Ok, what am I doing wrong with these X-Frame grips?

[aterry33]

629-4 Mountain Gun (round butt). I had a gunsmith put the grips on, and noticed a 1/4" or so gap at the top of the backstrap. I wiggled the grips and tightened the screw, which closed the gap on the backstrap, but now the top of the grips flare out. Is this going to require some trimming of the rubber or something? Thanks.

 

[lobosolo]

Maybe the grip screw is too long. Check the grip screw and see if it's bottoming out on on the frame. I had the same thing happen once and had to shorten the grip screw.

 

[neiljrosen]

They might be on too tight, try loosening the screw a little.

 

[ahanes]

You've tightened the screw at the bottom of the grip too much. I did the same thing on my Model15, just loosen it till the top looks right, no need to crank it too much.

 

[aterry33]

Yeah, I thought I had the screw too tight. But when I loosen it, the sides are ok, but the gap appears on the top of the backstrap. No matter how I wiggle the grips, tighten, etc., this gap is there unless I really tighten the screw, which causes the sides to flare out.

Every other set of Hogues I've put on have fit like a glove so I haven't had this experience before.

 

[srgvaz]

I bought a bad set of Hogue's once I called them twice and they sent me a new set. The possible problems and solutions they gave me over the phone: Grip pin on gun may be too wide/long, try putting them in the oven at 350* for five minutes to make them soft and easy to install, try mounting the grips without the hardware first. If nothing else works call Hogue they have good customer service & good luck.

 

[tomcatt51]

Yeah, I thought I had the screw too tight. But when I loosen it, the sides are ok, but the gap appears on the top of the backstrap. No matter how I wiggle the grips, tighten, etc., this gap is there unless I really tighten the screw, which causes the sides to flare out.

That's weird, the fit looks like what you have with N frame grips on a K/L frame gun.

 

[neiljrosen]

Do the instructions say anything about using shims to make the grips fit better. Would a shim on the front strap cause the grip to fit tighter against the backstrap?

 

[Scrapper]

I don't think it's the right grip for that gun.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

I always thought the X frames used the K/L frame grip size & the 629 is an N Frame IIRC..
This could be the problem..
Most Hogue Grips fit perfectly from my point of view..
I just looked these grips up on S&Ws website & they do show as fitting the 29/629??
On Hogues website they don't show X Frame but do show the K/L & N as being different..
Good Luck!!
Gary/Hk

 

[Shuz]

I suggest you contact S&W and ask them what they think the problem is. Smith & Wesson is the ONLY place you can purchase aftermarket X frame Hogues. FWIW,I had S&W put a set of X frame grips on my 329PD when I sent it back to the factory to have the top strap shield replaced. They fit perfectly. As you know, the 329PD is an "N" frame round butt just like the 629-4 Mtn Gun that I have.

 

[sar4937]

If you haven't already, I would recommend assembling the grips off the gun. If the same conditions exist, I would contact Hogue.

 

[Scrapper]

I thought he was dealing a one piece molded grip here.

 

[aterry33]

Ok, got the official word from S&W today: grips probably won't fit well. They were designed for K/L frame grip, so they will fit on an N, but in their experience, not particularly well. When I called Hogue, they even went so far as to recommend against it. Hogue actually said they were surprised I got the grips on the gun. I had no trouble getting them on, just couldn't get them to fit properly.

S&W said enough people had said they were having success putting them on the N Frames that they put it up on their site that it was possible. But they said the problem I was having, getting them to fit, but then when tightened they go to far one way or the other, was probably due to being designed for K/L frame fit.

I know some people here have had success with these grips on an N Frame but I just couldn't get it to work.

I asked the gunsmith at S&W to PLEASE get Hogue to produce an N-Frame grip with an enclosed, padded backstrap I know we would all buy them. Hopefully they will someday.

 

[scooter123]

I had the same experience when trying the X frame grip on my 610, it just doesn't fit well. However, when I originally purchased the grip for my 620 I had taken a "cover all bases" approach and purchased a Pachmayr Decelerator at the same time as the X frame monogrip.

The good news is that the Decelerator for the L frame fits the 610 well enough to be "serviceable" with only a very slight gapping in the top finger groove behind the trigger guard. Since it was a spare doing nothing, it's what's now mounted on my 610. BTW, Pachmayr also offers a Decelerator specific to the N frame and the profile of the Decelerator in comparison to the X frame monogrip is nearly identical.

If your looking for a good tacky rubber grip that covers the backstrap, hit the Pachmayr site and order the Decelerator. It's not quite as elegant as the mono grip and the front does split open if you pry at it, however I haven't had any issues with getting pinched during recoil and it's quite comfortable to shoot with.

 

[Philblack]

A friend of mine gave me X his model 500 X frame Hogue grip (RB). It perfectly fits my model 29 Classic (RB too, of course). Is your 629 "round butted" ?