Grips for a 625-8

[oldbrownhat]

I nearly posted this in "coastie762"s thread on his 625-6 acquisition. A very nice find, sir! I have a 625-8 in 5" which I love but seem to be going around and around to find a pair of grips which suit me. I'm fine with the targets on my Model 19 & 14, but something never feels quite right on the 625. I suspect what I really want is a pair of Herret's Roper grips but the budget won't quite stretch that far

It came with rubber Hogues, which are functional but kinda ugly. Pachmayr Compacs might be ok if they had an open back but I think they're closed, so might be too big.

Has anyone had any experience with these Altamonts? I have medium hands and am not looking for something for cc so the rounded profile isn't critical, but I do like the look.

[Pizza Bob]

I was unaware that Herrett made a Roper-style grip, are you sure that you aren't thinking of the Altamont Roper's?



As for the grips that you have pictured, I believe that I have their equivalent in an L-frame grip...



...and while they look really nice, I found them horrible to shoot with. I like nice looking grips on guns that I don't shoot much, but on those that see a lot of action (I shoot IDPA, USPSA and ICORE) I favor function over form and my favorites are the X-frame grips. Even with an enclosed backstrap, I don't find them too large for my medium sized hands.



Adios,

Pizza Bob

[WPWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

I was unaware that Herrett made a Roper-style grip, are you sure that you aren't thinking of the Altamont Roper's?



As for the grips that you have pictured, I believe that I have their equivalent in an L-frame grip...



...and while they look really nice, I found them horrible to shoot with. I like nice looking grips on guns that I don't shoot much, but on those that see a lot of action (I shoot IDPA, USPSA and ICORE) I favor function over form and my favorites are the X-frame grips. Even with an enclosed backstrap, I don't find them too large for my medium sized hands.



Adios,

Pizza Bob

How do you like those Altamont Ropers? I’ve got a set on order for a Model 14. They are out of stock on them for N frames.

[WPWarhawk]

Originally Posted by oldbrownhat

I nearly posted this in "coastie762"s thread on his 625-6 acquisition. A very nice find, sir! I have a 625-8 in 5" which I love but seem to be going around and around to find a pair of grips which suit me. I'm fine with the targets on my Model 19 & 14, but something never feels quite right on the 625. I suspect what I really want is a pair of Herret's Roper grips but the budget won't quite stretch that far

It came with rubber Hogues, which are functional but kinda ugly. Pachmayr Compacs might be ok if they had an open back but I think they're closed, so might be too big.

Has anyone had any experience with these Altamonts? I have medium hands and am not looking for something for cc so the rounded profile isn't critical, but I do like the look.

I have a 4 inch 625-8 and have been struggling with the right grips for it. Today my favorites are a set of VZ Tactical Diamonds in the Black Cherry color.

Here it is with a set of Herretts, no pics of the VZ grips yet.

[Willyboy]

I bought a set of wooden Rd to SB conversion grips on eBay for my 625-8.
They were larger than the original clown grips but smaller than an n frame target grip. A little small for my big hands, but probably OK for you. I can look up the information on them if you are interested. Willyboy

[CajunBass]

I bought a set of Pachmayr round butt grips for my 625-8. Wood, round grip, finger grooves. They were about 35.00 or so on Ebay, new, in the box.

[Beecherkid]

These grips are from Keith Brown in French Walnut. At first I thought they were small but it didn't take long to get used to them. I wear a med/large glove.

[zipty6]

I've been quite pleased with these Ahrends "Tactical" style round butt conversion grips on my 625-4. They're not as wide as factory target stocks.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by zipty6

I've been quite pleased with these Ahrends "Tactical" style round butt conversion grips on my 625-4. They're not as wide as factory target stocks.

Now that is a nice 625! I have a -8 JM. Bob

[Pizza Bob]

Originally Posted by WPWarhawk

How do you like those Altamont Ropers? I’ve got a set on order for a Model 14. They are out of stock on them for N frames.

First, I bought them from another member on this board. If you look at Altamont's website, it doesn't say "Out of Stock", it says "Temporarily Unavailable". There's a distinction. The ones that I bought do not fit my 29-2 well. The grip frame at the base of the back strap stands proud from the grip. The original owner was totally up front with me, and they fit his 624 even worse. I elected to take the chance, so it's on me.

I have a feeling that they are "Temporarily Unavailable" due to fitment problems, not because they sold out. This is pure speculation on my part and I don't mean to malign Altamont in any way. I have and like other Altamont grips. If my surmise is correct, it speaks highly of Altamont as they have pulled a very popular series of grips from the market to correct a problem.

Not sure what I'm going to do about mine. The 29-2 is pretty much a safe-queen and I can probably live with the grips the way they are - just kind of a shame. In an ideal world, Altamont would become cognizant of this post and contact me for resolution (not so far fetched - happened with Blade Tech years ago). If it really bugs me, I'll contact them and see if anything can be done.

I have no idea if there is the same problem with the K/L series of grips. Good luck with yours when you get them - they sure are pretty.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[CajunBass]

Bob, I have the same problem with a set of Altamont "Cokes." They just don't quite fit. Not awful, just not "right." I didn't think about it for a few months, then last week I decided to drop them an email, with a couple of pictures, just too see what they'd say.

I got an email back the same day saying they were going to put another set of grips in the mail to me, and a shipping label for me to send the bad ones back to them. I haven't gotten them yet, but with the holiday mail load, I'm not really surprised.

Give it a try. Nothing to lose.

My K-frame Ropers seem to fit at least as well as factory grips.





The shoot and look pretty good too.

[Joed49]

I own a 29-8 MG and also owned a 625-9 MG at the same time. No matter what I did I could not find grips that did not cause me pain. I tried 3 different brands and just couldn't find any that were comfortable.

Someone mentioned the X frame grips were good so I thought I'd try those. While looking around on the S&W site I found walnut presentation grips that looked nice. These worked for me.

[oldbrownhat]

Thanks, everyone. I've been offline for a few days due to wind storm that knocked out power and internet. (Thank heavens for whole-house battery backup and a diesel genny.)

pizzabob: Yes, Herret's do make custom Ropers:
Roper Gun Stock

zipty6: Those Altamont Tacticals look nice as do Joed49's walnut tacticals.

Ahrends.... You know, I think I have a pair of his grips... Yup, they look similar to yours but have the scalloped speedloader cutout. I had intended to refinish them and just discovered them in a box. There's my holiday project.

My "complaint" is partly looks and partly comfort, but not as regards recoil management, although I've worked up some 250 gr HC loads @ around 950fps. It just seems that every time I pick the gun up, the grips don't feel quite "right." I have the same problem with hats...

[oldbrownhat]

Originally Posted by oldbrownhat

Ahrends.... You know, I think I have a pair of his grips...

Indeed I do. I dug them out and refinished them and they seem to feel better than I remember them before

[LPD256]

OldBrownHat-I have those Altamont grips on my 625-8JM. I shot 100 rounds the other day and enjoy the grips. My hands are fairly large. I have some VZ grips on my 325NG. They have an aggressive texture that allows me to really grip the gun. The only negative is if the gun is carried the grip is rough on skin. I’ll get you a photo tomorrow if you’d like to see how they look.

[Coastie762]

Nice Stocks and looks like a great job on the refinish!

I was going to recommend Ahrends retro targets (round to square conversion) but it looks like you may have already found a solution. Let us know how they work!

Happy New Years all!

[Pizza Bob]

Resurrecting this thread to say a word about Altamont. If you read my previous posts in this thread you know that I bought a set of Altamont Ropers from another member of this forum and they didn't fit my 29-2 well...



Well I decided they did bug me a bit, regardless of how beautiful they were, so I wrote to Altamont. I was totally up front with them - told them I bought them from the original purchaser and that he had told me that they didn't fit his gun. This was their response...

We are sorry that there seems to be a fitment issue with these grips.

We do stand by our grips and offer lifetime warranties on them regardless if you purchased them directly from us or a 3rd party.

We are able to offer you a replacement set if you would like to send your grips to our facility.

And followed it up with this: If you want to try a replacement set, and it is not a better fit, we can try again a different set

Now that's a company that stands behind their products. Sent the grips off yesterday. It will probably be a while until the replacements come through. Kudos to Altamont for being a stand-up company.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[kraynky]

Well that goes a long way towards my decision for a set for my 625-6 3"! I've looked their web site over pretty good, as well as Ahrends, Amazon, Ebay & others, trying to guess which set will fit my hand and my taste. If they are willing to allow a fellow to swap out an unused set for another, well, how can you go wrong?

I can't swing a $300 set of factory combats, & I'm not certain they would fit my hand anyways. I thank you for posting their comments Pizza Bob! These rubbers are comfy & all, but they do nothing for the "eye appeal" factor.

[WPWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

Resurrecting this thread to say a word about Altamont. If you read my previous posts in this thread you know that I bought a set of Altamont Ropers from another member of this forum and they didn't fit my 29-2 well...



Well I decided they did bug me a bit, regardless of how beautiful they were, so I wrote to Altamont. I was totally up front with them - told them I bought them from the original purchaser and that he had told me that they didn't fit his gun. This was their response...

We are sorry that there seems to be a fitment issue with these grips.

We do stand by our grips and offer lifetime warranties on them regardless if you purchased them directly from us or a 3rd party.

We are able to offer you a replacement set if you would like to send your grips to our facility.

And followed it up with this: If you want to try a replacement set, and it is not a better fit, we can try again a different set

Now that's a company that stands behind their products. Sent the grips off yesterday. It will probably be a while until the replacements come through. Kudos to Altamont for being a stand-up company.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

I like the set of Altamont Ropers on my K38. They fit the gun well. And fit my hand well. They are thicker than Altamont targets and a bit shorter overall. I haven’t shot with them yet, soon.

This pic is the Altamont Ropers comared to the S&W K targets. About the same length, maybe slightly shorter. Thinner for sure, the trigger reach is maybe slightly shorter, not a big difference. This one has the target hammer and trigger and gets shot single action near 100% of the time.



This pic is the K frame Ropers copmpared to a set of Altamont targets for an N frame. Definitely more meat in the Ropers, and they are a little shorter overall. I much prefer the feel of these Ropers to the Altamont targets.

[WPWarhawk]

Altamont Ropers (Rosewood) on a Model 14-4.

[WPWarhawk]

And I forgot to post a pic of my 625 with the VZ Tactical Diamonds.

[Coastie762]

WPWarhawk, Nice looking gun! How do you like the feel of your VZ grips?

I have the same style, only in gray on order for my 625-8 PC. The VZ web site noted the sharpness of the checkering, I decided to give them a try specifically for that reason.

[noro]

I bought a new 629 last yr, and wanted something more traditional than the rubber grips. Got a nice set of traditional
"cokes" for it in walnut from Altamont. In shooting, the're
just a little too thin when compared to the original S&W target
grips.


Other than that, no problems. Wish Altamont would copy the original exactly. The 629 is a handful and the thin grips surely don't help.

[WPWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Coastie762

WPWarhawk, Nice looking gun! How do you like the feel of your VZ grips?

I have the same style, only in gray on order for my 625-8 PC. The VZ web site noted the sharpness of the checkering, I decided to give them a try specifically for that reason.

VZ grips are great, I have four sets so far. The checkered grips, tactical diamonds, do have fairly sharp checkering but I still prefer them to the smooth 320s.