I recently purchased a S&W 629-1 in 44 Rem Mag. Im looking to put on after market grips . Can anyone tell me about Pachmyer or Houge grips for the N Frame? thanks.

The most comfortable grips for full power loads will be ones that have rubber covering the backstrap.

I've always had Pachmyer grips .They are better shaped than the original wood and the rubber soaks up some of the recoil. They do cover the backstrap. If you get something with finger grooves make sure they fit YOUR fingers otherwise they're terrible.

Factory square butt targets in wood fit my hand perfectly. You can get them uncheckered if the checkering bothers you.

get THESE .. they are outstanding for fit adn recoil
http://www.smith-wesson.com/we...ctDisplayErrorView_N

they fit my 625-9 perfectly

very shortly after i got my smith model 27-2 i replaced the smooth target grips with a hogue laminated monogrip.... my hands are small and altho i liked the the stock grips from s&w the hogue grip fit my hand better... i guess full house .357 magnum loads were never too much recoil to be uncomfortable with either the hogues or the smith grips..........

Pachmyer GRIPPER on mine, extends behind the backstrap, and has an extension behind the trigger guard, finger grooves. I'm not sure the yr. of mfg. on this gun, but the barrel is pinned and the cylinder has case rim recesses. I think the grips are factory stock. They work for me, functional, durable. But I have large hands, and not bothered by heavy recoil.

Go to the Hogue auction site & get a pair of their checkered wood grips, They'll look great on your new gun & greatly enhance shooting. If you want to go rubber, I prefer the Hogue design to the Pach.