Alpha Proj Revolvers...

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Meroh

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I am looking for a Revolver to use for local PPC shooting (I am already shooting Semi-autos). My mind is open, and am looking to either a used S & W or a new Alpha Proj.
Since I would also like to shoot in the service pistol class, I am leaning towards the 4 1/2" barrel. .38/.357.

I am well aware of the quality and the high level of satisfaction that people experience with S & W revolvers, but I also like the look of Alpha Project pistols.

Who owns one, what are your experiences? Most reviews on line are people who are either promoting them, or new owners filled with "shiny new toy" syndrome.

I'm looking for real opinions from people who have ran more than a box of ammo through one.

How is the trigger, how smooth is the function, how is the double action trigger pull?

I welcome any and all opinions, thoughts and comments.

Thanks,

Mark
 
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First of all it’s Alfa Proj, not project. I own two (stainless .357 6” and blued 9mm 4.5”), and plan on getting two more (blued .38 4.5” and blued .22WMR/.22LR 4.5”). My interest in them stems from the price, for the amount I shoot them I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of S&W and pay a lot more for them, and like you, I like the look of them. I like how it’s basically a family where the only real differences are the calibre and frame material. I find the 6” barrel is a bit unwieldy and heavy. The single action pull weight is about 3.5 pounds, their double action pulls are over 8 (higher than my scale can go). I’ve only ever owned Alfa Projs so I don’t really have anything to compare it to. In terms of function it’s fine, probably not as smooth as a finely tuned Smith but it’s not going to slow you down in PPC competition. My major gripe is the stock rubber grips are pretty uncomfortable for me, and wood grips seem to be sold out everywhere for over a year. I think I would probably shoot them better with a larger grip than they come with. If you’re going to be shooting PPC use Safariland Comp II J-K2C Speedloaders. HKS 10-A speedloaders work as well, but you need to support the cylinder as you twist the speedloader to release the rounds (otherwise the cylinder will rotate with the speedloader and they won’t release). With the Safarilands you just push and the rounds go in.
 
I owned a 9mm Alfa and it was just ok, nowhere near the quality of a S&W. Trigger pull in double action was long and gritty and though I can't speak for the 357/38, empty casings would get stuck quite often in the cylinders, needing you to slam the #### out of the ejection rod to get them out, pain in the ass and definitely not conducive to competition. Sold it and got a Ruger instead.
The Alfa was accurate and a good looking revolver but from my experience I wouldn't run one in competition, just not finished enough to be smooth and reliable
 
I had an Alfa Proj in 9mm. It was reliable, accurate and I couldn't find it any mechanical fault.

My only gripe was with the trigger guard. Since the grip design allows you to get a very high grip on the gun, the back of the trigger guard would knock against my middle finger every shot I fired. I found this to be annoying with 9mm. I can only imagine that it must be worst with a 357.

Other than that, no complains at all and in fact, I'm even considering getting one in 22, where that issue would be non-existent given the absence of recoil of the 22 round.
 
.30/06 FTW said:
First of all it’s Alfa Proj, not project. I own two (stainless .357 6” and blued 9mm 4.5”), and plan on getting two more (blued .38 4.5” and blued .22WMR/.22LR 4.5”). My interest in them stems from the price, for the amount I shoot them I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of S&W and pay a lot more for them, and like you, I like the look of them. I like how it’s basically a family where the only real differences are the calibre and frame material. I find the 6” barrel is a bit unwieldy and heavy. The single action pull weight is about 3.5 pounds, their double action pulls are over 8 (higher than my scale can go). I’ve only ever owned Alfa Projs so I don’t really have anything to compare it to. In terms of function it’s fine, probably not as smooth as a finely tuned Smith but it’s not going to slow you down in PPC competition. My major gripe is the stock rubber grips are pretty uncomfortable for me, and wood grips seem to be sold out everywhere for over a year. I think I would probably shoot them better with a larger grip than they come with. If you’re going to be shooting PPC use Safariland Comp II J-K2C Speedloaders. HKS 10-A speedloaders work as well, but you need to support the cylinder as you twist the speedloader to release the rounds (otherwise the cylinder will rotate with the speedloader and they won’t release). With the Safarilands you just push and the rounds go in.
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Thanks for the correction, and the info regarding speed-loaders. I may look at one today if I get to Bulls Eye today.
 
edgy said:
I owned a 9mm Alfa and it was just ok, nowhere near the quality of a S&W. Trigger pull in double action was long and gritty and though I can't speak for the 357/38, empty casings would get stuck quite often in the cylinders, needing you to slam the #### out of the ejection rod to get them out, pain in the ass and definitely not conducive to competition. Sold it and got a Ruger instead.
The Alfa was accurate and a good looking revolver but from my experience I wouldn't run one in competition, just not finished enough to be smooth and reliable
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I'm not interested in 9mm; I would likely be shooting light HBWCs and want the heft of a .357.
 
Go with a S&W. There's more information on smoothing the action and spring kits from Wolff you can get easily. I've got one Alpha and a few S&W's and due to the action there's simply no way to get the trigger pull in DA as low on the Alpha as the S&W's.
 
The barrel comes loose on them. The barrel on my personal 22lr came loose and it took blue line 6 months to fix it. The 22 and 357 mag have the exact same frame and are constructed the same. Very concerning.

I wouldnt buy another one. And now i cant sell this one. But oh well, i dont want people to get hurt.
 
Well, I got to handle a new one today. Generally, I like it. I also looked at a GP100; and found it to have a much nicer D/A trigger than the Alpha. Single action trigger is comparable. Ruger appears stronger in many ways... but it is $200.00 more.
 
My buddy has a .357 one. If he shoots .38sp it works just fine. If he shoots .357 the cylinder pops out the side. Contacted blueline for warranty and they are still trying to figure out a fix for it lol

YMMV
 
I had a 9mm Alfa but sold it on after a year or so. Decent gun but the poor quality of the Alfa DA trigger would be a deal breaker for me if I was looking for a competition revolver
 
Well you get what you pay for. Alfa are not up to the quality of S/W or Ruger. If you are going to put any amount of rounds through a gun better quality will last longer. I have shot an Alfa and I was not impressed due to the trigger. My S/W,Ruger and Colts as a stock guns have better triggers. As far a kits to tune well availablity is an issue. When I couldn’t afford the gun I wanted I waited until I had saved the money. A $200 difference for a better revolver is not all that much for a better gun.
 
Maybe this is not a correct answer to your question, Meroh.

I have a blued 4.5 inch 9mm Alfa Project revolver. I am a nonconformist. I like my AP revolver, for what it is, as much as my 6 inch 686 and GP100. I’ve had a 6” SW 66 that I did not like as much as I like my AP, can’t exactly pinpoint why. Maybe it’s not fair to compare them.

Btw, my AP has a reduced power mainspring and only reliably shoots federal ammo or primered reloads.

I love that it uses moonclips (1 got more than a dozen).
 
FarmerDanz said:
200 bux is 4 boxes of ammo or one range day. Spend the money on a better firearm.
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I hand load, so that would be about... 25-30 boxes. LOL. but yes, 200 is not that much.

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I will be leaving it in the store, and will be looking for either a S & W or Ruger.
 
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