DA Grip Design Preference?

[ArmedBear]

I'm contemplating some wood grips for a square-butt 686.

I've never owned any of these, so I haven't been able to form an educated opinion.

Which do you prefer to shoot, and why?

(I can order any wood I want; I'm really wondering which design to get.)

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The one on the top right.

 

[earlthegoat2]

top left

I like the positive feel of the staggered finger grooves

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Honorable mention goes to the ones on the lower left. In fact, they look like Eagle "Classics" in rosewood - are they? I liked these on a N-frame S&W I used to have, but the smaller flare at the bottom of the "tactical smooths" looks as if it would fit my hand better. I don't care much for finger grooves, only tolerating them on my Glock.

 

[Old Fuff]

Finger grooves may (or may not) be a good idea. They only work if they fit your hand perfectly, and almost always they don't, unless they are custom-carved to your individual hand pattern. I actually like the style on the lower/left, but if you have larger hands, or for fast double-action those on the upper/right work better.

 

[BigGuy52]

I vote for the top left.

I always preferred the natural pointability with this type of grip.

And, it looks good too.

 

[earlthegoat2]

In truth I like the combat grips that severely move the ring finger forward. I makes my hand feel like I am gripping a stress ball and never make me feel like I am going to drop the gun.

 

[Feanaro]

I like to get as high on the pistol as possible, so I picked the top right style. I think they would be the best for that.

 

[bja5006]

top left. finger grooves help me get a proper grip quickly. no fussing around.

 

[easyg]

Top left for me, but truthfully I don't care for wood grips and square bottoms at all.
They look beautiful on a revolver, but they don't feel as nice as the rubber grips when actually shooting IMHO.

 

[ArmedBear]

Like I said, this particular gun is a square butt Smith. So even if I wanted a round-butt grip, I couldn't get one.

One reason to get a wood grip would be to keep it from grabbing my shirt and arm when carrying the gun in a holster.

That may not be a good enough reason, though.

Thoughts?

 

[Oro]

I was going to point out what Old Fluff already said - finger grooves are the bomb - if they fit you. I have discarded (sold/traded) more fancy finger grooves that I have bought than any type. I put two or three different pair of finger grooves on my other 1/2's (or as M. Ayoob calls them "my adult supervisor") 66 snubbie, and she hated them all - now she's using the original factory magnas and liking them better. Only one of my guns has finger groove grips now. That one also doesn't fit perfectly correct, but they were original to the gun and look great, so I tolerate it. Also, on magnums, having your fingers touch provides mutual support for them for control.

An old-time S&W guru told me a few years ago to try smooth grips on magnums. They actually provide MORE contact than checkered models (surface to area) and are less unpleasant to shoot because of the lack of bite. They require a slightly firmer grip for equal control, but that is not a problem once you understand it and use it that way.

The "under clothes" argument/reason is very valid to me. None of my guns have rubber grips, and few of them have checkered grips, partially for that reason (and also the reason above).

Here is what I ended up with on my 686 after trying quite a few grips from rubber, to magna style, checkered targets, etc. I think you'll see why I voted "bottom left." I love these grips. The fullness of the factory grip but without the constraining checkering is a perfect match for magnum calibers and getting maximum hand contact for control. I understand why, say, Miculek uses the shape he does. I have average "male" hands - I wear a L glove size consistently - not overly large or small. These fit great, whereas the same factory grip with checkering feels too large and uncomfortable to me. If you hands are M to L, then go with the Ahrends (they will be cheaper than finding these vintage grips), but if you are XL or larger, maybe the factory ones will work better for you.

 

[mainmech48]

Not to be contrary, but if you want something that'll really fit your hand to a "T", check out Herrett's Stocks' website. Pick the style that appeals to you most and send them a tracing of your hand.

It will fit both your hand and your revolver perfectly. And it may even help you shoot with it better.

I have rather large hands with long fingers. With virtually every sort of OEM factory or brand of 'mass' aftermarket stocks (grips, whatever you wanna call 'em) I've tried over 40-odd years I had to adapt myself to the grip, with mixed results on-target.

With my first set of Herretts all that changed. They make the gun adapt to me, and had a profound effect on my scores, my relative proficiency and my confidence.

Well worth the slight premium in price and a shortish delay of gratification over first-quality mass market brands, IMHO.

 

[pogo2]

Finger grooves

I prefer the Ahrends finger groove grips in the upper left of your picture. I have several Ahrends finger groove grips on various guns and like them very much. I just got the pair shown below on a square butt 686. The grooves fit my fingers just right, and give me a firm grasp on the gun.

 

[ArmedBear]

mainmech48- I shoot pistol league with people who use Herretts. They work. Herrett is about an hour and a half from here, so I could just drive over there... Hmm....

My only concern is that I want a belt-carry gun, and their designs tend towards target-specific grips.

Oro- When you refer to the no-groove Ahrends, do you mean the modern ones or the trimmed-down Retro style?

My hands probably fall into the M-L range somewhere.

pogo2- How does the finger grip fit compare with the factory-supplied Hogue rubber grips?

 

[mainmech48]

'Bear, my personal favorites are the Jordan Troopers, plain walnut and no checkering. I only own one set of real "target" stocks, a pair of "Camp Perry"s on my old Woodsman MT from 'way back. All the rest are carry/field models, as are the majority of the Herrett's line. Check out his catalog or give Mr Herrett a call. I think you'll find he'll be happy to supply just what you need.

 

[kanook]

the closest finger groove that fits my paw is the 460. and even that is miserablely small, I vote bottom left. I'll take a grip that's to big or to small but I don't want fingergrooves untill they make'm for my hands.

 

[BCRider]

If you've got medium to large hands (think glove size here) then I recomend grips with a fairly full body to them up at the top. The classy looking diamond grips on my 28 shown upside down in the picture below are rather flat up top and while I manage fine with these I'd prefer a shape that carried the fullness of the lower section up to the top area.



Mind you none of the options shown so far in any of the posts suffer from this issue from what I can see. Having said this I'd also suggest options which do not have a really sharply angled break to the thumb area. Sharp angles have a way of chewing at your hand, thumb in this case, when firing magnum rounds.

 

[rklessdriver]

I have a set of the Tactical Smooth (top Right) and a set of Retro Target (bottom Left) for my K frame Smith M15.

There dosen't look like big difference in them, but the Retro Targets feel much slimmer in my hand. They are shaped completely different. I have normal small to medium sized hands and currently prefer the slightly bigger Tactical Smooth but the GF prefers the Retro Targets... I've had the Tactical ones on the gun for a while and only just recently bought the Retro Target stocks. They are growing on me thou.

Here she is all set up for home protection.



Will

 

[ArmedBear]

Will- Which Ahrends finish is that?

 

[Howard B]

No finger grooves for me. Their grooves and my fingers rarely line up. Being old and a traditionalist, I like the retro target the best. It is close to the Skeeter Skelton Roper designed grip.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Finger grooves may (or may not) be a good idea. They only work if they fit your hand perfectly, and almost always they don't, unless they are custom-carved to your individual hand pattern.

Amen. Finger grooves are good if they fit. Some makers will take a hand tracing and carve your grips from that. And some people actually have "average" hands.

If you can be sure they fit your hand, then I'd advise finger grooves.

 

[Oro]

Oro- When you refer to the no-groove Ahrends, do you mean the modern ones or the trimmed-down Retro style?

I mean the retro. The modern ones i have used as they are what came on the 520. I appreciated the smooth wood and fullness, but they did not feel like they aided the grip and hold as much as the target/retro target shape with the slightly deeper curve at the top and slightly more recurve to the front strap area. I know they work for plenty of people, but I felt and shot/shoot better with the target/retro target style with smooth wood, no checkering like most factory stocks.

I REALLY like the smooth factory target grips, but the only way to find those is take-offs from presentation guns or very rare vintage accessory ones. Thus they are hard to find and expensive compared to the Ahrends. If you really like the medallion look, I can explain how to easily insert medallions into the grips.

 

[jad0110]

Finger grooves may (or may not) be a good idea. They only work if they fit your hand perfectly, and almost always they don't, unless they are custom-carved to your individual hand pattern. I actually like the style on the lower/left, but if you have larger hands, or for fast double-action those on the upper/right work better.

Yep, and my hands aren't average sized, so the grooves are rarely in the correct place more me ... my 642's rubber boot grips being the exception.

I've got the top right on mine. Consider buying them unfinished, as you can apply whatever stain (water or oil based) you wish for a personalized touch.

I've posted these pics many times, but here they are again (S&W 686 (2), 14 and 17)...

 

[rklessdriver]

Will- Which Ahrends finish is that?

Armed Bear- they are Cocobolo with whatever (tung oil, I think) finish Kim Ahrends uses.

They are fairly smooth, but whatever they use to finish the wood has a bit of texture to it. You can feel it and see the micro texture if you hold it in the light just right. Kinda feels like a micro coating of wax but you can't wipe it off.... Whatever it is, it provides a very good grip, even with wet/sweaty hands but dosen't snag on clothing.
Will