New M442 owner with grip question (of course!)

[New 2 the J]

So after all my research, I refuse to believe that no one offers a "hybrid" grip for the J frame.

I have read a ton of posts and visited alot of websites and havent found what I feel like would be the most concealable yet offering a decent of amount of recoil absortion, arguably the best of both worlds grip... A short wood stock set joined in the back by a rubber backstrap cover. Does no company make such a thing?

I have the new limited run Mag-na-port M442 that comes with the S&W Rosewood grips. They have a nice palm swell and finger groove. They're nice and short and they look great! My only complaint is that there's no backstrap protection. I think this style grip would be perfect even if it had a nice lump of rubber running across the very top of the wood stocks, which would push your hand down the gun a little bit, which I have noticed gives me a bit more trigger feel.

As I said though, im very new to J frame world, and the revolver world in general. I love my new pocket gun but if there's a way to make it more enjoyable to shoot yet still easily concealed, please let me know!

 

[aterry33]

Welcome to the site.

Check out hideout grips from Precision Gun Specialties. They are rubber, absorb a little recoil, and give you a better grip on the J Frame than the boot grips without affecting concealability IMHO.

 

[ENGINE18]

My 636-3, J-frame currently carries Precision Gun finger-grooved grips. If they're rubber, they're HARD rubber! They are smooth and conceal very well. However, they are very slick and, for me, don't lend themselves to providing good control with stout +P loads.

When I'm at the range, I shoot wadcutters with it and very few heavier loads. Sometimes I'll switch to Hogue or Unclw Mikes Combat grips prior to firing the heavy loads. It's a never-ending quest and that's part of the fun.

 

[New 2 the J]

My 636-3, J-frame currently carries Precision Gun finger-grooved grips. If they're rubber, they're HARD rubber! They are smooth and conceal very well. However, they are very slick and, for me, don't lend themselves to providing good control with stout +P loads.

When I'm at the range, I shoot wadcutters with it and very few heavier loads. Sometimes I'll switch to Hogue or Unclw Mikes Combat grips prior to firing the heavy loads. It's a never-ending quest and that's part of the fun.

I am in the same boat, I have purchased a Hogue grip basically for range work. After the make shift skin flap that the S&W stocks tried to rip off my hand has finished healing (from my first range trip), I will dedicate the hogue grip to fulltime range duty, always and forever. But it would be nice to find a company to make a piece that would work with the wood stocks to cover that backstrap up a bit!

But man I love how the stocks feel and look most of all... Where's my cake and eat it too?!

 

[IkenI]

I like wood grips, especially checkered Spegals, on J frames. I never change out the grips. When at the range I just use a golf glove and have no problem with my 442. There are some shooting gloves that absorb recoil if you need to go that far. If you ever need the J frame in a real life situation the last thing you will be worrying about is your hand.

 

[JohnK]

Crimson Trace has two rubber over molded grips for the J-Frame. The 405 (boot grip length), and 305 (extended grip). These have recoil reducing material on the back strap.

I plan to sell my hard 105's, and go with the 405 model as soon as I can.

You're adding the best combat sights, at the same time.

 

[forsyth793]

I took the black grips off my 642, they grabbed my pocket. I would like to have recommendations on a grip that comes out of your pocket better than the old wood grips...............

 

[roundgunner]

Crimson Trace has two rubber over molded grips for the J-Frame. The 405 (boot grip length), and 305 (extended grip). These have recoil reducing material on the back strap.

I plan to sell my hard 105's, and go with the 405 model as soon as I can.

You're adding the best combat sights, at the same time.

My J frames have Crimson Trace grips also. They are not pretty but they are very effective. I 'm a NRA instructor and use them both with every class. This photo shows the cushion at the top of the model 60 pretty well.

It works. During the firing portion of my class we fire 38spl, then +P and finally 158 JSP 357 in a 4 inch 686 with fiber optic sights, then we do the same with the J frame with CT. Most of the students find the laser very helpful placing hits on target, and I know being able to get all 3 fingers on the grip helps control muzzle flip. I'm pretty sure the cushion at the top of the grip keeps the recoil from hurting inexperienced hands.

My wife's 442 has the longer softer CT on it now too.

 

[Dale53]

roundgunner is on the "right page". I have a pair of #305 Crimson Trace grips on my 642 for daily carry. The grips give great control and the laser works extremely well in the real world (not just in the comic books).

I carry in my right front pants pocket and have NO problem concealing them. I am not a little guy but am not a great big guy either (5'10" and 230 lbs with somewhat large hands). I typically wear khaki's for general wear and the pockets are near perfect for a Mika pocket holster (my state requires a holster for Concealed Carry). The Mika holster properly positions the revolver for a good draw and does NOT move around in my pocket.

Dale53

 

[New 2 the J]

Exactly as I feared... I have to buy a laser to get a good grip!

Well I may pick up another brand and see if I cant make them work together.

To be honest, im really really surprised that no companies have jumped on the idea to have wood stocks with a rubber backstrap section at the top. That I would lay down serious cash for!

But to be honest, I dont want to get in the habit of using a laser. I think it's very trick, but for 300 bones, almost as much as I paid for the gun. I think I'll start with alot of range time with either a glove as suggested above... or switching to the hogue grip so that I can get used to the trigger pull without tearing my hand up all the time.

And alot of that, by the way, was my inexperience with proper hand position on a revolver. I learned my lesson before even finishing the first box of ammo!

The thing I feel a little uncomfortable with being new at revolvers is it's not a very natural "point" for me when I take the high grip to keep the gun from beating my hand to death. When I grab the gun instinctively, I seem to have a low grip, which gives me better feel for the long DAO trigger. But obviously leaves a nice gap between the web of my hand and the backstrap... which leads to a "YOUCH!" When I slide my hand up and meet the backstrap with the web of my hand... It feels "weird" and I have to think about how to properly point when I bring the gun up....

That's another reason I've been thinking about getting a grip with a nice thick backstrap section, it should help push my hand back down where it's more immediately natural.

Is that something Im gonna get used to as I get more range time on the J frame?

 

[sipowicz]

Welcome to the site.

Check out hideout grips from Precision Gun Specialties. They are rubber, absorb a little recoil, and give you a better grip on the J Frame than the boot grips without affecting concealability IMHO.

I had them on mine...correct me if I'm wrong but they were hard polymer...not really recoil reducers...

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Your Right about the PGS grips being hard polymer DD..
If you remember right you Karmaed them to me & later I passed them on to someone else here at the Forum..
They were "NOT" Rubber in fact I sanded them slightly to give them a bit better rough finish..
Here's a couple of pics I found in the old grip thread..
Thanks Again DD for the chance to try them on my 442-2
Gary/Hk
442-2 with PGS HO-3 Grips

 

[Dale53]

New 2 the J;
If you don't want the expense of the Crimson Trace grips, the Pachmayr Compacs work extremely well for me on a "J" frame (I also have a pair on my 4" 686). They are priced reasonably and work better than any wood grips I have ever used (not pretty but they WORK)!

Dale53

 

[New 2 the J]

Thanks Dale, I think I'll give them a try next, after I give the hogue monogrip a shot (since I've already ordered it!).

Im a tinkerer at heart... so im thinking about picking up the Uncle Mike's combat grip, and chopping at it... and taking my factory stocks and chopping at them, maybe I can get them to work together... Then again, maybe it's just a pipe dream!

 

[WC145]

I would think that with the Mag-na-porting your gun should be quite easy to shoot. My 586 L-Comp is ported and it has wood grips that expose the backstrap and it is comfortable to shoot even with the hottest .357mag loads. Of course, I'm not particularly recoil shy and don't have any problems shooting any guns with wood grips and I have CT LG-105's on my 9mm 360J and love them. The key is to have a grip that fills your hand so that the gun doesn't have room to move, if you're gripping it properly it shouldn't be smacking your palm.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

New 2 the J find yourself a set of the combat uncle mikes & cut away at them, just be aware that there's metal inside them, a hack saw works great & rasp & file + sandpaper for the final finish, I also cold blued the exposed metal to help it blend with the black..
I karmaed this set a while back but there easy to make & fit the bill for what your looking for..
Gary/Hk

Here's the Link to an old thread I started a few years back when I was in the search for the Perfect J Frame Grips, Lots of pics & many Ideas, This is were I got the idea of cutting the combat grips down to boot grips..
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/78185-search-perfect-grip-j-frame-rb.html

Cut Down Uncle Mike Combats Into Boot Grip w/ Covered Backstrap
342Ti AirLite S&W

 

[New 2 the J]

Thanks Gary, that looks like a great idea! I'll start charging down that road and see where it leads me, thanks for the PM reply too!

Jesse

 

[H Richard]

I think I see an "Opportunity" here. All this information needs to be forwarded to someone who is capable of making and marketing grips.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I agree totaly..
Someone needs to make a closed back boot grip that will allow speedloader use made from a non clingy rubber..
Also they need to make them to come up higher on the Bodygaurds & Centennials to allow you to grip higher lowering the bore axis..
I would think that Hogue could do this as thier injection molding proccess is the best I've seen.
Maybe Patrick Hogue needs to see this thread..
Gary/Hk

 

[New 2 the J]

Yeah, that's what im thinking... I would love to see the best of both worlds... hybrid grip with wood on the sides for the asthetics and lack of stickiness, and rubber high up on the backstrap for a little hand protection.

I'd settle for a non sticky "rubber" boot grip that goes all the way up.