NAA 22lr Boot Grip by Altamont

pennsy · October-19-18 14:10

Hi all. New member here but I have owned a NAA 22lr for about 30 years. I found these boot grips and was wondering if anyone has used them. I want something a little bigger than the birds head but not huge. Are others happy with their boot grips? Thanks for any help

https://www.altamontco.com/pistol-grips/northam/northam

smokeless joe · October-19-18 17:10

Welcome to the forum pennsy. I've never used those but they look almost identical to the NAA boot grip which I have used and am quite happy with. So I'm sure you might find them satisfactory.

OV-1D · October-19-18 17:10

Isn't that the odd the picture shows a magnum , pretty stuff but I would have to start with the magnum not l.r. Thanks for the thought .

pennsy · October-19-18 17:10

It is odd they show a mag but the description says lr. Do boot grips in general provide much added grip? They look like they only add about a half finger of purchase, which is ok with me if it helps. My other choice is the slip on but I'm afraid of rubber dragging in the pocket. I took a grip sleeve off a LC9 because of that.

Uncle_Lee · October-20-18 03:10

Welcome pennsy,
I don't know which one would fit you better but neither fits me. They let my middle finger get high enough to get behind the trigger and when I pull the trigger it mashes into my finger making the trigger pull hard. Hurts the finger also.

smokeless joe · October-20-18 04:10

Quote from: pennsy on October-19-18 17:10
It is odd they show a mag but the description says lr. Do boot grips in general provide much added grip? They look like they only add about a half finger of purchase, which is ok with me if it helps. My other choice is the slip on but I'm afraid of rubber dragging in the pocket. I took a grip sleeve off a LC9 because of that.

They add just enough grip to make the gun easier to control while shooting. I find when shooting with the birds head grips I have to check my grip constantly while shooting. The slip on rubber grips that I have on my Pug are a bit in between birds head and boot grips.

pennsy · October-20-18 05:10

Thanks for the first hand reports. Have to admit, those Altamonts look good and probably will slide out of my pocket the easiest .

Honky Tonk Man · October-20-18 08:10

pennsy, the miniature Pug-like grips sized for the LR size frame is much better for me than the standard slippery birds head grips. I can't get my fingers around it, but it is much easier to pinch grip. It doesn't want to fly out of your hand when it goes off. I don't find the hogue slip-ons hard to draw at all. When I grab it to pull out, my fingers engulf the grip leaving nothing to snag on clothing. Mine is the 1 1/8" bbl LR mini. Same thing with the Pug.

I have no experience with the boot grips, but have a pair on order now from NAA. They are magnum sized. I like the looks of them. Altamont grips are top notch in my book. They have several styles for S&W J-frames I've been eyeing. In fact S&W uses Altamonts on a couple models.

pennsy · October-20-18 08:10

I never even heard of Altamont before . I searched 30 pages of old threads and found nothing about them here. I can understand the rubber not snagging if your hand surrounds them with the slip on . Probably either one will be better than the birds head for sure.Any other input appreciated.

Canoeal · October-20-18 10:10

Let us know how they work. I am considering ordering a pair. Suiting my personality, probably the plain ones, to be worked by me...They seem to be a little smaller than my Big Bird grips...

pennsy · October-20-18 11:10

Those are some handsome grips you made there. How do you rout out the underside to inlet into the frame?

Canoeal · October-20-18 16:10

Not sure what you are asking, but here is what I did:I traced the grip frame of the BW onto two pieces of cherry I had rough cut to the Shape I wanted, I used forstner bits and a drill press to take out the inside shape. I then went back on the inside with a dremel tool with a small head and took a little more out around the outside edge of the inside part (where the frame would fit. I drilled the bottom for some brass pins (Here we call them escutcheon pins) with the heads cut off. Once all of it fit on the gun properly (it took a while), I removed them and shaped the outside into final form sanded and finished. They are not nearly as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside...But they fit.

Size comparison to the original grips below. I did go back and take a little off at the back most part of the grips after trying them for a while... the picture posted earlier is the current version.

Dinadan · October-20-18 18:10

Welcome to the forum, Pennsy.

I have kept boot grips on my Long Rifle for a few years now. The birds head grips that came on the LR were too small for my hands. To me, the boot grips make the LR about as easy to hold as the magnums with birds head grips.

I have the standard NAA boot grip on mine. That one you linked to looks good. It is a bit cheaper than NAA's grip, too. Here is a link to NAA's two LR boot grips.

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/accessories/short/gbg-l-eng/

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/accessories/gbg-l/

Here is a comparison photo of a LR with boot grips and a Magnum Mini with birds head grips.

pennsy · October-20-18 19:10

Quote from: Canoeal on October-20-18 16:10
Not sure what you are asking, but here is what I did:I traced the grip frame of the BW onto two pieces of cherry I had rough cut to the Shape I wanted, I used forstner bits and a drill press to take out the inside shape. I then went back on the inside with a dremel tool with a small head and took a little more out around the outside edge of the inside part (where the frame would fit. I drilled the bottom for some brass pins (Here we call them escutcheon pins) with the heads cut off. Once all of it fit on the gun properly (it took a while), I removed them and shaped the outside into final form sanded and finished. They are not nearly as pretty on the inside as they are on the outside...But they fit.

Size comparison to the original grips below. I did go back and take a little off at the back most part of the grips after trying them for a while... the picture posted earlier is the current version.

Thanks for the tips. If I had a drill press I would give it a try for the heck of it. Nice work.

pennsy · October-20-18 19:10

Quote from: Dinadan on October-20-18 18:10
Welcome to the forum, Pennsy.

I have kept boot grips on my Long Rifle for a few years now. The birds head grips that came on the LR were too small for my hands. To me, the boot grips make the LR about as easy to hold as the magnums with birds head grips.

I have the standard NAA boot grip on mine. That one you linked to looks good. It is a bit cheaper than NAA's grip, too. Here is a link to NAA's two LR boot grips.

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/accessories/short/gbg-l-eng/

https://northamericanarms.com/shop/accessories/gbg-l/

Here is a comparison photo of a LR with boot grips and a Magnum Mini with birds head grips.

The mag and the lr look close in size . That is probably what I am looking for. Thanks.

Oddball · October-21-18 07:10

Quote from: pennsy on October-20-18 08:10
I never even heard of Altamont before . I searched 30 pages of old threads and found nothing about them here. I can understand the rubber not snagging if your hand surrounds them with the slip on . Probably either one will be better than the birds head for sure.Any other input appreciated.

Altamont supplies grips for a lot of manufacturers. A lot of S&W Performance Center guns wear them.
I've ordered grips from them and I've never been disappointed. You may have to wait sometimes if a product is out of production but they'll contact you and ask if you want a refund or order something else.

Ruger · October-21-18 14:10

Hey . . . PENNSY . . . . WELCOME to the forum!

My Ranger IIs with both Bird & Boot Grips . . . Carry my Sidewinder with Boot Grips . . .

Canoeal · October-21-18 16:10

Ruger,
Are the magnum boot grips a two finger hold? That is what i am looking to learn. My Big Birds are two fingers...

Bigbird48 · October-22-18 05:10

Quote from: Ruger on October-21-18 14:10
Hey . . . PENNSY . . . . WELCOME to the forum!

My Ranger IIs with both Bird & Boot Grips . . . Carry my Sidewinder with Boot Grips . . .

No No Al I have all 10 fingers

Ruger · October-22-18 10:10

Quote from: Canoeal on October-21-18 16:10

Ruger,
Are the magnum boot grips a two finger hold? That is what i am looking to learn. My Big Birds are two fingers...

Yup, two finger grip, with my pinky under the grip. Rolls a whole lot less in your hand. It is the only way I'll carry a Mini; it has to have Boot Grips.

I like the looks of the Bird Head grip, and it allows my Minis to fit inside an eyeglass case. But it just doesn't work for me.

smokeless joe · October-22-18 12:10

Quote from: Bigbird48 on October-22-18 05:10
Quote from: Ruger on October-21-18 14:10
Hey . . . PENNSY . . . . WELCOME to the forum!

My Ranger IIs with both Bird & Boot Grips . . . Carry my Sidewinder with Boot Grips . . .
No No Al I have all 10 fingers

Dinadan · October-22-18 13:10

Quote from: Ruger on October-21-18 14:10
My Ranger IIs with both Bird & Boot Grips . . . Carry my Sidewinder with Boot Grips . . .

Wow Ruger, that Ranger look really good with the boot grips. On the other hand, it looks real good with the bird head too ... I guess you have the right idea with one of each!

Ruger · October-23-18 04:10

Quote from: Dinadan on October-22-18 13:10. . . . . . that Ranger look really good with the boot grips. On the other hand, it looks real good with the bird head too . . . . . .

When I introduce someone to the NAA Mini's, I like to first show them one with Bird's Head grips, and the Boot Grips. Then explain that the Bird's Head grips come standard on models, where Boot Grips are an extra purchase. I don't want to mislead someone right off the bat.

pennsy · October-23-18 05:10

Quote from: Ruger on October-23-18 04:10
Quote from: Dinadan on October-22-18 13:10. . . . . . that Ranger look really good with the boot grips. On the other hand, it looks real good with the bird head too . . . . . .

When I introduce someone to the NAA Mini's, I like to first show them one with Bird's Head grips, and the Boot Grips. Then explain that the Bird's Head grips come standard on models, where Boot Grips are an extra purchase. I don't want to mislead someone right off the bat.

Nice pistols. Have any 22lr?

Honky Tonk Man · October-23-18 05:10

This discussion got me thinking. You see many switching the standard birds' head grips to boot grips. Not so many switching from standard boot grips (Sheriff, Earls, etc.) to birds' head grips? Why?

Canoeal · October-23-18 11:10

They like to be able to hold on, when the shoot their guns??? One finger on the grip does not work for me...

Ruger · October-23-18 12:10

Grips other than the Bird's Head Grips minimize the roll back and allow you to gain your sight picture slightly faster; but in the heat of the battle, I doubt this would matter. I like Al's answer; one finger grip just doesn't do it for me either.

But I like the looks of the Bird's Head Grips . . .really.

Honky Tonk Man · October-23-18 18:10

I knew the answer before I asked. I was just making a point for pennsy to consider. Switching to the boot grips must give you a little more to hang unto, or so many wouldn't do it. They do look good too. IMO

pennsy · October-29-18 07:10

Ordered a pair of Altamonts last night. I will let everyone know how I like them when they come.

pennsy · November-03-18 16:11

New boot grip came fast from Altamont. 4 days. The fit and finish are good . Slight wiggle taken care of with a small dab of silicone glue in the groove in one spot on both halves. Very small dab in one spot as to not make it hard to remove in the future. Let it dry over night. The finish on my grip is very dark with only a small amount of red in it. I would have preferred a little lighter color. The boot grip gives the 22lr a full one finger hold with my 4th finger under the grip in support. A good compromise between small size and purchase compared to the birds head. I have not shot the mini with the new grip yet but I think it will be an improvement for my large hand.

Crippler · November-04-18 13:11

Quote from: pennsy on November-03-18 16:11
New boot grip came fast from Altamont. 4 days. The fit and finish are good . Slight wiggle taken care of with a small dab of silicone glue in the groove in one spot on both halves. Very small dab in one spot as to not make it hard to remove in the future. Let it dry over night. The finish on my grip is very dark with only a small amount of red in it. I would have preferred a little lighter color. The boot grip gives the 22lr a full one finger hold with my 4th finger under the grip in support. A good compromise between small size and purchase compared to the birds head. I have not shot the mini with the new grip yet but I think it will be an improvement for my large hand.

i am a sucker for the engraving, but i have a magnum. i think i may email them about availability.

pennsy · November-18-18 11:11

I finally got to shoot the mini with the new boot grip. It definitely helps hold on to it without adding to much size. The back rear corners of the grip are pointy and can be uncomfortable but I was able to go through a box without too much pain if I tucked my 4th finger well under the grip. In an emergency it would go unnoticed I'm sure. Time to clean up.

PaducahMichael · November-20-18 22:11

Quote from: OV-1D on October-19-18 17:10
Isn't that odd the picture shows a magnum, pretty stuff but I would have to start with the magnum, not l.r. Thanks for the thought.

They probably sold out of Magnum size and don't want to make more. If they had a magnum I would buy a set.

pennsy · December-12-18 09:12

Just a quick update on the boot grips. The pointy rear corners were bugging me but I did not want to sand them round and ruin the finish. Finally I decided to take a few swipes with an emery board . That did the trick and it is hardly noticeable. Now I will shoot it again and see if it still bites my finger.