Altamont Ruger Grips

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Yoter

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 5, 2023
Messages
90
Location
AZ
Ordered a set of the Santos Rosewood Altamont Super Blackhawk grips. They looked nice, but fit was terrible. The top of one grip panel was too short. I could wiggle the grip back and forth after it was attached. The grips were slightly smaller than the grip frame leaving proud metal exposed. I tried the grips on another grip frame with the same results.

I returned the grips for a refund and was required to pay return postage for a poor quality product. Altamont insisted they cannot reimburse me for the postage. I don't feel I should have to pay out of pocket costs for a defective product.

I have noticed lately that grips made by Altamont for the Ruger brand seem to have similar poor quality undersized fit on Ruger single action grip frames.

It is unfortunate since Altamont used to be my go to company for reasonably priced aftermarket grips.
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,138
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
"Is it poor QC by Altamont or is Ruger getting sloppy with their frame finishing?"

A few years ago,, I was discussing the grip frame & grip fitment with a senior Ruger executive.

Apparently,, when Lett stopped making grips for Ruger,, and a few other companies were tasked with the work, they were supplied with grip frame measurements,, and began producing thousands of them, trying to keep up with the demands. Unfortunately, the measurements they received were not up to the totally correct dimensions needed,, and/or were "modified" a bit to fit whatever frames the grip makers had to use as a comparison. The grip makers had gotten a few grip frames to use as "patterns" and set their machines to those specs.

It's not Ruger's fault,, but a small series of breakdowns in the proper dimension issues by the grip makers.

Then, due to the necessary demands,, and the fact that many of the grips actually do fit SOME of the frames very well, and then are a "close enough" fit for others,, they get accepted & used. Thrown in the fact that a lot of Ruger employees are "parts assemblers" and are NOT gun people or gunsmith types,, they just worry about production, and ship guns with grips that they deem "Good enough."

Aftermarket makers, trying to capture a niche market, buy a gun, or a grip frame, and build off of what they have.

Due to many minor dimension variances,, custom grip makers that do the best work, want the grip frame, so they can fit the grips they make to that actual grip frame.

Just ask caryc or Zane of lscg.
 

Sacramento Johnson

Blackhawk
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Messages
665
Location
Nevada
I've also had problems with Altamont grips not fiting Ruger single actions also. I didn't have this problem with any of the Lett ones I purchased (and I did not send in grip frames, either).
 

rem58sport

Bearcat
Joined
Jan 8, 2023
Messages
47
Location
N Calif
Altamont has been a go to for reasonable priced grips for a couple of hand guns and I have been pleased. Recently I bought a pair of Altamont's G-10 material, for a Heritage birdshead available only through Heritage not on the Altamont web site. The fit was nothing less than horrible, way too big everywhere around the grip frame and bad fit at the 90* top on one side. Oversized I can work with and a couple of hours of hand fitting later I was pleased. Not at all how I wanted to spend my time. The review I wrote on the Heritage web site was never posted for viewing. Just another data point.

Non Ruger Content Photo
HRR Birdshead copy.jpeg
 
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Yoter

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 5, 2023
Messages
90
Location
AZ
The defective grip panels I purchased had two panels with slightly different dimensions. The right panel was a good fit at the top and was slightly taller than the left. I have even seen variation in different sets of Altamont grip panels of the same make and model.

When I can find Lett grip panels at a reasonable price, they have excellent fit and finish.
 

Stantheman1986

Single-Sixer
Joined
May 3, 2023
Messages
396
Location
USA
Altamonts are cheap because they use laminate or Corian. I have Altamont Corian "bonded Ivory" on one of my Vaqueros and they aren't a perfect fit , but I just live with it.

The "good enough " Ruger fit exists on all my Single Actions. My flat top and .357 Vaquero have Altamont "Gun Fighter" panels and the fit is far from perfect, you can see grip frame at the back of the panels but honestly, for $30 I'm not worried about it. These are usin' guns

The Hogue wood grips i put on my
.45 Bisley aren't perfect, Hogue instructs you to fit them but I'm not risking munging the grips up over a little wood overhanging the frame. I might break the sharp edge and that's it.
 

Yaworski

Bearcat
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
82
I bought some Altamont grips on GunBroker for my Wrangler and was not impressed by them in he least. A nice person sent me a set of factory Single Six grips and they were far nicer than the Altamonts. The Altamonts were pretty but they were too thin.
 

BULL'S-EYE

Blackhawk
Joined
Dec 2, 2021
Messages
875
Location
Indiana
I bought some Altamont grips on GunBroker for my Wrangler and was not impressed by them in he least. A nice person sent me a set of factory Single Six grips and they were far nicer than the Altamonts. The Altamonts were pretty but they were too thin.
Premium gun grips are THE way to go for the Wrangler. They fit all of my Wrangler grip frames absolutely perfectly, and feel much better than any other aftermarket grips that I've tried...They also fit pretty darn well on my aluminum grip framed Single Sixes when I tried them out.

 

KIR

Sparks, NV
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Messages
1,674
I bought a set of Altamont Grips for my GP-100. They were great. This was back in early 2015. Has everyone here purchased their grips from Altamont since then?
 

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Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
710
Location
Oregon
I have used Badger grips and they are a good fit. But I think they are out of business- used ones or NOS show up on EBay from time to time. They are stabilized laminate and if they are off a bit they can be sanded down and then just polish the wood with a buffing wheel.

I just purchased 3 blank sets from Chig's. I need to decide what they are going on- but I loved the wood so much I went ahead and bought them.
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BULL'S-EYE

Blackhawk
Joined
Dec 2, 2021
Messages
875
Location
Indiana
I bought a set of Altamont Grips for my GP-100. They were great. This was back in early 2015. Has everyone here purchased their grips from Altamont since then?
I have a similar set on my 5" half lug 327 and they're awesome! In fact, I really like most of their grip designs for DA revolvers and 1911's...But, anything they offer for Ruger SA revolvers is gonna be a crap shoot fitment wise 🎲🎲
 

moparclan

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
232
Have a few sets of Altamont grips, one on on my 2020 Python that I really like. Another set I order for a Smith & Wesson Coke Bottle style that fit like crap and the second set was no better. My 1920 Luger has a set but the cutout around the safety lever is too big. Called them on it and they said would forward it to there engineers?? My last two Blackhawk Ruger's the grips sucked also. I miss Lett grips.
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XP100

Blackhawk
Joined
Aug 28, 2003
Messages
791
Location
Florida
I have a beautiful set for a Smith 686. Put them on th egun and both grip were to long on the top.Got a factory wood grips for it. Going to sell them and tell the buyer about the fit.
 

Cal30 1906

Single-Sixer
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
254
Location
Elko Nevada
I have 3 sets of Altamont grips on various revolvers and they are top notch. I think they are actually contracted with S&W and Ruger.
 

Yoter

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 5, 2023
Messages
90
Location
AZ
Purchased Super Blackhawk custom wood grips from LS Grips. Impressed with the fit and finish.
 

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