J Frame Grip Suggestions

J

Jack19

New member
I recently picked up a Performance Center 642 Enhanced Action, this one:
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After decades of carrying heavy full sized autos, I love this little thing. The trigger is fantastic, well, for a revolver, and it weighs nothing!!!!

But, while the factory grips look great, they don't fit me; they slip and pinch when gripped hard and I have large hands. I've tried Hogue's Monogrips and their Bantams. No go with either.

Monogrips are a little large for pocket carry and a little sticky for IWB or OWB and they print, IMO, more then some full sized autos I've carried. Maybe it's the rubber?

The Bantams, which, size wise, are just about perfect, but are just a little short...fifth finger hangs off in space and it's a very un-natural feel for me. They also cause me to significantly alter my grip upward which causes the muzzle to rise and me to have to consciously push forward to lower the front sight...not something I want to worry about when TSHTF.

Sadly, in three weeks of ownership, I haven't even fired this thing yet as I am a firm believer that if you do not completely believe in your sidearm, it will fail you. So, grips are damaging my calm.
secret_santa__jordan_by_safetyhazard-d5qmwxa.jpg


Wood grips might eliminate the stickiness issue of the Monogrips, and I need something that supports the fifth finger but I'd also like something that will also work for pocket carry.

Does such an animal exist?
 
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But, while the factory grips look great, they don't fit me; they slip and pinch when gripped hard and I have large hands. I've tried Hogue's Monogrips and their Bantams. No go with either.

Monogrips are a little large for pocket carry and a little sticky for IWB or OWB and they print,
Click to expand...

Grip preference is very individual. For a need rather like yours I've pretty much settled on a set of Uncle Mike's boot grips, which S&W has put on some of their snubs in the past. No longer made, but they shouldn't be too hard to find. They're an authorized copy in hard rubber of the Craig Spiegel boot grip.

---edit to add---

here we go, straight from S&W http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764708_-1_757889_757837_757837_ProductDisplayErrorView_N
 
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Fifth finger? You mean pinky?

Mine is on a Taurus 605, which would be the same size as your j-frame. No, the pinky on my big hands curls under the base of the grip. For me, it works.

And, you specified pocketable.
 
Craig Spegel?...

Craig Spegel, www.craigspegel.com , the designer of the popular Boot Grips line for J frames may help.
Secret Service Grips & Ajax are well known too.
I like the Hogue line. I purchased a Hogue Tamer for my Ruger GPNY .38spl revolver in 2006. It worked well on duty & had no recoil/control problems.

Crimsontrace lasergrips may help too.

Clyde
 
I put the full size Smith grip on my 642, giving that extra finger groove for much improved control. I wear mine inside my front pant pocket in a Uncle Mike's pocket holster. Way better than the original grip, at least for me.
 
I have about 12-15 jframe grips. After everything the Lg405 from crimson trace are far and away my favorite and one of the best for Pocket or iwb. The are polymer one the sides so clothing does not cling and rubber on the front and backstrap, so you get good purchase. They are only two finger grips though.
 
Have you tried the smith "bananas"? (I think "J-frams round-but target grips" is proper.) I have large hands and these are the only grips that fit in my pocket and take all 3 of my "grip" fingers"

-- now finding them is another issue.

37.jpg
 
Here's one solution, a pair of old S&W's for the J-frame. Don't be misled, the gun in this pic is a vintage 3" bbl'd. M36. These grips are a bit bigger then the current crop of wooden "boot" grips, conceal just about as well, and are infinitely better for actual shooting.

If you're into the plastic realm, Crimson Trace makes a good grip for J-frames that incorporates their excellent laser...my wife has a pair on her M637 and loves them. They'll soak up +p recoil from 125 JHPs with room to spare. Rod

 
Handmade walnut small -

PistolGripsJframe-02-Small.jpg


Same piece of walnut, a larger set -

PistolGripsJframe-03-Large.jpg


The smaller grips hide out a little better. The larger grips point a little more naturally.

It's a 1956 Chief, pre-number.

PistolJFrameWithTarget-01.jpg



Sgt Lumpy
 
I have a set of Herret "Shooting Aces" on all of my J-frame Smiths. I have fairly large hands and these grips fit me better than any other of the many I've tried. The Shooting Ace is a mite bulky for pocket carry but I do it all the time without a problem.
 
I had the S&W J synthetic grip shown above on my 637 and it supported the fifth finger real good. grip worked very well in a pocket holster in my cargo pants. no snagging. but I do have small hands.
 
Well jack19, have you solved your grip dilemma? If not, I'll trade you the full size synthetic S&W grips I have that are brand new and unused for your wood grips...assuming of course your grips are as new.:)

 
Yes, it looks like the UM's, but Uncle Mike no longer makes grips. These are by Smith & Wesson, with their logo, and are synthetic rubber as opposed to UM's real rubber.
 
I know it's heresy, and I will be excommunicated by the Church of Uncle Mike, but if you want DA control of a J-frame, forget those super grips made out of recycled horse manure or whatever it is, and go with the old style wood grip that lets you get the middle finger all the way up in the grip.

Jim
 
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