Best revolver upgrades

Status
Not open for further replies.
I like visible sights, a smooth double action pull and Magna stocks (or Service stocks) with a grip adapter.

This is about as close to perfect as I have come. A customized S&W Model 25-2.

FD728458-698A-4A53-B662-789EF1C8EB84.jpeg

AFF0721A-2BD2-4D72-BC36-E049E4BADBEA.jpeg

The only thing better would be replacing the front sight on this S&W Model 22-4 with a McGivern bead.

D3CB65AF-E1A3-4140-AAFD-8B4BE0934886.jpeg

Kevin
 
My own preferred upgrades are to recut the crown and polish the forcing cone. Then I slug the barrel for a good measurement while checking for tight spots, especially at the frame.

Then I measure the chamber throats and ream them all to a uniform size. Chamfer and polish the chambers for a smoother reload. Shoot it enough to set the wear pattern and give everything a smooth polish. I may lighten the springs, but not much.

I'll address the cylinder gap and endshake if needed. Good sights and a rough texture grip, dehorn as needed and its usually good to go at that point.

Last step is to shoot the snot out of it. :neener:

All of the above has never failed to tighten the groups and make a much more pleasant shooting pistol.
 
The first thing I do with any newly acquired handgun is shoot it and see how it shoots and how it feels. Then I decide if any changes are needed.
I have found that in S&Ws I do not care for Pachmayr grips, either classics or grippers. I do not care for factory bell bottomed target grips. On my K frames and my N framed model 25 I really like the Altamont Roper style grips. I have Altamont service panels on my model 10 C&E revolver with a BK grip adapter. I like the feel and it looks cool. On my 327 NG the factory Uncle Mike’s grips are wonderful. I haven’t bothered trying anything else. On these guns these were the only “upgrades” but these can be costly. Buying and trying grips can eat up some money.
On my J frames I tried various grips and ended up staying stock on the 442 and 36, but on the 63 I went with a Hogue Monogrip and I swapped the sights out for a green fiber optic front and a standard factory black blade on the rear.

Now, I have never tried Hogue big overmolded Monogrips on my S&Ws because I just knew I would hate them. They’re so goofy looking, right? But when I bought my Ruger GP100 it was slightly used and came with those goofy grips. I fully intended to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Remember the first sentence in my post above? Well me and Mr. GP100 hit the range and in 3 cylinders worth of 158 grain .357 Magnum loads I fell in love with those grips. They are still on the gun. I did change the front sight to a Hi-Viz fiber optic sight. Love that GP100.

So, those were my big mods. Grips and two sight changes.
 
Last edited:
Magna grips with adapters work so well for me, at least up through .44 Magnum territory, that I generally don't have to do much fooling around with grips.

For my money, a good trigger is the single most important upgrade on a revolver, and often the only thing I do. S&W SA pulls are usually flawless, but the DA triggers can often benefit from a bit of lightening and smoothing. Just about everyone else's triggers range from awful to unbelievably awful, so with brands other than S&W, the gun immediately gets a trip to the gunsmith.

Beyond that, it's not unusual for there to be an issue with dimensions, especially throats and barrel choke, so I often will do a bit of honing and/or fire lapping before I completely happy with the gun.
 
This may be true for you but objectively i
very much doubt this categorical statement.

Which does me no harm at all.

Without meaning to be rude, my experience has been that the folks who get offended by my opinions on triggers simply haven't had the privilege of extensive experience with really good ones. Again in my experience, folks who are able to spend an afternoon or two with a "perfect" trigger rarely are willing to put up with what had previously been "good enough" for them.
 
…folks who are able to spend an afternoon or two with a "perfect" trigger rarely are willing to put up with what had previously been "good enough" for them.

And it almost becomes a sickness. :)

Before you know it, a guy has dozens and dozens of trigger improvements under his belt.
 
IMO the material the grips are made of doesn't always cause the discomfort, the fit in your hand does.

I have a M640 J frame with a custom set of grips directly from the factory. (special run gun) The grips are Rosewood and every bit as comfortable as Hogue or Pachmayr rubber grips. They look like Badger Custom J frame Combat style grips. They are a little longer than the Boot grips.
I shoot 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo and they feel good.

M640-11.jpg

M640-10.jpg

M640-02.jpg

Here are the M640 with the combat grips and the M642 with the boot grips for comparison.

twins-1.jpg

twins-2.jpg
 
I may be a strange one, but aside from the looks of the wood grips, shooting 357 in a K frame with them has never been a problem for me. And I also shoot my Model 29 with the factory wood grips shooting magnum loads. I have smallish hands and am 5'6", so not big man by anyone's definition.
 
IMO the material the grips are made of doesn't always cause the discomfort, the fit in your hand does.

I agree…up to a point. I shot a friend’s .44 Magnum with factory wood target grips. It “shivered me timbers”. :D He installed some rubber grips. I am pretty sure they were Hogue grips that made such a huge difference.
 
Adapting revolvers is much more problematic than autopistols.
To start, I use S&W revolvers exclusively for defensive use. I do have several single action revolvers but they are mostly for 'fun' which includes cowboy shooting back when I did such things. I do have three Colt revolvers, all in my 'police revolvers' collection. I have shot them, but not seriously.
To clarify my first statement, I use 'older' S&W revolvers with pinned barrels and quality workman. So the 'slicking the trigger' is much simpler. My style of double action shooting depends more on a smooth trigger pull than simply a lighter pull with varying pull levels in the cycle. Ruger 'six series' (back in the old days) were a solid second action. Worth the work.

Grips have much mention. People have different hands, different sizes, different shapes, different tastes and - especially - different shooting styles or techniques. I have more or less 'average' size hands, (have all my digits) and have a tendency to a rather high grip to put the axis of the bore as low in my hand as possible. The important part is to have the grips fit the hand as the shooter requires. I prefer the Herrett Shooting Star line. The rubberized grips do cushion the recoil, but I find they are uncomfortable in the main, being 'too sticky'. Not as bad as service or magna grips from the factory, but not as good as Shooting Stars.

Sights. With S&W revolvers, even the fixed sight models have ample sights. Some need adjustment which can be accomplished with a small (swiss) file. Nearly all fixed sights shoot well to the point of aim. The adjustable sights are delightful and I have never needed to replace them - except for one that was left in a damp climate and the sight was rusted solid internally. I put a replacement S&W sight on it and all was well. By the way, no sights will cure a constant flinch.

In general, I prefer shorter barrels, but I also prefer a full extractor throw. The two inch barrels are more convenient to hide, but a pain in the yarmoosh to eject empties. Of course, by hitting with the first couple shots, reloading isn't as important.
 
1) Grips that fit me better, if needed
2) Slight improvement of the trigger, if needed
3) Get rid of the hammer spur if I'm going to carry it

I end up with a lot of ugly Pachmayr grips.
 
Which does me no harm at all.

Without meaning to be rude, my experience has been that the folks who get offended by my opinions on triggers simply haven't had the privilege of extensive experience with really good ones. Again in my experience, folks who are able to spend an afternoon or two with a "perfect" trigger rarely are willing to put up with what had previously been "good enough" for them.
Trigger is very important and your comments are on the mark. I think one thing that gets forgotten at times is the grips and its relationship to trigger leverage and control. Proper fitting grips which is as different as our hands can change the geometry of trigger feel and control in both a negative and positive. Too large of a stock may help with recoil but can create an unnatural trigger angle and increase the force needed for a smooth double action pull, jerky in some ways. It is what is wrong with the factory target stocks, for single action they are fine. Magna’s are great for double action but can be knuckle busters without an adapter behind the trigger guard. K frames have always been easy for me as Hogue grips are perfect for me. N frame Hogues in their traditional form don’t work for me with all that mass but the Miculek stocks make a factory stiff N frame trigger feel like a tuned K frame. It’s geometry! It really takes some experimenting to get a proper grip for each person. Find the right one and it can really improve a revolvers performance.
 
I have Hogue wood finger-groove grips on probably 90% on my Smith & Wesson revolvers- they fit my hand and tastes perfectly. I'm generally happy with S&W triggers, so frequently the grips are the only change...
 
The Hogues that came with my 629 .44 Magnum Mountain Gun made shooting the revolver truely miserable. Way too narrow. They now wear a pair of stained maple round-to-square Ahrends grips. Much better!
 
In general, I prefer shorter barrels, but I also prefer a full extractor throw. The two inch barrels are more convenient to hide, but a pain in the yarmoosh to eject empties.
We were taught when ejecting empties, have the gun facing up and slide your finger off the ejector rod when it's fully depressed and let the ejector snap back up. Don't ride it up with your finger on it.

Works for me, should solve your ejection problems.
 
Both of my S&Ws with factory red ramp insert front sights have had that abomination replaced with a tritium night sight and accompanying replacement rear blade. Very happy with the upgrade!
 
My best move was to invest into my first Korth.

Korth-24615.jpg

From there on I have only gotten four or five S&W revolvers, a couple of MR73s, an MR88, and a Sauer & Sohn and they all do not really compare.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top