All hands are different, I'd say....the current S&w factory rubber grips on their "L" and "K" frames that irritate so many guys, fit me to a "T". They're fugly as all get out but do the job with heavy loads for me.
But given my druthers, for after market (or even factory issued ones if we got lucky) I'd love to find a pair of good quality cocobolo or figured walnut stocks that mimic the shape of the original Pachmayr Signatures, (especially the curve height right behind the trigger guard).
That distinctive curve is the only one that prevents 2nd knuckle rap for me...and I've tried a heck of a lot of different after market offerings and even tried re-shaping an old pair of S&W smooth targets without success.
Someone here on THR, suggested Blue Mountain years ago but the cost was prohibitive for me....Wish I could figure out a jig for one of my routers, that'd allow me to do the double mortice that makes up the Smith's frame. I could figure out the exterior lines without much trouble but that inside wood to metal frame fit is beyond my ken.
Pic below shows my #2 son's Smith M-66 with a pair of Pachmayr Signatures...that's the shape I mean....that 2nd knuckle curve....and he's totin' it in a Christmas present I made up for him a cpl years ago. Best Regards, Rod.....drop a line in the thread if any of you have stocks that do the Pachmayr shape....Please....