[ravencon]

I've been doing some online browsing in preparation for ordering a couple of sets of revolver grips. It seems that among quality wood grips finger grooved grips are far more common.

I admit I've have some grooved grips that are OK, but for me most of them just don't feel right. Am I the only one that much prefers smooth grips over finger grooved grips?

[AirForceShooter]

Nope:
I use smooth grips on all my hand guns.
Wheelies and sliders.

I just like them that way. I don't like grooves or checkering.

AFS

[Jamie C.]

Never met a set of finger-grooved grips that really fit my hand. Make mine smooth.


J.C.

[BobMcG]

I have three sets of finger grove stocks that work just fine for me. Two wood and uncheckered and one rubber with checkering.

[daveInME]

I like finger grooves on my guns.
I get a better more consistent draw with them, no matter the weather.

I started using them when I shot IPSC and IDPA, never had to worry about a fast draw and my hand being in the slightly wrong position.

for my target guns, I have someone in Texas custom make wood grips to my hand. they fit like a glove.

[lesjones]

All of my rubber grips have had finger grooves and I like them fine. Mostly Hogues and Crimson Trace.

I've got some wood finger groove grips (S&W finger groove combat grips, I think they're called) and I don't care for them. I think it has more to do with the lack of checkering combined with the overly-slick finish than the grooves, though. Under recoil the gun drives back into the web of my hand. I just can't keep a good grip on it.

My 625JM had the Jerry Miculek smooth wood grips with no grooves and I liked them a lot. I think the difference there is the overall grip shape and non-slick finish.

[foghornl]

All of my revolvers except 1 are Ruger Single-Actions, so I don't use finger-groove grips on them.

Did try a set on my Vaquero...didn't like them with STOUT loads.

Now, on my slab-sided-slide-guns, I DO want the grooves. I bought a Pearce Grips brand thingy that goes under the panels on my 1911 and gives me grooves that wrap around the front of the grip...works for me, but does look.......ahhhhh odd on my "GI-45"

[19-3Ben]

I have finger groove grips on the Ruger Sp101 that is on my hip as I write this. I personally prefer them to smooth ones most of the time. Hogue must use a mold that is exactly the shape of my hand though, because Hogues just work perfectly on my SP101, and on my other carry gun, the Sig P232. they both point perfectly naturally for me and I love the feel.
Like DaveinME, I find that on a quick draw, I am more consistently on target and with a more consistently proper grip on the gun with finger grips than with smooth.

[Joe Gunns]

On a smaller frame like a S&W J, I like finger grooves. On larger grip frames and single actions I prefer no finger grooves. I prefer wood.

[mnw42]

I have a Tyler grip adapter on my S&W 22. It really makes the grips fill my hand.

[Walkalong]

A lot of grooved grips do not fit my hands. The S&W "Combat Grips" on the 696 & 686 L frame guns do though. I really like them, but for most revolver apps I like smooth. I particularly like the Redhawk grips.

[BlindJustice]

I have:

S&W 617 with Guy Hogue Full size grips, no finger
grooves or checkering in Coco Bolo wood.with the
white spacer and Rosewood butt end. Each piece of
wood is different but I lucked out with a beautiful example
of Coco BOlo orange/balck and the heavy 617 hardly
kicks so they work well and look great.

S&W 686P with Guy Hogue Compact finger grooves &
Checkered, Rosewood. The finger grooves and checkering
help to manage the recoil of the .357 Mag. I first tried
the grips for the 617 and the smooth grips did not manage
the recoil/handling very well. The compact size taper
toward the butt of the grip so it fits the little finger better
than the full size grip size for me.

I also have an N-frame 625 with Full size finger grooved
and checkered grips in Rosewood. Size wise
they 'fit' the size of the N frame and work well

I have long hands, but not beefy ones, FYI but
I also have a J-frame MOdel 60 3" barrel and with the
stock grips and like them well enough to not change
to an aftermarket wood grip - at least for now, I'm
tempted to order something identical in Tulipwood since
the gun will someday pass to my grand daughter.

Both the stock rubber and Hogue wood checkering is
more lines thus smaller than the stock wood S&W grips I have
experienced.

On the flip side with the 1911 I like smooth
grips - ebony w/palm swell and another set in
Rosewood... couldn't stand the stock checkered
rubber grips so go figger.

[GaryP]

I prefer Checkered wood without finger grips on all my revolvers! :)

:evil:

[floridaboy]

I have wooden Hogue's grips, finger grooved, on my M686 and my M24. A little judicious sanding, and they fit my hand perfectly. I've had the same grips on these 2 guns for about 20 years now. I'd say they're keepers.

[DawgFvr]

I used to like smooth w/Tyler, however, I now have finger grips...but they were cusomized to my smaller hands by Gemini. Customization may be expensive...but Lordy it's worth it.

[20nickels]

After some trial and error, I'm about to put Miculek's on everything.

[steelyblue]

My 686 has grooves, and I'm considering shopping for something else. They are to large for my small hands. I like my 1911's for that very reason. Single stack and no hogue! If I happen onto a good set of smooth grips, I'll be all over them.

[Jkwas]

what about pachmayr presentation grips, any good?

[98C5]

I LOVE my finger grooves on my 29!!

:D:D:D

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/VinnyT73/44.jpg

[DC3-CVN-72]

the Hogue rubber finger groove grips that come stock on S&W revolvers fit me perfictly. I have med. size hands with longer than average fingers. I'm one of the lucky people that can get a good grip on almost any handgun.:)

[birdbustr]

I got some finger groove grips in silver/black for my .357 S&W model 66 nickel at grips4guns.com. These fit my hand great. Greatly improved from the old factory grip.

[wnycollector]

Smooth here...but maybe a Tyler T-grip on a J frame!

[bigmike45]

To me it depends on the gun. Some feel better with one type of grip, yet others feel best with another. Nothing set in stone as I use them all.

bigmike

[Shawnee]

Like many of the others I seem to have hands that simply were not made for grooved grips. Have tried them on a few guns and always declined.
Have used and liked rubber, non-grooved grips on my L-frame and on one of my Blackhawks. All the rest I've owned (about 15, and mostly S/As) have worn smooth wood or faux-ivory grips.

[Brasso]

No fingers grooves for me. They always prevent a nice high grip. I don't mind checkering though.

In my best "Waterboy" accent: Finger grooves are of the devil!

[Feanaro]

No finger grooves but I do like checkering. Finger grooves prevent a good, high grip and just don't fit me too well. Plus, they look silly. ;)

[Serpico]

I just got this silly looking pair on ebay for my 19....they fit real nice...the old Smith combats had deep finger pads along the side...these just have very subtle front grooves that will fit most hands...

http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/album/00000364/smith_grips1.jpg

[Checkman]

I like the old Pachmyer Presentation grips. The only finger groove grip I have are the Pachmyer Grippers on my 686P.

I like the look of wood grips, but I prefer Goodyears for shooting my revolvers.

[22-rimfire]

I have one question which concerns grip selection.... how do you determine what feels right for you? I have both styles of grips. Some are large and some are smaller. It has always been a trial and error thing for me. Maybe if I understood what makes me think they feel right and what doesn't, I'll shoot better.

For you, how do you determine what feels right? Do you think of the grip as a sort of glove that your hand sits on top or do you kind of blanket the grips with both hands?

[Jayb]

how do you determine what feels right for you?

I tell every new shooter I teach to shop for a handgun just like they shop for shoes.

1. do you like how it looks
2. do they feel "right" in your hands
3. can you afford them

Go to as many gun shows, and gun shops as you can get to and handle everything they have. I doubt there's a checklist that will apply to everyone. You should be able to pick up a handgun, shut your eyes, heft it a bit, and then decide if it feels "right" or not. Unless your hands and tastes are just like mine, telling you what grips I prefer won't do you a bit of good.

Shopping is fun........ get after it........ ;)

[22-rimfire]

I brought this up because this thread has been pretty much... I have this or that and like this or that. I have handled and shot lots of guns. The only grips that I can honestly say feel right for me are usually Pachmayr's on guns I shoot often. They aren't pretty though. I do like the smaller GP100 grips, but don't like how they look. They are very "Kmart". I have not handled many custom type grips. But they sure are purdy!

[theNoid]

Very seldomly have I held a pair of grooved that fit my hands properly. So I guess unless I was able to try them before buying, I will stick with smoothies.

Noidster

[fallingblock]

After much trial and error, I find that smooth grips provide a smoother
and more 'repeatable' grip for me.

I even removed the grooves from my J frame Uncle Mikes grips.

[oklahoma caveman]

i like single action and smooth wood grips just really seem to fit them nicely. although checkering is ok i stay away from finger grooves

[Sgt.Dusk]

I'd like to have a fingergrooved handle, but because I have a really big hand
there are no choices available. So I take smooth.

[John Ross]

IF they're right, I prefer fingergooves. Most grips are much too big at the bottom. Your knuckles should all be in a vertical line. The best out-of-the-box grips for me are Jim Badger's round-to-square-butt conversion grips. Try them.

JR

[Ed from Maine]

Pachmayr Presentations are excellent quality, but it depends on the piece. I tried a pair on my 625JM (unlike some, I don't like the Miculek grips), and they looked good, but didn't hold so good for me. Right now I have uncheckered tulipwood two groove Spegal boot grips on , which are surprisingly comfortable to me, my pinky wraps around beneath and comes on the inside rear corner. I have Pachmayr Grippers on a K frame and on a J frame, and they do fine.

[Greek]

I also like Jim Badger's grips.

I have them on two Model 10s, and one Model 60.

My 617 and 686 have finger grooved Hogue rubber grips.

My wife's 442 has Crimson Trace grips but before that she had Badger grips on it.