Opinions: Hogue wood grip or rubber grip for Diamondback?

[Jim NE]

I love my .38 Colt Diamondback, but it's an expensive revolver that I don't want to shoot because the factory wood target grips make the recoil against my middle (and maybe even ring) finger somewhat painful. In other words, there's not enough room between the back of the trigger guard and the grip for my big fingers to be comfortable, so I need an aftermarket grip that will fill up that space. Obviously, I will be keeping the original grips for the gun with the gun.

I found two different grips from Hogue on ebay that I think will work. One is the wood grip that looks like it's longer and therefore has more gripping area. I also like the way the grip looks, at least in this type of dark wood.

https://www.ebay.com/p/Hogue-Fancy-...FERRO-Wood-49300/22012034715?iid=332690507635

The other is the rubber monogrip from Hogue. It's a lot less money, and while I don't like the looks of rubber grips as much, I like the way they can feel. I should say, however, I had a monogrip on a Ruger Sp100 I used to have, and I wasn't crazy about it (seemed to raise the gun up a bit so that pulling the hammer back with my shooting hand thumb was more of a challenge. Hoping it'll feel different on the Diamondback, though.)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hogue-Colt...j0AAOSwjzJbEIDi:sc:USPSFirstClass!68506!US!-1

Which would YOU guys choose? If you've tried both, which did you prefer? I'm relatively sure both will be an improvement from the factory grip, "feel wise", but I thought I'd ask for opinions before buying. Thanks.

 

[BobWright]

I'm afraid i'm of no help to you. I can't conceive of a .38 Special revolver whacking your middle finger that hard.

And I'm certainly not a fan of rubber grips. I've always preferred smooth wood (or ivory, if I could afford it) on my guns.

Bob Wright

 

[Jim NE]

I'm afraid i'm of no help to you. I can't conceive of a .38 Special revolver whacking your middle finger that hard.

Just the sort of person I wanted to hear from!

Anxiously awaiting opinions of those who can help...even if just a little.

 

[Mizar]

Definitely wood - it just looks better and gives you a firm, solid feel of the grip. I would prefer those grips without the finger grooves, but it's not a deal breaker for me - I can just sand them off and finish them to my liking. The PVC elastomer that Hogue dares to call "rubber" becomes sticky after several years of use and it's quite unpleasant for me to touch and hold. Just bear in mind that Hogues are rather thin, coke bottle shaped grips, that some people (me for example) with longer fingers find somewhat uncomfortable despite the fact, that they protect the middle finger from the trigger guard so well.

P.S. If you want real rubber grips take a look at Pachmayr - ugly as Hell, but they do last and most of the models are rather comfortable for people with long fingers/large hands.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I have very similar wood grips w/finger grooves on mine & love them.

Sam

 

[Sappyg2.0]

I completely sympathize with OP. Had the same issue recently and really struggled to find a set of grips to replace a rather unpleasant but pretty set on a new revolver.

Most new made wood grips are just not big enough, or should I say wide enough, to be comfortable in my hands. In fact, most all the reviews I read said something like 'these are GREAT for my small hands' blah blah blah. I actually settled on 2 criteria. 1. If someone complained that a grip was too big for their hands they made my short list. 2. Looks didn't matter. If it did I would have left the original POS on the gun.

Eventually I chose a set from pachmyer for about $20. Now I can shoot my 686 w/o wearing gloves and my hands dont hurt after.

 

[mcb]

Wood is for showing, rubber is for shooting. I have Hogue over-molded on all my N-frame revolvers from 38 to 45. I find the Hogue all but eliminated the trigger guard getting the back of my fingers even in my 44 Mag with hot loads. I believe Hogue makes one for the Diamondback too.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm also in the "wood is for looks, rubber is for shooting" camp.

With smooth wood grips, the gun moves too much in my hand and checkered wood grips abrade my palm too much.

My favorite grips are Pachmayr Presentation grips or Signature grips but where these are not available any more, Hogue grips work fine as well.

Many folks like to shoot with wood grips and that is great.

 

[BobWright]

Not a Diamondback, but these rosewood Secret Service grips are my favorite for a K-Frame S&W, shown on a Model 19:



These are S&Ws Combat Grips on a Model 586:


I just have an aversion to rubber grips, they do abrade the web of my hand in firing heavy loads. And they sort of "stick" the gun in position in drawing so a slight repositioning of the hand is impossible.

Bob Wright

 

[Jim NE]

The PVC elastomer that Hogue dares to call "rubber" becomes sticky after several years of use and it's quite unpleasant for me to touch and hold.

Yuck. Thanks for the warning. I definitely wouldn't want that...not on that particular gun.

P.S. If you want real rubber grips take a look at Pachmayr - ugly as Hell, but they do last and most of the models are rather comfortable for people with long fingers/large hands.

I totally agree about the looks of most Pachs, but I actually like the looks of the newer Pachs on Sappyg2.0's Stainless S&W - that must be a new style or something - but, from the looks of his pic, I'm a little concerned that the grip won't move my hand down far enough to get my middle finger out of the recess between the trigger guard and the grip. I don't know what it is about the D frame Colt, but the clearance between the trigger guard and the grip is just wrong for me. Target grips on a Smith K frame .38 are no problem for me, and the stock magnas are only mildly uncomfortable if I hold the gun right, and J frame magnas are great. I love everything else about the Diamondback.

Bob Wright said:

I just have an aversion to rubber grips...they sort of "stick" the gun in position in drawing so a slight repositioning of the hand is impossible.

You know, that's something I hadn't thought about, but it's really true. That was especially apparent on the Sp101 Ruger I had...repositioning the gun was a two handed operation with the rubber grips. I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for the comment. I think I'm leaning towards the wood grips at this point.

 

[bannockburn]

I would go with the Hogue wood grips. Very comfortable to use and look great, especially if they're made from Pau Ferro wood.

 

[mcb]

Yuck. Thanks for the warning. I definitely wouldn't want that...not on that particular gun.



I totally agree about the looks of most Pachs, but I actually like the looks of the newer Pachs on Sappyg2.0's Stainless S&W - that must be a new style or something - but, from the looks of his pic, I'm a little concerned that the grip won't move my hand down far enough to get my middle finger out of the recess between the trigger guard and the grip. I don't know what it is about the D frame Colt, but the clearance between the trigger guard and the grip is just wrong for me. Target grips on a Smith K frame .38 are no problem for me, and the stock magnas are only mildly uncomfortable if I hold the gun right, and J frame magnas are great. I love everything else about the Diamondback.

Bob Wright said:



You know, that's something I hadn't thought about, but it's really true. That was especially apparent on the Sp101 Ruger I had...repositioning the gun was a two handed operation with the rubber grips. I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for the comment. I think I'm leaning towards the wood grips at this point.

I got to wonder what would make a Hogue grip get sticky. I have had one on my S&W 610 since I got it in 2007 and despite close to 20,000 rounds through that old revolver over years of USPSA competition and exposed to a variety of cleaning chemicals and various lubricants the grips still feel the same as the new one I just put on my new to me M29 this spring. They are a touch tacking due to the durometer of the polymer but that just ensure a good grip.

I value the fact that gun does not move easily in my hand. Once I get a proper grip on the gun it stays there. As a weak hand reloader I do not transfer the gun to my weak hand for a reload (could never master Miculek technique) so once I have the proper grip with my strong hand it stays there throughout the shooting and reloading and I never worry about the gun moving in my hand. Nothing is worst that a grip shifting during a reload and the gun does not come back up the same way especially as you go to engage a Texas Star. YMMV

 

[Mizar]

They are a touch tacking...

This. Not saying that they become sticky as glue, but an unpleasant (at least for me) "tackiness". If I must choose rubber grips, classic Pachmayrs would be my choice simply because they use real rubber and I much prefer their feel and the material is harder than Hogue's rubber.

 

[mcb]

This. Not saying that they become sticky as glue, but an unpleasant (at least for me) "tackiness". If I must choose rubber grips, classic Pachmayrs would be my choice simply because they use real rubber and I much prefer their feel and the material is harder than Hogue's rubber.

Each to his own. The slight tackiness of the Hogue is why I have a box of Packmayrs grips on the shelf and all my N-frames wear Hogue. You got to run what works for you.

 

[labnoti]

I can't see the necessity for rubber grips with a large steel gun in .38. I would give preference to wood. As for which particular wood grips, that is something I couldn't recommend in detail. I would suggest shopping Hogue's website for all the available options, and checking out Altamont as well.

 

[RugRev]

I agree with labnoti. Hogue offers a a number of options, some cosmetic and others functional, that you may wish to utilize. Hogue offers their wood grips without finger grooves and with one or three. I had a set of finger groove ones on a S&W 18. I decided to eliminate the grooves and wound up going through the front of the grip into thin air so would advised if you don't want grooves to order without. Hogue for a small fee will also make grips to fit your hand (you send them a hand tracing). Another option would be to look at Herrett's as they offer a number of grip styles in woods and will make to fit your hand.