Ruger Alaskan: A Powerful Snub Nose with Classy Grips

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Enough has been said and written about the Ruger Alaskan. If you happen to be looking for a review here is one I wrote a few years back on this same revolver, Ruger Alaskan 454 Powerhouse Review.

This is just a thank you from me to my wife for a fantastic Christmas gift in this season of giving. It is obvious this woman knows a good looking man when she see's one ( kidding I am humbled, blessed and fortunate she tolerates me) if not in men she has great taste in everything else and she has out done herself going out on a limb for me on her own to surprise me with a classy pair of grips.

I have always loved the Ruger looks with the wood panels. Well Chad over at www.chigsgrips.com makes a quality product and the craftsmanship is absolutely outstanding. I received everything needed in a well protected package to turn this beast into a beauty.

I am hoping to get out tomorrow to shoot a few rounds to check functionality. The 454 Casull in this small package can be a handful depending on your ammunition of choice. The original grips that comes on the Alaskan sports finger grooves which I really don't care for so it isn't totally about looks. The only concern I have is the gel pad that comes in the original grips which is there to absorb recoil. I am willing to make that trade off for the beautiful craftsmanship, and losing of the finger grooves.

I am in no way associated with chigsgrips.com but after seeing his work first hand I felt the need to give him a shout out -- http://www.chigsgrips.com or visit him on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chigsgrips
One Happy Customer

 

[Rodentman]

The grips are quite nice indeed. Gotta love the .454 !!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Nice! Very nice!

 

[MagnumDweeb]

That's on my list of want guns. Granted once I get one I'll send it to Pinnacle to have them cut the cylinder for .45 ACP ammo as I would only shoot .45 ACP reloads through it with 255 grain LSWC and .454 Casull out of it.

It's the one .45 caliber gun keeping me out of a S&W 625, but once I get one of these (in a few years) I'll probably get the 625 next.

 

[stoky]

Gotta love the .454 !!

no I don't
But I might lust after the .460 (in my heart).

 

[heyjoe]

nice looking grips! they really improve the appearance of the gun!

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I got out to shoot the Alaskan with new grips today

The recoil really didn't feel any different to me and it was shot with some very stout loads over the chronograph.

Hornady 454 and Winchester 454 --- I will be posting the pictures and chronograph numbers in a bit to my website.

For starters here are the Hornady numbers

1604 Hi
1592
1596
1581 Low
1589
1593 Average
17 ES
6 SD
So not only beautiful but functional.

 

[CraigC]

Good lookin' stuff!

 

[DammitBoy]

Dammit, now I have to buy myself a late Christmas present! Those grips look awesome, thanks for the link.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Grips are cool!

I've got a set of Chigs for my GP100. However, I got poplar grips on accident because I didn't know polar was such common (and plain looking) wood! They looked like ivory on the website but when I got them they were just 2x4 wood looking material. NO fault of Chigs, that was my ignorance!

I might have to get me some purple heartwood GP100 inserts if Chig ever makes them again, those look SUPER!

OP: What material are your Chigs made of??

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Those a burl which by the way is what comes on a sig TTT 1911 which are absolutely beautiful.

 

[tuckerdog1]

I think you just showed me my next gun

That is sweet.

Thanks,
Tuckerdog1

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

The 454 Has a pair whether under the hood or on the hip! (everything is measured in Liters now...ugh!) I know big bangs aren't every bodies thing but I love the big guns! Thanks for the share and love those grips!

 

[5-SHOTS]

Nice, nice grips. I hate the look of the new Hogue Monogrips for the Rugers (expecially the ones mounted on the GP100: ). I can't understand Ruger's choice to change grips type.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

yup those sure dress that gun up!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Those a burl which by the way is what comes on a sig TTT 1911 which are absolutely beautiful.

Looks like box elder burl to me.

 

[BLU]

MrRevolverGuy: Those chrony numbers.... what grain bullet did you use?

Had that gun.... carried it while hiking in Alaska. Felt a bit more secure with that up front in a chest draw holster. Quite a few guys I met fishing along the banks were carrying the same piece. Easily understood given the bear tracks everywhere. Seeing those Alaskan bears though... I was so glad I didn't have to field test the gun! Oh... one other thing.... gorgeous grips!