J frame grips - comfort + conceal

[John Hill]

I have an old mod 60, stainless Chief Special with factory wood grips. It conceals great but is a bear to shoot. I like to shoot 50 or 100 rounds at a time for practice and my right hand really hurts between my thumb and index finger. I have looked at several grips on-line but would like some advice on a grip that is a comfortable shooter as well as IWB carry.
Thanks
John

 

[gmiller0737]

I like the Uncle Mikes Boot Grips S&W had them on Clearance in their online store


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shouldazagged]

Pachmayr Compacs. I've used them for years on a 640. Not that hard to conceal, and much more comfortable and controllable.

 

[snubbyfan]

Pachmayr Compacs. I've used them for years on a 640. Not that hard to conceal, and much more comfortable and controllable.

Works for me.

 

[USAF385]

I'm not a fan of the pachmayr compacs. To me, the added size defeats the purpose of the small framed gun.

I prefer the smaller boot grips. The S&W website has them listed as "J Synthetic Boot Grip with S&W Logo".

Concealable and much more comfortable than the wood grips without added bulk.

(Sent via iPhone)

 

[walkin' trails]

In my experience, the Pachmeyer compacts are going to be the most comfortable andmost controllable, but not as conceable. I currently have Hogue Bantams on my Js. They don't cover the back strapz but seem to have a good bit of cushion in the panels and are tacky enough that the gun stays put in my hand. I found they are the best balance for control and concealment I've found yet.

 

[MrJT]

Rubber boot grips are the way to go!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I use a model 49 no dash, with S&W wood grip and a Tyler-T grip in a pocket carry holster. I've tried a soft Pachmayr grip, but it "grabs" the cloth pants pocket. The grip adapter fills the hand and allows +P recoil to be absorbed much better. This set-up slides out of the pocket very well. Ivan

 

[chief38]

Yup, a Tyler T Grip vastly improves your grip which in turn makes felt recoil more manageable.

While the Uncle Mikes and Pachmeyer grips will help to tame the recoil, they are a bit too large, sticky and cumbersome for ED Pocket Carry.

For most of the 30 years I've been carrying a M60, I used the Factory set of Walnut gips with a Tyler T, but last summer I had a custom made set of Ivory Grips and I had them purposely made slightly oversized (thicker) in the hopes I could eliminate the Tyler T. Well, it worked and they are great! I sent Mr. Chesiak the dimensions I wanted and he made them EXACTLY to the drawing I sent to him. Now there are a lot of people that think Ivory (because of it's ultra smooth finish) is very slippery - I find it quite the opposite. When you grip the gun it has a nice firm and almost tacky grip.
The nice part is the new grips do not hang up on clothing, don't add bulk or weight, and are just a pleasure to hold. Oh yea, they look great too!

 

[Hapworth]

I prefer the smaller boot grips. The S&W website has them listed as "J Synthetic Boot Grip with S&W Logo".

Concealable and much more comfortable than the wood grips without added bulk.

For excellent concealment, control and comfort shooting even +P, my hand has found no better grips than these.

 

[feralmerril]

You might give these eagle secret service`s a try

 

[John Hill]

Thanks to all for a lot of good ideas. Now I'll have to decide on one of several good choices.
Thanks
john

 

[MikeyB]

I have the Pachmayr Compact grip on my M&P 360. Really helps tame shooting .357 Magnum rounds out of that light J-Frame. And it hasn't effected the conceal factor by much either. I can still pocket carry or IWB the revolver.

 

[flintsghost]

Look up the Spegel grips on the S&W forum where you can find several pictures. The old Uncle Mikes rubber are modeled after them except for the right side grip which is fuller on the Spegel wood. Spegels take a bit of a wait to get but are well worth it. If you can't handle that then the Uncle Mikes boot style is the next best thing and they come up in the classifieds here are can be found on the bay all the time very cheaply. A lot of smiths used to come with Uncle Mikes and they are just common as dirt in J's and less common but around in K's both boot and extended styles.

Here is a picture of a pair of Spegels on my model 60 and a pair of Uncle Mikes Boot grips on my 637 no dash from both sides that show the differences...

 

[BC38]

My M60 came with a set of Pachmayr Gripper grips. Talk about grips that are oversized for the gun! I've been looking on eBay and will probably buy a set of UM Boots like I did for my M36. BUT...

I found these on eBay today and I REALLY like them. Kind of halfway between a set of Magnas and a set of Presentation grips. Too bad they cost about 3x more than I'm willing to spend....

 

[redhawk]

I have had a 442 for years,experimented with various grips. The stock wood with Tyler are good. However I use my modified Uncle Mike's Combats more often. They cover the backstrap but are thinner then the Pacs. I cut off the bottom 1/2 inch so it's almost flush with the grip frame. There are metal stiffeners in the rubber, so use a hack saw. Round the edges and use cold blueing on the metal. I can pocket carry with no issues and the covered backstrap is much more comfortable.

 

[BC38]

I have had a 442 for years,experimented with various grips. The stock wood with Tyler are good. However I use my modified Uncle Mike's Combats more often. They cover the backstrap but are thinner then the Pacs. I cut off the bottom 1/2 inch so it's almost flush with the grip frame. There are metal stiffeners in the rubber, so use a hack saw. Round the edges and use cold blueing on the metal. I can pocket carry with no issues and the covered backstrap is much more comfortable.

LOL! great minds think alike, I guess! I was thinking of doing the exact same thing with the set of Pachmayr "grippers" that came on my M60! I've looked around on fleabay and used sets are going for as little as $12 shipped, so I figured I don't have much to loose if I butcher them.

My plan was to use my Dremel and a cut off wheel to cut them and then use the little mini drum sander for smoothing the edges. I figured the bottom of the frame ought to be about even with the bottom of the 2nd/top of the 3rd finger groove, so that's where I'd cut them.

Can you post a picture of these modified combats of yours?

 

[Hendel]

Tyler T. Gain everything in control and comfort, sacrifice nothing in concealment .......

 

[hotrod150]

Pach Compacs are more handfilling & great for shooting, but the uncle mike boots are smaller for better concealemtn...and they aren't too bad for shooting either. My favorites of all the j grips I've tried. FWIW Numrich has used Pach Compacs & UM boots for about a ten-spot each. I bought one of each & the ones I got were in good shape & well worth the price.

 

[BC38]

I see that you've added some photos Redhawk.
VERY nice. Those look really good!