Requesting Style Advice From Revolver Fans

[Tennessee Jed]

I'm in the process of having an S&W 629 re-done.  I inherited it, so I have no money in it.  I want to turn it into a carry gun, with a little style.  First, I'm going to have the 6 inch barrel replaced with a 4 inch by S&W. 

But I'm trying to figure out what to do with the grips, and I'd like to hear what some of The Gun Nation would do, if they were in my shoes.  The 629 has a square butt frame.  Since I will carry this hoss in an IWB, I need smaller grips than the massive Hogue rubber grips, which print too much for me. 

One option I am considering is having the frame converted to a k-frame round butt configuration by Magnaport.  I hear good things about their n-frame conversions.  If I do that, I'll likely put Hogue rubber bantam grips on it for concealability and control.  I have an S&W 65 with these grips and while they're not as pretty as wood, they sure feel good in the hand.

The other option I'm looking at is leaving the frame alone and getting some Spegel boot grips, like I have on an S&W 28 (picture is attached), but in a darker color.  The Spegels feel almost as good as a round butt with bantam grips, but they also hit the hand a little harder with recoil.  They extend just a tiny bit further off the bottom of the grip, so there is a very slightly greater chance of printing under a shirt, but not by much.  They sure look better than black rubber on stainless steel.

I won't shoot many stomper loads with this.  I'll be shooting mid-range loads mostly, either heavy 44 Special or light 44 magnum.  Since I regularly carry a S&W 28 with Spegels, I am confident I can tote the weight and conceal it either way.



So, what would you do?  The cost should be almost the same ($115 for Magnaport to round-butt the frame plus $20 for Hogue bantams; vs. probably around $100 or more for the Spegel grips).  Thanks for your thoughts.

[Devereaux]

'Nother option for you might be to look at Herret Stocks. They made a model called the Jordan something-or-other. It was designed by Bill Jordan and it corrects (hopefully still) the biggest problem with revolvers - that the grips usually are larger at the bottom than at the top. So your hand slides up as you shoot. In a DA there is no need for such, and you will shoot more consistently with a larger top to kind of wedge the grip into your hand as you shoot. That was Jordan's idea, and I had a set way back when I had a Model 15 Combat Masterpiece that I foolishly sold (NEVER sell stuff!). Made the gun feel, and shoot, SO much better.

[Doc Wesson]

My opinion is if you plan on carrying it IWB and are not planning on "stompers" as you say, I would convert the grip to round butt, put on wood bantam grips such as eagle secret service and forgo the magnaport compensation.  Compensation does make it nicer to shoot, I will give you that, especially with heavy, fast rounds such as the 44 mag.  But... if you plan on carrying .44 specials or loaded down mags, velocity drops out of that 4" bbl.  If I were leaving the bbl long, I would go for the porting as the bbl length would keep it from slowing it down too much due to the porting. 
I like Dev's idea on the Herret stocks for the square butt.
I have square butt frames that I have put "boot" grips on them, but it is NOT like the round butt itself. 
If you convert to round butt and put boot or bantam grips.. again I would go with checkered wood.  YES IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER THAN THE BLACK RUBBER ON IT.. AND YOU KNOW HOW I AM ABOUT THAT!!! But for CCW, wood does not grab clothing like the Hogue rubber does.  Heck.. if you want to shoot full mags out of it as well, buy the Houge Bantams and keep them around for such an occasion.. they are cheap enough and easy enough to change out.. that is what I do already!
Let us know what you do!

[Tennessee Jed]

Thanks for your thoughts gentlemen.  I appreciate it greatly.

When I get the project done, I'll post pictures.

[Tennessee Jed]

Well, I opted for the 4 inch barrel, keeping the square butt as-is, and ordering some cocobolo Spegel stocks.  Guess I'm a classics sort of guy.  The revolver is back from S&W, and I am very excited about it.  There's something magical to me about a 4 inch barrel S&W, especially an N-frame.  The stocks should be in about a month or two from now.  I'm going to get cracking on polishing the revolver and will put up some pictures once the Spegels are in.

Also settled on a defensive load.  Going with Underwood 44 Special with 200 grain Gold Dots running at 1100 fps (provided they shoot well).  I like what these do in ballistic gel, and are the ballistic equivalent of the Speer 44 magnum short barrel Gold Dots.  Hope I never have to actually use it in a defensive shooting, but if I do, I prefer that those who judge my actions be instructed that I was using 44 Special ammo instead of 44 magnum. 

Will keep you all posted.

[Tennessee Jed]

So, here it is.  These are not the Spegel cocobolo grips (which aren't in yet).  These are Spegel canary wood grips (which I also like a lot).  However, this target looked so good I couldn't help but share it.