J frame grips

[labnoti]

I'm trying to find some grips for j frame revolvers that I like.

Stock S&W
The stock rubber boot grips are shorter than I like, and the finger bump is too low to allow me a high grip.

Hogue
I have a Hogue hardwood grip with no finger grooves. I like everything about it for an Airweight .38, but when I shoot a steel frame .357 with it, it bruises my palm by 50 rounds.

I looked at Hogue's rubber grips, but they all have finger grooves. I have large hands with thinner fingers, and with every grip with finger grooves I've ever tried, I get a finger and a half in the top groove.

Pachmayr
I bought a Pachmayr Compac grip. With this grip, I can shoot .357 without any bruising. It grabs my trousers too much to use it for ankle carry (where the smooth wood on the Airweight works better), but I like it for the pocket. It blocks speedloaders and often catches a shell on ejection. Nevertheless, the only real issue I have with it is the manufacturing defects.

The first one I bought was by my mistake for a square-frame. It can be fit to a round frame. Howver, the grip doesn't hold the screw head. The head just penetrates rubber side of the grip and it can never be tightened.

I bought a Pachmayr Compac for round J frames. It has a huge gap on the bottom, and the same problem with the screw. Also, the hole for the grip pin is off by a few mm, so it cannot be made to fit without making a new hole. I ordered a replacement for it and received another grip with the same problems. I inquired with a different seller of the grips and they indicated, "they're all like that." I've also read several other people report the problems with the gap on the bottom (an uneven slot big enough for a quarter), and the misalignment of the hole for the grip pin.

I thought about trying to fix the square-frame Pachmayr grips with Permatex The Right Stuff gasket maker, and a brass bushing for the screw head to bear on. I have some doubt the result will be good enough.

Altamont
I ordered Bateleur grips, but they advised me it will take many weeks and want to know if I would rather cancel.

Altamont's J frame grips are wood, not rubber, but they Bateleur cover the backstrap and I'm hoping I'll avoid bruising. They have finger grooves which means there's a good chance I'll have to grip lower or they won't work out.

I considered the Altai without the grooves, but I think they'll be insufficiently distinct from my Hogue.

Hideout
I've seen these online. No finger grooves, but the nylon looks hard, and the frame on the backstrap is exposed. I think they would work like my Hogue hardwood grips.

Crimson Trace
I've tried the LG405 at a store and thought they might work. They're softer rubber and they cover the backstrap with a cushion of grip material. There's also the LG305.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I always recommend Nill Grips, I've had really good luck.

http://www.mactecsales.com/nill_smithwesson_revolvers_s/1838.htm

 

[bannockburn]

labnoti

My three takes on J frame grips:



Factory wood grips with Tyler T-Grip adapter. Small, lightweight, easy to conceal, not much there to cut-down on felt recoil.



Factory rubber boot grips. Small, lightweight, easy to conceal, great for small/medium size hands, rubber grips help with felt recoil.



Vintage Bill Roger's Combat Grip. Not so small, hard plastic-like material, not so easy to conceal, finger groves better suited for medium/large hands, palm swell design makes grips feel very filling and comfortable in the hand.

I tried Pachmayr Compac grips but found their shape and size too awkward to use comfortably in the concealed carry role. Did modify one pair by removing the bottom portion so that I could tuck my two fingers under the grip. Helped somewhat with being easier to conceal and not so hand-filling.

Might want to check out Kim Ahrend's grips for some other grip designs.

 

[beeenbag]

I wasn’t a fan of my j frames all that much until I added the factory wood grips and a Tyler T grip. To me this is the only way to go.

 

[bannockburn]

beeenbag

That Tyler T-Grip adapter has been on a number of J frames since I got it in the early '80s. It originally was for a S&W Model 38 I had that was nickel plated. Tried a number of different grips on the Model 649 but always came back to the T-Grip adapter.

 

[Texas1880]

I vote for altamont. I have em on all my j frames. They say it could be weeks, but they always showed up in a week or so

 

[WestKentucky]

I have Altai on my j frame and love it. It’s a 32long 30-1 so recoil will be pretty much as far away of a comparison as possible, but the Altai is significantly larger than factory grips and let’s you get a much better grip. I suspect it would tame the recoil of a .357 by spreading outh the whack to the palm.

 

[cfullgraf]

In general, I’m a fan of Pachmayr grips but can understand others like of other grips, material, style and manufacturer.

I’ll agree, the Pachmayr Compac grips can feel a bit large at times.

I installed some Pachmayr Compac grips on a couple of my J frames. After shooting them a fair amount, I felt comfortable shooting J frames with the S&W Uncle Mike grips.

So, what I am suggesting, find a grip that you like for range practice and get good with the gun. Then, you can work on a good carry grip.

 

[sgt127]

This is the magic spot revolvers get me.....there is a bone right there where the backstrap nails when it torques in recoil. (Top of hand)

Yeah. Rock and a hard place my friend.

If you shoot a J Frame with grips that are easy to conceal and don’t stick against your clothes, it hurts to shoot hot ammo.

If you find grips that let you shoot hot rounds, they suck for concealment.

I’ve followed the same bunny trail you have and accepted, with my dainty little girl hands, .38 Special is my limit in a J Frame.

Ruger SP101 is the smallest gun I’ll shoot Magnums in.

 

[AZAndy]

Crimson Trace
I've tried the LG405 at a store and thought they might work. They're softer rubber and they cover the backstrap with a cushion of grip material. There's also the LG305.

I went through several sets of grips on my 640, and finally settled on these. Now I can shoot .357 in it. That little air pocket at the top of the backstrap makes a big difference.

 

[Waveski]

Personally , I gave up on .357 magnum from J frames. There has been plenty of discussion on that subject in the past , so I'll let it go at that. Regarding grips--- pictured are NIL grips. Here is everything you need to know about NIL : German made , Excellent quality and fit , EXPENSIVE. Expensive , but worth it. The gun remains stable in the hand through discharge ; conceals reasonably for me , IWB just inside of the hip bone. (No one has ever pointed and asked "What is that???")

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Find you some Herret Shooting Ace grips. My favorite on small revolvers. Might not be right for others though.

 

[Waveski]

REALLLY like the look of those Herret grips!

 

[George P]

Delta from ERGO; ugly but functional

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like and use Badger Custom grips on my I frame carry revolver. (M442) They have a good grip but since you said they are too small for you they have a combat grip which is slightly larger.

https://badgercustomgrips.com/smith-wesson/?category=J+&+E+Frame

M442 with boot grips

M640 with full grips

 

[darkcloud]

The Delta Ergo really intrigues me.

 

[Waveski]

Delta from ERGO; ugly but functional

View attachment 793042

If Darth Vader carried a J frame ...

 

[bannockburn]

Waveski

The Pachmayr Compac grip I cut down kind has a shape similar to the ERGO grip. Will have to post a photo of it when I get a chance.

 

[bannockburn]

cfullgraf

I installed some Pachmayr Compac grips on a couple of my J frames. After shooting them a fair amount, I felt comfortable shooting J frames with the S&W Uncle Mike grips. So, what I am suggesting, find a grip that you like for range practice and get good with the gun. Then, you can work on a good carry grip.

Good advice! That's what I use to do with my snubnose guns. I used the Compac grips for range time and went with the factory grip with a Tyler T-Grip for when I carried.

 

[darkcloud]

Well I ordered the the Delta ERGO. Cheap enough to try and cheap enough to experiment with modification should I desire. "Have Dremel will travel" LOL

 

[roo_ster]

I wasn’t a fan of my j frames all that much until I added the factory wood grips and a Tyler T grip. To me this is the only way to go.

Yep, after trying all sorts of grips, my favorite for J, K, L, and N frame S&W is factory wood + T-Grip.

But, the Crimson Trace Laser grip LG-105 is pretty minimalist and close enough.

 

[RPZ]

This is the magic spot revolvers get me.....there is a bone right there where the backstrap nails when it torques in recoil. (Top of hand)

View attachment 792987 Yeah. Rock and a hard place my friend.

If you shoot a J Frame with grips that are easy to conceal and don’t stick against your clothes, it hurts to shoot hot ammo.

If you find grips that let you shoot hot rounds, they suck for concealment.

I’ve followed the same bunny trail you have and accepted, with my dainty little girl hands, .38 Special is my limit in a J Frame.

Ruger SP101 is the smallest gun I’ll shoot Magnums in.

Just shoot the hot stuff finding one that shoots where you want it, and carry. Shoot the mild stuff for practice or fun.

 

[carlson1]

I love changing out grips most of the time. My take if the J Frame that I carry daily is keep it small. I have not been convinced to take a small revolver that is made to hide in concealment and place large grips on them. I attached a picture of some of J Frames and I do have over sized grips on two of them. I love the small grip with a Tyler T Grip added.

 

[bannockburn]

carlson1

I love changing out grips most of the time. My take if the J Frame that I carry daily is keep it small. I have not been convinced to take a small revolver that is made to hide in concealment and place large grips on them. I attached a picture of some of J Frames and I do have over sized grips on two of them. I love the small grip with a Tyler T Grip added.

Great minds think alike!

And I like your very nice J frame collection!

 

[bannockburn]

Waveski

This is the cut-down Pachmayr Compac grip that I wrote about earlier. Definitely smaller at the bottom of the grip and it gives the gun a more horizontal feel to it on presentation than the original design which had a more vertical aspect to it.