changing grips on my 629-2

[Cee Zee]

I bought some new grips for my S&W 629-2 because it still had the original grips on it and they were showing their age. I have the square butt version of this N frame revolver. I bought a set of Pachmayr Presentation Grips for it because I like the looks, the grip and the fact that I have more space behind the trigger guard for my thick fingers. I've had issues with the gun whacking my finger pretty good when I shoot fairly heavy loads in it. If I hold it just right it's not a problem. With the new grips I shouldn't have to worry about getting the exact right grip. It should happen naturally.

Anyway there was a problem or two. The screw goes through both sides of the grips and sticks out almost a quarter of an inch. And the rubber doesn't come together at the base of the grip. I can probably fix both issues with a little work but there are things that concern me. I'll have to cut the bolt back to keep it from sticking out and that means it may not be long enough to catch the nut inside the grip at all. It's a guessing game how much is too much unless I want to cut it several times. That just gives me more tries at buggering up the screw so I'd rather know if anyone has had this issue and whether they were able to solve it by cutting down the bolt. I would grind the end down smooth of course and I'd find some way of dealing with the bolt being discolored. I just don't want to be heading to the hardware store looking for a replacement screw if I cut it too short.

I could cut back some of the rubber inside the grip to make it fit around the but better and I figure that would allow the bottom of the grip to come together with the pressure of the mounting bolt.

My options are jumping in with both feet and fixing what's wrong. That's my first choice because I like working on such things. Or I could send the whole kit back and look for another grip that fits better. I could call the company and see what they have to say (they suggest that customers who have fit issues call them) but my guess is they aren't going to give me a refund if I try to make it work and I can't. That doesn't seem likely but you never know.

So who thinks I should get out the tools and do some tinkering and who thinks I should send the whole thing back?

 

[rcmodel]

If you have a 629-2, it is a square butt N-Frame.

So you either got the right package with the wrong grips, or the wrong grips in the right package?

In either case, the first thing to do is call the company and whine like a whipped dog.

They Will make it right.

rc

 

[Cee Zee]

No I got the right model rc. It just doesn't fit well which apparently is par for the course for Pachmayr grips these days. I knew that before I bought the grips so I can't complain too much. There's only like 1/16th of an inch separation on the bottom of the grips for the ones I bought. But I definitely have the right grips. The round butt grips wouldn't come close to fitting right.

Here's what I ordered.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002V3S4C/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1

Most 629-2's are square butt models. I think a few were made with the round butt design. What's really weird is that some round butt models came with grips that made them appear to be square butt models. You can still buy grips to make a round butt N frame look like a square butt. Go figure.

 

[BLU]

Had a similar problem with a different company, (and they probably came off of one of Dad's older guns so a return/replace move wasn't an option). Here's what I did... I got out my MAPP gas torch, (propane took forever to heat up the lil screwdriver tip), heated up the tip of a 2-3" screwdriver to near glowing red and ever so carefully melted away the inside part of the grip that was 'catching' on the gun butt metal. (Then set the screwdriver down on a little steel anvil so as not to burn down my work bench!) Being naturally anal-retentive.... I completed this slowly! Little adjustments, for me, was the key. Can't put back what I burned off, Y'know?!

Now the problem of a long screw. With the grip ON the gun and the screw tightened down as tightly as I ever will, I darkened the excess screw material as best as I could with a marker. Unscrewed the grip. Reinserted the screw into just the one side of the grip that has the nut on that side. Carefully remarked the screw, and screwed on the appropriate sized die so after cutting I can clean the threads. (You can eliminate this step but it makes for a cleaner finished product!) I start the cut with a pretty large pair of lineman's pliers just to get a good start and visible cutting mark for my old eyes. Then I finish the cut with a Dremel tool or a hacksaw, (low speed and the screw won't discolor). To finish off the screw I hit the cut end with a small file and try to reshape the threads and file nearly flat the very end. Now carefully unscrew from the grip. If you've done a good job you'll get little to no resistance unscrewing it. Try to screw it through the grip again. If it goes in smoothly, you're done! Then try it with the grip on the gun. I didn't like the shine of the screw after it was on the gun so I hit the tip with a good marker and it looked great.

Right or wrong, this is how I've dealt with that problem and, so far, it works for me. If it works for you, let me know. Get all the tools set out in front of you and in 15-20 minutes you should be smiling!

 

[Cee Zee]

That's the kind of thing I was thinking about doing BLU. I've cut lots of bolts down over the years. My only concern is that if I cut the bolt off so short it won't stick out after putting it through the grips then I might have cut it so short it won't reach through from one side of the grip to the inserted nut on the other grip. In that case I'd have to go looking for another screw. It could be that any screw short enough to not go through the grips would end up not being able to connect them when they aren't being pulled together. It sounds odd I know but it can happen. I've seen things like that happen. The only option would be to cut the bolt down while it's in the grips but I'd no doubt end up marring the grips. I just don't want to end up where I would have grips I couldn't install or return. I guess my question is does anyone have experience cutting those bolts down and whether there is a size that works right.

 

[cfullgraf]

Unfortunately, I do not feel Pachmayr grips of today are as good as they were in he 1980s and 1990s.

Having said that, check and make sure the roll pin in the bottom of the grip frame is properly going into the mating hole in the grip. I have a couple new set of grips that did not fit because of this reason.

If the screw sticks out of the grip. it is tightened too much. Something is interfering with the fit of the grip on the revolver.

Hope this helps.

 

[BLU]

Not that I know of. I've never cut short-that's why I use a marker before cutting... it gives me a little extra unmarked screw 'just in case'. It's fairly easy to file 1/64" off without damaging anything, (once again... make sure it's screwed in through one side of the grip first!) versus getting the cut perfect the first time. Go slowly and carefully and your time will be well spent. Nearly everything bad that's happened to me came from rushing! I avoid it at every opportunity.

 

[moxie]

Even if it's the right grip, it still doesn't fit properly. It wasn't made right.

So I'd still call the company as RC suggested and whine. They probably have one that fits and will send it to you.

 

[Cee Zee]

Pachmayr has developed quite a reputation for this sort of thing. Maybe they will send me another grip but whether it fits right is another question. I don't want to be playing "find the right example" for the next 2 years. But at least I can let them know what I think. I know what they will say. It's always the fault of the gun maker of course.

If I want grips I like I think I'm just going to have to fix them myself but not without letting them hear about it.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[moxie]

If the Pachmayrs don't work out, try some Hogue Monogrips. I like them much better than the Pachmayrs, and their QC is excellent. A few bucks cheaper too! I switched a number of guns from Pachmayr to Hogue and glad I did.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Rubber is not my thing...

My 629-1.

Deaf

 

[Cee Zee]

make sure the roll pin in the bottom of the grip frame is properly going into the mating hole in the grip

The roll pin was part of the problem but it wasn't all of it. I just removed it because it wasn't going in the hole right. I stuck it in a baggie with the old grips and I'm sure it will go back in fine if I ever need it. It's not like it needs to hold a lot of pressure. But even after I removed the roll pin the grips still didn't come together right. It's not a huge problem but it's aggravating.

I knew the bolt was going in too deep but there was no way to stop it with the stock setup. It wouldn't hold any pressure at all until it was in too deep. I finally hit on the right way to fix it. I started using washers to keep the bolt from going too deep then I found a piece of rubber that fit the hole on the grip like it was made for it and the bolt fit inside the hole through that piece of rubber too. It kept the bolt in almost the perfect position. It keeps the head of the bolt from going in perfectly but it's nothing I can't live with. It sure beats having the end of the bolt sticking out almost a quarter inch. I'd take a photo of the piece of rubber I used but it's stuck inside the grip now and I don't want to pull it back out and risk messing it up. I guess if the bolt head bothers me when I shoot the gun I'll pull it out and cut it down a bit but I don't think it will be a problem.

So now the bolt is in pretty good shape but the grips still don't fit together well. It's true that Pachmayr quality is nothing like it once was. I started to get another set of Hogue grips but I like the looks of the Presentation Grips really well and I like the way they fit my hand much better. I may end up with another set of Hogue grips if I don't like the way this grip works out. It's separated in several places and it's away from the gun at the top too. The QC is pretty bad to say the least.

I'm going to call the company and give them an earful tomorrow. If push comes to shove I'm sure I can put the Hogue's back on until I get another set. The roll pin won't be any problem. I didn't beat it up getting it out or anything.

I won't know for sure how well I like these grips until I shoot the gun a few times though. We'll see I guess.

 

[stu1ritter]

I don't know what Lyman did to the Pachmyer molds but they just don't fit in many cases. I have about a dozen pair ranging from the 70's up to last year and the new ones just aren't molded well at all.

Stu

 

[BLU]

As the saying goes... Caveat Emptor.... Buyer Beware. The Highroad is certainly one major key to becoming aware.

I've had the rubber grips not fit over that pin too. I leave the roll pin in the gun and just meld the grip to fit around it, (usually it's not much of an adjustment). That way I don't have to find the pin and reinsert it when changing grips, (like I don't have enough parts laying around already!). Like Deaf Smith... I'm not much of a rubber grip fan but they certainly work well for me at the range. Keep us posted on your success.