I usually don’t upgrade my guns.
I have replaced the grips on various pistols over the years, but I usually decide that the factory knew best, and return to the originals.
I usually replace the wood grips on my revolvers with rubber combat style ones. I appreciate the classic look of wood, but I own them to shoot, and rubber enhances my experience, both with grip and recoil absorption.
But recent posts here have inspired me.
I bought this 36-10 a few months ago. I didn’t need another steel frame exposed hammer J, but it was insanely cheap, and had that beautiful dark, almost black, blued finish that I find irresistible. I have found that I regret the guns that spoke to me that I didn’t get.
After reading about someone replacing their exposed hammer with the one from a 442, I decided I wanted to give it a try. I ordered one from MidwestGunWorks.com (apparently I was not the only one, they are currently sold out). I looked around YouTube and found a reasonable video about dissembling a J, and found that it did just drop right in.
I had bought a S&W RUBBER ROUND BUTT COMBAT GRIPS FOR J-FRAME REVOLVERS to replace the wood grips it came with.
A trip to the range was excellent.
I loved the look, and decided to put it in the carry lineup, after the 940, but before the 442.
But now I wanted more.
I bought a
SMITH & WESSON J FRAME REVOLVER REDUCED SPRING KIT
from TK Custom.
And, of course, if I am going to carry it, the rubber grips I use for the range are inadequate. They irritate my stomach after a while, and grip my T-shirts enhancing printing. The 940 and the 442 wear Recoil Rider CCW internal hammer grips, so I ordered a set of external hammer grips.
And yesterday I took it out to the range to test, along with the 442. Surprisingly, recoil seems equal. I expected the 442 to feel worse, but I guess the few ounces of difference don’t translate into noticeable recoil reduction, at least with standard Remington UMC .38 Special cartridges. The trigger was lighter, but not as much as I expected.
The 36 did behave differently, though. Initially it had wider groupings and was consistently high on the target, but after about an hour, and a box and a half of ammunition, it settled down nicely, performing as well as the 442.
Is it better? No, but it isn’t worse, either. The weight difference is imperceptible IWB. I don’t notice any difference in gripping the gun, so the grips stopping slightly lower to clear the hammer is not an issue, at least for me.
As I noted, the 36 has that deep luster that the 442 doesn’t. It also has a slightly different shape above the grip, which I find aesthetically more pleasing. The new spurless hammer fills the slot in the frame as well as the original one did, so there shouldn’t be any infiltration issues.
I am happy with the outcome. While from a mechanical perspective it is not an improvement, from an esthetic standpoint it is a great improvement.
I have learned a lot here, and gained the motivation to dig in and try some new things.
I appreciate it.