Choosing Grips for a Smith & Wesson Model 686
The Smith & Wesson 686 is an L-frame .357 Magnum revolver, and its grip frame sits between the smaller K-frame and the larger N-frame models in Smith & Wesson’s lineup. That distinction matters more than it seems: a grip made for a K-frame predecessor (like the Model 19) or an N-frame gun (like the Model 29) will not fit an L-frame 686 correctly, even when a listing uses “Smith & Wesson round butt” language loosely. Always confirm a grip is listed for the L-frame family specifically, and check whether your 686 has a round-butt or square-butt frame — Smith & Wesson has produced both configurations of this revolver over its production run, and the two take different grip shapes.
Material trade-offs
Wood grips (typically walnut, cocobolo or rosewood) are the traditional choice for target and range shooting. They look the part on a stainless or blued 686, but transmit more recoil to the hand than rubber, which matters over a long .357 Magnum range session. Rubber and synthetic grips — the kind Hogue and Pachmayr built their reputations on — absorb more of that recoil and give a more secure hold when hands are sweaty or gloved, at the cost of the classic wood-grip look. Combat and concealment shooters generally favor rubber for exactly that reason; target shooters and collectors more often stay with wood.
Fit: round butt vs. square butt
Square-butt 686s were the original configuration; round-butt versions became common later and are generally preferred for concealed carry because the squared-off heel of a square-butt grip prints more under a cover garment and can snag on the draw. Some grip designs — often called “boot grips” — are built specifically to convert a square-butt frame to a round-butt profile, changing both the feel and the concealability of the gun without any gunsmithing. Confirm which frame shape your 686 has before ordering; the two are not interchangeable without an adapter or a different grip design.
Purpose: target, duty, or concealment
Full-coverage target grips (extending up around the backstrap and finger grooves) suit range and competition use where a consistent, repeatable hold across many rounds matters more than concealability. Smaller “boot” or compact grips trade some of that hand coverage for a package that conceals better and prints less under clothing — the standard trade-off in revolver grip selection. A number of established makers work in this space, among them Hogue (rubber and synthetic, widely used for duty and concealment grips), Pachmayr (rubber grips with a long history on Smith & Wesson revolvers), Altamont (wood target and combat grips), Herrett’s (custom and semi-custom wood grips), and Ahrends (fitted wood grips built to order). Each covers a different point on the material and coverage spectrum described above.
Installation note
686 grips mount on the standard Smith & Wesson stud-and-screw system common to K, L and N-frame revolvers, so no gunsmithing is required for a straight swap within the L-frame family — but always verify frame compatibility (K vs L vs N) and butt shape (round vs square) against your specific revolver before buying, since a mislabeled or generic listing is the most common reason a grip doesn’t fit.