Ouch!!!!

[stevieboy]

I took my 27-3 to the range today to fire .357 magnums from the gun for the first time. The gun is outfitted with the factory-equipped big N-frame wooden target grips. I've fired a lot of .38s with it, experiencing no discomfort. Today, I fired some 125 gr. Remington screamers. The first round felt as if someone had slammed a hammer into the webbing between my right thumb and forefinger. By the fourth round, I was feeling intense pain throughout my right hand. By the 12th round, my right trigger finger had gone (thankfully, temporarily) numb. That was the end of my session.

I have hands like Shaq O'Neal and normally, for me, the bigger the grips the better. But, there's no way I can continue to shoot magnums with these N-frame targets. How can people shoot magnums from these guns with those target grips? I think about all of those police officers in the 60s and 70s who were outfitted with 27s or 28s, or 19s or 66s with target grips and I just shake my head.

I'm thinking of throwing tradition to the wind and getting a set of Hogues or Pachmyers for the gun. How many of you have done the same thing?

Oh, yeah, and despite it all, the gun gave me two tiny groups at 10 yards. Just imagine what I and it could do when I'm not in agony

 

[Landpimp]

I have magna type stag grips and t grip on mine...and have large hands as well, 357mag not an issue. I also am not a fan of the target grips on N frames

 

[s&wchad]

If you think a 27 is brutal, you <STRIKE>probably</STRIKE> definitely don't want to shoot a 327 or a 340.

 

[kle]

I had the same problem with the bigger grips--I solved it by going to slimmer grips: all of my target S&Ws wear Ahrends Tactical Fingergroove grips, which are really slim near the top (the grips only add about 1/4" of width) and direct all of the recoil into the webbing of my hands, rather than the bones.

 

[WVfishguy]

Check your grip. A .357 as heavy as a Model 27 should not be that brutal with large stocks. I can understand discomfort with a K-frame, but the N-frames are big, heavy suckers.

You may be holding the gun too loosely. Hold the grip tightly with one hand, and then hold that hand with the other.

Personally, I always take the stock grips off, label them as to what gun they fit, and store them in the safe. Factory grips are just too valuable to risk damaging.

Then I put after market wood Hogues, or smooth target factory grips. If a gun still hurts my hand, such as a 4" Model 29 with full loads, I have never had any qualms about putting rubber grips on them.

Hell, I wore a hole in a set of rubber grips in my youth, shooting full house .44s.

I should also mention I now have arthritis in my hands.

Come to think of it, to hell with wood grips. Get Goodyears now and you won't get arthritis later.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
When I fire "N" Frames its mostly .44 and .45 caliber.
I use "Goodyears" that cover the back strap.
Jimmy

 

[Sportsterguy]

Shouldn't hurt like that. My K frame snubs are fitted with Ahrends RB grips and are fairly comfortable with Speer 158 grain HP's. Are you using a high grip? Very important aid in keeping muzzle flip down and controlling the recoil. I use a wood Hogue monogrip on my 657 and can shoot 50 Speer GD .210 grainers with no problem.

None of my S&W wear the original grips when I'm shooting as they don't fit my hand. I especially don't like the ovepriced finger grooved Combats. My Hogue has FG's but do fit my smallish hand for being a larger grip. Recommend Hogue's or Ahrends with the edge going to Ahrends.

You'll find quite a few members here with a drawer full of grips. My advice is a good HIGH grip and experiment with different brands till you find the pair that fit YOU. A grip that covers the back strap would probably help you with your huge hands.

Regards,

SG

 

[Sportsterguy]

Originally posted by s&wchad:
If you think a 27 is brutal, you <STRIKE>probably</STRIKE> definitely don't want to shoot a 327 or a 340.

I feel your pain when I look at them beautiful wooden checkered grips on that blaster!

 

[stevieboy]

I have a very high grip and I hold the gun tight. I've never had a problem shooting with either Hogue rubbers or Uncle Mike's on my 686, just with the old-style targets on my 27.

 

[mbdorfer]

FWIW.......
I had a set of Pac cgips on my 28-2 and it was very comfortable to shoot with Magtech 158gr. SJSP.

I haven't tried it with the new wood grips yet.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Originally posted by stevieboy:
I have a very high grip and I hold the gun tight. I've never had a problem shooting with either Hogue rubbers or Uncle Mike's on my 686, just with the old-style targets on my 27.

Stevieboy,

I think you answered your own question.

Still don't understand why the target grips would hurt you from a "N" framed revolver in .357 mag.

My 27-2 wears smooth presentations and gave me no pain when I initially shot it with Speer 125 gr. GD's. Put 50 through it with no problem.

Happy shopping!

 

[tac803]

Try a set of magnas, they may fit your hand better. I had a set of targets on my Mod. 19 and switched them out for a set of well used magnas. World of difference for me.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I have hands like Shaq O'Neal and normally, for me, the bigger the grips the better. But, there's no way I can continue to shoot magnums with these N-frame targets. How can people shoot magnums from these guns with those target grips? I think about all of those police officers in the 60s and 70s who were outfitted with 27s or 28s, or 19s or 66s with target grips and I just shake my head.

I'm thinking of throwing tradition to the wind and getting a set of Hogues or Pachmyers for the gun. How many of you have done the same thing?

___________________________________________

Actually, you'll be following a time-honored tradition. If you were old enough to have been reading Skeeter Skelton and other writers in the 70's, you would have seen that the first thing often done was to ditch the factory grips because after S&W changed the style of the target grips in the 50's/early 60's, they were way too big at the bottom, and the angle of the wood to the junction at the bottom of the trigger guard gave the metal there a really good running start at your middle finger on guns with stout recoil. Somewhat castigated now, Pachmyers were a really big hit when introduced, for those who didn't want to go the custom route. That's why you don't often see guns that have actually been used from that era with the original grips. Magnas's, for people with large hands, are even worse with magnums, there's just not enough to hold on to.

 

[stevieboy]

You've got a good point there, Bullet Bob. I've never been comfortable with Magnas or some of the other thinner grips. However, recently, I put a set of Nills Cokes round-square repros on my 686 and was delighted with them. They have a thinner profile than the targets but the swells fill out the grips nicely and give me something to hang on to with my meat hooks. But, at $200+ per set, they're a bit pricey to say the least. I've never been really enamored with Hogues because, although they cause me no pain, my hands just don't conform to the grip indentations. I've ordered a set of grips from Kurac and I expect they'll be much of an improvement over the immense targets presently on the gun. Meanwhile, I think I'll get a set of Pachmyer presentations to tide me over.

 

[Farmer17]

I have medium-large hands and the Target grips are a bit too thick for me at the bottom, but after all these years I have grown use to them. If I grip the gun tight and not lock my elbow the recoil of a .44 mag is not even too bad. What bothers me is the BLAST!

 

[NT430]

If you think a 27 is brutal, you probably definitely don't want to shoot a 327 or a 340.

S&W Chad, given the barrel length, the next step is to hold the catridge directly in your hand and hit it with ball-peen!

 

[stevieboy]

I went ahead and ordered a set of Pachmyr presentations for the the gun. I suspect it'll be $30 well spent.

 

[ezb57]

Definitly. That 125gr Remington is a hot load. I shoot it out of my 586 with factory targets and its stiff, but it doesn't hurt. In fact, I like it. Have Fun, ezb

 

[piggyback]

No fun unless it really hurts bad! With a BIG BOOM!

 

[Smithhound]

I have just the exact opposite problem, with magnas and magnums my hands take a beating, with Pach's my carpal nerves get hit and within 2 or 3 shots my hand is numb. I've found that the oversize target stocks are the best for me, never had a problem with them.
Everybody is cut from a different cloth I reckon
RD