Need some Grip advice for J Frame

[bulldog12]

Hello all,

Looks like a great forum. I was hoping to get a little advice on grips. I have a 642 that I love. The thing is I want to upgrade from the standard small uncle mike's rubber on them now. I carry in a pocket holster. Not sure whether to get the full size synthtic grips s&w now has or go with the old school service wood grips. Which grips do most of you guys use on your j-frames? Which do you find helps you control .38 +p the best? Thanks for any advice.

 

[murphydog]

Hi, and welcome! You didn't mention if concealment is a factor, but for control any larger set of rubber stocks (Pachmayr, Uncle Mike's or Hogue finger groove) will do. Larger wood stocks (factory Combat or "banana" style) will not stick to clothing as much. Another good compromise are the LG-405 Crimson Trace Lasergrips - larger, rubber on the front and back straps and non-sticky polymer on the sides.

Try several kinds before buying if possible, this is a very individual preference thing. Hope this is helpful.

 

[SPDGG]

What are you using for reloads? speed strips or speedloaders?

 

[bassoneer]

Hello all,

Looks like a great forum. I was hoping to get a little advice on grips. I have a 642 that I love. The thing is I want to upgrade from the standard small uncle mike's rubber on them now. Not sure whether to get the full size synthtic grips s&w now has or go with the old school service wood grips. Which grips do most of you guys use on your j-frames? Which do you find helps you control .38 +p the best? Thanks for any advice.

I swapped out the original "small" grips on my 642 for some Pachmayr decelerators...big enough to have all my fingers on the grip. They made shooting much easier, but for pocket carry they were just a hair too big. I have gone back to the original grips...not as much fun to shoot with, but they conceal better...Good luck, B

 

[medic15al]

I swapped out the rubber boot grips for these Ahrends from Top Gun Supply:

Very comfortable grips!

 

[hhilljr]

I don't have any pictures to share, but on my 642 I installed a set of smooth elk horn stocks which mimic the magna style. I also installed a Tyler grip adapter. This combo gives me a very controllable grip which is about as sleek and compact as you can get. The slick horn and adapter do not cling to anything. Looks mighty fine too!

 

[valkyriekl]

I like S&W factory J-frame smooth Magnas + Tyler T-grips on my J-frames. To 'control' +P .38s, I grip the gun higher and harder and use more trigger finger.

 

[luis]

For pocket carry I use nylon Hide-Out grips from Brownells. The grips do not stick to clothing.

 

[DON1937]

My 60 no dash was just unpleasant to shoot with the stock grips. I replaced them with the one piece Hogue Bantam Grips and they are perfect for my hands and small enough for carry.

 

[psp7304]

I also use the Hogue Bantam grips on my 442.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Not sure whether to . . . go with the old school service wood grips.

That's what I do and they work fine for me. However, I do not use +P. Even with standard 148 gr and 158 gr loads, my 642 recoils enough that I have to leave the Tyler off so my knuckle doesn't get rapped. I'm not so sure that your +P ammo would change my choice.

I have also used the grips luis mentioned, in the finger-groove style, on a 42, and they worked VERY well.

All of this is dependent on hand size and shape, so YMMV. Good luck!

 

[spruce98lx]

Hogue Bantam grips on my 642. Even shooting +p's is not unpleasant. I pocket carry or AIWB carry using Mika holsters. Works good for me but everybody's different.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

I use these S&W grips on my J-frames. Small enough to pocket carry, chunky enough to get a good hold on.

 

[corky52]

On my 438 I replaced factory grips with rosewood panels and a T grip.

 

[wheelinthesky]

One more user of Hogue Bantam grips, as I pocket carry my 442.

While I didn't entirely mind the UM boots, these Bantams are well worth the 20 bucks.

Feels much better in the hand.

Nobody's going to mistake these snub J-frames for range guns, however the switch of grips went a long way towards having a better session shooting at paper.
This morning I actually got out to shoot. Went through a box of 158 gr and two boxes of ~ 130 grain. After three bricks, I knew I'd been shooting this little Airweight, but the Bantam grips are much more comfortable over a longer session (makes it far more FUN and necessary than just... necessary) I've shot +P's without issues.

Congrats on the firearm! I really, really love mine. Excellent for its purpose; pocket-carry for me.

 

[NZshooter]

Andean alder by Esmeralda. Link to her J-frame grips.
S&W J frame

 

[2K7]

THE Answer......

 

[corky52]

Wow, interesting. Do you have a holster for that rig? ;-)

 

[luis]

Hate to burst your bubble but BATF still allows you to own the Pachmayr Tachtical Holster but mounting a gun in it is a violation of Federal law. I think it was 10 years ago when the Feds outlawed holsters that you can shoot the gun without removing it from the holster.

 

[2K7]

Yea....the good old days!

M60 is from early 70's and it and the rig are long gone. Always thought it was pretty cool concept and recently ran across the photo in a box along with other memories of days gone by.