Why did S&W even bother with Magna Grips for N-Frames?

[alwslate]

For me it is simply a matter of size. I like the way targets look on a
4" or longer barrel but they seem to overwhelm a 3 1/2" gun. But target
grips, N or K are just too big for my hands and so all my Ns and Ks
wear magnas. If I get a new N or K frame with targets on it I remove
them imediately before firing the first round from the gun. I know that
some people don't like them but I have found that a nice pair of factory
magnas can be hard to top with any after market grips.

 

[smokey04]

Hey, fellas, between what "looks good", what "feels good", and what works, you gotta set your priorities.Fifty years ago,I marveled at a little Idaho cowboy that was burned so badly that he finally had to have his dad break his wrist back to a normal position.That did not deter him from being one of Americas premier handgunners. Note "Mr.Keith" invented the .44 mag. and study the fact that he used a 4" .44[although he was given a 6&1/2" by S&W]. On that 4" notice that he used carved ivory grips about the same shape as Magnas.
If you look at the carved bulls heads of old,they are on the palm side of the gun[right side if you are a righty,left if that is the way you roll].That bulls head carving fits perfectly in the crease of your palm, helping to stabilize the gun in recoil.
I found that ,although I couldn't afford fancy carved grips, I could do MUCH better with Magnas or PC Magnas than the target grips from the factory, and adding the T grips helped a lot.So, it depends a lot on your hand size[mine is med.,size 9 gloves] and your mind set.
I remember thinking,WOW, this thing is going to KICK,but after going to grips that fit me I was able to control the gun with less recoil effects and I could shoot better.Sometimes fellas "less is more". Try it before you discount it . Nick

 

[Biggfoot44]

I would be saddened to have only a binary choice between Magna's and late production Target's . ( I know this discussion is initially about N Frames , but I will also refrence K's .)( And yes I have XXL hands.)

In general I don't care for finger grooves , as they are dependent for your fingers to align to their grooves, and mine rarely do. The sole exception are the 1980s vintage factory Finger Groove Combat wood grips. In N frame they fit my fingers perfectly , and makes them my all time favorite factory grip. BTW , the K frame counterpart is all wrong for me.

The best fitting non-factory N frame grips I've used are a set of 1950's vintage Fitz "Combat" grips. Much thinner than Current Targets , only a little below grip frame , pronounced palm swells. I suspect these are at least somewhat similar to Cokebottles , but I haven't had the privledge to try an N frame set. These are comfortable , natural piointing , and good control.

In K frames I have had the opportunity to do extensive testing with Magnas & grip adapter , in parallel to Gripper Pro . The gripper has an overall feel similar to Speigels , the pointability is quite good , but they shift in the hand more than Speigels. From a K frame shooting .38Spl , still acceptable.

I did have a set of 1950's smooth Targets for K frame , and those were great. The only drawback is they weren'n designed for speedloader clearence. HKS could still be used , but had to carefully work them in , and simetimes wiggle a little. At the time I always carried at least one BUG , so on balance they were acceptable , and I didn't carve on vintages grips.

Back in the days when personally owned M19s andM66s were popular with uniformed and plainclothed LE , there was a set of highly common grip modifications. Grip shortened to just below the frame butt , aggressivly sanded down to thin the butt , and remove most of the sharp checkering. Imagine the blending of a set of lengthened Speigels and size Small Pac Presentations rendered in wood.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I'm a bit late to this party but what the heck I'll toss in my two cents worth. Handgun stocks seem to be a personal fit thing and as such everyone has a different fit thus a different opinion. For me the Magnas are just right on all grip frames. I have a permanent lump on the thumb of my shooting hand between the first and second joint, I call it my N frame lump. I've tried a lot of different stocks but I find that the Magna stock works best for me as it doesn't let the frame shoulder smack my thumb. I do however really like the looks of target grips on certain revolvers and vanity demands them being on for show but not go.

 

[Photog]

The Coke profile grips were the last target grips that I think Smith got right. The latter target grips are like holding a 2x4. I have magnas on my 58. 25-2, 24-3's (2 four inch and one 6.5), pre 29 4 inch, 29-3 6 inch, pre 27 3.5 inch and a set of seriously size reduced target grips on my 1976 vintage 29-2 8 3/8 inch. If they were good enough for Elmer, they are good enough for me!

 

[Old Corp]

Have to join the crowd that likes magnas - in certain circumstances.
A 'work gun', or LE gun like a M58 looks strange to me with targets, as does ANY fixed sight S&W.

And the first 1/2 of my involvement in guns, it was all about the Pachmayr's. - ie., 'The mark of a real shooter'. LoL!
Now - can't stand'em. I do like any quality grips that bear the S&W escutcheons/medallions, and wish more aftermarket grip makers offered them as an option.

 

[njl]

Speaking of grips / aftermarket grips, one of my square butt K frames has what I think are checkered service grips, and I really am not fond of them. So, I'm trying to figure out what to try as a replacement. Years ago, I replaced the original service grips on my 63 with a Hogue checkered wood finger groove grip, and I really like it except that it's apparently not a perfect fit and the revolver can rotate just a bit in it. I don't know if I just got one that fits poorly, or if that's what happens when you slip the butt of a revolver into a one-piece wood grip.

I don't think I'd be happy with any play in the grips on a larger caliber revolver, so I'm hesitant to order a K-frame Hogue. I think I'd like finger grooves, and checkering...but more importantly, stability and something to take up some of the space at the top of the grip behind the trigger guard so I'm not reaching down for the trigger.

 

[Uraldriver]

Magnas! The S&W grip!

I want a set of the collinscraft round to Square conversions. Anyone have experience with them?

The key is to select the right magnas !
These from Don Collins are "fatter" than factory versions and fit my small hand very well !

Jerry

 

[LaVistaBill]

Now that I found B.K. Grips, all my K and N frames with Magnas now have grip adapters!

 

[flundertaker]

All you magna lovers please send me your targets for proper disposal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[alwslate]

All you magna lovers please send me your targets for proper disposal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

I've got a couple pair of targets that I don't need and i'll be
glad to send them to you for proper disposal. All I ask is that
you send me a little of your spare cash for proper disposal.

 

[Gunsnwater]

I hate rubber grips because of the texture and the funny smell that stays on my hands for days after handling them.

Are you part blood hound of truffle pig? Soap Days!

 

[marlin58]

hard and harder

just tried a beautiful set of magnas on my .44 with a 4" barrel....look great and ok with special but mag loads it actually kicked back so hard into web of thumb it hurt....put some nice thin boot grips on and excellent feel no kick and very accurate...also have a pair of newer targets and they do look big but shoot even nicer...like the boot grip for my 69 L frame and the target on any n-frame....but gotta admit the magnas look good on any short barrel but then stupid over 5"

 

[BAM-BAM]

Just my advice,,, change the wide trigger on the 3.5" model 27-2.
That trigger never belonged on that gun anyway.

Saxon posted pictures so I get to too.

Target stocks too big. Magnas just a might small.

Spegels,, perfect. Ahhhhhhh,

Regards
Allen Frame

I'm with AllenFrame......... Spegel Boot grips on guns with 2-3.5inch barrels and Extended Boot grips on 4-6 inch guns.

Must admit I like those Extended grips on that 3 1/2 inch N-Frame.

I do have one 4" 66 with Boot grips for concealed carry....all my 3" 66s wear standard boot grips

 

[S42N8]

Put me in the targets camp. The only S&Ws I prefer the magnas on are the J and K frames, and not much on the K frames. However, my 65-3 shoots much better for me with its original magnas, due largely to a fair amount of dry firing. I much prefer smooth targets on my K-22s. Just got a set of factory cokes back from DWFAN, and they're back on the 57 they came with. Much better in the hand, and look better. Can't wait to shoot it with them on!

 

[DR505]

I've got a box that holds all of my Magna stocks...they reside right next to the Targets. I don't like either. I like Ahrend's Tacticals...I have both finger groove and smooth and like them both (but only have photo of grooved).

 

[Twiki357]

I’ll take the Magnas over all of them. I get so sick and tired of having to track down Magnas for almost every revolver I buy because they always have those recycled condoms masquerading as grips.

 

[ironhead7544]

Bought my first M29 in 1973, a 4 ich BL in the case. Had a M1917 that someone had put Magnas on. Put the Magnas on the M29. Elmer had them, so why not? Six shots was enough. Put the targets back on.

Didnt have too many custom grips back then. The Targets worked just fine.

I think the rubber grips were a boon for the 44 Magnum. Took a lot of the sting out of the full loads. Had an 8 and 3/8" nickel M29 with the large size Presentation grips and it made shooting comfortable. Wasnt too pretty.

For fast double action work, I find the Gripper Professional and Hogue the best. Just fits my hand and really help control.

The Magnas are just fine for the N frame in 357 Magnum. Certainly better for concealment. The grip adapter makes a nice addition. Above 357 recoil, I want a larger grip.

It all depends on how they fit your hand.

 

[CH4]

I've got a box that holds all of my Magna stocks...they reside right next to the Targets. I don't like either. I like Ahrend's Tacticals...I have both finger groove and smooth and like them both (but only have photo of grooved).

I am in your camp!! For me, there's nothing ergonomically correct about magnas or target stocks; the magnas are too small, the targets too large and blocky - like a fence post...

For my money, I find Ahrend's to be the best bang for the buck - great looks, options and ergonomics.

 

[WaMike]

In the almost 4 years since this thread was started, the obvious answer is "it depends."

The only revolver targets feel OK to me is a 6" barreled Mdl 24. Maybe it's because the longer barrel helps the fit to my hand (I know...that sounds weird, but it's true).

Targets look strange on my "pencil" barreled Mdl 10. Magna's work fine.

As for the rest of my N & L frames, either custom grips (Hogue or Herrett) have worked.

And somewhere in the bowels of this site is a thread showing the grinding down of target grips, especially in the area below the checkering. I so modified one beater target for a Mdl 586 and am messing around with a second set for either K or L frames. Kind of fun; it's kind of like hot-rodding your old Chevy.....