rubbers feel nice, do well in the field, and hold up to wear and tear well but, THEY sure dont beat the look of some nice exotic woods. I went through 3 different grips before I found the ones that did my baby good. Long story short...you'll probably do the same. Look up 686 photos on this forum and find some grips you like, tastes will change. Ill dig up some photos of my revolver with different woods and post them.
Good luck.

 

[snakeditch]

Thanks for the input. I plan to do more shooting than showing... Will be moving back to the family farm and will have lots of room to set up a range. I would enjoy looking at the pics.

S

 

[twowheels]

We've just been discussing the merits of Nill grips on another page. I've got a set of the stipled grips on my 686 4" and I love them. They're almost art!

 

[Dale53]

Posted 26 January 2009 04:10 PM Hide Post
I have found pachmayr decelerator grips to be the best for comfort and gripability. I have them on all my SW's now.

BINGO!

The Pachmayr Compacs work quite well with my 4".
However, with my 6" I prefer the Pachmayr Decelerators as shown on my 625-6 here:

I am a shooter and I really only care about performance. Further, I have a "base of the thumb" problem with recoil with ANY hard grip. The Pachmayr's take ALL of the discomfort out of the process and that is worth a LOT to me. I DO have relatively large hands so a covered back strap works much the best for me.

Dale53

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Hey Dale, do you like your Simmons red-dot. Is it a 3 or 5 MOA?

 

[Spotteddog]

Bottom line is, any K or L frame grip installation you try can be duplicated on your gun. So, try to pick up as many examples as possible with different styles, sizes and materials, and see which feels best to YOU. Grips that fit your hand well can make recoil bearable. Something with a covered backstrap is usually kinder with .357's, but are no good to you if you can't shoot well with them the other 80% of the time?

 

[Dale53]

Bullseye Smith;
I got the Simmons Red Dots (two of them) just after I talked with Simmons at the NRA Convention in May (Louisville, KY). They are 30 mm in size and have FOUR reticles. There is a fine one (4 moa), a heavier one (8 moa) then a cross hair and finally a "diamond dot".

The 30mm seem to be the perfect size for me. They are easier to "find the hole" than a 1" Red Dot and the 42MM is too top heavy for my taste.

Search carefully for price. I paid less than $70.00 each (and am VERY happy) but I have seen them since for under $50.00 on the net. I just ordered two more at this latest price:

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Simmons-ShotDot-1x...pncode=24-21116210-2

Keep in mind that they are only recommended by Simmons for continuous use up through and including .44 magnum (no .454 Casulls or heavier). If you have a heavy recoiling revolver, then Ultra Dot is the way to go (for about $130.00).

Good luck!
Dale53