Ruger Blackhawk Grips

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skid2964

Bearcat
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What is the best solutions to get grips that actually fit???

I bought a new Blackhawk in 41 Magnum with the black plastic grips. I ordered wood grips from Ruger and the fit is horrible, very sloppy. I will send them back but I hear complaints about Ruger grips all the time. What is the best source/solution???
 
Chig's Grips does a great job at custom grips and they don't break the bank. He will make them custom fit to your grip frame or fit to one of his. You can pick the wood blank from his website and the cost includes the fitting.
 
I've replaced the newer laminate Ruger has been using for the last 15 years or so with older grips made by Lett, they're typically not perfect either, but are usually a big improvement over those poorly fitted crappers they send new guns out wearing anymore.
Hogue makes nice Walnut replacement grips as well, and are noticeably thicker than the plastic "cheese graters" many new guns come with.
A third option, if you're able that is, is to make some yourself, which I've also done a number of times over the years...I'm WAY too cheap to pay someone to do something that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself! 😉
 
+1 Altamont. I got 3 sets of their Santos Rosewood grips. Very happy with all 3 sets. Top set on my (her) Super Wrangler, middle on my .41M BH not pictured and bottom set on my OM Vaquero. SW and V shown in second photo.
Grip trio.jpeg
Vaq and SW.jpeg
 
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Pretty sure the problem is that no 2 Ruger grip frames are the same.

I ordered a set from Sacks Peterson. The fit was way off, I told him where it didn’t fit and he exchanged for a set more generous in that area.

I’d definitely send the grip frame for a proper fit.
 
So in a model with the S/N engraved on the bottom of the grip, if you remove and send just the grip with no lockwork or trigger or anything else, but there's the S/N, are you sending the "gun" and the wrong AO type will say you shipped a gun without going through an FFL?
 
That doesn’t apply with any MN or OM Ruger single actions I know of.
And on Ruger double actions the grip frame isn’t removable without a hack saw I don’t think.

But yes, as I understand it the s/n portion is the part requiring FFL.
 
BULL'S-EYE said:
A third option, if you're able that is, is to make some yourself, which I've also done a number of times over the years...I'm WAY too cheap to pay someone to do something that I'm perfectly capable of doing myself! 😉
Click to expand...
I have been meaning to do this for years. I need to get off my butt and do it.

I also have had good luck with the newer laminates. But definitely to get the best fit, send the frame in.
 
"What is the best solutions to get grips that actually fit???"

Ok,, by now,, the several posts above have explained,, go with a different company or even better,, a custom set.

Top quality custom grips from a respected grip maker will cost,, but will be worth it if you really desire a perfectly fitted set of grips. And yes,, a custom grip maker will want the grip frame to make sure they make them to fit properly.

One truly top level custom grip maker is Zane Thompson,, aka "lscg" here. (Lone Star Custom Grips) He's a member.
Another one,, who has been working wood for quite some time,, yet only started grip making a few years ago,, is member "Robb Barnes." So far,, all I've seen by him has been stunning.

Grip materials can affect the costs as well.
Stag, or horn etc will cost more. But the looks & feel will amaze you.

There are good options listed above,, but top quality isn't cheap.
 
Sad they can't mould the same size frame from one to the next. Or drill the locator pin in the same place from one to the next.

And before it's brought up,,, I honestly & professionally don't think the polishers got nothin to do with it. Ya don't "polish" minus or plus a 1/16th - an 1/8th of an inch or more too much or not enough. Not with the abrasives they have on hand to do the job they are meant to do.

But back on the subject of a good fitting grip for the cost? Chig seems hard to beat.
 
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Unless you let a custom grip maker actually fit the grips with your grip frame in hand, you'll be rolling the dice! It's because the Ruger grip frames themselves vari in size!
 
Altamont is great to do business with. I recently ordered a set of their grips for my S&W 629. When they arrived, they were a little shy of meeting flush with the lower back heel of the frame -enough that I felt it would be noticeable shooting a fairly heavy recoiling gun - so I emailed them about it. A nice lady replied very quickly stating they would immediately send out a new set. Asked me when my gun was manufactured. Said dont return the first set until you get the replacement. Well, unfortunately, the second set did not fit any better in the exact same place. Maybe my gripframe is a bit out of spec, IDK. So I emailed the same lady who apologized and offered a refund, which I accepted. A prepaid return label was provided with the second set of grips, which covered return postage on both sets.
I was disappointed that the grips just didn't work out on my gun, but I was highly impressed with their customer service!
My grip maker friend Zane Thompson says Ruger gripframes tend to have a lot more variation than do S&W gripframes, but maybe there are exceptions. Of course, one can easily send a Ruger gripframe for hand-fitting, where with a S&W you'd have to send the whole gun.
 
Rugers are notorious for odd and variable grip frame sizes from what I hear. Sounds like you got one of the outliers. May have to send in the grip frame to get a correct fit. Might check with Chigs grips. Chad is an actual wizard when it come to Ruger panels. He may offer a good solution. And you'll like it.
 
Bought a set of Altamont grips for my 1920 commercial Luger, the fit was fairly good except around the safety lever. Lots of gap in that area, contacted Altamont and suggested that they leave that area small so the purchaser could do the final fit. Said they would suggest that to their engineers?
Second and last set was a set of "Coke Bottle" for a Smith & Wesson, bad gap at bottom with either grinding the frame down or grinding out the grips.
Sold them!
Been buying Lett or J Scott grips when I find them and find the fit to be much better on my Ruger's, even the newer models.

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