S & W 29-2 grip question

[burk]

I recently picked up a mint S & W 29-2 4" in a trade for a Ruger LCR (even up). Yep, I know good deal.

Anyway, I wanted the gun primarily to carry in Bear country (I flyfish in AK and MT) and so I'll be running some heavier loads with it ( probably 300 grain Buffalo Bores). I'd like to find some grips to help absorb the recoil, I've heard the S & W 500 grips do a great job and cover the back strap but according to Smith they fit round butt guns only. The 29-2 is a square butt, any alternative suggestions?

 

[a-sheepdog]

Disregard

 

[tnelson31]

I have some pachemeyers from that era, i did not think they made a big enough difference and i switched back to wood.

Sometimes i shoot with a deerskin glove, that helps.

 

[Starter52]

Hogue rubber monogrips. They work for me with my 4" Model 29 and 240 grain Hornady factory loads.

 

[dickydalton]

Hogue Mono-Grip is on my 629 since 1979. I have shot way too many heavy loads through it and 2 deer. They are fine.

 

[burk]

My only hesitation on the Hogues is they don't cover the backstraps, Have you had any issues with them? Remember this is a 4" and non-ported.

 

[eldon519]

The current factory rubber grips cover the backstrap, but I don't know if they fit a square butt.

 

[burk]

Well, I went with the Hogues, sadly on the sq butt they don't cover the backstraps. We'll see.

 

[BCRider]

From playing around with the grips on my Super Blackhawk I found that the recoil management comes more from a wider and even pressure contact to the shooter's hand than it does from some slim amount of rubber over the back strap. So if the Hogue rubber grips fit your hand and you are able to feel a firm and even contact pressure around the web area and down onto the main part of your palm I'd say you'll be just fine.

On the other hand if you feel like you have firm and light contact patches at various points then you are likely going to feel the gun jump around in your grip a lot. And it'll tend to be tough on your hand as a result. Especially if one of the areas of light contact pressure is the upper backstrap area covered by your thumb, forefinger and web of your hand and the upper palm area just below the web. You really want that portion filled in and giving back a nice even grip pressure feel. Otherwise it seems like the gun can build up some serious speed and really hits the hand hard. Sort of the handgun equivalent of holding the butt of a rifle stock loosely to the shoulder and letting go with a big hit cartridge.

I've got the same issue with a set of rubber grips on another revolver. To try to fill the gap I'm experimenting with some foam "cork" tape used for drop style road bicycle handlebar wrapping It's about 3/32 inch thick and tapers out to a thin edge. It's got a band of self adhesive along the middle so it makes it nice for trial fitting and shooting. Once it fits well I'll mark and remove the piece and secure it with something like contact cement that can be easily cleaned away at a future time. I gotta get going for the day just now but I'll try to post a picture later on for those that are interested.

 

[CraigC]

Grips that properly fit and fill your hand will do more for shooting comfort than any kind of soft material. Rubbers are cheap but they rarely fit well.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I like Nill grips for S&W revolvers. I also agree with Craig's assertion. If the Hogues fit you though, then carry on.

 

[BYJO4]

I prefer rubber grips for shooting as they just feel more comfortable when dealing with recoil. I have wood grips for display but rarely put them on any more.

 

[huntershooter]

Herrett's "Jordan Troopers" are my favorites on hard recoiling revolvers.
They cover the backstrap.

Troopers on far right: