Best revolver grip suggestion for one who mostly uses pistols?

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Orion8472

Orion8472

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I am a semi-auto guy, and have been ever since I started in with guns. I have tried various revolvers, but many times, they just don't fit my hand securly enough. I'm used to the "both thumbs running alone the slide" style of grip, and know that you can't do that with revolvers. However, I am interested in getting into revolvers anyway.

What revolvers have grips that fairly mimic the feel and angle of semi-autos? I'm speaking of the type where the cylinder opens to the left, . . . not SAA.

If you have suggestions, please leave them here. Thanks! :)
 
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What revolvers have grips that fairly mimic the feel and angle of semi-autos?
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None that I'm aware of and thank the deities for that. The recoil of a semi being quite different from a wheelgun the shape of the grips and grip frame must be different. It is also true due to the type of trigger pull involved. Nope you won't find one similar and that's a good thing.

What you will find are different grips. These allow the gun to more easily adapt to the size and shape of your hand.

But before worrying about that too much I'd strongly encourage you to learn to shoot a double action revolver. How to grip it properly and how to shoot. Drop by a local range and if you can and rent a revolver in 22 l.r. or 38 Special. Rent a Ruger or S&W. Try it. If you need ask a friend who can shoot revolvers to school you. If that is not possible, $50.00 spent on an hour of instruction will save you money and trouble later and be well worth it.

Perhaps a wheelgunner from this forum lives close to you and can help.

tipoc
 
None that I'm aware of and thank the deities for that. The recoil of a semi being quite different from a wheelgun the shape of the grips and grip frame must be different. It is also true due to the type of trigger pull involved. Nope you won't find one similar and that's a good thing.
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Yeah, what he said. Shooting a semi-auto and a revolver are different processes, one you hold solidly (basically resisting the slide so the action can run) the other you let jump and guide the energy.

I've had several semi-auto guys decide they liked "Bisley" grips because they have a different angle.

I like regular grips but am also kinda fond of the "Birds Head" grips as well.
 
I think that the grips designed by the champion revolver shooter Jerry Miculek are as close to semi-auto grips as you can get in a revolver:

http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/revptmicgrip.htm

The old "Trooper" grips designed by the late, great Bill Jordan are very similar, but many people find them too large:

http://www.herrett-stocks.com/jordontp.htm

The "Bisley" and "Bird's Head" grips mentioned in a comment above are designed for single action revolvers, which you have already ruled out.

Your best bet is to go to a gun shop or rental desk at a range and handle as many revolvers as possible, see what feels good in your hand, and work from there.
 
Here's what I have shot before:

Ruger SP-101 22lr
I thought it was okay, but didn't really like the overall grip.

Ruger GP-100 357mag
This one actually feels pretty good for a revolver, but still not as good feeling as a semi-auto.

Is something like the GP-100 about as good as I'll get? Grip angle wasn't too bad on it.
 
It isn't so much the grip angle as it is the thickness of the grip and the balance of the cylinder ahead of your hand...I just picked up my 1911 and a S&W L-frame and the grip angles are very close. Quite a bit depends on which auto pistols you are used to shooting.

You're really looking at aftermarket grips to get the feel you want. The most "semi-auto" feeling revolver grips I've ever felt were by Fuzzy Farrant, but they are hard to find anymore as they are long out of production.

I've found the Karl Nills and Craig Spegel grips have a very good feel to them, but you'll have to go to a S&W or Colt platform. Kim Ahrends might be another avenue to pursue
 
I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill!

I shoot Single-Action revolvers, Double-action revolvers, and auto pistols with every grip angle under the sun.

You get used to it, and never even think about it again after you use any of them for a while.

Each action design has specific needs to point and shoot right.
They have been perfecting most all of them for over 150 years.

So they pretty much know what works and what doesn't by now.

rc
 
I have 3 S&W revolvers (Two 'modern' ones from 2010 and 2012 and my Model 19 is from 1973) and all have checkered wooden grips without finger grooves ( 1 rosewood and 2 walnut ) with nickel or copper medallions. I like the feel a lot better than the Hogue grips. I believe the trade term is 'target grips' or 'presentation grips'

But I understand, I don't like the way an automatic feels in my hand.

The 19 came with them, probably factory original. I bought the grips for my newer Smiths from Handgungrips.com - out of Illinois. They are conversion grips to the old square style as the newer smiths all have round frames.
 
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rc, I could very well be. I can shoot revolvers well, . . . just have a hard time getting comfortable with them, especially when I tried out my dad's Ruger Blackhawk. Better with the GP100 [as stated already], but yeah, I think the difference is where the balance is. I'm used to CZ products and Hi Powers.

I'll just go to a gunstore and hold a bunch of different brands, I guess.
 
No revolver grips mimic semi-auto grips . none. Do think to hard about shooting a revolver . Just shoot it. May a larger to smaller is needed . wood or soft rubber but thats all you need to deal with. I have some nice wood grips but all my hunter revolvers use a soft rubber hogue grip to aid control as revolver tend to recoil very differently from a semi-auto pistol. Even single action to da action or different.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I think this thread has been enough to answer my question. :)
 
I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill!

I shoot Single-Action revolvers, Double-action revolvers, and auto pistols with every grip angle under the sun.

You get used to it, and never even think about it again after you use any of them for a while.

Each action design has specific needs to point and shoot right.
They have been perfecting most all of them for over 150 years.

So they pretty much know what works and what doesn't by now.
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This is exactly what I was thinking.
 
Yep. I will hold several options and see which one feels the best and then go for it, when I decide to get into one.
 
Just don't turn down a revolver do to grips on it. Take some time to look at just grips avalible in the after market ,say a s&w J frame pistol. There allways one that feels just right. Then some will work ok for a defence grip thats smaller and not enjoyable but just works better for the needs.

On semi-autos like with XD or kahr. They have full sized grips and a small sub compact two finger grips that are of the same design , just shorter. Some hate them and say they will not own them but reality is they may not be as enjoyable to shoot But they work fine IF you can just give it a chance .
 
one thing that may help ya, I was in the same boat as you the first time I really used a revolver. Borrowed my stepfather's blackhawk in .41 magnum for a hog hunt since my FAL liked to jam sometimes.

When he handed it to me, I scoffed and said "give me a real gun", he just smiled and said that was what I needed. I was in my early 20's at the time. The first day I went to the local range to make sure my rifle was still zeroed and figured I'd give that horrible feeling gun a try... Bounced a coke can 5 out of 6 times at the 100 yard mark. I was sold. Took me 10 years to get that gun from him, he gave it to me this christmas :)

I found that when I held the gun like I wanted to hold it, I was unsteady and not too great. When I "choked up" on the grip a bit and put the curve well into my palm I was dead on and could hit just about anything I aimed at.

It feels weird and wrong at first to hold a revolver when you're used to semi-autos but put a box of rounds down range and you might just become a revolver fan. Now I like the skinny little awkard grips and won't own one with a larger grip! I still keep a semi auto pistol around just because, but that fugly skinnny cowboy grip is just "right" and there is a reason they made them like that. It feels wrong but the eronomics are just right...

a member of this forum gave me some great advice, put some spent shells in your revolver and practice when you're comfortable, I like to "shoot" bad guys on the t.v.

Just make sure it's unloaded first! hehe
 
Also with revolvers. Some companies will sell there ultra lite models with a litle tinny grip. Mix in some 125gr +P loads and there simply not enjoyable. Change that grip allone to a standard 3 finger grip and it becomes very shootable.
 
I've always found that the grip angle on a revolver is much steeper than most semi-autos, so your wrist will be angled down more with a revolver. In that sense a Glock or Luger style grip will be an easier transition than a 1911, IMO.

TMann
 
That is true, TMann. The only pistol I have with that angle is a Mark II, . . . and many times I wish I could exchange that grip frame out for a 22/45 frame. I like the Hi Power type of angle.
 
You might want to check out Ahrends custom CNC grips. When I put their grip on my 627 PC, it totally changed the feel of the weapon. Most factory grips don't work too well for me on revolvers.
 
I put Tyler T-Grip on my J-Frame so I could get a good grasp on it. I'd been carrying and shooting 1911s and the XD/XDMs for many years until I got a Chief's Special.
 
My favorite grips are the HOGUE rubber grips. With anything up to a .357 magnum, the provide a good feel and are ok from a recoil perspective.

Jim
 
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