S&W 686 grips

Boneuphtoner · May 8, 2017

Hey Folks - I've been a big Ruger revolver fan since I started shooting last year and I recently have caught the S&W bug. Kinda surprised actually as I tried a 627 pro model last year and didn't like it. Recently tried a 686 and I'm really smitten!

I like the feel of rubber grips but I prefer the look of wood. There seem to be so many more wood grip options for the S&W and I'm a bit overwhelmed. A safe first choice would be the Hogue wood grips as I have them on my GP100, but I absolutely love the look of the classic target style grips. I have a couple questions to ask you experts:

- In general, how do the classic target grips compare in feel, comfort, control etc compared to more modern grips?

- I would love to hear folk's experience with various target grips for the 686. The Altamonts certainly seem to have the lowest cost auction

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

sgt23preston · May 8, 2017

http://grips4guns.com/handgun_grips/K_L_Conversion.html

mopar92 · May 8, 2017

Per fresh experience (ie yesterday). The Uncle Mikes grips on my 64 accentuated the recoil of standard. 38 versus my mothers 13. Both K frame guns both 4" barrel.

They did seem to grab more efficiently as the 13 rotated and settled after recoil while the 64 had to conciously be lowered to reacquire the sights.

rouchna · May 8, 2017

I'm a big fan of Altamont grips. Not as comfortable as the hogue rubber grips but definitely look a whole lot nicer.

danb · May 8, 2017

I think that this is a really hard question to answer because a lot of fit is particular to your hands and how you hold the revolver. finger grooves? no finger grooves? Smooth? textured? Some people say rubber absorbs recoil better, but I have found the opposite. A good pair of wood grips that lets me grip that sucker way up high makes a 357 magnum feel like a 9mm, to me.

The Altamonts are nice and look very similar to stock 686+ wood grips on mine

.

If it were me, I'd start with something I already know I like on the Ruger. If there is a better way to find a pair of grips other than try them... I have not found it, unfortunately.

MoeMurrda · May 8, 2017

I recently aquired a bunch of grips to sell for a friend, I'll check and see tomorrow evening when I can go through them, and I'll see if there's anything you might like- I'd surely be able to beat most prices. I'll keep you updated

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GoGoGadget · May 8, 2017

I went through about 5 pairs of grips for my 686 and settled on Ahrends grips in Cocobolo. The fit is perfect, price reasonable, and they are awesome.

GoGoGadget · May 8, 2017

Culina grips are great too. expensive, but he will custom make them to fit your hand. Here's a pair on my S&W 17-2.

Boneuphtoner · May 8, 2017

GoGoGadget said:
Culina grips are great too. expensive, but he will custom make them to fit your hand. Here's a pair on my S&W 17-2.

Now those are the type I'm talking about!!! Love that classic look. How do these feel compared to your others?

GoGoGadget · May 8, 2017

If you like a nice palm swell, you'll like Culina grips. The TruOil finish is surprisingly grippy for so much gloss. Lots of wood and shape choices and also medallions if you want them. I think he does checkering too now. If you email, they are very responsive with questions and all of that. Usually, his wife will return emails quickly.

The grips in my pic are made of Claro Walnut, if I remember correctly.

Edit: to answer your question more directly: I like the Culinas on my 6" Model 17, and I prefer the Ahrends on my 4" 686 - different uses. The Ahrends don't have much palm swell per se, but feel great. I use the Model 17 as a target gun, so the palm swell of the Culina grips helps in that regard.

Edit 2: The Culinas in the pic are the target model. Apparently he modeled them after some classic S&W "coke bottle" target grips from back in the day and added a touch more palm swell.

Boneuphtoner · May 9, 2017

Great, thanks GoGoGadget!

GoGoGadget said:
If you like a nice palm swell, you'll like Culina grips. The TruOil finish is surprisingly grippy for so much gloss. Lots of wood and shape choices and also medallions if you want them. I think he does checkering too now. If you email, they are very responsive with questions and all of that. Usually, his wife will return emails quickly.

The grips in my pic are made of Claro Walnut, if I remember correctly.

Edit: to answer your question more directly: I like the Culinas on my 6" Model 17, and I prefer the Ahrends on my 4" 686 - different uses. The Ahrends don't have much palm swell per se, but feel great. I use the Model 17 as a target gun, so the palm swell of the Culina grips helps in that regard.

Edit 2: The Culinas in the pic are the target model. Apparently he modeled them after some classic S&W "coke bottle" target grips from back in the day and added a touch more palm swell.

Biggfoot44 · May 9, 2017

Culina grips are great. They are focused on authentic repriductions of specific vintage grips, made from beatiful wood, and priced for serious S&W collectors.

This is a mixed result. Many of the vintage grips were indeed excellect grips for shooting. ( '50s- early '60s K Frame targets are the bomb, other than the "Football" not providing clearence for speedloaders.)

At a more reasonable price point, Eagle makes a grip that is reminiscent of the " Coke Bottle " grips, known to S&W collectors as " Cokes " . The Eagles are standard in Rosewood. Looks reasonably nice, but less $$$ than high grade Walnut .

Eagle also makes a cpl flavors of generic "Target Grips" , but most of them have the larger dimensions of '70s era Target Grips . Matter of personal preference. Of course back in the Revolver Era, it was common practice to sand them down to fit your hand in the desired manner. Origonal S&W grips are now too valuable for such things, but you can modify Eagles to your hearts content without giving a stroke to a S&W collector .

Boneuphtoner · May 9, 2017

Does anyone have any experience with the Altamont conversion target grips? Like the ones on the very top of the thread here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/access...t-grips-round-butt.html?310470=#post137152278

To my eye these look very similar to the ones currently included on the 586 classic:

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-586-4-barrel

rbird7282 · May 9, 2017

GoGoGadget said:
I went through about 5 pairs of grips for my 686 and settled on Ahrends grips in Cocobolo. The fit is perfect, price reasonable, and they are awesome.

Damn those are sexy. Great, now I need to buy new grips for my 686.

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Waz · May 9, 2017

i had altamont boot grips on my 686 before i sold it. i dont know if it was the grips or the way i was gripping the gun but i'd end up with a blister on my thumb knuckle after a few rounds of .357

i'd buy them again though

Boneuphtoner · May 9, 2017

Yes, those Altamont boot grips look awfully small to me, and I only have average size hands. I've read on the S&W forum that these are designed for concealment (although I'm sure there are some people that shoot these on a regular basis), and since I will be using these as a range/home defense gun, size is not an issue. I'm looking into full size options.

I've ordered myself two grips:

- The Hogue wood top finger groove checkered K/L frame round butt grip - this will be the first time I've tried the top finger groove only Hogues, but I've often wished for something between the full finger grooves and no finger grooves on my GP100...we'll see how that works out.

- I also ordered a full size Altamont conversion target grip. At least from the pictures, these look like the full size classic target grips found on the S&W square butt revolvers. Does anyone know if these grips are the same ones that now appear on the S&W 586 classic?

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-586-4-barrel

Hopefully these will be good choices to start with

tomrkba · May 17, 2017

There is only one answer: Herrett's Stocks. I prefer Jordan Troopers for all purposes.

Dave · May 17, 2017

hmm, those Altamont grips would make an excellent birthday / father's day gift. thanks!

Gryphon · May 17, 2017

Lots of interest in revolvers on the threads over the last few weeks. I didn't like the Hogue rubber/rounded butt grips so I went with these Ahrends conversions.

S&W 686 grips

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