Need opinion, Sp101 grips

[Revolver Ocelot]

I have a Gemini customs 3" ruger sp101 that I have had a little trouble finding stocks for that I am completely satisfied with.

I know I am probably being nit picky about it, but with the money I have put into it thus far I want to find that grip that fits me perfectly.

I had tried the badgers, trigger reach was too short.
Tried hogue’s and found trigger reach was good, finger grooves left something to be desired.
I sanded the finger grooves off, comfortable to hold now, but gun rides up under recoil a bit much for my liking, due in part to the slight taper towards the bottom that the smooth hogues have.

After that, I contact hogue to see if they could help me, which to my surprise they said they could make me a grip that fit my needs, but I’m now left trying to decide which option to go with.

Essentially I have 2 options, I can get a k frame roper/hideout grip made, where the grip is smooth, but the base is wider to aid me in controlling the gun better under recoil, or I can send them a tracing of my hand and they can make me a grip that has the correct spacing I need on the finger grooves.

Thoughts?

 

[fxstchewy]

I have found for me the stock grips are the best for shooting, the Badgers which I really like the look of have my wrist at a funny angle, so the stockers stay on mine.

 

[RugRev]

Interesting Hogue still makes a grip to fit the hand. I knew they used to do this. I have a SP with a Hogue on it. I got around the finger groove problem to my satisfaction by ordering a grip with only a top finger groove. In the past I had a Colt Magnum Carry with a Hogue with no finger grooves and found it hard to keep positioned in my hand. The top groove seems to give a bit more grip without getting into all the groove spacing problems. In the past I had a problem with fit with a Hogue grooveless grip on a 686. Wound up sanding down the palm swells on the side some and narrowing a grip a bit to get ideal DA trigger reach for myself.

Another alternative is Herrett's. They also make grips to fit a person's hand. I had them make a set for a Redhawk that fit my hand perfectly which the Hogue would not do.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Interesting Hogue still makes a grip to fit the hand.

They do, it costs 35 bucks over the base cost of the grip, and you can even supply your choice of would if their offerings don’t suit your needs (though that doesn’t lower the cost any). I’m considering doing this as the full finger grooved model seemed to fit me the best, (even though it was slightly off) even more so than the single finger groove did. The other option I mentioned is essentially a herrett roper, albeit k frame sized for an sp101. When I talked to them about it they basically said they can do that design, and fit it to my hand but without needing me to send them the gun, it being cheaper, and it being of a one piece design (which I consider a plus).

Both options though will end up costing me over 100 bucks, so naturally I hope to get it right the first time.

 

[palmetto99]

I like my Badgers, but I have heard the Pachmayr Compacs are pretty good and not much $.

 

[RealGun]

I have found for me the stock grips are the best for shooting, the Badgers which I really like the look of have my wrist at a funny angle, so the stockers stay on mine.

Are you shooting 38 Special? When moving up to serious 357 loads, the trigger guard needs something in back of it, or the shooter's middle finger knuckle gets beat on and quite sore. I have a Hogue rosewood, smooth, finger groove pocket grip on my SP101 327 Fed Mag, but just got a Herrett's Detective for my Security Six, which I expect would work famously in the SP101 version. It completely fills and rounds the area behind the trigger guard on the Security Six. It is also open backed, which makes for an easier reach to the trigger and less grip poking out to be concealed.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I like my Badgers, but I have heard the Pachmayr Compacs are pretty good and not much $.

Thank you for the suggestion, however I for this project I would prefer wood grips, I forgot to mention earlier.

It is also open backed, which makes for an easier reach to the trigger and less grip poking out to be concealed.

That probably would be a bad thing on the sp101 :/

 

[RealGun]

That probably would be a bad thing on the sp101 :/

Meaningless without some explanation.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Disregard, my sense of humor is off today.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have Badgers and like them on mine, but yeah, the trigger reach is still a tad short.

I say go with the Herrett's unless you are worried the size will screw up the conceal ability. I've never heard a complaint about any Herrett stocks. I believe CraigC has several pair, so maybe you want to pm him.

Both options though will end up costing me over 100 bucks, so naturally I hope to get it right the first time.

Understandable. Two of my four S&W revolvers wear Nill grips, and those push, and exceed $200 for a set. I choose very very carefully when buying a set of those.

Good luck!

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I say go with the Herrett's unless you are worried the size will screw up the conceal ability.

Both grips are actually hogues, one of them is essentially the same style as a set of herrett roper grips, but are a 1 piece grip instead of a 2 piece design.

I suppose it comes down to the age old debate of on a defensive revolver, what is better, finger grooves or not?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Oh crap. Sorry man. I missed that. Personally I like finger grooves on a carry gun. It helps keep the gun under control, but more importantly to me, it helps aid in gripping the gun correct, and quickly. I think in a panic situation, finger grooves are a blessing to your draw time.

JMO

 

[Hometeached1]

Meaningless without some explanation.

It's the way Ruger designs the frame of the SP and GP.

 

[Hometeached1]

I feel your pain. I'm kind of going through the same thing, but with a S&W K-frame.

I can't really recommend which would be better since your hand is most likely different than mine, but I prefer finger grooves or at least checkering.

 

[Armored farmer]

Sorry, no help from me. I like the factory grips (with custom inserts).

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

It's the way Ruger designs the frame of the SP and GP.

I was treating his statement as though he was suggesting an open back grip for an sp101, like I said, my sense of humor was off today.

 

[Seven High]

You might look at Ebay for SP101 grips. Some guy in Thailand makes wood grips for SP101s that look nice.

 

[palmetto99]

@ Seven High, yep, seen pics of the Thailand grips before. They look pretty good.

 

[RealGun]

I was treating his statement as though he was suggesting an open back grip for an sp101, like I said, my sense of humor was off today.

You were right, because I was forgetting what the grip frame shape really is...made for pocket grips.

These are my Hogues;'