Help me decide 686 grips

[Dewy12]

So many choices I can't decide so I'm asking you to decide for me. The gun is a 686-6 3inch stainless steel. I'm partial to smooth finger groove grips but could be persuaded. Please let me know what you think- maker, wood, etc. Thanks

 

[brianfede]

I really like the Altamont K-Squared Target wood grips in super walnut with the S&W medallions. I have them on my 586, the Rosewood is another option. The grips are a bit slimmer than the original S&W grips and IMHO have a great feel to them. PM me with your cell and I would be happy to text you a picture.

 

[loeman]

Ahrends Tactical Smooth

These have my highest recommendation. Perfect fit to the gun and perfect fit to my medium sized hand. Not as big and bulky as OEM targets and more hand filling than the magnas and far more beautiful than rubber. They also have the "look" of S&W.

I'm editing this post in the interest of full disclosure. The grips in the pics are of Moradillo wood. They came with a polyurethane finish that had a sort of yellowish caste that I did not care for. So, I soaked them in a jar of acetone to remove the poly and then applied about three coats of Waterlox, a tung oil based finish that I had on hand after a kitchen cabinet refinish project. The result is what you see here. My future Ahrends purchases will be unfinished or with a tung oil finish.

I've also edited the title to the correct Ahrends grip. They are Tactical Smooth not Retro Targets. Sorry.

 

[Tonyman]

Hogue Grips Got A Set Of Wood Finger Tips For My 625 Thunder Ranch In rosewood With a Little Ax-cent To Make The Rosewood Stand Out Very Nice , I Think They Where About $85.00 But Very Sharp Looking / Don't Know How To Do Pictures On This Forum Or Id Show Them Off/ Hogueinc.com

 

[rwsmith]

If I'm shooting hot loads......

If I'm shooting hot loads something like the Pachmayr grips with the cushion are nice to have. Not much on looks like the beautiful wood grips above but they fill a good purpose.

 

[Invictus357]

This is my current, and favourite, grip.

 

[Ranger98]

Four inch 686 with Altamont grips..

 

[ankona]

This is my current, and favourite, grip.

Made by S&W?

 

[Invictus357]

Made by S&W?

Sure is.

K/L Frame Dymondwood Checkered Service Grips

 

[Boogsawaste]

I'm a HUGE fan of magnas for every frame s&w. With that said, those ahrends shown above...WOW, I just might have to look for a pair.

 

[jdlii]

Take a look at VZ grips for your L frame.

 

[Tadeus67]

I love Ahrends grips. I have them in my 4" and 6." N frames, in my 4" and 6" L frames and in my K frame 4" model 67.

 

[Dewy12]

Thanks for sharing. All those are beauties. I'm new to this but was surprised no Kuracs or Nills.

 

[at_liberty]

Sure is.

K/L Frame Dymondwood Checkered Service Grips

I think the source is Altamont.

 

[JoeReed]

Been told these are Badgers. I do like the feel.

 

[at_liberty]

I was able to lessen the grip image under my shirt by going with combats...gungripsupply, I think.

 

[S&W Fan]

I really like the Eagle Secret Service grip (silly name but great grip for my hands). These were on the 2.5" 686 but since my son shoots it more than I do he put Pachmayr Compacs on it, these now reside on my 2.5" 66.

 

[fomcco]

These are Ahrends Tactical Round Butt Conversion in Moradillo. The flat front has somewhat sharp edges. I smoothed out the edge on the right side and now they're very comfortable and a little smaller than the OEM grips.

 

[M6Coupe]

I love Ahrends grips. I have them in my 4" and 6." N frames, in my 4" and 6" L frames and in my K frame 4" model 67.

+1 on Ahrends.

 

[GtownGeorge]

Did you check eBay? JaruwanP from Thailand is highly recommended and the other vendors have high ratings. There wood grips are really nice. Around $40.

 

[Collo Rosso]

You dressing up for the night or going to work?

My 686 wearing work boots.

 

[ArkieVol]

Ahrends smooth finger grove

The grips shown on the Mod 617 are now on my 686+ 3" and are extremely comfortable. Although cocobolo is no longer available (endangered species) my next choice is bubinga wood as shown on the 21-4...also Ahrends in retro round to square butt conversion grips.

 

[gwpercle]

Ahrend's Retro Combats , in dark reddish brown cocobolo, looks so good on my old model 58 I had to make it my avatar. These are smooth, finger grooved and fit the gun and my hand perfectly.
I had a matching set made for my model 64 K-fame. Rating perfect 10.
Ahrend's were a pleasure to deal with. Check out all the woods you can get your grips made from on their web site. He is a artist in wood.
Gary

 

[Engine49guy]

S&W Finger groove combats

 

[theoneff]

These have my highest recommendation. Perfect fit to the gun and perfect fit to my medium sized hand. Not as big and bulky as OEM targets and more hand filling than the magnas and far more beautiful than rubber. They also have the "look" of S&W.

I'm editing this post in the interest of full disclosure. The grips in the pics are of Moradillo wood. They came with a polyurethane finish that had a sort of yellowish caste that I did not care for. So, I soaked them in a jar of acetone to remove the poly and then applied about three coats of Waterlox, a tung oil based finish that I had on hand after a kitchen cabinet refinish project. The result is what you see here. My future Ahrends purchases will be unfinished or with a tung oil finish.

Those would be the Tactical targets I think. They have the flat on the front correct? Theo

 

[loeman]

Style Correction

Theo, in regards to above ^^^^, you are correct. The Ahrends grips in my photo are Tactical Smooth and not Retro Targets as originally stated. Thanks for spotting my error.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Thanks for sharing. All those are beauties. I'm new to this but was surprised no Kuracs or Nills.

Sorry to disappoint!

You might want to look at Kuracs, and shop carefully. I have less than 150 in both of these sets, direct from Kurac.

 

[GunarSailors]

I know yours is a RB but I always prefer the factory SB Targets.

 

[Dewy12]

I'm leaning toward the Ahrends combats. How close in size will they be to the original rubber boots on the 686? Those really fit my hand well but oh those woods are so nice.

 

[Dewy12]

Please bear with me. I didn't know till now that S&W sold grips. Do you all know who manufactures them and are they good quality. I saw a set of cocobolas for $75. Thanks again