Round or Square Butt?

[Atticum]

Specifically, the S&W Model 64.

Is there any reason to prefer one over the other?

 

[Spartacus451]

You can make a round square, but you can't make a square round. Okay, you can, but you have to be handy with a file. The round butt doesn't print as much.

 

[rmfnla]

"...you can't make a square round."

Sure you can; just takes a little cutting & welding.

I used to "round butt" 6 inch model 66 S&Ws; made 'em look like old-time revolvers!

Wish I still had one, or at least a photo so show, but they were real popular.

 

[Landlocked Pirate]

For short barrel revolvers (3" and under) I like a round butt, but for 4" or greater I prefer a square butt because it provides a heel surface against the palm. This helps me to better control the increased forward balance of the gun.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

What are we talking here? About 1/4 inch of steel at the heel of the butt? I don't know about all of you, but on my 200+ lb. body, and the clothes I wear over my CCW, a little extra steel on the heel isn't going to get noticed by anyone. They are either going to see my gun "print" in general, or, probably, not at all. I would go with whatever you like, aesthetically, or if it truly gives you a better feel, or point shoots better, but that might mean shooting both styles to some extent before you know. I find I can shoot with either style in a K-frame, but have come to prefer the square with a grip adapter or boot style grips.

 

[doc2rn]

I have both a 686 slab round and a Mod 10 sq I would pick up the sq first in any real confrontation.

 

[tekarra]

The round butt fits my hand better than the square butt. For that reason, I rounded the butt on my 4" Mod 65.

 

[ArmedBear]

As others have said, you can put squared-off grips on the round grip frame, but you can't put round grips on the square frame. I'd get round butt, for the flexibility.

I have Smiths with square and round, with various grips in different materials, and there's something to be said for all the variants.

 

[LouisianaMan]

They both work for me in J, K and N frames. (Haven't tried L frames.) Personally, if open carrying, either is fine; concealed, I'd prefer round butt.
Does it point well for you & fit your hand? If so, that may be your answer.

 

[wojownik]

I have a model 65 (.357 version of the model 64) with a round butt. When I first picked it up, it had the square target grips and soon switched them out to the smaller round grips. Huge difference for concealed carry (at least for me). I much prefer the round grips, as they fit my hand better.

 

[wnycollector]

I agree with the other posters, if you want to carry your M64 as a CCW, round butt is a better choice. The selection of small K frame square butt grips is very limited, whereas small round butt K frame grips are cheap and plentiful.

If you do go with a square butt you can still make it very concealable with a set of boot grips. IMOO the out of production uncle mikes boot grip for square butts are the best concealable grips out there that are reasonably priced (~$20 at gun shows or ebay/gunbroker). Spegel boot grips are top of the line but they start at $60 and climb rapidly. Both grips make a K frame square butt almost as small a round butt.

 

[merlinfire]

I think most of us prefer the round. Square makes it look like you got in a construction accident

 

[PO2Hammer]

I prefer the square butts on K frames, round butts feel like there's nothing there at the bottom, no support.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I like the square better. Then again, I prefer the arched mainspring housings on 1911's over the flats, too. It's a matter of what your hand likes.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I like them a little curvy, in jeans.

 

[geologist]

Round butt with a Tyler T grip adaptor on K frame snubbies.

 

[Oro]

For short barrel revolvers (3" and under) I like a round butt, but for 4" or greater I prefer a square butt because it provides a heel surface against the palm. This helps me to better control the increased forward balance of the gun.

Exactly.

This has been my rule for years. Works well. After they stopped putting square frames on guns in 1994, I stopped buying ones over 3" made after that date. Thank goodness they've brought them back recently.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

My hands prefer round butts, but each to their own.

 

[sniper5]

OK, off topic but a funny story (and true), and seems like a cute one for Father's Day:

My grandfather was a cowboy for 20 years. He had long since moved on when I was old enough to remember him. I asked him once why he quit and he said (brusquely, like everything he said): "MY A** GOT ROUND!" I asked what that meant. He said (almost yelling): "Boy, you have to have a square a** to ride a horse. When your a** gets round you keep falling off!"

 

[S&Wfan]

I like 'em BOTH!

 

[Nushif]

I generally like round butts more ... but frankly it seems to be personal preference. It just feels slightly better.

 

[skoro]

Just my own preference...

Round on 2" and 3" because it looks more balanced and makes a small revolver easier to carry concealed. Square on 4" and up because it looks more balanced and it fits my hand better with a heavier revolver.