One grip (well, two) to Rule Them All!

[Dave DeLaurant]

Over a period compassing more years than I care to remember, I've tried out a wide variety of revolver grip sizes, shapes and brands. When they first came onto the market, I thought the Pachmayr Gripper and later the Hogue Monogrip were the absolute bee's knees with their radical-looking finger grooves. However with time and experience I found they weren't the best fit for me at the range, probably because my hands are a bit bigger than the 95th percentile. My third and fourth fingers tended to get a bit crowded together, and while I could work around finger grooves they seemed fiddly in my hand.

In time I came to accept that the much more conservative-looking Pachmayr Presentation-style grip worked better for me than most of the more stylish options. And since they were almost universally available, I could also get basically the same grip on most of my revolvers.



When it came to small frame short barrel revolvers, I had long ago fallen in love with the original Pachmayr Gripper's shape. The pinkie groove wasn't so much a finger groove as a way to reduce length front-to-back at the butt while providing more girth for the 3rd and 4th fingers. Pachmayr changed their design by the time the Ruger SP101 came out, and this new, narrower shape doesn't fit my hand quite as well as the original design.



There are a few wood grips that fit me equally well, such as the Colt factory grips on my Detective Special, but these don't play nice with HKS speedloaders.

[BTW, the little Colt actually shoots a bit better in my hands than my other snubbies due to the smooth DA trigger and beautifully configured fixed sights.]



I also like Pachmayr's black version of the Bill Jordan designed Trooper grip, but trying finding just one set for sale today. (Dark Troopers sound a bit Star Warsy nowadays)




Do you have a favorite grip shape? And have you considered standardizing one shape across multiple revolvers?

 

[357 Terms]

I like the Smith design Combat grips.
Fit my hand perfectly.
I don't really notice a higher felt recoil over rubber, at least not the few I've tried.
That, and they look fantastic!



I found something kinda similar for my little Ruger.
Personal preference, but if they fit your hand really good...

 

[Riomouse911]

I have found the wooden Thai grips to be pretty darn good for me on my lighter-kicking .38 Spl K frames. Some of my rimfire K frames have them, too.



I do have a couple of sets of Pachmayr Presentation grips, one on a .41 Mag Redhawk and one on an old-school Model 66-2 .357.




I like the compact Pachmayr and Hogue grips on small magnums, too.



Stay safe.

 

[JN01]

I like and have used Pachmayr presentations. I bought a new set a couple of years ago for a K-frame and they were poorly fitting garbage. I only have a few S&Ws now and they wear magnas and Tyler T-grips. I got a set of G10 VZ Grips for my Colt Cobra that I really like.

 

[CraigC]

For me it's a Roper, around 1.2" thick at the screw. Be they from Keith Brown....

Culina.

Zane Thompson.

Or Herrett's.

I've tried Pachmayr presentations on multiple guns and usually find them to be too narrow and long. The big Dan Wesson is the only thing I can use them on.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I’m a huge fan of the original S&W vintage grips on my revolvers. I just don’t like the look of the plastic grips. Though original grips are getting pretty expensive nowadays.

 

[sparkyv]

I like the Hogue Tamer on my big bores so much, I put them on a couple of others.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I’m a huge fan of the original S&W vintage grips on my revolvers. I just don’t like the look of the plastic grips. Though original grips are getting pretty expensive nowadays.

I know they don't work for many folks, but the factory S&W Targets fit me fine and look great, IMO.

 

[Riomouse911]

For me it's a Roper, around 1.2" thick at the screw. Be they from Keith Brown....

Culina.

Zane Thompson.

Or Herrett's.

I've tried Pachmayr presentations on multiple guns and usually find them to be too narrow and long. The big Dan Wesson is the only thing I can use them on.

Beauties posted by Craig C, as usual!

Stay safe.

 

[Riomouse911]

I know they don't work for many folks, but the factory S&W Targets fit me fine and look great, IMO.
View attachment 1179272View attachment 1179273View attachment 1179275View attachment 1179276

They always look great with the factory targets… and yours are no exception.

Sadly, I’m one of those who has hands that don’t work well with them.

Stay safe.

 

[Gork10]

I'v got magna's with grip adapters on several S&W's. But I'm really liking this Altamonte grips. If they work out I might be replacing some other grips with these.

 

[Jonesy814]

For me it's a Roper, around 1.2" thick at the screw. Be they from Keith Brown....

Culina.

Zane Thompson.

Or Herrett's.

I've tried Pachmayr presentations on multiple guns and usually find them to be too narrow and long. The big Dan Wesson is the only thing I can use them on.

Wow! Some awesome wood there.

 

[Jonesy814]

I really like this style of Thai grip from Ebay
They look good and the set on my 686 does well with recoil

 

[Tallball]

Something like this usually works best for me, too. Like the OP, my hands are XXL. Finger grooves are usually not helpful. Factory grips on J and K frames are never large enough.

Smith And Wesson K22

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Wow Jonesy, you hit the jackpot with the grain on this grip!

 

[StrawHat]

You might say I have a type.




And the rest are stocked the same.

Kevin

 

[Rodfac]

In time I came to accept that the much more conservative-looking Pachmayr Presentation-style grip worked better for me than most of the more stylish options. And since they were almost universally available, I could also get basically the same grip on most of my revolvers.

God's truth...I love the wood, but for real recoil control, on "K's & N's" nothing beats the FUGLY Presentation. On my "J's", the Monogrip does the trick. For me it's the solid 2nd knuckle rap that really makes it painful....the rubber with its lower profile on the rear of the trigger guard mitigates that. I've never found a pair of wood grips that fill like those Presentations though.

For light loads, target up to say 950 fps, Altamont's Roper design works ok in wood, but anything stiffer than those light velocities, is painful. Altamont's Ropers on my 629 below...pretty, but only for light loads....Monogrips on the rarely seen, Smith M-60-15 with its 5" bbl. Now my #1 son's trail piece. Holsters I made up for Xmas last year. Best Regards, Rod

Rod

​

 

[MrBorland]

Uncle Mike’s SB, often with the bottom finger groove carved off.

 

[StrawHat]

God's truth...I love the wood, but for real recoil control, on "K's & N's" nothing beats the FUGLY Presentation. On my "J's", the Monogrip does the trick. For me it's the solid 2nd knuckle rap that really makes it painful....the rubber with its lower profile on the rear of the trigger guard mitigates that. I've never found a pair of wood grips that fill like those Presentations though.

For light loads, target up to say 950 fps, Altamont's Roper design works ok in wood, but anything stiffer than those light velocities, is painful. Altamont's Ropers on my 629 below...pretty, but only for light loads....Monogrips on the rarely seen, Smith M-60-15 with its 5" bbl. Now my #1 son's trail piece. Holsters I made up for Xmas last year. Best Regards, Rod

Rod

​

Good looking leather!

Teach your kids how to sew them?

Kevin

 

[Jonesy814]

View attachment 1179349

Wow Jonesy, you hit the jackpot with the grain on this grip!

That was my first set of Thai grips. Got them about 2014. They were under $40, shipped. There were 3 or 4 of this style available but this was the only set with dark wood. Here is the other side in outdoor lighting. That grain is why I bought them.

 

[CajunBass]

Generally speaking, I just keep whatever grips came on the gun when I bought it. Usually they're factory Smith and Wesson or Colt. I will add a BK adapter to Magna's.

My Smith and Wesson 29-10 came with factory Altamont's that I thought were too narrow, and they didn't fit right. First Altamont's I've seen like that, but I have no idea if they're original to the gun or not since I got it used. They never seemed to want to to tighten up and always felt a little loose. The backstrap also stuck up proud, so I ordered a set of Pachmayr grippers for it. Those didn't fit either, leaving a gap in the front. I then got a set of Hogues and like them quite a bit....so far anyway.

I do like the look of the Pachmayr Presentations. They look like serious business.

 

[Mark 40]

Do you have a favorite grip shape? And have you considered standardizing one shape across multiple revolvers?

I'm very partial to rubber grips. My hands are smallish and overall my grip strength isn't the greatest. Rubber grips feel better in hand, my ability to grip them better and prefer their mild tackiness. Prefer finger grooves if possible as well. My LCR has an OEM Hogue Tamer that fits me well. Have a Hogue Monogrip on a Model 63 and a Pachmayr Compac on a Model 34 with square butt. The King Cobra OEM Rubber grip suits me well. And my Officers Model Match sports Houge Monogrip. It leaves the back strap exposed which is essential for me to reach the trigger.

I've often thought my M63, M34, KC and OMM deserve beautiful wood grips like many of you have. But since I shoot these on a regular basis and have the needs expressed above, the rubber are essential for my enjoyment.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Straw H

You might say I have a type.

View attachment 1179411
View attachment 1179412

And the rest are stocked the same.

Kevin

Straw Hat, I'm belatedly coming to really like T-grips, or BK grips, or whatever.
When I was first shooting, we considered them to be old school, fuddy-duddy, and decidedly uncool.
Times, and opinions, change.
Nice collection!
Moon

 

[Charlie98]

Pachy Grippers for me...

The wood stocks go back on when they are home, but when we go out, they dress in black...

Factory grips don't really fit my hands well. I have fairly big hands, but I have very long fingers, most stocks... like the N-frame Target stocks... pound my middle finger knuckle into putty. The one exception I've found is my large-frame Dan Wesson, for some reason THOSE grips fit my hands perfectly.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I despise rubber grips(Goodyears) on revolvers. Makes "em"look bulky and ugly. Only nice wood grips for me.