S&W's New Synthetic Grips?

[oliveview]

By the way, in case anyone else wants them, S&W has the awesome Uncle Mike's rubber grips for sale (and cheap) in their closeout section of the store.

 

[Bart45]

I'll stick with my old wood target grips..........

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

There are some beautiful wood grips out there. But there are just as many butt-ugly wood grips too. I don't mind the look of most rubber grips on a DA. Sure they won't compete with a pair of well designed cocobollo grips, but I don't find most rubber grips ugly. The new grips are comfortable and I think they look nice. But I don't know about how they handle recoil since I have them on a 617.

BTW, I'm probably in the minority, but I always thought the grips that came on my first 686, back in the 80s were comical looking. I'm not sure if they are called "combat" or "target" grips. They sure weren't made to fit the human hand. But taste is subjective.

 

[Tap Tap]

Let's face it, all rubber grips are ugly. Some are uglier than others (Pachmyr). However, I have rubbers on all of my magnum revolvers for the simple reason that they are far more comfortable than non-rubber grips. I've always been particularly fond of Pachmyr Decellerators and Grippers, because they fit my extra large hands well and because they cover the backstrap, thereby minimizing the effects of recoil.

Hogues? As others have pointed out, Hogues don't fit everybody's hand equally well. I'm one of those whose fingers don't line up with the grooves on the rubber grip. I take a very high handhold and, unfortunately, that causes my fingers to rest on the points rather than the grooves.

These new grips look intriguing. They remind me a little bit of the old and, sadly, discontinued Uncle Mike's. I'd be really interested in them if they completely cover the backstrap because for me, and exposed and a covered backstrap make all of the difference from unpleasant shooting to total comfort.

I'm with you. I will definitely try these new ones out because to me, rubber grips are about shooting comfort and wood grips are about beauty.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

The new one's have a more refined, cleaner, smoother look. I like that the grooves are less prominent and the checkering is a nice touch. My problem with finger grooves is that you are forced to grip your revolver a certain way. It's just not designed for everyone's hands and finger placement doesn't always feel natural.

I'll say the grooved grips I liked were the original wood stocks that use to come with the 617. Those felt amazing. Uncle Mike's were nice and Hogue's really depended on the frame and style. But the very best grips have to be Target wood stocks. Not the Altamont kind, but the walnut and rosewood one's. That's probably why people still pay a premium for used one's.

 

[1coolcat]

I love the new style grips, I was wondering if any one knows who make the style grip but in wood. Same size, covers back strap, same flat bottom.

 

[Gerryd13]

My poa with synthetic grips on my 686 4" was much improved

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I have two new K frames , 617-6 and 66-8,and one old N frame 629-3 Classic with synthetic grips,I like the new better for comfort but looks don't matter to me because I use these revolvers. If I'm after looks I buy blued steel with wooden grips.

 

[Jupiter01]

While I have not yet held a S&W revolver with the new grips, I can't imagine them being as comfortable as the old Hogue grips. However I am biased. I've been a long time fan of Hogue grips. Wonder who makes the new ones?

I have handled the newer Smith and Ruger grips, and although they are comfortable, except for the J frame, which are too small for my hand size, they are, as was mentioned...utilitarian looking. Probably replaced the others as an "economy" feature. Made in China?

 

[kthom]

Pretty is as pretty does! How grips fit my hand and my gun is what's most important to me. And since we are all different, you can't take anybody else's word or opinion about whether a set of grips will work for you. You gotta feel them, and most of the time, you'll know pretty quick. But I have also found that I should shoot a box of shells with any set of grips before I decide whether to keep 'em or not. That is, unless the grips are the exact same thing that S&W shipped various revolvers with. If I didn't like them then, I will not like them now. I do keep some grips on some revolvers that I don't shoot often anymore but pull out to look at or show someone. I have few sets of wood grips that I will use when shooting a revolver, and then not for many rounds.

I also happen to feel the same way about most Hogue grips, especially the ones with the finger spaces. That goes for almost any wood grip with them as well. I've been using Pachmayers since almost the time when they became available. The first ones were better than the corresponding size of wood grip, and best of all, they didn't look any worse for the constant wear and tear that resulted during a day's work in uniform. Some of the later models actually fit my hand and worked very well under a long session of shooting. I still use them on several revolvers. I am also a particular fan of the Uncle Mikes grips that are no longer available new, especially the round butt to square butt conversions for K Frames. I try to pick them up any time I have the opportunity. They just work for me, and that's the most important thing for me.

Grips are a very personal thing. I don't buy them (unless they come on a revolver I happen to wish to buy) unless I have tried them on for size and feel and preferably for actual shooting. The only grips I have added to my box of grips for a long time are grips I actually will use and are factory grips that I finally learned I needed to save if I should ever decide to sell the gun they came on. I've got no problem with testing the waters by asking others what they think about a certain kind of grip. That can help me narrow down the ones that I might want to find and try. But I don't buy them till I try them (unless of course, they are the same as a set that I have previously tried and liked)!

 

[Engine49guy]

Interesting thread that began life in 2011 and seems to rise again every 2 years or so...

I used Pachmayer grippers back in the 80's but they can be sharp in the front where they come together,

I do like the older OEM S&W marked Hogue rubber style because they feel good in my hand,
also like that they have the S&W logo molded into them, (a few N frame versions even have nickel medallions in them).

The Hogue version does not have the S&W TM and also has a large right side that covers the R side S&W TM,

Biggest beef with the Hogue style is that little metal horseshoe mounting tab thingy is prone to rusting and can ruin your guns finish hiding it out of site until its too late, also have had the mounting screw thread in too far and mar the heel (Why they never made that piece in SS is a mystery).

The newest style is just plain ugly but have heard they feel good,
Looks like they mount like the old Pachmayers so eliminate the horseshoe bracket which was the Achilles heel in the Hogue style IMO