Smith and Wesson 686 Wood Grips

[Zaydok Allen]

I've been thinking about having some custom made that have a lot of wood stacked on right where the web of my hand meets the gun. This would result in longer trigger reach and help me facilitate better trigger control.

I have larger hands and thus longer fingers that are a bit boney. So hooking the trigger is a common issue for me. Big grips help my accuracy a lot.

On the other side of it, my grip is not that strong because my fingers are boney as described. So finger grooves really help me keep the gun where it needs to be in my hand.

 

[CraigC]

The argument should not be wood or rubber, but which % of the above you fit into.

I've got a pile of grips that I don't use because they're uncomfortable. Took a lot of trial and error to discover my preferences. For DA's and SA's, it's two distinctively separate journeys. My 629MG wears grips that are not bad but not as comfortable as I would like because I haven't got around to getting a good set made. Been wanting to try Don Collins for some paper micarta in the Roper style. I've got two sets of $220 BluMagnum grips that don't work for me. One set has been replaced, the other eventually will be or the sixgun that wears them will go. Went through a lot of off-the-shelf grips on Ruger SA's before I found what I like and started having custom sets made to fit the frame. Last I counted, there were 16 sets from CLC alone. I've got them pretty well sorted out. It took a while to figure out what thickness and shape is the most comfortable. That I like a beveled bottom on the shorter Colt SAA/Navy/Ruger XR3 but a flat bottom on anything long enough for all my digits. When I send my USFA to Nutmeg Sports for one-piece ivory, it will include explicit instructions on how thick I want them and how they should be configured. I probably have more unusable grips in storage than most shooters will ever buy in a lifetime. Which is why I suggest to others that they scrutinize their grip selection carefully and try everything they can before spending their money. Also to not be afraid to spend some money on them and certainly do not feel as though you're stuck with whatever the factory put on them. These days, they're procured from the lowest bidder, which is why we see so much rubber.

Folks should try to understand all of this before they arbitrarily dismiss them with condescending remarks about "pretty" guns or imply that only rubber grips are proper for "using".

Do you include the Goncalo Alves oversized target grips that S&W was using in the 1970s among those atrocious wood grips? I have always liked them.

Yep! The Coke bottles had a very comfortable shape to them. Not too thick or too thin but just right. The later goncalo alves target grips were like a checkered brick. I have a bunch of them I'll never use again.

...how does one go about getting grips made that are custom fit to one's hand?

Herrett's, Roy Fishpaw, Keith Brown and BluMagnum will all request your sixgun and a tracing of your hand.

 

[RealGun]

Rubber Grips on magnums are like recoil pads on rifles. It is a practical matter.

If you use a handsome set of wood grips, you might find yourself shooting with padded gloves to compensate, downloading your ammo, or shooting the lesser caliber like 38/357 or 44 Spl/44 Mag.

 

[TennJed]

Rubber Grips on magnums are like recoil pads on rifles. It is a practical matter.





If you use a handsome set of wood grips, you might find yourself shooting with padded gloves to compensate, downloading your ammo, or shooting the lesser caliber like 38/357 or 44 Spl/44 Mag.

for some people, not all. Wood grips do fit some people better

 

[CraigC]

It is a practical matter.

No, they are cheap and that's about it. For some reason people believe that rubber grips cushion the blow from recoil. Last I checked, very few actually cover the back strap so this is bunk. What they do is stick. Which means that they will sooner rub your skin raw than anything that is not rubber. Which is exactly what Hogue's stupid ambidextrous palm swells can do. As I said before, most are too thin, like the Pachmayr, which spreads the recoil across a narrower area of your palm. They are a cheap, one-size fits all approach and mediocre at best.

If you use a handsome set of wood grips, you might find yourself shooting with padded gloves to compensate, downloading your ammo, or shooting the lesser caliber like 38/357 or 44 Spl/44 Mag.

I don't think so but I see your mind is already made up. I know you're convinced that serious shooters only use rubber grips and that "pretty" grips are just for show but you're just flat wrong.

 

[PJSprog]

The later goncalo alves target grips were like a checkered brick. I have a bunch of them I'll never use again.

I have a 686 I bought new in 1987 with those aforementioned "checkered brick" Goncalo Alves grips. I find them pleasingly hand-filling, especially when squeezing off magnum loads. I tried several varieties of rubber grips, and none of them really tickled my fancy. So, I always went back to the original wood. I seem to like them best on that revolver.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was always thought rubber grips were more comfortable for shooting magnum loads until I bought a S&W M640 which was part of a special run and had a set of Badger Custom Rosewood grips installed. Because of the design of the grips they are more comfortable and seem to absorb the recoil better than rubber grips. I tried 3 different rubber grips on the same revolver and the full size (not boot grips) combat style grips make the recoil feel lighter than all the rubber grips do.

Like said above, the grips have to fit your hand and when they do the material they are made of doesn't matter, IMO of course.

 

[RealGun]

The backstrap is covered and has a special soft spot for the web of the hand on my GP100 .357 with Pachmayr Tamer grips.

The backstrap is covered on my Interarms/Rossi 851 with soft rubber grips with Rossi logo. Not a magnum though.

The backstrap is covered by the original equipment rubber grips on my recent production S&W 686. The material is pretty hard though.

The backstrap is covered on my Ruger SP101 with Hogue rubber.

The backstrap is covered on my S&W 629, using pretty standard Pachmayrs.

The backstrap is covered on my Taurus Judge with original grips.

In my collection, there is no question that rubber does indeed serve its intended purpose of reducing recoil.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I prefer magna style service grips on all of my S&W's, magnums included. Altamont makes some nice examples.

 

[CraigC]

We're not talking about Taurus, Ruger or Rossi. Don't know about the Rossi or Taurus but the Ruger SP and GP have no backstrap to expose. Makes little difference either way, fit is what matters, not the material. You have to find what works for you. I can tell you that the wood grips on the sixguns pictured above are far more comfortable for me than any rubber grip I've tried and I've tried them all.

 

[420Stainless]

I've actually always preferred smooth wood grips, but after shooting my 686+ with the factory grips I found they suit me very well. I have medium size hands with shorter than average fingers and that grip fits me very well. I agree with what Craig says, its not about the material, but about the fit. If you want to carry it concealed other than OWB then its probably a good idea to move away from rubber. Or if you just plain don't like the looks of the rubber nothing wrong with moving to something else. Rubber seems like it may offer advantages in wet conditions, but I actually haven't ever tested grips specifically for comparison in wet conditions so I don't know for sure. Hopefully you can find some round butt stocks that strike your fancy.

I bought a Taurus M445 with the ribber grip. That grip is a pleasure to shoot, but is going to have to go 'cause it snags on everything even OWB.

 

[firemanstrickland]

I really appreciate all of the advise, i have chosen to go with checkered wood grips, I comfortably shoot magnum calibers with wood grips, im a big guy, i can take it. Thank you for everything, and feel free to keep comparing grip stories, just wanted to let everyone know that the advise helped.

 

[Bullet Bob]

These used Herrett's are for a K-frame square butt (pictured here on a K-frame), and fit my round butt 686 very well, inside and out, with no movement, even though they obviously have empty space at the bottom corners inside the grips. With a good fit up top and along the bottom of the grips, and the locating pins of S&W's they've held up well so far on the 686.


I don't like the 70's and later S&W target grips, too thick at the bottom, and the curve leading up to the trigger guard lets it whack my middle finger. Those so called Combat S&W grips are even worse for me, I won't use them on .357's or more powerful rounds. The target grips by S&W in the 50's were much better.

Sorry for the terrible picture, but the bottom revolver is a K22 with 50's target grips: See how the wood curves downward at the trigger guard? With a nice high grip, recoil can't direct the steel triggerguard into your middle finger. There are also other dimensional difference that make a great difference in feel.


Here's a 70's or 80's Model 18, see the difference where the grip and triggerguard meet?


Sure, it doesn't matter on .22's, but a .44 is a different story, at least to me.

Here's a Herrett's Jordan Trooper round-to-square butt conversion on an L-frame (same as a 686) 646:


These custom grips by Roy Fishpaw are a good example of grips that fit me well, although the Herrett's are very good also, I have a few of them. I have fairly large hands, and like the size and shape of the Jordan Troopers.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I just ordered a pair of Nill grips for a 3" 686+ Talo edition with an unflutted cylinder. Excited for them to show up. Closed blackstrap, finger grooves, stippled walnut, rounded bottom. Should be just what I need.

Not truly custom, but pretty darn nice. My PC 686 wears a pair with a thumb shelf. Love them

 

[mrdeltoid]

Personally I like the old target grips from the early 80's. Rubber grips are nice too though on a work horse gun.

 

[evan price]

They make round butt-to-square butt conversion grips, if you like that square-butt feel.
The Hogue wood monogrips are not too bad, I have a couple. The nice rosewood S&W style combat grips are nice but I don't like the shiny smooth glossy wood finish, if you actually shoot them a lot they get slippery in your hand, and if you rough them up, there's no point in spending the money on nice grips.

My go-to for carry S&Ws is the Pachmayr Grippers. Kind of a compromise between round and square regardless of grip shape of the gun frame, and fits me well. I don't like the rubber Hogue monogrips much.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Hey I just thought I'd share. My Nill Grips came in today. They look and feel great in the hand.

Just thought I'd share since they are a good option, and who doesn't like walnut right? I know the OP already said he made a decided on something, but having the info out there is always good.

Sorry for the stupid sideways pic. Smart phone crap. The gun is a 686 Talo 3".

http://mactecsales.com/

 

[firemanstrickland]

Well, I ended up ordering some square butt looking grips from thailand off of ebay for 30 bucks and i gotta say they are some of the best grips ive ever felt. solid too.

 

[red rick]

I love the looks of wooden grips, but the factory wood grips didn't feel good in my hands . The first thing I did too my 686 was put a set of Pachmayr Pro Grips on it . What a difference it made in the feel and accuracy for me . I don't know why I don't sell the factory wood grips at a premium price , because I will never use them again and I will never sell this revolver . It was my first and still one of my favorites .

 

[Elkins45]

Howdy

Do you include the Goncalo Alves oversized target grips that S&W was using in the 1970s among those atrocious wood grips? I have always liked them.




Regarding custom grips, I am familiar with most of the internet wood grips makers, but how does one go about getting grips made that are custom fit to one's hand?

Just curious.

I was thinking about those very grips today in reflecting on a gun I recently sold. When I bought my first S&W revolver in 1981 (4" model 19) it came with those grips and I remember reading in all the gun mags of the day that I should immediately swap them out for Pachmayrs because the factory grips were worthless. I did, and I liked them better because I have small hands.

Fast forward to 2013 and I sold a 686-1. I bought it used and it had Pachmayrs on it. When I went to sell it everybody asked me if I had the original grips because I was worth a lot less with "Goodyears".

Funny how things change. One of these days I will probably find the original grips for my 19 in whatever box I stuffed them in. I may put them back on the gun just for nostalgia.