S&W's New Synthetic Grips?

[Jitterbug]

I bought my new 629-6 last summer during the transition from the Houge to the new style, mine has the new style and before firing it, I thought I'd replace them with the Houges since I get a much better DA grip and trigger reach with them.

After running 600+ rounds, and half of them being heavy loads, I'm now sticking with the new style for the time being.

Covering the backstrap makes trigger reach in DA more of a challenge for my small hands but I've learned to adapt, and I appreciate the recoil absorption of the new style with heavy loads.

In SA mode it's not an issue.

So for now the new style with a heavy load is a win for me.

 

[mag318]

My 632 came with the new grips which I quickly replaced with a set of Uncle Mikes boot grips.

 

[TAROMAN]

Anybody want to sell theirs?

I want one of the new style (N-RB) for my 625-3.
Anybody have a set they want to get rid of?
PM me...

 

[cjtraining]

Both are truely butt ugly, IMHO. Of the two, I like the newer one best.

 

[Packard]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the durometer of the rubber (hardness/softness). If they are using a softer rubber then perhaps the finger ridges were too weak. I've never found that the finger indents do that much for me.

The new one seems to undercut the trigger guard a bit more putting your hand higher relative to the bore axis.

The cost of these grips is directly related to the weight of the rubber. So unless the new grips weigh a lot less, then I would think that they made the change for other reasons.

Someone could query S & W directly at their site and find out their take on this.

As for ugly. I had a 629 with a round butt and 2-1/2" barrel back in the 1980s. The beautiful wood grips caused a bone bruise on the ball of my thumb that took 6 months to heal. The "ugly" rubber grips did not. So sometimes "ugly" is beautiful.

 

[stantheman86]

I can tolerate rubber grips on a stainless revolver.

But, it almost seems like S&W is just putting the cheapest grips they can find on the guns and leaving it to the owner to change them out if they want. Which is fine with me, there are SO many options out there for S&W grips, it doesn't really matter.

A Pachmayr Presentation grip fits just fine on a K and L RB grip frame....

 

[Jhawk412]

Had a shooter with a set on a new 642, in a class I taught last week. Found out that they wouldn't allow the use of his HKS speedloaders...

I had the same problem on a new 642 J-frame. I tried Safariland and HKS speedloaders on it and neither would work with the factory grips. I have since put a LG-405 CrimsonTrace laser on the little gun and the speedloaders work fine.

 

[MoPoPo]

I did not like the new style grips from the get-go/ I put a set of hogue bantams on my 442 and they feel much better. The safariland speedloader that I use works fine also.

 

[retrotrout]

Can someone give me the size of the Allen wrench that will handle the screw in those rubber S&W grips? I've ordered new wood grips for my 642, but none of my keys fits. (My collection isn't that big, but I don't want to damage the screw)

 

[team sidewinder]

retrotrout. The hex size is 3/32nds.

I would also add to my previous post is that my love for the new S&W synthetic grips is that besides fitting my hand well the reduced finger grooves are just right as some grips finger grooves are too deep and just don't fit my that well. As much as I would like to get some new/different grips for my 629 I just don't think any other grips are going to fit me better than these factory grips.

 

[gaspipes]

I just got my 617-6 today and before I had the gun home I was trying to figure out which grips I was changing to.

Now that I have the gun in hand I kind of like the new style grip. I mean it's rubber but the old Hogue was awful. The new one covers the back strap and has way less pronounced finger grooves. The only thing they could have done better IMO was made it with no finger grooves. The new one also does not hang way down below the steel grip of the gun if that makes sense. It seems shorter in the butt of the gun, which IMO makes it look better.

Heck I may have to buy this new style for my 686-6 and my 629-3. I think I'll throw these on my 686 and see how they feel. Does S&W sell them separately?

 

[h1orxrah]

I was thinking about the new grips too

For my 625 - I just thought I would try them out of curiosity. According to S&W they are $62 a pair so i passed on them. If they had been closer to $30 I would have tried them.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I'm so grateful that I won't be dealing with them as I won't be acquiring any revolvers so equipped.

 

[Helderberg]

I guess I am the oddball here as I like the rubber grips and generally remove any wood and install rubber. I removed a nice pair of wood grips on a S&W E 1911 and installed a one pc. Hogue. Very comfortable and helped with my follow-upshot. Just my .02 but to me the gun is a tool and a better grip is "beautiful".
Frank.

 

[gr7070]

I definitely prefer rubber for functional grips, especially for centerfire.

 

[team sidewinder]

As much as I like the new synthetic grips I just had to do something to my new 629-6 gun. I ordered the N-frame orange " Tamer " rubber grips from S&W and they are almost exactly the same as the original rubber S&W 620-6 grip except colored orange. The finger bumps might be a little more pronounced on the " Tamer " grips but not much and the rubber seems tackkier but maybe that is because they are new. The " Tamer " grips use a grip screw through the bottom rather than the side and S&W only sent the grips so I had to order a bottom stirrup from Hogue to make the new grips work. I think my " Tamer " grips from S&W were $40 but only come in the ugly orange or even uglier ( if that is possible ) yellow.

 

[TheMystro]

I can't believe I am saying this but......I love the new grips. I was fully intending on swapping them out but after I put 2 boxes of full powere shells through the gun in one sitting, I was sold.
I have owned just about every style of rubber grip for the m29/629. The new style synthetic grips are much like a synthetic Ahrends. The back strap is covered and the texture isn't sticky like the Hogue. I find they don't get caught on my Carhart coat as much as other rubber grips. Recoil reduction is better than the Hogue mono grip. I think S&W put some thought into these newer grips and cost cutting wasn't the main factor. Fit and finish is excellent with out any gaps between the frame and grips unlike Pachmyar. They are larger than the Hogue suited for medium to large hands.

 

[clayman01]

I can't believe I am saying this but......I love the new grips. I was fully intending on swapping them out but after I put 2 boxes of full powere shells through the gun in one sitting, I was sold.
I have owned just about every style of rubber grip for the m29/629. The new style synthetic grips are much like a synthetic Ahrends. The back strap is covered and the texture isn't sticky like the Hogue. I find they don't get caught on my Carhart coat as much as other rubber grips. Recoil reduction is better than the Hogue mono grip. I think S&W put some thought into these newer grips and cost cutting wasn't the main factor. Fit and finish is excellent with out any gaps between the frame and grips unlike Pachmyar. They are larger than the Hogue suited for medium to large hands.

I'd like to try one of those but don't see it available in the S&W store for anything other than j frame. Is it available anywhere??

great looking gun btw!

 

[TheMystro]

I haven't seen them as a aftermarket sale yet. I am sure S&W should be selling these as a after sale item.. I would call S&W and see if they offer them for sale. I can't believe they wouldn't sell them as a OEM part.

 

[williamlayton]

I think that I am "really" the oddball here.
I don't like finger grooves "at all"--wood/rubber/metal,or anything.
I don't like rubber grips but prefer wood and in particular, Target grips in wood.
Too me, they are easier on my hands and grip the best.
I don't like beets either.
Blessings

 

[Coaltminer]

If they'll fit a new 29 Classic, I'm gonna try a pair when they become more available. The classic still uses the square butt.

 

[TheMystro]

The new grips have finger humps but no where near as pronounced as the Hogues. I would call them a hybrid design. The texture is not as gummy as the Hogues either.
Grips are so personal but I think S&W hit a home run with these.

I think that I am "really" the oddball here.
I don't like finger grooves "at all"--wood/rubber/metal,or anything.
I don't like rubber grips but prefer wood and in particular, Target grips in wood.
Too me, they are easier on my hands and grip the best.
I don't like beets either.
Blessings

 

[Ranger98]

They may be ugly,but they sure feel good when I am shooting "The Beast"

 

[Gearhead Jim]

I've tried both the Hogue Bantams and the newer no-name rubber grips that S&W is now putting on the J-frames. For me, the Bantams are MUCH better at allowing me to really keep the gun from slipping/squirming in my hand, and that also reduces felt recoil which is inportant on the little Airlites.

 

[TheMystro]

I think they look sharp. Very purposefully on your gun. What works is sooo much more attractive than pretty looking that is miserable to shoot.

They may be ugly,but they sure feel good when I am shooting "The Beast"

 

[VaRecon]

Old ones were hogues, new ones are uncle mike's I believe.
Both are for sale all over.

 

[1869]

When I first saw these grips on my new Model 629-6 my first impression was, could they really make a cheaper grip? I must confess, however, that after shooting the gun with these new grips that I am really quite happy with them. They feel better than any Hogue or Pachmayr to me. You really have to shoot your gun with any grip, and not just hold it in your hand to get a true impression. I like these new grips and would buy another set if available.

 

[team sidewinder]

They work for me.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The term "butt ugly" comes to mind.

Dave

I do not know who designs these things, but I have to wonder if he came to S&W after coming up with the formula for "new Coke" over at Coca-Cola.

 

[shouldazagged]

A Pachmayr Presentation grip fits just fine on a K and L RB grip frame....

I just put them on a square-butt Model 10-5. Not pretty, but fit my arthritic hands, giving me a higher and more comfortable hold on the piece and a more natural point. My 640 no-dash wears Pachmayr Compacs I put on it twelve years ago for the same reason.

Finger-grooved grips just don't work for me. The only Glocks I owned were a first-generation G22 and a second-gen G19. I preferred the straight grip of the .40.