S&W 845 Shooters?

RedCardinal

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
747
Reaction score
655
Location
South Carolina
What is your preference, grips with a curved or straight backstrap? Since purchasing a S&W 39 in the mid-1960s, I have loved the fit of the grip in my hand. Likewise, for the 639 and similar models. For the 3rd gen, the straight, curved and palm swell (for the 1076 and 1026) grips were available. My 845 came with the straight backstrap, but I don't shoot it. It is just just for my collection. I am thinking about replacing the straight grips with curved grips. Other than looks, what are the pros and cons for shooting the 845 with curved grips?
 
Register to hide this ad
Grip profile is a very personal preference, I agree with you that the 39 design pistols are the ultimate in a natural feel and fit, at least for my hands anyway. I've got a couple of S&W 45's that I dearly love (645, 745, 945) but the straight grip just doesn't enamor me the way that my single stack 9mm's do.
 
As Tntcwg3 mentions, grips are personal

Your hand and my hand and Trey's hand are different sizes and shapes. What works well for me may not work for either of you

My preference is a straight backstrap in a target pistol. This is a S&W or a Colt or most any other. This goes back to the first handgun I ever purchased New, a Colt Gold Cup.

However I like wood grips and switched my 845 over to these a few years back

845-1998rs.jpg


My uncle and I each currently own 845s. We had a third one, but it went away many years ago. My Uncle's hands are large like mine and we share similar taste in grips.

We know that you have one of the 845 Limiteds since the 845 Model of 1988 shipped with the Hogue grips that have the arched backstrap0 that you like


845pair-s.jpg


If you order a set of the Hogues, you can try both and see which feels belter to you.
 
Mark, I don't believe that is correct. The second run 845 Model of 1998 did not come shipped with the big Hogue rubber grip. It came with the standard OEM straight back grip as pictured in the top pistol in your second picture.

The only PC Limited pistol that I can think of that came shipped with the big gooey Hogue (and the hard to see but genuine S&W logo) is the PPC-9 pistol.
 
Mark, I don't believe that is correct. The second run 845 Model of 1998 did not come shipped with the big Hogue rubber grip. It came with the standard OEM straight back grip as pictured in the top pistol in your second picture.

The only PC Limited pistol that I can think of that came shipped with the big gooey Hogue (and the hard to see but genuine S&W logo) is the PPC-9 pistol.
Quite possible

The only two Models of 1988 that I have handled both had the Hogue grips so I did go ahead and make the assumption.

I do need to re-read the SCSW
 
Haha the 1988 is also oft-confused, that was the date for the .45cal N-frame revolver, these pistols are the 1998. Sometimes it's just a typo, it gets me too.
 
Mark, I don't believe that is correct. The second run 845 Model of 1998 did not come shipped with the big Hogue rubber grip. It came with the standard OEM straight back grip as pictured in the top pistol in your second picture.

The only PC Limited pistol that I can think of that came shipped with the big gooey Hogue (and the hard to see but genuine S&W logo) is the PPC-9 pistol.

The export Target Champion 9mm had the Hogue rubber and I may have seen a few TC45s with them. It may have been an option for a buyer, original owner, to have them installed before they left the factory.

Joe
 
Some of the export WISHCO guns may have left North America with no grip whatsoever as some of them wear Nill Grips from Germany.
 
Some of the export WISHCO guns may have left North America with no grip whatsoever as some of them wear Nill Grips from Germany.

I believe they were shipped with rubber grips, said that the German have big hands. The wood grips were added by Wischo. Early pistols were not drilled and tapped but later pistols were done at S&W for added value to the customer, to be able to install the wood grips.

Joe
 
Mark, I don't believe that is correct. The second run 845 Model of 1998 did not come shipped with the big Hogue rubber grip. It came with the standard OEM straight back grip as pictured in the top pistol in your second picture.

The only PC Limited pistol that I can think of that came shipped with the big gooey Hogue (and the hard to see but genuine S&W logo) is the PPC-9 pistol.

My 845 Model of 1998 came with the standard OEM straight back grip.

stentor-albums-845-picture21040-845-2-a.jpg


As noted, I believe the "45 Target Champion" might have come with Hogue grips.
 
Last edited:
My 9Recon which is nib , has Hogues on it . So does my 45Recon , but it's not nib . Knowing where it came from I doubt they were put on after leaving the factory .

My 45 Recon also has Hogue grips.

All my PC semi-autos--except 945s, one of my PPCs, and 45 Recon--have the standard OEM grips.
 
Last edited:
So S&W 845 Shooters, what is your preference, grips with a curved or straight backstrap? I am familiar with the various grips. I don't shoot my 845 but would like to know from those who do, the pros and cons for shooting the 845 with curved or straight grips?
 
Mark, I don't believe that is correct. The second run 845 Model of 1998 did not come shipped with the big Hogue rubber grip. It came with the standard OEM straight back grip as pictured in the top pistol in your second picture.

The only PC Limited pistol that I can think of that came shipped with the big gooey Hogue (and the hard to see but genuine S&W logo) is the PPC-9 pistol.

Sevens

I have handled and or owned 6 PPC9s, most owned by original owner. All but one had factory hard grips. The one that did not came with Hogues but also a spare hard grip. I honestly think they all came with hard grips but maybe a small fee did not.
 
I have handled and or owned 6 PPC9s, most owned by original owner. All but one had factory hard grips. The one that did not came with Hogues but also a spare hard grip. I honestly think they all came with hard grips but maybe a small few did not.
 
I have handled and or owned 6 PPC9s, most owned by original owner. All but one had factory hard grips. The one that did not came with Hogues but also a spare hard grip. I honestly think they all came with hard grips but maybe a small few did not.

My PPC without full underlug has Hogue grips (I didn't purchase new, so not certain what it came with from the PC). I have seen several other pics of PPCs without the full underlug that also have Hogue grips.

stentor-albums-952-and-ppc-picture24192-sdc-ppc.png


My other two PPCs have the factory hard grips.
 
What's most interesting about the PPC-9 Hogue is that it's a S&W logo in the center of it. And trust me, you have to look very closely, especially if the grip you have is a basic aftermarket Hogue. It takes a fine, patient eye to see the version with the S&W as opposed to the stylized "H" logo.

And we also all know going in that S&W played fast & loose with the rules, so whatever we think we know may be correct for most of any model, but not likely all of them. ;)
 
So S&W 845 Shooters, what is your preference, grips with a curved or straight backstrap? I am familiar with the various grips. I don't shoot my 845 but would like to know from those who do, the pros and cons for shooting the 845 with curved or straight grips?


I think you thought you understood what I said, but you don't realize that what you answered is not what I meant.:eek::eek::eek:
 
Back
Top