I just got two sets of these for my Model 83s. The fit is as sloppy as anything. I've had Pachmayrs on various other handguns (SBH, SRH, Sec Six, Astra, CZ75 etc), but never such an outright poor and sloppy fit. They are loose and move around a bit, despite the pin through the grip that it ties into. If you were to tighten the screw it would come through the offside grip panel on the the left a great deal so you can't even do that...

The grip style feels like it will work better for me on the big recoiling gun, but with the movement it may be inaccurate.

This is of the latest ones bought a few weeks ago. Anyone else found the same? It seems like these may actually be too soft, compared to the older ones.

I've had no problems with the older ones. Guess you just need to try them and see how the revolver shoots for you.

Where are you getting your grips?

Directly from Freedom Arms; they are selling them again.

Glad to hear FA has them again. Sorry I can't help with your question.

Give them a holler and voice your complaint.Maybe they will make it right.

I would think your gripe is with Pachmayr, unless FA somehow changed their grip frame, which I find rather unlikely...

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
I would think your gripe is with Pachmayr, unless FA somehow changed their grip frame, which I find rather unlikely...

Actually, each grip frame is different. Those grips are made for a "standard" grip frame which does not exist.

Hitman is correct.

The sizes on all of the frames differs slightly. In this day and age of CNC machining it is unexpected but definately the case. I think some of the finishing is done by hand. I purchased some wooden grips from someone that I wanted to modify slightly at one time and they didn't fit. So be warned.

I think the fit is overly sloppy though and the side panels should be firmer and the screw shorter so that you can tighten them up.

quote:

Actually, each grip frame is different. Those grips are made for a "standard" grip frame which does not exist.

I guess I don't understand. Are you saying every FA 83 grip frame is different? That is quite hard to believe... I know there is a difference between their Model 83 and the 97, but aren't all the 97 frames the same and all the 83s the same?

Just shorten the screw.

The exact size and marginally the shape (the curve) of the grips differ between model 83s.

But I should shut up. You may be the guy to sell spare wooden grips to.

quote:

You may be the guy to sell spare wooden grips to.

I am thinking some epoxy resin and release agent might cure your problems with the wood grips not fitting exactly...

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

Actually, each grip frame is different. Those grips are made for a "standard" grip frame which does not exist.

I guess I don't understand. Are you saying every FA 83 grip frame is different? That is quite hard to believe... I know there is a difference between their Model 83 and the 97, but aren't all the 97 frames the same and all the 83s the same?

Exactly, each Model 83 grip frame is unique. I have micartas for each of mine and the grip panels will only fit the frame for which they were made .

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:

quote:

You may be the guy to sell spare wooden grips to.

I am thinking some epoxy resin and release agent might cure your problems with the wood grips not fitting exactly...

Doubless, I hope you saw this as intended, tongue firmly in cheek. I was the guy who bought them the previous time around as I refused to accept, in the days of CNC machining etc, that the frames would not be within a whisker. What I was getting at is that you can only con the guys who haven't experienced this for themself as it seems so unlikely.

Yes, looseness would be fixed by resin, but it's more than looseness, it's the fit. Some won't even go onto the frame. That said, some will.

Interesting topic. Has anyone explained why the grips are all different? In my case I bought my gun used (475L) and it came with Pachmyers but they did not fit properly. I eventually had wood grips made, and, had to send the gun to have them made!
Peter.

I would venture to say it is due to the amount of hand work that goes into building each revolver. I have micartas on all mine now, and each grip frame had to go back to the factory for fitting.

As a side note, the Pachmyer grip for the Ruger Super Blackhawk, would not fit the stainless grip frames, only the blued ones. I wound up with a Houge on my silhouette revolver for that reason.

I purchased the new Pachmayrs for my FA-83 about two weeks ago and I agree there is a problem. It seems like the rubber is either too soft or too thin because I can feel the bottom of the grips separating and moving when I rest the grip on a bench. I also needed to move the cross pin in the revolver handle to get the grips to fit.

quote:

Originally posted by nimrod 375:
I purchased the new Pachmayrs for my FA-83 about two weeks ago and I agree there is a problem. It seems like the rubber is either too soft or too thin because I can feel the bottom of the grips separating and moving when I rest the grip on a bench. I also needed to move the cross pin in the revolver handle to get the grips to fit.

Your first mistake is resting the grip on the bench while you shoot. Also, that's a pretty good way to destroy a set of wooden grips.

I'm not using wooden grips. But why is wresting the grip on a support while also supporting the barrel a mistake?
Thanks for your advice.

nimrod, let me try to answer. By resting the grip on a support when the gun recoils, it pushes the rear of the gun down as the barrel recoils upwards, hence a possible detrimental effect on the grips. To illustrate this to yourself, grip the gun with your firing hand and put the other hand under the grips, between the grips and the support, and fire the gun. You will feel the effect of the recoil! The other point is that if you are 'benching" the gun to test loads or zero the gun at a specific range, when you shoot it in a different way, offhand for example, it will shoot differently.
Hope this helps.
Peter
Peter

Thanks Peter. I'll change my grip and wrest. That said, my Pachmaeyer grips are more solid.

I've shot the 83s in 454 and 475 with and without Pachmayer grips, and I felt like the smooth grips (wood or micarta) made recoil easier on my hands.

Whereas the rubber seemed to tear at the skin of my hand during recoil, and the others just allow the gun to pivot in recoil.

Quality of current pachmayers aside, am I overlooking an application where the rubber grips would be better?

The Pachmyer grips are larger and fit my hand better. The Freedom Arms rosewood grips are no worse regarding recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
I've shot the 83s in 454 and 475 with and without Pachmayer grips, and I felt like the smooth grips (wood or micarta) made recoil easier on my hands.

Whereas the rubber seemed to tear at the skin of my hand during recoil, and the others just allow the gun to pivot in recoil.

Quality of current pachmayers aside, am I overlooking an application where the rubber grips would be better?

About the only time I can think of where rubber grips "might" offer an advantage is when actually hunting. For range use, wood or micarta allow's the revolver to slip a little when recoiling which helps to lessen the pain on the big bores. Never have owned a revolver with ivory grips so no comment there but they sure do look prutty!

On a separate note grip shape is far more important than grip material.

I could never get a gun to "roll" consistently in my hand and on something like a 475 I need to hold it tight, so there is really no "rolling". The wooden grips tended to twist in my hand sometimes. I found the Pachmayrs far better and far more confortable for me, but the difference in shape could just as well be the reason and not the material.

Yep, as I said originally the fit is a bit sloppy. But the guns shot really well with them.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
I've shot the 83s in 454 and 475 with and without Pachmayer grips, and I felt like the smooth grips (wood or micarta) made recoil easier on my hands.

Whereas the rubber seemed to tear at the skin of my hand during recoil, and the others just allow the gun to pivot in recoil.

Quality of current pachmayers aside, am I overlooking an application where the rubber grips would be better?

...wood or micarta allow's the revolver to slip a little when recoiling which helps to lessen the pain on the big bores.

That's been my experience too.