Alpharms 15SA Initial findings.

My initial findings... minus the range time, that's coming in a couple days.

Overall appearance and finish looks pretty good
One of the mags and the flash hider have a black almost soot like appearance, like they had been thrown in the fire place for a bit.
Changing chokes out is a breeze and the threading is perfect.
Charging handle has to go, too small for my meat hooks and needs to be beefed up.
Mags are a little stiff in and out but no big deal, I'm confident when I clean them up and lightly sand them up a bit they will be fine.

Carry handle is nothing to write home about and will be removed to add a red dot.
bolt locks back on empty mags and drops when the bolt release is pressed.
Mag release a little stiff

All in all my initial impressions is this is pretty cool gun. For a $555 semi auto NR shotgun that looks like a mother F***** I'm good with a little tinkering around. I don't mind having to clean a few parts up, polish and smooth out some rough edges.
Lets remember this a shotgun made in turkey, not a Benelli.

I'm confident after cleaning some parts up, lube action, and some heavy loads this gun will run hard and reliable.
I bought this thing to run heavy slugs and buckshot anyway, so I'm not too worried.

Friday will be my 100 round slug/ 00 buck break in day. Cant wait
 
I shot some 3" no.2 1550 fps , it sure chucks those shells , it may be a little over gassed. Hopefully it can handle that abuse over time. Now if I could just get it to feed.
 
(If this type of post isn't allowed, Wolverine guys, please feel free to delete)

What I really want to know from people who have received theirs so far (other than the one or two who have posted pics): what, if any, mods are you doing to these?

Maybe we could have a "mod" thread?
 
321ja321 said:
I shot some 3" no.2 1550 fps , it sure chucks those shells , it may be a little over gassed. Hopefully it can handle that abuse over time. Now if I could just get it to feed.
Click to expand...

Check for a burr in the chamber where the extractor cut is machined, I have seen this, in some guns, clean it up with a few strokes with a needle file and you may solve your problem. Let me know your results please.
 
rich_in_van said:
(If this type of post isn't allowed, Wolverine guys, please feel free to delete)

What I really want to know from people who have received theirs so far (other than the one or two who have posted pics): what, if any, mods are you doing to these?

Maybe we could have a "mod" thread?
Click to expand...

That is a good idea, I suggested this afternoon that next week we make a 15 S A "tuning video". Where to look for burrs and how to clean them up etc Triggers vary from not bad to bloody awful but not keen to advise "newbies" to start working on sears etc but a trigger tune up is not differcult to anyone with any experance. First mod we need is a beefed up Tactical Charging Handle, I will suggest that Alfarms jump right on this before any one else beats them to it. I have already suggested they manufacture an ambi safety. Bolt release appears to be on the weak side, not sure if that could be strengthened I would need to study that. Each gun was shipped with 2 mags, we also ordered 500 spare mags it would appear there are some differances in the finishes, I need to look into this. Most will drop free with a little tweaking. I have only seen one damaged mag so far, but still learning a lot about these guns myself, this is why feed back from users is valuable.
 
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Tuning video in a separate thread would be great and I am sure appreciated by anyone who purchased one of these.
 
First Mod would be the bolt, OMG its tiny and with no gloves would hurt after a while. (yes delicate fingers hehe) but over all for the price its awesome. I will work the trigger to get it down a couple of pounds. other then that, my Vortex Strikefire II is holding out good and i think after 200-300 rounds it may smooth out a bit, just needs a little breaking in.

I do find the grip panels tend to creek and i feel may crack in the future. any possible way to address? open and glue down?
 
my thinking is if the mags were seated higher the rounds would have more of a straight shot into the chamber looks like there is room to do so . The lug I meant was the one on the bottom of the bolt that feeds the rounds and holds the bolt open. It would have to be shortened if the mags seated higher. Another thing is the feed ramp , I would like to see one that is not at such a steep angle , it looks like there is room for that also . I get a lot of ftf s and it seems the rounds smack into the ramp and bounce to the top of the reciever and get jammed .
 
I do find the grip panels tend to creek and i feel may crack in the future. any possible way to address? open and glue down?[/QUOTE]
I would wait and see if they fall off then superglue back on , or you could fill the seam around them with glue. If you were careful you would hardly notice
 
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is my take on the stiff mags, I have 2 that you have to wrestle out and 3 that almost fall out. Here is the dimension across the top, from just under the little plastic wedge that sticks out, first a tight fitting mag:
20160315_212832_HDR_zpsr5tlkl7a.jpg


Next up is one of the looser fitting ones:
20160315_212857_zpsgnkbuyyu.jpg


The sizes (in mm) are:

Tight 75.72, 75.89
Loose 75.19, 75.25, 75.32

I think all that is needed is a bit of filing of the side of the mag with the ridge on it. The larger dimension continues on for the rest of the mag BTW. I could be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time), but others could easily check this out.
 
I can see the difference without the caliper. There is a difference on the side where that tab is. It seems to be a bit higher .. A slight adjustment with a small hammer should fix it.

Just wondering if they had to outsource the xtra mags to a diferent manufacturer to keep up with supply?? just a thought
 
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As for that tiny charging handle, this will do until something else becomes available. Modeled then printed out of PLA for now, and put on with super glue as a fitment test. If it holds up I'll redo it in ABS and glue it together with acetone.

Two halves:
20160315_215638_zps1eq7mvg3.jpg


It looks like this mounted, and my hands are going Ahhhhhh:
20160315_220357_zpska6pn7rp.jpg
 
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