Disappointed in Pachmayr

Hawg · September 16, 2020, 09:15 PM

I ordered a set of Pachmayr Grippers for my wife's 637.

They feel good and look good except for this.

Bill DeShivs · September 16, 2020, 09:18 PM

Loosen the screw!

hdbiker · September 17, 2020, 09:55 AM

WOW, I have Pachmayr grips on all three of my Ruger single actions and the fit perfect. I call Pachmayr. hdbiker

Cheapshooter · September 17, 2020, 10:27 AM

I think Bill has a good point...Operator error.

Hawg · September 17, 2020, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

Loosen the screw!

If I do the gap gets wider.

lee n. field · September 17, 2020, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawg

If I do the gap gets wider.

Or you're bending the rubber under the screw tension, and easing up on it will let them go to their proper shape.

It'll take a minute to just try it.

**44 AMP** · September 17, 2020, 02:58 PM

My guess would be just a little too much rubber in the frame recess.

Take the grips off. Do they close and line up properly? IF so, you need to remove a little rubber from the frame recess.

If not, and they are warped, contact the maker for a replacement.

It looks like the frame recess isn't quite deep enough at the front, and the grip is being stretched slightly to wrap around the front of the frame, and so, not lining up properly, creating the gaps.

jcj54 · September 17, 2020, 03:29 PM

Ever since Pachmayr was bought out by Lyman the QC has declined massively.
They introduced a new line of revolver grips a year and a half ago and did not make the mold right. Took 16 months to get a proper fitting replacement. They had to remake the tooling.
They have also eliminated many butt pads from the line.

Hawg · September 17, 2020, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

My guess would be just a little too much rubber in the frame recess.

Take the grips off. Do they close and line up properly? IF so, you need to remove a little rubber from the frame recess.

If not, and they are warped, contact the maker for a replacement.

It looks like the frame recess isn't quite deep enough at the front, and the grip is being stretched slightly to wrap around the front of the frame, and so, not lining up properly, creating the gaps.

They do close up and line up properly off the gun. I thought the locater pin wasn't going in one of the holes so I took it out. The gap won't close with the screw completely out but the gap is bigger with it out. I sent them a message with pics so we shall see what they say.

Carmady · September 17, 2020, 09:03 PM

Are these 1-piece grips (like a clam shell joined together down the backstrap), or are they 2-piece (left and right)?

I use Uncle Mike's rubber grips, and they have a metal plate inside the halves. I often bend/tweak them a bit so that when uninstalled the tops and bottoms will make contact with a slight gap in the middle. When installed the tops and bottoms are touching each other, and tightening the screw will squeeze them together and remove the gap in the middle.

If your grips have a metal plate, I'd try to bend an arch from back to front, and maybe a little from top to bottom. Just take it easy and see if a slight bend reduces the gap, and go from there re-adjusting as necessary.

Hawg · September 17, 2020, 09:08 PM

One piece, all rubber.

Dfariswheel · September 19, 2020, 08:08 PM

Unless they've made a change, Pachmayr grips have a steel "shell" molded inside the rubber to provide strength.
You may be able to just bend the grips to improve the fit, but I'd contact Pachmayr and get a replacement.

Other rubber grip makers like Hogue use a plastic shell inside.

As a note, Pachmayr uses real rubber for these grips, most others use a synthetic.
To preserve Pachmayr grips they recommend Armor-All.

bedbugbilly · September 19, 2020, 10:03 PM

Pachmayr is actually owned by Lyman IIRC I have used them on a lot of my Smiths and like them. Sometimes there require a little "fiddling around" to get them to fit correctly. The only time I ever had an issue with a set was when I ought a set to fit my K frame Combat Masterpiece. The screw fell right on top of the mainspring and it wouldn't work. I called CS and basically got "blown off" by the person I talked to - I was polite and explained the issue and the person was less than pleasant and basically told me that if I read the fine print, they fit "most" K frames. I like the grips but will nether CS response. I will n ver buy another pair of them just based on the response from their customer swerve department. I wasn't asking for a refund - i wasn't nasty nor complaining - I was trying to find out how to get them to work out for my CM. I ended up giving them to a friend who had a CM and they wouldn't work on his either as the screw hole was smack dab on top of the mainspring and no wy to adjust them to get the grip screw through the grip frame.

zoo · September 20, 2020, 03:05 AM

Two words: duct tape. At least until you can get another brand. It seems Pachmayr are not what they use to be.

Hawg · September 20, 2020, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoo

Two words: duct tape. At least until you can get another brand. It seems Pachmayr are not what they use to be.

I think I'd rather have the gap and I know my wife would. I don't think the gap will pinch her fingers. Will try to find out tomorrow. If it does I'll try some wider wood grips that change the contour from a round butt to a square butt to help spread out the force.

tipoc · September 21, 2020, 07:43 PM

Quote:

... The only time I ever had an issue with a set was when I ought a set to fit my K frame Combat Masterpiece. The screw fell right on top of the mainspring and it wouldn't work. I called CS and basically got "blown off" by the person I talked to - I was polite and explained the issue and the person was less than pleasant and basically told me that if I read the fine print, they fit "most" K frames. I like the grips but will nether CS response. I will n ver buy another pair of them just based on the response from their customer swerve department.

It's not just Pachmyer that has this issue, other grip makers had as well. I've run into it a couple of times. This is because at a certain point, I think it was in the 80s or possibly later, S&W made a slight change to the internal location of the mainspring in relation to the exterior of the frame. It was not by much but enough to interfere with the clearance of the grip screw from the mainspring.

The point is that not all grips made for any size of S&W guns will fit for every year and decade exactly perfect. they have been making revolvers for over a century and occasionally they make changes.

tipoc

T. O'Heir · September 23, 2020, 01:10 PM

I'd be thinking the grips aren't quite on correctly. Never had any issues with any Pachmayr kit myself. They do sometimes require a bit of wiggling and jiggling though.
Why are you ordering grips for her revolver? The thing has to fit her hand, not yours.

Henneman · September 23, 2020, 04:57 PM

I bought two sets of wooden grips from Pachmayr (if I recall correctly) for two SP-101s, a 22 and 357. I used a dremel tool to remove some material from the inner grip recesses so the grips would fit correctly around the grip frame. It only took a few minutes and a couple fittings. The comments by the other purchasers on the site (Amazon?) referenced this possibility when I bought them so I had anticipated doing it and had the tool handy.

Hawg · September 24, 2020, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. O'Heir

I'd be thinking the grips aren't quite on correctly. Never had any issues with any Pachmayr kit myself. They do sometimes require a bit of wiggling and jiggling though.
Why are you ordering grips for her revolver? The thing has to fit her hand, not yours.

I wiggled, jiggled, twisted, stretched and pulled on these things for awhile. I even took the locator pin out. I'm not trying to get it to fit MY hand. I'm just trying to get it to be pain free for her to shoot.

zoo · September 25, 2020, 01:21 AM

It has been just over a week and you still haven’t set your spouse up with a decent set of grips? Hmm.

Hawg · September 25, 2020, 04:43 AM

We haven't had a chance to try these yet. I figure if they still hurt her hand there's no point in making them fit.

September 16, 2020, 09:15 PM	#1
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Disappointed in Pachmayr I ordered a set of Pachmayr Grippers for my wife's 637. They feel good and look good except for this.

September 16, 2020, 09:18 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Loosen the screw! __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

September 17, 2020, 10:27 AM	#4
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I think Bill has a good point...Operator error. __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

September 17, 2020, 02:58 PM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	My guess would be just a little too much rubber in the frame recess. Take the grips off. Do they close and line up properly? IF so, you need to remove a little rubber from the frame recess. If not, and they are warped, contact the maker for a replacement. It looks like the frame recess isn't quite deep enough at the front, and the grip is being stretched slightly to wrap around the front of the frame, and so, not lining up properly, creating the gaps. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

September 17, 2020, 03:29 PM	#8
jcj54 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 218	Pachmayr Ever since Pachmayr was bought out by Lyman the QC has declined massively. They introduced a new line of revolver grips a year and a half ago and did not make the mold right. Took 16 months to get a proper fitting replacement. They had to remake the tooling. They have also eliminated many butt pads from the line.

September 17, 2020, 09:55 AM	#3
hdbiker Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Posts: 297	WOW, I have Pachmayr grips on all three of my Ruger single actions and the fit perfect. I call Pachmayr. hdbiker

September 17, 2020, 09:03 PM	#10
Carmady Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2013 Location: on the lam Posts: 1,735	Are these 1-piece grips (like a clam shell joined together down the backstrap), or are they 2-piece (left and right)? I use Uncle Mike's rubber grips, and they have a metal plate inside the halves. I often bend/tweak them a bit so that when uninstalled the tops and bottoms will make contact with a slight gap in the middle. When installed the tops and bottoms are touching each other, and tightening the screw will squeeze them together and remove the gap in the middle. If your grips have a metal plate, I'd try to bend an arch from back to front, and maybe a little from top to bottom. Just take it easy and see if a slight bend reduces the gap, and go from there re-adjusting as necessary.

September 17, 2020, 09:08 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	One piece, all rubber.

September 19, 2020, 08:08 PM	#12
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Unless they've made a change, Pachmayr grips have a steel "shell" molded inside the rubber to provide strength. You may be able to just bend the grips to improve the fit, but I'd contact Pachmayr and get a replacement. Other rubber grip makers like Hogue use a plastic shell inside. As a note, Pachmayr uses real rubber for these grips, most others use a synthetic. To preserve Pachmayr grips they recommend Armor-All.

September 19, 2020, 10:03 PM	#13
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	Pachmayr is actually owned by Lyman IIRC I have used them on a lot of my Smiths and like them. Sometimes there require a little "fiddling around" to get them to fit correctly. The only time I ever had an issue with a set was when I ought a set to fit my K frame Combat Masterpiece. The screw fell right on top of the mainspring and it wouldn't work. I called CS and basically got "blown off" by the person I talked to - I was polite and explained the issue and the person was less than pleasant and basically told me that if I read the fine print, they fit "most" K frames. I like the grips but will nether CS response. I will n ver buy another pair of them just based on the response from their customer swerve department. I wasn't asking for a refund - i wasn't nasty nor complaining - I was trying to find out how to get them to work out for my CM. I ended up giving them to a friend who had a CM and they wouldn't work on his either as the screw hole was smack dab on top of the mainspring and no wy to adjust them to get the grip screw through the grip frame. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

September 20, 2020, 03:05 AM	#14
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	Two words: duct tape. At least until you can get another brand. It seems Pachmayr are not what they use to be.

September 23, 2020, 01:10 PM	#17
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	I'd be thinking the grips aren't quite on correctly. Never had any issues with any Pachmayr kit myself. They do sometimes require a bit of wiggling and jiggling though. Why are you ordering grips for her revolver? The thing has to fit her hand, not yours. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 23, 2020, 04:57 PM	#18
Henneman Member Join Date: November 30, 2010 Location: Northwest Wisconsin Posts: 20	I bought two sets of wooden grips from Pachmayr (if I recall correctly) for two SP-101s, a 22 and 357. I used a dremel tool to remove some material from the inner grip recesses so the grips would fit correctly around the grip frame. It only took a few minutes and a couple fittings. The comments by the other purchasers on the site (Amazon?) referenced this possibility when I bought them so I had anticipated doing it and had the tool handy.

September 25, 2020, 01:21 AM	#20
zoo member Join Date: October 2, 2019 Posts: 414	It has been just over a week and you still haven’t set your spouse up with a decent set of grips? Hmm.

September 25, 2020, 04:43 AM	#21
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	We haven't had a chance to try these yet. I figure if they still hurt her hand there's no point in making them fit.