unclenunzie
Contributing Member
Small frame revolver grips for pocket carry.
After much consideration, reading, and thought, whatever I carry on my belt, I also want a snub 38 in my pocket. It provides a non-telegraphing option for hand on a weapon that will not go out of battery in a contact situation. Well known limitations: hard to shoot well, low capacity and low reload speed. But I think the known advantages far outweigh the limitations when coupled with a more capable handgun on the belt. The common choices, mine included, are some form of J-frame or LCR, or equivalent. I have chosen the 642/442 or LCR which should surprise exactly no one.
Next I wanted to deal with the grips for function. On the J frames I find the boot grip best of the stock options, but learned of Hogue G10 Piranha grips. These were the first grips I found that would allow all shots fired without wanting to readjust my grip between shots. These are very aggressive and rubber would certainly be kinder to the skin, but they really fit my hand well and I have decided to standardize on them. I bought black for my 442 to keep the pocket stealth factor high. For my 642 I bought blue because they were the cheapest available.
The LCR is a somewhat different matter. I had hoped to find black G10 Piranhas for the LCR for similar pricing, and they exist, but there's no discount on them so full price is it. These provide a similar experience on the LCR as on the J frame, but a bit larger and heavier due to the Ruger grip-peg, closed backstrap system. They have raised the empty wight of my LCR to exactly 14 ounces compared to stock Tamers, but it points so much better for me with the sights aligning at eye level easily. The little bit of pinky support and slightly thinner profile really improve how it handles. But even larger they do not grab like the rubber grips do, I can feel my hand slide around them efficiently without drag in the pocket.
I tried the LCR stock boot grips, but they feel like they will squeeze out of my hand, being so short. Every time I tried them I kept going back to stock. I even stippled them as an experiment which certainly increased their grippiness, but they still felt like too little to hang on to for my purposes. The OEM tamers do work great but the rubber drags as I reach into my pocket.
Long way of saying these grips are great on a J frame, and very, very good on an LCR. For those who belt carry 5-shot revolvers the choices are wider. But for my pocket-carry purposes I think these are just the ticket.
After much consideration, reading, and thought, whatever I carry on my belt, I also want a snub 38 in my pocket. It provides a non-telegraphing option for hand on a weapon that will not go out of battery in a contact situation. Well known limitations: hard to shoot well, low capacity and low reload speed. But I think the known advantages far outweigh the limitations when coupled with a more capable handgun on the belt. The common choices, mine included, are some form of J-frame or LCR, or equivalent. I have chosen the 642/442 or LCR which should surprise exactly no one.
Next I wanted to deal with the grips for function. On the J frames I find the boot grip best of the stock options, but learned of Hogue G10 Piranha grips. These were the first grips I found that would allow all shots fired without wanting to readjust my grip between shots. These are very aggressive and rubber would certainly be kinder to the skin, but they really fit my hand well and I have decided to standardize on them. I bought black for my 442 to keep the pocket stealth factor high. For my 642 I bought blue because they were the cheapest available.
The LCR is a somewhat different matter. I had hoped to find black G10 Piranhas for the LCR for similar pricing, and they exist, but there's no discount on them so full price is it. These provide a similar experience on the LCR as on the J frame, but a bit larger and heavier due to the Ruger grip-peg, closed backstrap system. They have raised the empty wight of my LCR to exactly 14 ounces compared to stock Tamers, but it points so much better for me with the sights aligning at eye level easily. The little bit of pinky support and slightly thinner profile really improve how it handles. But even larger they do not grab like the rubber grips do, I can feel my hand slide around them efficiently without drag in the pocket.
I tried the LCR stock boot grips, but they feel like they will squeeze out of my hand, being so short. Every time I tried them I kept going back to stock. I even stippled them as an experiment which certainly increased their grippiness, but they still felt like too little to hang on to for my purposes. The OEM tamers do work great but the rubber drags as I reach into my pocket.
Long way of saying these grips are great on a J frame, and very, very good on an LCR. For those who belt carry 5-shot revolvers the choices are wider. But for my pocket-carry purposes I think these are just the ticket.
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