What after market grips are you using on your 642?

[Bud11]

Bought one Wednesday and shot it for the first time today. It is definitely a kick in the pants as they say, but a real neat gun.

I've been told by others here that after market grips may help as I get used to the gun.

What are you guys using?? Bud

 

[Indiana George]

Hi Bud.

I've tried well over a dozen different grips on various J-Frames and always come back to these Uncle Mikes, as shown on a 360PD.

A tad longer than some prefer, but with the right holster cant, they work very well for me.

Discontinued, but can often be found on e-Bay. Similiar, if not identical grips can be found on the Smith & Wesson Mfg. site, as well.

 

[Dump1567]

I like the Pachmyr Compac grips, but I've got big hands. I also relieve the side to make sure it doesn't interfere with speedloaders.

 

[BlueDotBill]

Indiana George,
I believe that is the holster I've been looking for for my m-36 s&w. Can you tell me the manufacturer?
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Titan]

CT lasers. The model is LG-305.

 

[91B40]

642 grips

After trying about everything in wood and synthetic, I went to factory J-Frame wood "service" grips and a Tyler T-Grip.
This setup seems to fit my meaty palm/short pudgy finger hand configuration better than any other grip setup I've tried.
The wood grip also seems easier to draw from a pocket than any of the rubber ones I tried. Also, this setup seems to distribute recoil as well as any.
YMMV.

 

[BUFF]

"Indiana George,
I believe that is the holster I've been looking for for my m-36 s&w. Can you tell me the manufacturer?"

Not George, but I have one like that made by Bianchi.

I have used the standard grips that came with all 3 of the 642's I have owned. They are a pretty good compromise between concealability and control for me.

 

[Stainz]

While the OEM boots are about the least comfortable grips, they do promote pocket carry in a Mika pocket holster in any of my pants' front pockets. My 642 is a horrible plinker, but that isn't it's forte - it has a single function here - to protect my life. Shoot it enough to keep 'current' with it - adrenalin will make you forget about the recoil, should you need it.

Now - if you have a belt holster for it, you can choose your grips more freely. You can go overboard - witness my 642's 'big brother', my L-frame 296, first in a CCW mode, with OEM boots and a Mika pocket holster:

It's a lot more comfortable to shoot, however... with S&W/Hogue .500 Magnum grips!

Yeah, that takes a real holster! I prefer to leave it's boots on for CC use, too.

Stainz

 

[photoman]

Indiana George,
I believe that is the holster I've been looking for for my m-36 s&w. Can you tell me the manufacturer?
Thanks,
Bill

I believe that is a Bianchi Black Widow.

 

[photoman]

For range work and concealed carry in certain circumstances, Indiana George has it right. The Uncle Mike's combat grips are the ones to try. They are a Craig Spegel design and he still makes them in wood.

 

[Indiana George]

Indiana George,
I believe that is the holster I've been looking for for my m-36 s&w. Can you tell me the manufacturer?
Thanks,
Bill

Hi Bill.

Buff and Photoman are correct; Bianchi Black Widow.

Same as the grips; I've tried many and this quickly became one of my favorites for J-Frame concealed carry.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Crimson Trace LG-405 laser grips on mine. This is the one with the air pocket on the back strap of the grip.

Best regards,

Dave

 

[coach22]

Safariland. No longer made.
Composite, so they don't grab fabric.
Came in black or wood grain.
These were cut down by King's Gunworks, Glendale, CA.
Shaped like a Spegel, but slimmer.
Pachmayr Compacs if something bigger.
Mika Pocket Holsters are simply THE BEST.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Spegel boot grips. They're small but they have a palm swell that fills the hand without being bulky. I think it helps distribute recoil over a wider area and helps with controllability.

 

[RHINOWSO]

Uncle mike boot grips, available from S&W.

Need to get another pair for my new 442, they are better than the stock logo grips, IMO.

 

[Doc Mark]

Uncle mike boot grips, available from S&W.

Need to get another pair for my new 442, they are better than the stock logo grips, IMO.

Hey, Rhinowso,

I agree, if you mean what I think you mean. The newer S&W copies of the Uncle Mike's (Craig Spegal) boot grips, does not seem to work well with the HKS speedloaders that I've used for years, whilst the original Uncle Mike's do just fine. I will be removing the S&W boot grips from my new 642 as soon as I find another pair of Uncle Mike's boot grips. I have no idea why the UM's work better than the S&W. But, I have had two pairs of the Smith version, and both of them did not work well with the HKS. For what it's worth.... Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[RHINOWSO]

Yes. The S&W logo grips like this are close but not as good as Uncle Mikes.

S&W still sells Uncle Mike no logo grips on their website, for both J and K frame guns (Uncle Mike Logo on both sets inside). In fact I just ordered a set for the 442 today...

 

[Old cop]

Like many others I've tried almost everything and wound up with the (previous) standard wood small grips w/a Tyler T. Not the best for range comfort but I can hit w/i 7 yards accurately and they conceal just right.

BTW my glove size is XL and I have long thin fingers.

 

[RHINOWSO]

My biggest problem with wood & Ts was they prevented the use of speed loaders.

 

[shooter686]

After tiring of having the snot beat out of my thumb joint I switched the stock s&w grips for a Hogue mono grip. Some don't like the mono grip because its larger, but the whole package still fits easily in my pocket.

Good Shooting -

Shooter686