Quest for a revolver grip finally over

[YVRguy]

I bought my first revolver a little while ago (a 686 4")and I knew when I bought it that I wanted to replace the black rubber grip with a nice wood one. It's been a bit of a journey.

Lesson #1
My gun shop told me that my 686 had a square butt (and that's how it appeared with the stock grip). I ordered a nice Hogue rosewood laminate grip from Amazon but when I went to put it on I discovered that the gun actually has a round butt. This is not obvious until you remove the grip. Had to send it back.

Lesson #2
I found a Pachmayer wood grip in a store for 1/3 the price of the Hogue and it was made for a round butt so I bought it. Bad decision. The quality was much lower (visible seam down the back and one of the medallions popped off after shooting) and the round butt design made it way too small for my hand. Plus in my view the smaller grip diminished the overall look of the gun

Lesson #3
Going back to the Hogue website I discovered they actually make a "conversion" grip that lets you put that larger square butt grip on a round butt gun. Now we're getting somewhere.

Lesson #4
The first Hogue grip that I bought had finger grooves. These can be amazing if your hand is just the right size but the chances of it being a good fit go down substantially. The standard grip without the grooves is a much safer bet. I chose the checkering option to offset the lack of finger grooves and provide a more positive feel to the fun.

Here is the final product. Sorry I took this just after shooting so the gun isn't spotless.

 

[bananaman]

I bought 1(un-checkered with grip cap) for my 686-6 Pro-series. VERY tight going on. I called Hogue. Told them. Instructed me in the process. It developed a crack. They said they would repair it. Later on they contacted me saying that they would replace it. ONLY THING, was they were out of stock. Out of most K/L stocks if you don't want finger grooves. Anyhow settled on these at extra cost. Has not been to the range with them yet. Bob

 

[boneuphtoner]

Thank you for sharing. Your final product looks great. I have a 686 on the way. I'm strongly considering Hogues or the Altamont target conversions. I'm sure the Hogue will be comfortable as I have one on my GP100. But I do think the classic target grips are uber sexy. If any of y'all have tried the Hogues and the altamont target conversions, I'd love to know your thoughts

 

[bananaman]

Thank you for sharing. Your final product looks great. I have a 686 on the way. I'm strongly considering Hogues or the Altamont target conversions. I'm sure the Hogue will be comfortable as I have one on my GP100. But I do think the classic target grips are uber sexy. If any of y'all have tried the Hogues and the altamont target conversions, I'd love to know your thoughts

I like the appearance and quality of Altamont stocks. That being said, I have 5 or so sets in my filing cabinet. No sets currently on a gun. They are just too slim feeling in my hand. Also front and back seem squarish instead of nicely rounded. "EVERYONE" is different! Bob

 

[sdb321]

I haven't tried Hogues or Altamonts. What I have tried is AHRENDS and they are fantastic!!!!! Great fit, beautiful wood and 10 coats of Hopes tung oil.

 

[boneuphtoner]

I like the appearance and quality of Altamont stocks. That being said, I have 5 or so sets in my filing cabinet. No sets currently on a gun. They are just too slim feeling in my hand. Also front and back seem squarish instead of nicely rounded. "EVERYONE" is different! Bob

Thanks Bananaman! Are your Altamonts the target conversions?

I love my Hogue wood grips on my Ruger, but wanted a retro look and the Altamonts (only the target conversions not the others) have a great look IMHO

 

[boneuphtoner]

I haven't tried Hogues or Altamonts. What I have tried is AHRENDS and they are fantastic!!!!! Great fit, beautiful wood and 10 coats of Hopes tung oil.

Thanks that is a great looking grip! You are not the first I've heard say Ahrends require rung oil. Why is this? Are they shipped without finish?

Grips are simpler with my GP100...nowhere near the selection of S&W.

 

[H Richard]

L Frames and Hogues just seem to go together. I had these fit to my 686 back in 1987 by the old man himself when they attended the Masters International Shooting Championship and brought their grip making trailer. The grips are still on this gun.

 

[sdb321]

They are shipped with a tung oil finish ($20.00 extra) and a standard "poly" finish. I bought mine from a member and they had a poly finish. I wanted a tung oil finish. I would assume you could order them unfinished.

 

[sdb321]

H Richard that is " one great looking revolver" !!!!!!!!

 

[boneuphtoner]

L Frames and Hogues just seem to go together. I had these fit to my 686 back in 1987 by the old man himself when they attended the Masters International Shooting Championship and brought their grip making trailer. The grips are still on this gun.

Great looking rig!

 

[wrangler5]

So the OP found some good grips on the third try? Sounds about right.

I've certainly taken longer on a few of mine. And NONE of mine look as good as his.

 

[YVRguy]

Grips

That grip looks very close to mine. I like it!

I bought 1(un-checkered with grip cap) for my 686-6 Pro-series. VERY tight going on. I called Hogue. Told them. Instructed me in the process. It developed a crack. They said they would repair it. Later on they contacted me saying that they would replace it. ONLY THING, was they were out of stock. Out of most K/L stocks if you don't want finger grooves. Anyhow settled on these at extra cost. Has not been to the range with them yet. Bob

 

[YVRguy]

That looks really nice! I love the look of the finger grooves but just didn't want to take the chance of them not lining up properly for my hand. Like the slightly reddish hue to the wood as well.

L Frames and Hogues just seem to go together. I had these fit to my 686 back in 1987 by the old man himself when they attended the Masters International Shooting Championship and brought their grip making trailer. The grips are still on this gun.