Grips for CC: Which style?

[TheWarhammer]

I have a Taurus 605 (5-shot .357, 2" barrel, bobbed hammer) that came with rubber boot grips. I want to replace the rubber grips with wood, but I can't decide between "boot grips"

or the "oversize finger groove" style.

The boot grips are smaller, hence easier to conceal, but only allow purchase for two fingers and your pinky just curls underneath. The larger grips allow the pinky to get a grip, which may enhance control, but are longer. It doesn't look like there is a lot more length to the "oversize" grip (still smaller than "combat" grips), so I don't think it would be a whole lot worse for concealing.

So who has used both styles of grip and what was your experience with them? Is the larger grip worth more difficulty concealing? Is there really much more difficulty concealing the oversize style versus the boot grip? Is the extra purchase afforded by the longer grip that much of an improvement over a boot grip?

 

[1KPerDay]

Depends on where you're packing it. In a pocket, go with the boot grips. In a belt holster, get the larger grip, IMO.

 

[TheWarhammer]

I'll be carrying it IWB in a Kholster.

 

[Deus Machina]

Than the larger ones would probably work better.

A note: Moving to a Hogue Unigrip (three fingers) on my 85 actually made it pocket carry better than the smaller boot grip. It doesn't tilt all weird on me any more.

 

[goodtime]

I have ones like the top pic. I found grips with this type of finish to be very slippery when my hands were sweaty. I polished them with fine steel wool, and now the grip on them is much better, moist hands or not. Good friction in the paw. It didn't take much polishing at all. It took off the shine, though. Now they're satin.

Your question -- the bottom choice. That little bit of grip doesn't much affect concealability imo, but that pinky position really feels better in the hand, especially with .357 kick.

 

[TheWarhammer]

Polishing the "shine" of of the grips sounds like good advice. I was thinking that a satin finish would provide a better grip myself. I think I'm going to go with the larger grips. Thanks for the input, guys!

 

[Lucky Derby]

I prefer the boot grips made by Craig Speigel or the Eagle Secret Service grips to either of the ones you have posted. These two gripsare rounded at the bottom. With the flat bottom of the top grip I have found that the corners dig into my pinky finger under recoil. The other design is just larger, and therfore harder to conceal.

 

[TheWarhammer]

Well, I decided to go with the "oversize finger groove" grips from Altamont. They were a pretty decent deal at $43 plus shipping and they got here in just under a week. The new grips look really nice and feel even better. The give a much more positive grip on the gun and, as you can see, they add very little extra length to the grip. Concealability is not really afffected much at all, and the wood drags against clothes much less that the original rubber grips.
When carrying IWB, you really don't even notice the slight bit of extra length.

Before:



After:



The butt on the wood grip is slightly fuller (more comfortable to me) and just enough longer to get the pinky into play. Here are a few shots for size comparison: