Replacing Rubber Grips with Wood Grips

[Mike_Fontenot]

I have (and carry all my waking hours) a 5" 629-6 (SKU 163636), that came with rubber grips. I immediately replaced those grips with the compatible grips for the S&W500, also rubber, unfortunately. They work fine, except that the oil I use for cleaning slowly melts the edges of my rubber grips, and the goo migrates away from the edge of the grips, leaving a mess. I'd like to switch to some wood grips, but I don't know which ones would be compatible. Anyone know how I can accomplish that?

 

[75Vette]

Any N frame round butt grips will do. Hogue makes excellent grips that fit my hand really well. I'd suggest also making a habit of removing the grips when you clean the gun, wood or not.

 

[WCCPHD]

I too prefer wood grips. I have many guns that came with "rubber" grips and most all have been replaced with wood.

Three 629's (the Carry Comp came with finger groove combat grips, but they don't fit my hands). Two with Ahrends and one with Hogues grips.





Badger grips on Model 19-7


Ahrends grips on Model 296



S&W J frame target grips on 60-4 and 36-6


Ahrends on Model 25 Jovino cutom

 

[Fishinfool]

I would second what 75Vette said. I attached a pic of my 629-6 with a set of wood Hogue grips. I might try a different cleaning solvent / oil if it is damaging your rubber grips, as it may effect the finish on wood versions as well. I usually use Breakfree CLP on my guns with no rubber grip issues.

Note that you can use what are called conversion stocks, that maintain square butt dimensions on the outside, but are cut for round butt guns, like my Hogue's below, in addition to traditionally styled RB grips, like on WCCPHD's guns.

Larry

 

[Bald1]

That’s a big gun to carry all the time. I’d look for smallish wood grips. Altamont makes some nice affordable ones. Look on Gunbroker and you’ll find them on close out. I’ve bought several pair this way.

 

[gnappi]

Bill, those are some choice grips!

Unfortunately my new Anaconda recently bashed the connective tissue in my right thumb and to help protect it from future damage, I switched all of my N frames and Anaconda wood grips to Pachmayr's.

Egads, I never thought I'd be doing that!

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I heartily applaud and support your move from rubber to wood.

I recently took my Model 627 snubbie and Model 500 ES to a friend's place for an afternoon of shooting fun.

He and I both tried the ugly orange rubber grips on the 500 ES. Ugh!

I changed the rubber for a pair of smooth walnut Herrett's Troopers with finger grooves made to fit my hand. My friend, who also has big mitts, and I loved the wood. I will never shoot the 500 ES with rubber again. (The photo is the Herrett's on a 10.5" 500.)

As for the 627, it wears bubinga Herrett's Troopers that I had Herrett's trim to a more rounded back. Those tiny ("smallish" to use Bald1's word) wood grips that came on it would never work for my paw. I have no problem concealing it in the Simply Rugged Sourdough leather.

 

[wproct]

I'm a big fan of Hogue grips, particularly the longer combat grips that have a attachment screw that goes up through the bottom of the grips and I prefer smooth wood. They fit the revolver and the hand so well and are quite easy to remove when gun solvents are being used.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Well what loads do you normally shoot with the 629?

I keep the factory grips on my 629-1 but I dont shoot teeth rattling loads. I switched to wood on my 460 for exactly 5 rounds and switched back to the factory rubber.

Edit: I admire your choice of carry

 

[Dave Lively]

They work fine, except that the oil I use for cleaning slowly melts the edges of my rubber grips, and the goo migrates away from the edge of the grips, leaving a mess.

Which type of oil are you using?

I prefer rubber grips and typically use CLP. You would think Hogue would use some sort of synthetic rubber that can withstand oil.

 

[H Richard]

The trick is to find the wood grip that "fits" your hand. This is easy to do if you buy custom that have a photo copy of your hand with measurements. With hard kicking guns this will help mitigate the recoil. I am also questioning the cleaning solution you are using, I've tried quite a number and still use Hoppe's #9, and Break Free and don't have any problems on the few rubber grips I have.

 

[75Vette]

Which type of oil are you using?

I prefer rubber grips and typically use CLP. You would think Hogue would use some sort of synthetic rubber that can withstand oil.

Whatever kind of rubber they use for the extra padding for the recoil of the 500 is different from the black rubber used on the grips. I learned my lesson the hard way on the 500 I used to own. I was using Hoppes to clean the gun and didn't know at the time to remove the grips first. That inner rubber padding dissolved right then and there. Regular rubber Hogues can take the solvent but it's a good habit to get into to remove the grips prior to cleaning.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I replaced the rubber on my 629-6 with wood just to keep my middle finger from getting pounded by the trigger guard. It’s much better now. I did the same on a GP100, too, just for looks.

 

[deputydon]

I had the same problem as 75vette on my .500. Made a call to Hogue & the nice lady mailed me a couple no charge.

-don

 

[Dave Lively]

Whatever kind of rubber they use for the extra padding for the recoil of the 500 is different from the black rubber used on the grips.

Glad I read this thread. I put Hogue Tamer grips on all my S&W revolvers becasue I like the way they feel and fit my hands. Even my 617 where recoil is obviously not an issue. Haven't seen any sign of a problem so far but am going to be more careful going forward. Worse case is having to clean off some goo and buy different grips.

 

[muddocktor]

I pretty much replace the rubber grips on my N frames with wood, mostly Culina targets nowadays. Expensive, but they fit my hands better than any other grips I've tried and are easier on my hands than the rubber jobs the guns came with when shooting hot rounds. But those coke target stocks would be bulky for EDC. However, Culina also makes other styles such as combats, boot grips and magna style grips.

Here is a link to their website https://www.culinagrips.com/handgun-grips/

Here are a few pics of some of my Culina targets for you to look at.

29-6 Classic with Bubinga round to square conversion targets


6 1/2" 27-5 with English Walnut targets


Various model 27s and 29/629 guns with Kingwood, Italian Olive, Cocobolo and the previous Bubinga and walnut.


I'm presently working with John and Jennifer to get a set of new wood stocks for my Anaconda I just bought, which came with Goodyears on it too.

 

[colt_saa]

On my round butt N-frames the old Factory Combat style is my favorite

When I am not using Factory grips, I usually go to Hogue. I order my Hogue grips without the finger grooves as the Hogue finger grooves do not fit my hand well. I will also often add the white line spacer and contrasting butt cap. most of the time I do not have the grips checkered

Square Butt

round Butt

Conversion round to square

Square Butt​

 

[BAM-BAM]

Keep in mind that the finger grooves on the Combat style grips don't fit everyone's hand/fingers.

Factory and Hogue force my little finger away from my ring finger weakening my grip.
I've used Hogue with just the top finger groove.

 

[madmikeb]

I am in the Hogue camp also. The first thing I do when I get a new gun is to install a pair of smooth Hogues with finger grooves. The only gun I've got that still wears rubber is my 4" 500.

 

[CH4]

I have repro factory combats on my 5” 629-3 and they suit me fine.