HELP! I hate the grip on revolvers...

[ripcurlksm]

I am sooo close to getting the S&W Model 629 .44MAG. I love the caliber, the recoil does not bother me at all, I actually love it. However, I HATE the grip on ALL revolvers in general, being used to the cozy 1911 frame.

My Observations:
On the .44 it seems like my fingers control 50% of the recoil, while the palm of my hand takes the other 50% of the recoil. The result is that the grip of the .44 revolver becomes more uncomfortable the more I shoot it. Again, I love this round and I can control the recoil (in fact I feel I can handle a bit more ). I suppose I am more accustomed to the full grip of the 1911 where my palm takes 80% of the recoil and I am not used to the traditional grip of a revolver, where the end result = my fingers taking a beating.

I have shot the .44 with both wood and rubber grips, both with the same result mentioned above. Can anyone offer me advice? I really want to get the .44 for large game protection, but I want to also be able to enjoy the pistol and shoot actively with it like my 1911. Please advise.

 

[Cosmoline]

What wood grips, what rubber grips? There are an almost endles variety of revolver stocks, from big coke bottle style to lean curving old style to combat to decorative.

 

[mike101]

I would think your fingers are taking more of a beating with the .44 mag. due to greater muzzle flip than you get from the 1911.

Have you tried a Hogue monogrip with finger grooves ? I'll bet they would help, because the gun can't move around as much with the finger grooves.

You may also want to consider sending the gun to Magna-Port. Two slots cut in the barrel is supposed to reduce muzzle flip by 15%, but now they also offer four slots. With a .44 Mag., I think I'd go with four slots. It's not very expensive to have done, either.

 

[MaterDei]

Not everybody can comfortably handle the recoil of a .44, you should step down (.41, then .357, etc.) until you find something comfortable for you to shoot.

 

[Dionysusigma]

One very weird thing I've noticed about myself... if I'm just holding it, I hate the Bisley grip. It reminds me of a megaphone. It looks silly, it's "at a funny angle," and makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Until I fire it. A Ruger with a Bisley grip is the only .44 I can aim and shoot comfortably.

 

[ripcurlksm]

Good suggestions Mike

Materdei, I stated in my first sentence that I can handle the recoil, Im a pretty big fella - the caliber is quite comfortable to shoot for me. I thought the .44 would be worse than it is. What I hate is the dern grip. Maybe its just finger strength? Something that will improve as I shoot it more? When I am finished shooting with the rental gun, my fingers feel cramped from the grips...

 

[4fingermick]

I don't like the Bisley grips, they force the web of my hand into the hammer and draw blood every heavy load and the grip frame is so wide and squared off it chops into my thumb joint from below, nasty. I have a series of little scars on the web at the base of my right thumb from the gun. OK for little hands I suppose. Now the traditional hogleg on the Blackhawk is tops, the gun slides through you hand soaking up recoil and placing the hammer near your thumb ready to be recocked. How cool is that? Mick.

 

[Monkeybear]

Me and my friend are the same weight and size. I love shooting my .357, its got a nice cozy recoil. My friend likes the gun but says its hurts his hand so I figure maybe the .357 just isnt for him. Maybe the .44 just isnt for you.

 

[Old Fuff]

ripcurlksm:

When you look at most revolver stocks you may notice that they are double-tapered - big at the bottom and small at the top - looking from both the side and from the back. When Bill Ruger designed his little SP-101 he changed this design so that the back and front straps were parallel, similar to an automatic pistol. Bill Jordan did somewhat the same in designing his style of stocks, and Jerry Miculek’s stocks are along the same lines. (See www.brownells.com Item no. 100-000-220). You may find these styles to be more to your liking, and any of them could be adapted to an S&W N-frame by a custom stockmaker.

 

[jad0110]

ripcurlksm and Old Fuff,

Here's a link to some square and round butt N Frame Miculek grips:

http://www.bang-inc.com/products.htm

If you grip your revolver high up on the frame like I do (almost to the point of getting hammer bite), you will probably want a smooth, finger groove-less stock. I know lots of people like the soft rubber Hogue monogrips with finger grooves that come standard on most new Smiths. They just don't work for me; the grooves aren't in the right place. You could always go into a local gun shop and handle a NIB Model 629, or just about any new Smith, to see if the Hogue monos work for you. Try out different used ones that are available to, maybe you'll find something you like and you can go from there.

 

[Antihero]

When i first bought my Redhawk in 44mag i replaced the stock grips, which are nice and comfortable but not the greatest for recoil, with Hogue monogrips. I hated them the gun was way too high and my fingers took way too much of a beating.

I replaced them with Pacymer(sp?) presentation grips and have been happy ever since.