Finger Grooves or Not?

[chickenfried]

Well I can't stand the look of black rubber and blue anymore so I'm shopping for a set of Spegel or Ahrnends grips for my 4" 586. I'm sure I want cocobolo. But I can't decide whether or not to get finger grooves. You guys have any advice? Thanks.

 

[Fumbler]

My advice is try to find a pair to hold, or buy them and spend the extra money to send them back if you don't like them.

I like finger grooves, especially on small handguns, but often they aren't in the correct spot for my hand.

The only way to find out the answer to your question is first hand experience :banghead:

 

[obiwan1]

I like 'em, but my wife doesn't. It depends on the hand holding the stocks.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have replacement grips on several of my Colts, some with and some without finger grooves. If the grooves fit your hand, I think they are an asset.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I like them; I also shoot with people who loathe, detest, and despise them. It might be worth your while to handle assorted styles in a gun shop.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I strongly dislike finger grooves. I was trained to hold my grip as high was possible and finger grooves are designed for bear paw sized hands. They compel me to either spread my grip (weakening it) or to have an uncomfortable grip. Hence, I prefer target style.

 

[DHart]

I wasn't a big fan of finger grooves until I wrapped my hand around a pair of Ahrends round butt finger groove grips... for my hand (which is medium to large) these things feel like they were moulded to my hand... fantastic. They also give much greater retention and control over recoil. Highly recommend you try some out!

The square butt and round to square conversion finger groove grips feel excellent as well, if you like the square butt feel (very good for 4" and longer barrels).

Some models are available from S&W and all are available in finished and unfinished form directly from Kim Ahrends:

Kim Ahrends Grips
(515) 532-3449

 

[JerGun]

Just ordered some Cocobolo stocks for my Security Six from Hogue.

(Pic from hogue's website)


I liked the finger grooves on the Pachmyers, but I didn't like the rubber. I just figured the transition would be smooth - I hope I was right!
They ARE purdy, though. Can't wait until they show up!!

 

[DHart]

The thing I don't get about the Hogues is why they extended the rear of the grip down so far... the bottom of my hand barely goes past the bottom of the grip frame, and then Hogue adds on all that extra wood below that... which adds more weight, makes the butt print MUCH more, and looks odd. Why do they do that? It's the main thing that's kept me from buying any Hogue grips. I suppose if one's hands were really huge... that might be nice, but my hands are medium-large and don't need anywhere near that much bottom extension in the rear of the grip.

I like that Ahrends gives enough wood on the front strap to give good support to all the fingers, but trims up the rear length so there isn't all that extra wood hanging down in the back to get in the way and make the gun print badly.

 

[JerGun]

Good point.......I guess I never considered that.

I don't plan on using this gun for carry, so I wasn't worried about printing when I bought them.

I see what you're saying, though.....That is a good question.

Now knock it off - you're making me nervous - they're already paid for!!

 

[chickenfried]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll probably order both styles from Ahrends. Hope returns are hassle free. Man I should've bought them when brownells still stocked them with my C&R. discount.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I'm a big fan of finger grooves. I guess because my hand is on the larger side and they fit me very very well. I've replaced all of the grips on my S&W revolvers with original S&W combat grips. It took some looking around, but I was finally able to get them. I really like the Rosewood with the silver S&W medallions on my SS M66. Makes it really look sharp.

 

[DHart]

I should add that for guns with 4" and longer barrels, the square butt grip acts as a wedge coming up into your palm from the bottom... this is a counter-force to the "out-front" barrel weight pulling the front of the gun down. Very effective in adding good support to "front heavy" long barrels. The round butt grips don't give this counter-force because they don't "wedge" up into your palm. For this reason I much prefer square butt grips (or round to square conversion grips) on my revolvers with 4" and longer barrels. And I much prefer round butt grips for 3" and shorter barrels. Just my 2 cents worth. If you look at the pics of my 586's above, you can see how the square butt grips would wedge tight up into your palm, whereas the round butt grips would more easily slip up into your palm.

 

[HSMITH]

I can't stand fingergrooves......

 

[DHart]

HSmith... I know what you mean... most grips with finger grooves that I've held, just don't line up right with my fingers and don't feel good at all. I almost gave up on finger grooves, thinking they were all bad. But I'm thrilled to have found that for me, the Ahrends finger grooves feel so perfect that nothing else feels nearly as good to me. One happy camper here.

 

[HSMITH]

DHart, thanks, you have given me hope. I might try a grip as you suggest.

I have spent a lot of money and time on fingergroove grips only to revert to magna's and a Tyler.

 

[DHart]

All I can say is try a pair of Ahrends round butt finger groove grips... they instantly felt like home for me and sometimes I really have a hard time putting a gun with them down... they're just great for fondling because they fit and feel so good. If you don't like them, you won't have any trouble at all finding someone else to take them off your hands. But I doubt you'll want to let go of them. This same style and feel is available in K & L (same grip frame) and N. Just looking at them feels good!

They have actually spoiled me... when I grab a pair of non-finger groove grips now I really miss the moulded, fully supporting grooves which help make a much more solid interface to your hand than grips without finger grooves. Those raised areas that go between your fingers really serve to lock up the grip in your hand... practically eliminating any movement of the grip in your hand during recoil.

As you can see, there's just the right amount of room up front to support all of your fingers fully and comfortably without cramming them or spreading them too far apart. And at the back of the grip frame, they're cut nice and trim right up to the metal, so there is as little wood back there as possible, to minimize printing. A masterpiece of design.

 

[Yooper]

I like fingergroove grips, but, as others have indicated, one size does not fit all. The best idea is to try several different types. Now, what about checkered vs smooth....

 

[BusMaster007]

I just picked up a Hogue Coco Bolo grip for my GKGP-161/SRH-7 ( it fits both revolvers ).
The fingergrooves work for me and neither gun is for concealed carry, so the extra wood at the bottom of the grip is of no concern to me.
BTW, I think that extra wood is there to help support the 'stirrup' that holds the Hogue grip to the gun...

When I considered which grip to get, I chose the smooth finish so the checkering wouldn't collect dirt and skin skime, plus it wouldn't abrade my hands under recoil, especially with the .44 SRH.
I will be able to interchange the rubber with the wood, depending on what I want to do with the gun. I hope to get some pix posted soon.
( DHart posts some of best gun pix I've ever seen on the internet ).

Coco Bolo for Ruger GP-100 / SRH ---