S&W 686 Grips for Small-Handed?

JJNA · June 9, 2014, 03:54 PM

I recently purchased a S&W 686 and found that the stock rubber grips are less than ideal for my small-to-medium hands, especially after many trigger pulls.

After some research, I narrowed down to three prospective choices:

Jerry Miculek grips: http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?...oducts_id=8083

Altamont Round Conversion Target: http://www.altamontco.com/experiment...son_kframe.php (specifically this one: http://www.altamontco.com/experiment...s/SKC-TO07.jpg)

Ahrends Retro Target: http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/retro.htm

Does anyone here have experience with one or more of these stocks and provide some feedback? Thanks!

357 Terms · June 9, 2014, 06:55 PM

Eagle Secret service grips are good.

http://www.eaglegrips.com/guns/Secre...Frame-Rou.html

amd6547 · June 9, 2014, 07:34 PM

The small K-frame Magna grips with a Tyler T-grip make for a great shooting combination for small to medium hands.

ckpj99 · June 9, 2014, 08:16 PM

I have pretty small hands though I think you'll find after shooting a lot you want a grip that feels a teeny, tiny bit large. It just works better for quick double action shooting.

I have to K/L-frame guns (the same frame size as your 686). I have a standard magna grips, the thin panels which used to come stock on S&W revolvers, paired with a Tyler-T grip on one gun. And I have the Miculek grips on my second gun. They both work great and sort of have a similar feel. The Miculek grips are pretty long (which doesn't really matter for your grip, but does if you want to carry the gun concealed). So it just depends on how you want to use the gun. If it's just for the range or home defense, the Miculek grips are probably best.

Finally, I really don't understand why anyone would suggest Eagle Secret Service grips to anyone with small hands. They offer a two-finger grip on a gun that's more than large enough to allow a three-finger grip. These grips were extremely awkward for my hands. I believe they are only appropriate for people with very large hands. I may be wrong, but I did not like them. I see no reason to go with a two finger grip on such a large gun, and frankly any grips I've tried with finger grooves don't fit my hands correctly.

JJNA · June 9, 2014, 10:53 PM

Thank you for all the suggestions, but I am really interested in experienced opinions regarding Miculek grips, Ahrends Retro Target and Altamont Round Conversion Target.

ckpj99, are your Miculek grips the smooth type or the checkered?

ckpj99 · June 9, 2014, 11:16 PM

My grips are smooth, just a personal preference. If I were shooting a lot of .357 magnums, I might want some checkering to help me hold on to it.

JJNA · June 9, 2014, 11:27 PM

You know, I used to prefer aggressive checkering on grips because I sweat profusely on my hands, but would experience a lot of rawness on my palms and fingers especially because I'd really grip tightly to counteract the sweat-induced slipperiness.

Now I have come to the view that the hard-gripping was increasing the sweatiness of my palms and the checkering, combined with the tightness of the grip, was abrading my hand badly and just worsening the situation.

I am considering going smooth for all my guns. Thanks again for your input.

ckpj99 · June 10, 2014, 02:12 PM

JJNA - yeah, I think it's really a matter of the function of the gun. If it's a defense gun, and the checkering helped me shoot faster, then there you go. For a range gun or something I'm shooting a lot, I'd go smooth.

JJNA · June 10, 2014, 06:52 PM

Anybody try Ahrends Retro Target or Altamont Round Conversion Target and provide feedback?

bhcarl · June 10, 2014, 08:27 PM

I have a set of Altamont round conversion target grips on a S&W model 65, look great, fit perfect and fit my hands perfect, love them.

Salmoneye · June 11, 2014, 05:28 AM

+1 on the Magnas with or without the T-Grip...

salvadore · June 11, 2014, 05:38 AM

sign me up, thats what I do with my new smiths...Altamont can also attach a S&W logo badge just like the old days.

JJNA · July 30, 2014, 08:13 PM

So I have a pair of Ahrends Retro Target (in Tung oil). It's an attractive set of grips and ergonomics are definitely improved over the S&W factory rubber grips for me. However, I still find the trigger reach a bit on the long side (manageable, but not exactly comfortable like Ruger GP100 with Altamont/old style grips). Also the grips don't quite fit flush and there are some gaps.

Are Miculek grips thinner than Ahrends and, therefore, allow for a shorter trigger reach?

June 9, 2014, 03:54 PM	#1
JJNA Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Posts: 231	S&W 686 Grips for Small-Handed? I recently purchased a S&W 686 and found that the stock rubber grips are less than ideal for my small-to-medium hands, especially after many trigger pulls. After some research, I narrowed down to three prospective choices: Jerry Miculek grips: http://www.hoguestore.com/index.php?...oducts_id=8083 Altamont Round Conversion Target: http://www.altamontco.com/experiment...son_kframe.php (specifically this one: http://www.altamontco.com/experiment...s/SKC-TO07.jpg) Ahrends Retro Target: http://ahrendsgripsusa.com/retro.htm Does anyone here have experience with one or more of these stocks and provide some feedback? Thanks!

June 9, 2014, 07:34 PM	#3
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	The small K-frame Magna grips with a Tyler T-grip make for a great shooting combination for small to medium hands. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.

June 9, 2014, 06:55 PM	#2
357 Terms Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 248	Eagle Secret service grips are good. http://www.eaglegrips.com/guns/Secre...Frame-Rou.html

June 9, 2014, 08:16 PM	#4
ckpj99 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 386	I have pretty small hands though I think you'll find after shooting a lot you want a grip that feels a teeny, tiny bit large. It just works better for quick double action shooting. I have to K/L-frame guns (the same frame size as your 686). I have a standard magna grips, the thin panels which used to come stock on S&W revolvers, paired with a Tyler-T grip on one gun. And I have the Miculek grips on my second gun. They both work great and sort of have a similar feel. The Miculek grips are pretty long (which doesn't really matter for your grip, but does if you want to carry the gun concealed). So it just depends on how you want to use the gun. If it's just for the range or home defense, the Miculek grips are probably best. Finally, I really don't understand why anyone would suggest Eagle Secret Service grips to anyone with small hands. They offer a two-finger grip on a gun that's more than large enough to allow a three-finger grip. These grips were extremely awkward for my hands. I believe they are only appropriate for people with very large hands. I may be wrong, but I did not like them. I see no reason to go with a two finger grip on such a large gun, and frankly any grips I've tried with finger grooves don't fit my hands correctly.

June 9, 2014, 10:53 PM	#5
JJNA Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Posts: 231	Thank you for all the suggestions, but I am really interested in experienced opinions regarding Miculek grips, Ahrends Retro Target and Altamont Round Conversion Target. ckpj99, are your Miculek grips the smooth type or the checkered?

June 9, 2014, 11:16 PM	#6
ckpj99 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 386	My grips are smooth, just a personal preference. If I were shooting a lot of .357 magnums, I might want some checkering to help me hold on to it.

June 9, 2014, 11:27 PM	#7
JJNA Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Posts: 231	You know, I used to prefer aggressive checkering on grips because I sweat profusely on my hands, but would experience a lot of rawness on my palms and fingers especially because I'd really grip tightly to counteract the sweat-induced slipperiness. Now I have come to the view that the hard-gripping was increasing the sweatiness of my palms and the checkering, combined with the tightness of the grip, was abrading my hand badly and just worsening the situation. I am considering going smooth for all my guns. Thanks again for your input.

June 10, 2014, 02:12 PM	#8
ckpj99 Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Posts: 386	JJNA - yeah, I think it's really a matter of the function of the gun. If it's a defense gun, and the checkering helped me shoot faster, then there you go. For a range gun or something I'm shooting a lot, I'd go smooth.

June 10, 2014, 06:52 PM	#9
JJNA Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Posts: 231	Anybody try Ahrends Retro Target or Altamont Round Conversion Target and provide feedback?

June 10, 2014, 08:27 PM	#10
bhcarl Member Join Date: November 16, 2011 Location: northeast ms. Posts: 54	I have a set of Altamont round conversion target grips on a S&W model 65, look great, fit perfect and fit my hands perfect, love them.

June 11, 2014, 05:28 AM	#11
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	+1 on the Magnas with or without the T-Grip...

June 11, 2014, 05:38 AM	#12
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	sign me up, thats what I do with my new smiths...Altamont can also attach a S&W logo badge just like the old days.

July 30, 2014, 08:13 PM	#13
JJNA Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2008 Posts: 231	So I have a pair of Ahrends Retro Target (in Tung oil). It's an attractive set of grips and ergonomics are definitely improved over the S&W factory rubber grips for me. However, I still find the trigger reach a bit on the long side (manageable, but not exactly comfortable like Ruger GP100 with Altamont/old style grips). Also the grips don't quite fit flush and there are some gaps. Are Miculek grips thinner than Ahrends and, therefore, allow for a shorter trigger reach?