CTC Crimson Trace on my Smith

[Storm]

Yesterday while in a local gun shop I stumbled on Crimson Trace laser grips for a Smith & Wesson round butt. The guy that had bought them turned out to have a square butt so the shop had them unused for $99. While I'm not a laser fan that seemed too good of a deal to pass up.

I can definitely see the advantages of using them on a home defense gun, so I put them onto my waking hours home defense gun, a Smith 686 Plus 7 shot with 2.5 inch barrel. These grips are the ones made to fit pretty much all of the different framed round butt Smiths, CTC model LG-207 hard polymer.

A couple of questions:

1. with being hard polymer rather than the rubber Hogues that came on the pistol should I expect considerably more felt recoil? These aren't the rubber coated variety. The grip is really comfortable (but ugly) but I would have to imagine that felt recoil wild have to be greater.

2. As this model of grip is designed to fit a number of Smith frames the fit isn't 100%. The only issue is a roughly one-quarter inch gap between the top of the rear of the grip and the top of the grip strap. Is this cause for any concern?

 

[Racinbob]

You'll feel more but it won't be bad. The combat size (I think 405) on my 442 were evil. I want to try the oversize (Ithink 305)

 

[robhof]

I had a similiar problem with some black pearl grips that were given to me and I used the marine epoxy clay to fill the gap. I waxed the frame well so it only stuck to the grip and worked it in and painted with gloss paint when dry. This was on a 9mm and has held up for the last 2 years. The CT is a real spoiler, but only good for use on indoor ranges or evening, fairly close, but you can make smiley faces with them, with little practice.

 

[Storm]

Thanks guys. I've heard that the CTC grips increase recoil on the LCR, so I figured it would be a bit less on the 686, and not to the degree of the LCR, which I'm told isn't all that bad.

I agree that the laser grips are a spoiler. My thought is that in a home defense situation they may well be of great use. Actually being able to see the point of aim seems to me a great advantage in a high stress situation where things can break down rather siginificantly. Also, one may not be able to get the gun to a nice clean firing position where the sights come into play, especially if in close proximity, so the grips make it "point shooting plus". I practice quite a bit one-handed, and point shooting, but to have that red dot as the POA indcator is huge to me.

That close proximity issue is a big one to me. I know more than a few LEOs who have described to me practicing pushing off an assailant getting enough room while drawing and firing as soon as possible, which can often be before the sights come into play. To me anything that increases the effectiveness of point shooting is a big plus.

The grips are butt ugly, but pretty is as pretty does.

 

[DAdams]

I would want the right model for the right revolver, that's why model 405 and 305 (I think 105 in the plastic) are designed to fit a J Frame.

Cobbling in my view would not be a good idea nor the effective use for the grips nor gun.

 

[jfh]

a mini-review of all three grips

can be found http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=4252981&postcount=1.

If you get these, then give us a mini-review--I don't think anyone's put up info on the CT grips on anything but j-frames.

Note that for someone with larger hands, the 105s may be too small a diameter to reliably turn on the laser on a j-frame.

Jim H.

 

[jaydubya]

I have Crimson Trace grips on three handguns, including a 686+ with four inch barrel. They fit perfectly on all three and, just as grips, they are an improvement over the standard grips. My 686+ is a very pleasant handgun to shoot (admittedly .38 sp range loads), and I am most accurate with it in my hand.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Storm]

The 207 seems to be sold so that it can be put on either the K,L, or N frame. Although I had no choice in the matter that was desirable to me as I have several guns that the grips could go on.

That gap doesn't bother me at all and my only concern was whether there would be an issues, but, I suppose that CTC is well aware of the gap so no worries. I'd imagine that it's the compromise made to fit three different frames. The fit is otherwise perfect.