Best S&W 686 target grips?

[dumbhunter]

Hey guys. Just picked up a new to me S&W 686+. I haven't fired it yet, but the only thing that I don't like so far, is that it came with some rubber/ plastic grips that are neither asteticaly pleasing, nor comfortable. Now, truth be told, I am, at heart, a Colt guy when it comes to revolvers, so I would prefer a grip more like the 1960s Pythons. So, does anyone know where I can find well made wood target grips (ala the Python's) for the 686?.... preferably no finger grooves ...

Thanks

 

[UncleEd]

Comments withdrawn.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Does it have a round butt frame?

 

[e rex]

I have smaller hands and installed Jerry Miculek stocks on my 4" 686. I like them a lot.

 

[Jonesy814]

Hey guys. Just picked up a new to me S&W 686+. I haven't fired it yet, but the only thing that I don't like so far, is that it came with some rubber/ plastic grips that are neither asteticaly pleasing, nor comfortable. Now, truth be told, I am, at heart, a Colt guy when it comes to revolvers, so I would prefer a grip more like the 1960s Pythons. So, does anyone know where I can find well made wood target grips (ala the Python's) for the 686?.... preferably no finger grooves ...

Thanks

Check Altamont Grips. Seems like there is not a lot in stock, but maybe you can find something

 

[Rodfac]

installed Jerry Miculek stocks on my 4" 686. I like them a lot.

Me too and I wear a size "L" glove...Miculek's stocks are especially good for double action work. I have a set on my .41 Mag Smith M-57 & another set on a M-66, smooth and checkered, both fit me well and do the job. Rod (M-66 below.)

​

 

[e rex]

Rodfac, I like your holster!

 

[Speedo66]

Best to me is what fits your hand best, and reduces felt recoil, differs from gun to gun.

Unfortunately, that's a trial and error situation which leads to the "box o'grips, same for the box o'holsters.

 

[Throwbackguy]

This may not be as trad; but I recently replace my 1911 grips with VZ tactical composite grips; they just 'grabbed' my hand and felt great. I followed this with VZ's round-to-square conversion grips for my 686 (6" bbl) as an experiment... and it was sweet! I've since also replaced the grips on my smaller 'carry' 686 (686+, 4in bbl) with round-butt grips, and they're great. No, they're not real wood (in fact, they're laminated gray/black!), but they FEEL great in hand. And THAT wuz much more important to me than lookin' cool.

...Of course, I went all Altamont on my J-frames... but that's another story.

 

[buck460XVR]

While I preferred the rubber grips on the older 686s to the newer ones, while they are not the best looking, for me at least, they are very comfortable to shoot. While I have better looking wood stocks on a coupla of my 686s, I still prefer the stock rubber grips for extended range sessions.

 

[Master Blaster]

Hogue wood finger groove grips fit my hand perfectly and look great. Here they are on my 686+

 

[.38 Special]

Best to me is what fits your hand best, and reduces felt recoil, differs from gun to gun.

Unfortunately, that's a trial and error situation which leads to the "box o'grips, same for the box o'holsters.

This, sadly, is the whole story.

As an example, several people have mentioned Miculek grips. I really, really wanted to like them, and kept trying far longer than I should have. They are just awful for me; some of the worst I haver ever used. C'est la vie.

I personally have found that Magna grips with an adaptor are best for me, until recoil really gets up there. I often just shop eBay for used ones, but have had a few sets made out of higher end wood. I have ordered several from Culina and have been completely satisfied.

 

[I6turbo]

While I preferred the rubber grips on the older 686s to the newer ones, while they are not the best looking, for me at least, they are very comfortable to shoot. While I have better looking wood stocks on a coupla of my 686s, I still prefer the stock rubber grips for extended range sessions.

Me too. My 1982 model 686 has a set of Pachmayr Presentation rubber grips from the era and they are great for my hand. I bought another set of the supposedly same grip for my 586 a few years ago, and they didn't feel the same, didn't suit me. I then bought a set of finger-groove Pachmayrs (I think they're like these, assuming they haven't been redesigned lately https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003971066), and while do don't really like the looks much, they feel great on the 4" 586.

I have a few different grips for my 4 S&W revolvers, and the above two are my favorites, function wise. Another thing, I can move grips around on different S&W guns, and I don't necessarily like a given grip on all of the guns. Seems strange, but that was what I found.

So, YMMV. You'll just have to try them for yourself on the gun in question to know whether or not you'll like them.

 

[UncleEd]

Note it has been a week since
Dumbhunter, the OP, started
this thread and has yet to
respond in any way. So, he
must have moved on or does
not like any of the suggestions.

 

[Pat Riot]

Check Altamont “Roper” grips. I have them on my K frames. I like them best out of all the grips I have tried so far.

 

[RA40]

Like like the Hogue nylon and rubber ones. I have some of the Hogue wood version and those are nice too.

 

[bannockburn]

I switch back and forth between the original factory wood grips and a Pachmayr Gripper set. The factory stocks are more for show and brief range sessions while the Grippers are for extended range sessions and occasional concealed carry.

 

[I6turbo]

I switch back and forth between the original factory wood grips and a Pachmayr Gripper set. The factory stocks are more for show and brief range sessions while the Grippers are for extended range sessions and occasional concealed carry.
View attachment 1062857

I settled on that set as best-feeling and best-shooting for me on my 4" 586. Mine is an older set, not sure how old yours are, or if there's any difference in the older ones and the newer ones.

Despite the near-identical nature of the guns (just the 2" difference in barrel length), the vintage Presentation grips (top gun in the photo below) suit me better on the 6" 686. To my hand, there DOES seem to be difference between some of the different vintages of this Presentation grip, based upon the old and newer examples that I have. It's either a slight design difference, or one of my sets is abnormal.

 

[bannockburn]

I6turbo

I tried the Pachmayr Presentation grips but found the hard edge of the back strap slammed into the palm of my hand every time I used them. They also felt a little too big as I seem to recall Pachmayr offered them in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. Tried the Grippers and liked them first time I had them on. Had to do some trimming and sanding around the ridges of the finger grooves but that was about it; they were good to go.

 

[I6turbo]

I6turbo

I tried the Pachmayr Presentation grips but found the hard edge of the back strap slammed into the palm of my hand every time I used them. They also felt a little too big as I seem to recall Pachmayr offered them in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. Tried the Grippers and liked them first time I had them on. Had to do some trimming and sanding around the ridges of the finger grooves but that was about it; they were good to go.
View attachment 1062902

Now that you mention it, that was the difference between the old 1980s Presentation grips on the 686 and the newer set I acquired. I could feel the frame, both front and rear, a little bit through the newer set that I have.

 

[RA40]

Took this family pic since the 586 will soon be onto a new home.

 

[Walkalong]

My favorite one is the factory version.

 

[P5 Guy]

My 681 wears Hogue rubber mono-grips.
The 681 is a square grip frame.

 

[cfullgraf]

I like Pachmayr Presentation grips on my S&W revolvers but between S&W putting round butt frames on their current revolvers and a drop in quality of the Lyman Pachmayr grips it has become more difficult to good Pachmayr grips.

Some of the Gripper ranges of grips are a suitable substitute to the Presentation Grips but I like the Presentation Grips better.

When I go to gun shows, I look at what "used" grip vendors have on hand and buy models that suit my need.

 

[aaaaa]

Did the OP ever figure out what grip to use?

I just got this S&W 686+ earlier this week and the previous owner had installed S&W wood grips. I tried looking these grips up but S&W's website does not seem to have a tab for buying grips. These grips have a really nice feel, though I have not shot the gun yet. I am sure for 38 Special it will be fine, but might be a bear for .357 as there is no padding. Nice crosshatching on the grip to keep it from slipping in the rain, or worse, if my hand were bloody for some reason during a gunfight.