For the recoil sensitive...rubber or wood???

[Voodoo]

Aesthetics aside, do you recommend rubber or wood grips to someone who is recoil sensitive? I recently convinced a work buddy to pick up a used S&W 686 for a song. It will be his HD gun. His only other handgun is/was a Beretta Tomcat (.32). I'm not so much worried about him (he's fit and I'm sure after a few range sessions he'll be fine with the bump up in recoil). It's his petite 100 lb. wife . To help her cause, we've decided to go with .38 Special (non +p) ammo. However, we're trying to decide if we should change out the grips. This 686 comes with the usual Hogue rubber grips. I'm going to assume that rubber is better for recoil absorption, correct??? I only ask because I've read the opposite. Can anyone shed more light on the subject?

 

[ChristopherG]

Rubber is better in my experience, and it certainly would be better prima facia, wouldn't it? I suspect that the people who express the opposite opinion have actually had issues with the fit or shape of the grips in question rather than the material (or that they're just wrong).

If her hands are big enough, I find the Pachmayr compac grips (including on my 686+) to offer excellent recoil cushioning and control without being too big. With that big a gun and standard .38, there's not going to be much to handle, and the rubber hogues will almost certainly suffice--but try the pachys if they don't.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Generaly rubber renders less perceived recoil, sting etc.

However, fit to the individual takes precedence.

But...the 686 is going to be a pussycat with .38 Special.

Never know till you try.

Sam

 

[SteelyDan]

In my experience, rubber would be a better choice for someone who is recoil sensitive, especially if you get "wrap-arounds."

 

[P95Carry]

I have quite large hands and find that many wrap around rubber grips are in fact too ''skinny'' .. not enough bulk and then not actually helping greatly with recoil buffering.

I personally find the normal Smith grip good because it fills the hand ..... and also if grip is correct (for me) .. then the gun can move as it recoils thus taking some ''sting'' outa the deal.

I must say ... instance GP 100 for example, and my Super Redhawk ..... the newer Ruger grips work well .... for me anyways.

 

[chaim]

Hmmm, I guess I'm a dissenter from the majority. I find wood grips far more comfortable. Rubber sometimes rubs my skin raw and gives me a "rug burn" or even breaks my skin. Wood looks good, is comfortable, and recoil alone I think the wood helps to absorb recoil better than one might expect.

 

[Majic]

I have to side with Chaim on this one. Rubber will grab and burn your skin under recoil. Wood is much easier on the skin. The trick is to find a set of grips that fit her hand. Since she has small hands and his are probably much larger there lies the problem. What's comfortable to her will not be comfortable to him. They really need separate guns as the 686 probably won't be comfortable to her. My significant other has small hands and loves her M14, but much prefers to use the Diamondback as it has a smaller grip that fits her better.

 

[Jim March]

It's more complex than just "rubber vs. wood". It's gotta fit right, and if the grip is designed well for *major* recoil esp. at 44Mag levels or beyond, smooth wood can "roll in the hand".

The original Colt SAA was this way, and many of the Ruger SA grips either match it or in the case of the Bisley, exceed it. Only the SuperBlackhawk "Dragoon" grip was a real failure for many folks and is often found used with "rubber tire grips" to overcome it's deficiencies...certainly cheaper than the real cure, a total swap to Bisley parts (grip frame, trigger, hammer, grip panels).

With a gun like the L-Frame 357, it's possible to control it with full-house ammo without it rolling, therefore you see fingergroove, checkered or rubber grips to keep it rock-steady for fast shot strings.

So, you can either go with an "immobile in the hand" grip like that and drop the power level down to where it can be dealt with that way, or run slicker grips and sacrafice shot-to-shot speed for horsepower.

Either way, the grip must *fit* the user.

 

[V-fib]

I like hard grips for CC. You could always wear some shooting gloves when practicing if your recoil sensitive.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'd say Hogue rubber if you're sensitive and look for a revolver with a little length in the barrel. Weight helps too....

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I picked up a set of the new round butt N-frame
smooth wood grips with the S&W monograms for my
5" Smith & Wesson .44 magnum 629-5 "Classic". And
what I've noticed, is the fact that these grips allow
the weapon to absorb recoil by rolling the grip in a
downward motion when the weapon is recoiling.
See a pic at this thread: N-frame grips

But, I still use the Hogue "Monogrip" for all practical
purposes.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Voodoo]

Thanks, everyone, for your opinions. At first, I recommended they stay with the Hogue rubbers, but it was very enlightening to hear arguments favoring wood. I guess we'll have to pick up a set of wood grips and see which ones she like's better. Damn, and I just sold off a set of Hogue Pau Ferros, too!

 

[Jim March]

Right, but do understand the difference between *smooth* wood and checkered.

The latter is bad, if recoil control is the issue.

Now, all that said, she might be only 100lbs but 38+P in an L-frame is still going to be a pussycat. She's more likely to have trouble with the DA trigger and the cure there is two-fold: maybe a spring kit, but above all, proper grip fit giving proper trigger reach. If she has to start the trigger stroke while her finger is fully extended, she is NOT gonna be happy.

 

[Voodoo]

Jim:

I hear you on the smooth vs. checkering issue. Checkering wasn't even a consideration in this case.

Thanks for also pointing out the potential issue with DA shooting. That is definitely something else we are going to have to address.

 

[Penforhire]

Only thing about the stock 686+ is the exposed backstrap. I'm wondering how much that contributes to perceived recoil?

 

[Voodoo]

Pen,

I've been told that an exposed backstrap contributes significantly to the "bite" of recoil. I wonder if getting a set of conversion grips (round butt to square butt) would help. Then again, by doing so, she may run into grip size problems (due to her small hands).

 

[ChristopherG]

That's right; any grip that covers the backstrap ( a rb/sb version won't, if you mean Hogue's) will extend the trigger reach, prolly too far. But a 686 really is a kitten; it'll be the noise that bothers her, if anything--not actual 'recoil'.

 

[Jim March]

Betcha anything her hands are going to be so small, an exposed backstrap is necessary.

It won't matter though, even for 38+P. *357*, well ya.

 

[10-Ring]

In the past, I preferred rubber. It had a squishier feel & I though was more forgiving. What I've been noticing lately is that the right wood grip fit the hands better, disperse recoil throughout the hand better & look better longer than similar rubber grips.

 

[Sean Smith]

Um, her size won't have anything to do with her ability to cope with recoil, at least up to something like a .44 Magnum or so. It *wil* be an issue if she can reach the trigger in DA with small hands, however.

 

[SteelyDan]

This isn't rocket science. Yes, "fit" probably comes first. And ability to reach the trigger probably comes even "more first." But everything else being equal, rubber grips transmit a whole lot less recoil than wood ones. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

As for putting your money where your mouth is, I gave a fellow THR'er a set of nice Rosewood grips, just because the rubber ones worked better on my 3" .44 mag.

 

[Stainz]

I have had some trouble weaning my 5'10" wife from her evil-bottom-feeder CZ-75B - and into a proper revolver. I put square conversion wood grips on my MG's - their checkering was 'too sharp' - as was that on the rubber backstrap enclosing Uncle Mike's that came on my new M10, M66, & M696. That M10, actually a 2" M10-11, was bought to become our new 'house' gun - and she won't shoot it because of the 'sharp' grips.

Last week, when she accompanied me to the range, she eyed my 4" M625 (.45ACP) with pao ferro Hogue mono-grips. She said; "Hey, those are smooth... let me try that one!". Twenty-two moonclips later, she pronounced my plate gun as her new gun. I heard her on the phone that afternoon to one of her girlfriends; "I have this new Smith and Wesson .45 thingie - it's an old style gun - and it has a nice smooth wood grip!". Crap. I may order some K/L frame wood Hogue monogrips... maybe I can still get her to try that M10...

I guess the moral is simple - let them decide what they want. Checkering looks nice - but a lot of folks just don't like it's feel! After the 'feel', the 'reach' to the trigger is also important.

Stainz

 

[Rich357]

Pachmayr sells Decelerator® Grips for S&W revolvers, including the "L" frame models. (They are also available for a number of other handguns.)

Below is from the Pachmayr website.
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All guns recoil, and recoil affects your accuracy, control, and overall shooting enjoyment. For those shooters who want the most out of their shooting experience, Pachmayr offers the Decelerator Grips. After years of working with rubber formulations trying to develop the softest most recoil absorbing grip on the market Pachmayr has developed this breakthrough rubber material —50% softer than a regular grip.

Features:
• 50% softer than competitive models
• Breakthrough rubber material
---

Good luck,
Rich