My father recently gave me a s&w 60-9. I would like to carry this gun with .357 magnum loads. The stock grips that are on it are a little too small for me, as I have large hands with long fingers. I have been looking at acquiring a set of Pachmayr Compacs. I'm wondering if any members here have any experience with the Pachmayr Compacs and j-frame snubs. I am specifically interested in peoples thoughts on .357 recoil with these grips, as well as thoughts on their concealability. Be advised, I have posted this on a couple of other forums within this site. Thanks in advance. :wavey:
Pachmayr Compacs
- Thread starter lilop
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I use them on .38 snub and three-inch guns They cut recoil effect, and allow a sturdy grip on the gun when my hands are sweaty.
But they are slightly tacky, and can cause the gun to "print" if clothing catches. True of all rubber grips, I guess. How and where you carry makes a difference. Clothing textures, etc.
I use the larger Presentation and Gripper grips on larger frames, and they also give outstanding service. I much prefer them to other rubber grips.
I suspect that the Compac will hit your hand quite a bit less than will wooden grips in small .357's.
Lone Star
But they are slightly tacky, and can cause the gun to "print" if clothing catches. True of all rubber grips, I guess. How and where you carry makes a difference. Clothing textures, etc.
I use the larger Presentation and Gripper grips on larger frames, and they also give outstanding service. I much prefer them to other rubber grips.
I suspect that the Compac will hit your hand quite a bit less than will wooden grips in small .357's.
Lone Star
indiandave
Member
I have Pachmayr Dcelerator grips on my Model 60. They do a good job with recoil. .357's out of a J frame are not fun but you can do it with these grips.
They are a little bigger the the Uncle Mike's that came with the gun. J frames are small guns so the grips you find won't be as large as the grips on a K or L frame gun.
They are a little bigger the the Uncle Mike's that came with the gun. J frames are small guns so the grips you find won't be as large as the grips on a K or L frame gun.
...no, i haven't had a chance to handle them...only seen them on the internet...i have seen a picture of them that another forum member posted, but firsthand experiences are much more helpful in helping to decide if i want to take a chance on them.
lilop-
Sure, I agree. If you can attend a gun show and handle guns of the sort that you want equipped with them, it's well worth the effort.
FYI, the current model is joined along one side, and has to be forced open to get the grip unit on the gun. Older ones were two separate panels, as with most grips. They are a little trimmer and fit my hands better. Some grip dealers have them (used) for as little as five bucks a set. Worth looking for, or asking about. Some dealers will sell you a set off of a used gun, if they have other grips for that gun.
But, if you can, take your gun in and try the grips on it. Some sets of grips may not quite fit all guns of a given model, as with other grips. Minor manufacturing differences occur, in both grips and guns. But the Pachmayrs do tend to fit more guns than will wooden, ivory, etc. grips. Those usually have to be handfitted to a particular frame.
Good luck in finding the grips that you really like. They make a world of difference in how well you'll like a gun.
Lone Star
Sure, I agree. If you can attend a gun show and handle guns of the sort that you want equipped with them, it's well worth the effort.
FYI, the current model is joined along one side, and has to be forced open to get the grip unit on the gun. Older ones were two separate panels, as with most grips. They are a little trimmer and fit my hands better. Some grip dealers have them (used) for as little as five bucks a set. Worth looking for, or asking about. Some dealers will sell you a set off of a used gun, if they have other grips for that gun.
But, if you can, take your gun in and try the grips on it. Some sets of grips may not quite fit all guns of a given model, as with other grips. Minor manufacturing differences occur, in both grips and guns. But the Pachmayrs do tend to fit more guns than will wooden, ivory, etc. grips. Those usually have to be handfitted to a particular frame.
Good luck in finding the grips that you really like. They make a world of difference in how well you'll like a gun.
Lone Star
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sidheshooter
Member
I've had very good luck with the compacs on J frames over the years. Like Lone Star, I prefer the original recipe 2-piece grips.
With these grips, you can shoot almost anything in comfort, IMHO.
The only downside is that they greatly increase the size of the carry package (again, IMHO). If the grip is going to be K-frame sized, may as well carry the K-frame (!)
Actually, I currently have compacts on both a K-Frame, as well as a Rossi 6-shot .357. I really like the feel of the pachmayrs for shooting, but they are bigger than stock J grips, FWIW.
With these grips, you can shoot almost anything in comfort, IMHO.
The only downside is that they greatly increase the size of the carry package (again, IMHO). If the grip is going to be K-frame sized, may as well carry the K-frame (!)
Actually, I currently have compacts on both a K-Frame, as well as a Rossi 6-shot .357. I really like the feel of the pachmayrs for shooting, but they are bigger than stock J grips, FWIW.
I respectfully disagree that a Presentation Compac grip makes a J-frame gun as large as a K-framed one! I compared two of mine side-by-side, and the K-frame is, of course, substantially bigger. And not just in the grip area!
However, it is true that if minimal size is required, a Tyler T-Grip adaptor is the better answer. BUT...the gun will belt you considerably if you fire .357 loads. There's some tradeoff in most such issues.
However, it is true that if minimal size is required, a Tyler T-Grip adaptor is the better answer. BUT...the gun will belt you considerably if you fire .357 loads. There's some tradeoff in most such issues.
sidheshooter
Member
I can dig it.
To be a bit more clear; I was refering specifically to the grip–which is the hardest thing to conceal on a carry piece (IMHO, of course, that's just my thinking) and a compac on a j frame (or any other rubber grip that fully encloses the backstrap and bottom of the grip) will come awfully close to a standard round butt K with a stock grip and, say, a t-adaptor.
The question then arises as to whether one would do better with a K-frame snubbie (thus gaining a round) or just staying with the slightly more slender J.
The answer is definitely open to both debate and personal choice!
Right now, I'm *really* pining for this S&W model 12 I spotted at my local mom n pop store; it's a 2-inch airweight RB K, weighing in at 19 oz.
That's shy of what my 3" chief weighs; and I also have fat grips on that gun to make it easier to shoot.
I have enough Ks to know that I could still shoot the K frame 12 better than the rubber-stocked chief–even with just a t-grip... and the weight and ease of concealment would be very close between the two guns so equiped (again, in my opinion, of course).
At any rate, that's just one opinion. I still love the compacs for feel and recoil absorbtion on the smaller wheelguns, FWEIW. If I was going to be shooting .357 rounds out of a 5-shot J, that's the grip I'd buy.
To be a bit more clear; I was refering specifically to the grip–which is the hardest thing to conceal on a carry piece (IMHO, of course, that's just my thinking) and a compac on a j frame (or any other rubber grip that fully encloses the backstrap and bottom of the grip) will come awfully close to a standard round butt K with a stock grip and, say, a t-adaptor.
The question then arises as to whether one would do better with a K-frame snubbie (thus gaining a round) or just staying with the slightly more slender J.
The answer is definitely open to both debate and personal choice!
Right now, I'm *really* pining for this S&W model 12 I spotted at my local mom n pop store; it's a 2-inch airweight RB K, weighing in at 19 oz.
That's shy of what my 3" chief weighs; and I also have fat grips on that gun to make it easier to shoot.
I have enough Ks to know that I could still shoot the K frame 12 better than the rubber-stocked chief–even with just a t-grip... and the weight and ease of concealment would be very close between the two guns so equiped (again, in my opinion, of course).
At any rate, that's just one opinion. I still love the compacs for feel and recoil absorbtion on the smaller wheelguns, FWEIW. If I was going to be shooting .357 rounds out of a 5-shot J, that's the grip I'd buy.
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