Uncle Mikes "J" Frame Boot Grips

Z

ZVP

New member
I bought a set directlly through the Smith & Wesson store and besides a GREAT nprice, the grips really trasnsformed the grip on the small frame!
Yes the stock grips are beautiful and I lqaid mine aside for BBQ wear. My Model 36 is Nickled and a cute little thing!
The grips make the little 36 really controlable aqnd took all the mild sting from the front of thr front of the frame.b The filler between the triggerguard and the grip is excellently designed and totally does it's job.
I just bought the plain grip, sanws the s&w LOGO
These are an excellent addition to the J frame
ZVP
 
If you like the Uncle Mike's, you simply have got to try the Hogue boot grip. They are slightly fuller in the hand, and feel like an extension of your arm. Replaced my Uncle mike's with these, and have never looked back.
 
Yankee Doodle said:
If you like the Uncle Mike's, you simply have got to try the Hogue boot grip. They are slightly fuller in the hand, and feel like an extension of your arm. Replaced my Uncle mike's with these, and have never looked back.
Click to expand...

The Houge boot grip does feel great in the hand and makes the J-frame even more controllable than it already is. However, IMO the added length and width of the Houges takes away from the most attractive feature of the J-frame, conceal-ability. The J-frame is just barely small enough for the pocket but perfect on a belt. For me, with the Houges, pocket carry is no longer an option and belt carry isn't as easy. After all, the hardest part of a gun to conceal is the grip.

The uncle mike's boot grips are great. They are perfect for concealment and fill the hand nicely. What type of grips were on your revolver before you changed them out?
 
I bought a houge grip the day i bought the 638 because everyone told me that it would make the gun more enjoyable to shoot. I and the wife really like the houge grip but for the heck of it i put the factory grips back on just in case she ever wanted them. And to be honest with you both me and the wife had no problem with the gun. We even shot about a 100 rounds of + P and still thought the LCP was way more uncomfortable to shoot. Only posting this in case yyou are buying grips without shooting the gun first. Might save you a few bucks. Now on the other hand the Houge grip i got for the LCP made night and day difference with that gun. Its nothing for us to though 100 + rounda at a time with it now.
 
Shadi
If I may clarify.
Although it is fuller, the Hogue Boot Grip is the same length as the Uncle Mike's. It does not extend past the bottom of the grip frame. I beleive that you are thinking of their standard grip.
I pocket carry my 642 all the time, and the Hogues work just fine.
 
As most of ya'll know I have a strong dislike for rubber grips. Here's two of my J-Frame Smiths with Eagle Grips Secret Service grips in rosewood. I find these far superior to rubber grips for handling and shooting:

000_10871.jpg


Also keep them on my Model 19 Smith.

Bob Wright
 
So Bob Wright, how are the wood grips in terms of handling recoil? They do look nice and I know they don't stick in the pocket.

I for one like the Smith boot grip. I actually think the J Frames are at their best with this, and hurt the least to shoot. I think with the Smith rubber boot grip my hand position is shifted so the gun kind of rolls back in the hand and this makes for less felt recoil. With the extended rubber Hogue grips, the recoil is more straight back because your little finger is no longer tucked under the grip.

The Hogue boot grip, they call it the Bantam, is a real pain to take on and off, has no screws so has to be pried on and off. Not for me. No better feel either.
 
Butler Creek, Craig Spegel, boot grips...

I looked into the older Butler Creek "Boot Grip" style but they discontinued.

I like the wood Craig Spegel grips. Spegel from OR was the first maker of the "boot grip" style then sold the rights to Butler Creek.
The Hogue "Bantum" grips have merit too.

Clyde
 
As to wood grips handling recoil, these are on .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolvers where recoil is only a minor consideration. But on N-Frame .44 Magnums or Ruger Single Actions, smooth grips are the order of the day for me. I found that the checkered target grips on Smiths had a groove bordering the checkering that let a little roll of skin sink in and that stung under heavy recoil.

But I found on very heavy recoilling guns, such as the .45-70 and .45-90, rubber grips really abraded the web of my hand to the point I had a blister after only about twenty-five rounds or so.

Having my hand beat up so much from rubber grips has soured me from now on out on those things!

Bob Wright
 
...rubber grips really abraded the web of my hand to the point I had a blister after only about twenty-five rounds or so...
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The web of your hand, or up about half an inch on the thumb near the web? That is where I get my blister.
 
Well, I'm not sure how to locate it. There is a little area of loose skin that I can sort of pinch up and roll back and forth in the web behind the thumb joint. This gets rolled and rolled until a blister appears, bursts, and gets really touchy.

Bob Wright
 
You are tougher than me. Recoil IS a factor for Airweights as far as I'm concerned. Sounds like the smooth wood helps with it? A bit of slippage helps absorb?
 
Yankee Doodle said:
Shadi
If I may clarify.
Although it is fuller, the Hogue Boot Grip is the same length as the Uncle Mike's. It does not extend past the bottom of the grip frame. I beleive that you are thinking of their standard grip.
I pocket carry my 642 all the time, and the Hogues work just fine.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. Thank you for clarifying.

I have to agree with Bob on the wood grips, especially Eagles. I carried a set on my old 342 for years; I wish I had kept them when I sold the gun. These days I use a pair of CT defenders and they are very similar to the feel of wood grips when firing. I actually find smooth, non rubber grips to be more comfortable and eliminates the pinching I get with rubber grips. Here is a pic of what happens to my hand after about 50 rounds using the stock grips...

u7ytetam.jpg
 
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I get the same blister, but just a bit more to the inside of the thumb. But those Eagle smooth rosewood grips is a little pricey ($64.00 + shipping), especially if I was considering replacing at least four sets for my different double-actions.
 
dahermit said:
I get the same blister, but just a bit more to the inside of the thumb. But those Eagle smooth rosewood grips is a little pricey ($64.00 + shipping), especially if I was considering replacing at least four sets for my different double-actions.
Click to expand...

The eagles are pricey but they certainly are comfortable and look great as well. I've debated picking up a pair for the revolver in the pic but don't know how much use they would actually get. It's almost as if the CT's were molded to fit my hand.
 
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