Smith 629 Grips

[roo_ster]

Howdy:

I recently bought a S&W 629-1 .44mag. It came with the factory (what I think some folks call "cokebottle") grips. They look wonderful, what with the purty wood and S&W medallions. Square butt.

They do not do much in the realm of soaking up recoil from full-house magnums, however.

My S&W 686 wears Hogue black rubber grips. Pretty they aint, but the soak up what little recoil full-house .357mag can generate.

I have two questions:
1. Have any of you found any wood grips better able to tame N-frame recoil?
2. Though I'd hate to use rubber/neoprene/etc, what non-wood grips have y'all found to work well on a N-frame besides the X-frame SW500/460 grips?

I understand that grip fit is an individual thing, but picking folks' brains for what worked for them can give me a hint as to what might work for me, given that my paws are only somewhat larger than normal.

 

[Starter52]

jfruser, it would be nice if your 629 came with Cokes (which are selling for crazy $$$$ today), but S&W stopped using Cokes long before the 629 came out. You likely have a pair of later factory target stocks.

I have never found any wood stocks that soak up recoil as well as a good pair of Pachmayrs or Hogues. Rubber is not nearly as pretty as wood, but it's less painful and a whole lot cheaper.

I favor the Pachmayr open-back gripper grips for the N-frame.

 

[Gator]

The only way you would have "Cokes" is if you got the gun used and a previous owner put them on. The "Cokes" would be worth almost as much as the gun. How about some pics?

Those blocky Target grips are actually about the best wood grips out there for reducing recoil...they spread it out over a large area.

Wood looks good, but rubber feels better......Hummm, it seems like theres a dirty joke in there somewheres.

 

[roo_ster]

It is very likely they are "target" grips, not cokebottle.

Hey, they look kinda coke-bottley...when in full recoil...and silhouetted by the blast from the muzzle and cylander/forcing cone gap...

Oh, I did buy it used. I would appreciate a call on the grips: target, cokebottle, other?

I think I will have to consider the Hogue rubber grips.

Anyway, here is a weak image of it and the grips:

 

[Gator]

Definitely Target grips. I have been meaning to order a S&W 500 grip to try on my 629s, they are supposed to be excellent at reducing recoil. I know they are for a K/L frame, but folks say they fit fine on the Ns.

 

[Banshee]

I have a set of S&W(Hogue) X frame grips on my 629. They are nice, but they only fit round butt guns

click on the thumbnail for full size picture

 

[Gator]

Yep, those wouldn't work for Jfruser, my bad.

 

[Zundfolge]

Best bet for wood grips would be Nill Target grips like these

Boy I wish I could afford a set for my 29-2

Standing Wolf will probably back me up on this as his daily carry piece is a 3" 629 with Nills.

 

[ARTiger]

Hogue make some mighty fine wooden grips as well. Not as recoil absorbent as the rubber models, but better than the factory target grips for sure.