Model 15 Grips

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C&L

Well the nickel plated one is looking mighty stylish with those stag grips while it's blued brethren has that classic walnut grip thing down pat!
 
high country said:
I landed a Model 15 on GB that looks like it is going to rapidly be one of my favorites, and for a price I was quite happy with. It is a 15-4 (made the same year as me by the serial number) with just the right amount of wear to make it a good shooter, but seemingly fired very little. It seems to shoot great with my go to HBWC and DEWC loads over bullseye, although I have only had a chance to run about 100 rounds through it and haven't fiddled with the sights to correct those rounds hitting a little low.

It came with the target grips on it, and they are not great for my hand. They are very wide, so I am gripping the sides, rather than the front and back straps. I prefer a grip that is narrower and longer so I am forcing the backstrap into the web of my hand with pressure on the front strap, rather than clamping it between my fingertips and palm.

I think I have narrowed it down to a few options to try for grips:
- Magna grips with a T-Grip - it seems like the Tyler T-grip is hard to come by/expensive, I would appreciate recommendations of other brands ($25 for some grips, and ? for the t-grip)
- Ahrends retro combat, or boot grip - not sure how I feel about the finger grooves, but these seem to get rave reviews, plus they are pretty ($100 with the tung oil finish)
- VZ 320 in black cherry - despite being composite, these do look nice in the pictures, and would be more durable. Review seem to be that they are on the thinner side, and people seem to like them ($80)

I don't like the way the houges look on a square butt, and I am not a big fan of the pachmayr grippers. The finger grooves don't seem to hit quite right for me. Sorry for the long winded post, and if this has been done to death, but any insight or thoughts on those options or other options I am missing would be greatly appreciated!
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I like the service grips with a T grip. I have that on my Chief's Special.

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I also like the boot grips from Badger Custom.

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bannockburn said:
C&L

Well the nickel plated one is looking mighty stylish with those stag grips while it's blued brethren has that classic walnut grip thing down pat!
Click to expand...


Thanks! My father bought the blued one NIB years ago and only shot it a few times. He passed it on to me years ago and I in turn passed it on to my oldest son. The model 15 is 100 miles away from me now but I'm still "allowed" to shoot it at times. :thumbup:
 
Pat Riot said:
I have these Pachmayr’s on my model 19-4 and 17-3:

Pachmayr Gripper Grips for S and W, K and L Frame Square Butt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002INPFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_LfaC4LZtLOmwl

View attachment 935000

They aren’t sexy but the give me a much better grip that the factory target grips. I have big hands but never cared for the wide bottom of factory target grips.

Regarding the BK “t-grip”.
I have a BK on my model 10 and had one on my model 36. They help with your grip if you have Magnas, but as I said before I have big hands so I find that on my model 10 I have to readjust my grip sometimes while shooting. I am looking for new grips for it but I refuse to lose the lanyard ring do that makes grip selection a little hard.

Both my BK grip adapters needed minor fitting to snug up to the gun frame. A small file made short work of that as the grip adaptor is plastic. Take it from me - Don’t use a Dremel tool. :uhoh:

Here is my model 10-7 C&E revolver with the BK adapter.

View attachment 935002

Here is my model 36 before installing a Hogue Monogrip. I am thinking about putting the Magnas back on with the BK adapter.

View attachment 935001

I hope you find a grip solution. It can be a pain to find what works for you. I am actually considering Altamont grips for my K frames but I do like the feel of the Pachmayr grip when shooting.
Click to expand...

Wood on a revolver always looks better, but my shooting comfort and my accuracy improve dramatically with either those Pachmayr Gripper’s or the old Uncle Mike’s rubber grips that are no longer available. I’ve tried factory Magna’s with and without a Tyler grip adapter, factory Target grips, Altamont, and God knows how many others. None feel as good or let me shoot as accurately as those Pachmayr Grippers. The Uncle Mike’s are a close second. One time, I shot 50 rounds with the factory Magna grips, took them off and put the Pachmayr grips on, and fired another 50. Groups were much more accurate and comfortable to shoot with the Pachmayr. I’ve stopped fighting it.

I have three Model 10’s. One of them is in such nice shape I rarely shoot it. It still has really nice Altamont grips with the S&W medallions. Nice to look at but doesn’t feel as nice in the hands as the rubber. One of the other has rubber Crimson Trace grips(the house gun the wife would grab if she needed a gun. I shoot well with it too), and the other has the Pachmayr. I still have the serial number matching factory grips for them but they’ll never be on there unless I sell the guns. A model 67 I have wears the Uncle Mike’s. Same experiment with shooting with the wood and then with the rubber. Not even close.

No use fighting it. Rubber for me. I could spend hundreds trying out all the beautiful wood grips out there and end up with a box of beautiful wood grips Why bother when $25 gets me something that feels great and let’s me hit what I’m aiming at?
 
I got a set of used magna grips and a BK grip adapter this week. I haven't sent the Pachmayr gripper pro back yet because I want to give it a try first, but I am really not thrilled by the rough fit of those to the frame. They do feel decent through.

The magna grips with the grip adapter are likely to be the winner, they really fill the hand nicely. The magna grip is maybe a little thicker than I would like, but the combo really gives you something to hold onto without being huge like the target grips. Hoping to get to the range early next week, and will shoot with both of them to see what I think.

Neither of these options is going to win an award for looks, but this is on a shooter grade gun that is going to get used, so I don't really care that much. A super nice set of grips may look a little out of place with the worn bluing.

Thanks again for all of the great suggestions in this thread, and all the eye-candy photos. I need to find one of those 2" model 10s next...
 
Rubber grips are great at times ...but, need to take them off often and clean under them. Moisture from sweat, condensation, etc. stays under them and will eventually rust and pit the gun in that area. Even happens on stainless steel guns.

Happened on this Bulldog .44 that I often carry.

414081101.jpg

412303153.jpg
 
I just put one of the inexpensive Hogue nylon monogrips on my Combat Masterpiece. I think I'm gonna like it. It fills up behind the triggerguard almost completely, so it shouldn't knock my knuckle when shooting. I have large hands and guns (like everything else) just don't fit me. If this shoots out OK, then I'm going to order a wood one, so it will look like something. ;)
 
Cocked & Locked---Don't you take your wood grips off to clean the moisture from sweat, condensation etc. also ?
 
A84E61FA-3E83-4AEE-A64C-6845AC04850E.jpeg
Police trade in came with the Pachmyers. Not fancy, but they work well.

The powder load On the target is wrong. The load I am shooting with the 148 DEWC is 3.4 Bullseye.
 
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wgf said:
View attachment 938152
Police trade in came with the Pachmyers. Not fancy, but they work well.
Click to expand...

I do like the look of those Pachmayr presentation grips. The reviews say they are quite wide, although I have never actually put my hands on a set. If you know, how do the dimensions compare to the magna grips, factory target grips, or Pachmayr grippers?

Also, 5.6 grains of bullseye under a 148 DEWC, that has to be .357 right? I am trying to dial in a DEWC load for my Model 15. It has very tight throats and bore, to where I am almost thinking I could resize to .357 before loading. I considered opening up the throats to .358, but then it would have a pretty big squeeze down in size in the forcing cone. I haven't spent the time to get a good measurement on groove diameter, but it is smaller than the throats, and the throats are right at .357. Pushing a cast .358 DEWC through by hand pressure is almost impossible.

I got some leading the last time I used it, but shot 148 HBWC over 2.8gr, and 148 DEWC over 3.2 and 3.5gr, so I am not sure which load did the leading. I will pay more attention next time, I just got too caught up in the enjoyment of shooting a nice old S&W.

Sorry, I digress...
 
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I don’t know the grip measurements they do feel long and thin compared to most other grips. When I say long I mean fore and aft. Thin means right and left to me.

Thank you for catching the powder load mistake. I editEd the post. I used 3.4 grains of Bullseye. I had no leading. I don’t know the bullet hardness number, but a finger nail won’t dent them. The bullets were labeled 358. I did not size them . I can not push them through the throats. I can push a 356 bullet through with a pencil.

I agree these are very fun to shoot. Smooth triggers and actions, very accurate. Everything about them seems first class.
 
wgf said:
I don’t know the grip measurements they do feel long and thin compared to most other grips. When I say long I mean fore and aft. Thin means right and left to me.

Thank you for catching the powder load mistake. I editEd the post. I used 3.4 grains of Bullseye. I had no leading. I don’t know the bullet hardness number, but a finger nail won’t dent them. The bullets were labeled 358. I did not size them . I can not push them through the throats. I can push a 356 bullet through with a pencil.

I agree these are very fun to shoot. Smooth triggers and actions, very accurate. Everything about them seems first class.
Click to expand...

That sounds identical to the throat diameter on mine, and the MBC bullets I am using sound similar too. Good to know you aren't seeing leading.

CraigC said:
I prefer a Roper style grip. These are from Herrett's and Culina.

View attachment 938435
Click to expand...

Those darker ones are really nice looking, great figure in the wood! Which are those, the Herrett's or Culina?
 
high country said:
I do like the look of those Pachmayr presentation grips. The reviews say they are quite wide, although I have never actually put my hands on a set. If you know, how do the dimensions compare to the magna grips, factory target grips, or Pachmayr grippers?

Also, 5.6 grains of bullseye under a 148 DEWC, that has to be .357 right? I am trying to dial in a DEWC load for my Model 15. It has very tight throats and bore, to where I am almost thinking I could resize to .357 before loading. I considered opening up the throats to .358, but then it would have a pretty big squeeze down in size in the forcing cone. I haven't spent the time to get a good measurement on groove diameter, but it is smaller than the throats, and the throats are right at .357. Pushing a cast .358 DEWC through by hand pressure is almost impossible.

I got some leading the last time I used it, but shot 148 HBWC over 2.8gr, and 148 DEWC over 3.2 and 3.5gr, so I am not sure which load did the leading. I will pay more attention next time, I just got too caught up in the enjoyment of shooting a nice old S&W.

Sorry, I digress...
Click to expand...

If you want good accuracy then your throats need to be .001" larger than your overall barrel bore diameter. Since most .38/.357 barrels are near enough to spot on .357 your cylinder throats need to measure .358 as should your lead projectiles. A one thou squeeze is nothing and is the way most .38/.357 revolvers are designed. If your throats measure .357 then they have been manufactured to small. Performance and accuracy should greatly benefit if the throats are carefully reamed out to .358.

At the moment you're pushing .358 projectiles through .357 throats which then will not seal in a .358 diameter barrel. Consequently you get gas bypass which melts your projectiles and leads your barrel.
 
high country

I also found that the finger grooves on the Pachmayr Gripper grips didn't quite line up properly with my smaller size hand. So I filed, sanded, and gradually reshaped the grooves so that they're a much better fit now.
1ebfioR.jpg
bcuTh6A.jpg

I also like the Tyler T-Grip adapter but mostly with J frame snubbies.
7l9ZPw2.jpg
poKELn4.jpg
 
I have tried a lot of different grips for S&W revolvers, all the factory options and most aftermarket grips and finally settled for Nills. Second choice for SB are S&W fingergrooved combat grips and Herretts.

4-SW-19.jpg
SW-19x3.jpg
 
Old Dog said:
I used to like the Altamonts, but I'm not now liking laminated grips as much -- carved grips seem more natural (and the wear causes character, not chips like on laminated stocks).
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I like the shape of many Altamonts, but the laminated grips just remind me of fancy plywood.
 
Scooter686 said:
If you want good accuracy then your throats need to be .001" larger than your overall barrel bore diameter. Since most .38/.357 barrels are near enough to spot on .357 your cylinder throats need to measure .358 as should your lead projectiles. A one thou squeeze is nothing and is the way most .38/.357 revolvers are designed. If your throats measure .357 then they have been manufactured to small. Performance and accuracy should greatly benefit if the throats are carefully reamed out to .358.

At the moment you're pushing .358 projectiles through .357 throats which then will not seal in a .358 diameter barrel. Consequently you get gas bypass which melts your projectiles and leads your barrel.
Click to expand...

I agree that is the general rule. On this particular handgun, the throats are 0.357, but the bore seems tighter than normal. I haven't taken the time to get a precise measurement of the bore but if I push a slug through a throat, it is still tight going into the bore through the cone. I get a little light leading using most of the loads I have tried so far, but nothing major like I have gotten from tight Ruger throats. That said, I will probably rent a reamer and open these up to 0.358 which would likely get rid of that little bit of leading I am seeing.

bannockburn said:
high country

I also found that the finger grooves on the Pachmayr Gripper grips didn't quite line up properly with my smaller size hand. So I filed, sanded, and gradually reshaped the grooves so that they're a much better fit now.
]
Click to expand...

I think that this may be the route I end up going. I got a set of the gripper pro grips (that don't cover the backstrap), and they are close enough that I am working on getting them to fit to the frame and my hand a little better. As beautiful as those nicely finished wood grips are, if I gouge a rubber grip carrying it in a holsters, I don't care.

I tried on a set of magna grips with a t-grip adapter too, and it didn't fit my hand as well as I had hoped. I am going to give it a couple more range sessions to decide.

Thanks all for some more awesome photos, you all have some really fine specimens!
 
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