Wood Grips: Smooth or Checkered?

[GregM]

I'm reading Bill Jordan's book No Second Place Winner.

He prefers smooth wood grips to checkered, but doesn't have much to say about it. Just that smooth wood allows for a quick grip adjustment, whereas checkering would hinder such a subtle movement.

What he DOES have a lot to say about is the SHAPE of the grip, which is much more important to gun control than its surface texture.

Any thoughts?

[Stradawhovious]

I prefer smooth for a variety of reasons.......

Function - the front and back strap of my 1911 are checkered, offering more "grip" than I could ever need. Checkering on the panels thenselves would prove to be difficult for grip adjustment, and after a long, long day of shooting would be downright uncomfortable.

Form - The grips I use are of a highly figured wood and are beautiful as a result. If they were checkered, I might as well be using fiberboard. I'm a sucker for good looking grips.

[bstrawse]

I would agree w/ Strad on this.

I use smooth grips (stag in the case of two of my 1911s) and then a slim line VZ Grip on another.

The shape of the grip is a bigger deal to me -- most of the checked grips make the gun too big for my hand (I have rather small hands lol)... so the smooth grips generally work better for me.
b

[tacticalninja32]

i would love a pair of smooth grip, Strad when do you think you can make it happen?

[White Horseradish]

I like revolver grips to be checkered. Auto-pistol grips can really be either - depends on the front and back straps.

[HAMnSIGS]

a few years back I was able to pickup a set of Pachmayr "Bill Jordan" autographed grips for Rd. bt. K/L frame S&W Revolvers. I put them on my 2.5" 686 and while I like the design I do not use them since I hate "Good years" or plastic type grips. If anyone is interested in them shoot me a note.

I believe Bill had larger than normal paws so his favored design/Size is not for all.

The smooth grip was said to be favored for speed, Be that as it may the textured grip gives better control with more recoil particularly in the revolvers of design that roll up in your hand during recoil.

Long live Bill, Skeeter and Keith

Be Safe!
-Mike

Below is my 686 2.5" with the Pachmayr "Bill Jordans"

[westberg]

We have the JM grips on two revolvers and Dawn likes them. I on the
other hand like checkered front, back straps and grips. I want the gun
stuck to my hand during the draw, I also work at trying to have good
grip on draw.

[Srigs]

I prefer smooth myself. Revolver grips I do like finger grooves for good solid hand placement. Favorite grips are on my S&W 66 2.5" Hogue Monogrips.

[wrench]

I don't shoot revolvers.
Autopistols, I like checkered grips, and skateboard tape on the frontstrap if the gun doesn't have fingergrooves. I like fingergrooves.