Obligatory Grip Thread

[Guest Len]

So, I went to the club and shot my new (for me) S&W 642 today. My first time with the newbie of the collection. It was lively in the hand with standard .38sp loads. Also found the gun moving in my hand a bit. It has the std factory rubber grips (no stippling on the front strap). That and the hefty trigger pull (comes out of the box at 12+ lbs) is making me think two things:

1) Need more practice. Man, spend more time in the sunshine at the club? Bummer...

2) May want to look at getting some new grips. (What?! Spend money on my guns!? Are you crazy!? )

Anyway, anyone have any thoughts on what/where might work for me? I'd rather not break the bank on this gun, as it will spend much time guarding my nightstand and my front pocket when its holster comes. I'm gonna poke around on gunbroker.com when I get a moment later, but I thought I'd ask the group as well.

Btw, I was impressed with the accuracy of this little revolver using el-cheapo WWB. I picked out a bare spot on the far end of the 100yd rifle berm and was able to get the bullet in the neighborhood. Also very nice to shoot one handed/off-handed.

[molonlabetn]

Perhaps a Hogue rubber grip would have a better texture? I personally like checkered wood grips on revolvers, as well.

Possibly a competent 'smith could smooth up that pull with some polishing stones... S&W builds great revolvers, but not the best triggers for them, Colt has that market cornered (in terms of factory revolver triggers). I bet a good action polishing would smooth up that pull noticably, likey even reduce the percieved weight by a pound or two.

Kewl!

<edit>

All of the metal-framed pistols which I have ever owned wore Hogue grips of some type, usually the rubber finger-groove models. Even put one of their Over-Molded stocks and forend on the old Mossburg 500 I used to have long ago... real nice.

[Guest macho999]

I wrap barbed wire around all my grips but I'm very hardcore and metal.

[Guest Phantom6]

Len wrote:

Also found the gun moving in my hand a bit. It has the std factory rubber grips (no stippling on the front strap).

If it's fishtailing in the hand then I'd say you might need just a tad larger or fatter grip. This is obviously not something you really want to hear for a pocket gun. Might want to take a look at the Hogue Bantam grips.

[Guest Len]

If it's fishtailing in the hand then I'd say you might need just a tad larger or fatter grip. This is obviously not something you really want to hear for a pocket gun. Might want to take a look at the Hogue Bantam grips.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Phantom, my thoughts exactly. I checked out the Hogue website and have a couple of choices in mind. I'll get it squared away.

Thanks again all.

-L