Question about SW revolver butts

B

bullbarrel

New member
I've heard of square butts and round butts. My question is, can you turn a round butt into a square one, simply by buying new grips? Or is it the metal frame that is shaped differently? I tend to like the square butt more.
 
The grip frame is either round or square (the current guns are round-butt). There are aftermarket grips from several makers that fit the round grip frame, and give you the same outside diminsions as the square-butt guns.
 
As noted, it is the contour of the frame that determines round or square. The grips fit the frame, not the other way around. Some gunsmiths have converted square into round for customers, and grips can be purchased to make the round look like the square. Got it?
 
One thing that always struck me as odd is that almost everyone I personally know, many here on TFL as well, and darn near all in the Wheelhouse on GT prefer the square butts as opposed to the rounded butts. This is not an official tally by any means but it would seen there is large following for the square butts and yet S&W discontinued them.
 
Even tho I have small hands...
I prefer square butt for serious target.
And round butt for combat games n stuff.

Probably not enough serious bulleseye wheelgun shooters left to justify square butt production.

Round butt unobtanium ultimate tactical is the "in" thing.

Sam
 
Ummm- uglygun, I'm not sure it's a CRAZE - - -

- - - as in a FAD. More like popularity. Not to agrue, but I tend to think that, as shall-issue carry permits have become more common across the U.S., there are a lot more people carrying concealed now than a few years ago. It is usually easier to hide a round butt revolver than a square butt. The RB doesn't print a hard edge the way a SB does.

A lot of shooters got used to SBs when they didn't/couldn't carry concealed. Butt shape makes no difference if you keep your piece in the glove compartment, or openly carry, of course. I've always liked RB revolvers--the way they feel and the way they shoot.

Then again, there's something classic about the appearence of a large-frame Colt or S&W with the SB. Even a four-inch K-frame.

Mostly a matter of individual preference, as with so much else, concerning personal weapons. (Yup, I used the W-word.):p

Best,
Johnny Guest
 
While I like having the option...

...for me, square butt frames belong on wheelguns with barrel lengths of 6" or longer. To wit, target or hunting guns.

Social sixguns, especially those meant to be CCW'ed, demand round butt frames.

I don't know if I'm a "serious sixgunner" or not (although I do have a "wheelhouse #" at GT, Big Bad .45 Wolf ;) ), but out of three N's, two L's, two K's and a J, all but one are round butts.
 
It is usually easier to hide a round butt revolver than a square butt. The RB doesn't print a hard edge the way a SB does.
Click to expand...

I knew I'd get a response with that statement in it, I couldn't agree more.

But to apply the round butt design to just about everything because they saw a trend towards a design preference in one model or two and then adapted it to the rest of the product lines, it just kinda irks me. Ofcourse somebody could put a more square but type grip on a round butt frame but it's just one of those nagging little things that get to me. By the same token, on a square butt frame there are some grips out there that round out the back of the grip and does away with the sharp lines of the large square butt target grips.

For a concealment revolver, round butt would probably win the day or I'd change out grips in an attempt to get a rounder shaped grip type better suited to concealment.

Heck, the whole argument is likely the reason why they started choppin on the backs of the main spring housings on 1911s.

I understand the reasons for it and why it's advantageous but everytime I see one the hairs on the back of my neck sorta stand on end.

I just love the square butts, especially the N-frames which is part of the whole reason behind my thread on "most confortable/best pointing revolvers"
 
Hogue has a whole series of grips in both wood and rubber that convert K/L/N round butts into square-butt functionality. One of the reasons S&W cancelled the square butts was the existence of these and similar grips by Ken Null and others.
 
On my 686 snubbie the rounded butt makes more sense for CCW, but my big ole 5in bbl 629 Classic needs a RB for what? There are the previously mentioned conversion grips, but it does not feel the same to me as a standard square butt when shooting. Like I said it just amazes me that their discontinued when so many prefer them, especially with the larger frame and barrel revolvers.

Tamara- hey we miss you over on GT, stop on by and put the kiddies back in line would ya? :)
 
Round to Square

If your round butt frame and bolt hole will fit properly within your choice of SQ butt grips. Wrap the bare frame in saran wrap and fill in around it with some paste epoxy.

If you want to use a SQ grip in a Round butt frame if the bolt hole will line up. Draw thw outline of the SQ butt frame on the RB grip and cut it out with your trusty Dremel tool.

Or drill a new bolt hole in the grips if necessary. Patch and color as needed.

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
I pretty much agree with Tamara. I like a round but on a short barrel. Any K Frame 4" or more feels better with a square butt.
 
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