There was a thread a few weeks ago on Rock Island's new 9mm revolver, apparently made by Alfa in the Czech Republic. About a year ago I had acquired triplets of their target model in .22LR, .32 S&W Long, and .38 Special. I got them because almost nobody else makes a target gun in .32 anymore, and all three of them together cost about half than what a Model 16 might go for (if you can find one).

I finally got them out to the range a few days ago, along with my S&W triplets. The Alfa guns are of course not as nicely made as the S&Ws but for the money are decent. The frame is some kind of alloy other than steel but seems well enough made. The action cocked smoothly but the hammer is narrow by comparison. The trigger pulls all had a little creep but weren't bad, considering they are brand new and have not been broken in at all. Someday I may open them up for a look.

The front sights are much narrower than the .125" S&W sights - .075 for both the .22 and .32 and .095 for the .38, but the rear notches are commensurately narrow. I had to adjust the rear sight on the .22 very high to get it to point of aim. (I use a center hold with the top of the sights bisecting the center of the target - a 6 o'clock target hold only really works for shooting bullseye at a known distance and target.)

The grips are comparatively small and narrow, even for my small hand, but comfortable to me. I don't have any idea if replacement grips are available.

Overall, I like them pretty well.




I bottomed out the rear sight on the Model 14 and it still printed high for me - looks like it truly was set up as a bullseye gun! Needs speedier ammo I guess for my kind of shooting. I use Sile grips for shooting, but put the originals back on just for looks when not being used.

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Have you checked those frames with a magnet? A couple of the recent You Tubes on these have got me curious.

The frames are non-magnetic. Alfa Proj produces revolvers in both steel and (aluminum? zinc?) alloy known as Holek. Alfa-proj, s. r. o. - zbranì - Revolvers

The only US importer of Alfa Proj revolvers that I've been able to find is Czechpoint, and they seem to get only the Holek line (although I think the 9mm is a steel gun). Alfa Proj Revolvers | Czechpoint-USA It would be nice to have a crack at the steel guns. Even though they are more expensive they are still cheaper than a new S&W, and S&W does not make a .32 S&W Long revolver of any kind these days. Czechpoint is almost perpetually out of stock of these guns, although I did get the .22 and .38 from them by asking for email notification when in stock. The .32 I found on Gunbroker.

For those unaware, Rock Island is supposed to be importing them for us now....

I got a brief hands-on with the stainless snub in the above vid today. I'd say the action felt akin to a typical Colt, with perhaps the potential to break-in well. It had a narrow, serrated trigger, like a .265 K-frame, and I got zero pinch. The overall fit and finish seemed excellent. Those OEM grips position the hand lower than that of Hogues on the Smith, or Ruger's rubber grips. Just different, but not uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it was tagged at $599, and that's a HARD - PASS for me vs. a nice used Smith or Ruger.

Well shucks... I personally sight all my revolvers in for a 6 o'clock hold. I find being able to see what you are aiming at as opposed to blocking out your target with a front and rear sight is simply better in all respects. I don't have issues hitting my target with percision, known distance or not.

In your opinion, why does a 6 o'clock hold ONLY really work for bullseye at a know distance?

Nice revolvers, thanks for the report on the RIA pieces.

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It's not his opinion it's fact.
On a 6 o'clock hold to hit the center your gun is shooting high at that distance. On a 6 in. target to hit the center your gun is shooting 3 in. high. If the target is 12 in. your gun has to shoot 6 in. high.
You have to know the distance because the bullet is only on the line of sight twice. Once when it goes up past the line of sight and second when it comes down past the line of sight. Larry

The fact is, bullets rise and fall regardless of if you sight them in for center hold or 6 o'clock hold so technically you need to know the distance whether you are center hold or 6 o'clock hold. For example, if you are using center hold at a particular distance, and then shoot from a different distance you will be shooting higher or lower depending on wheather you moved closer or further, and we haven't even accounted for the actual distance moved yet.

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As it turns out I was slightly confused about the semantics of sighting. I have included a picture explaining the different sight pictures. Admittedly, When this conversation began, I was under the impression that center hold was 6 o'clock and combat sights where center hold. I can certainly see your points now.

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Thanks for sharing the videos.

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Interesting, I never heard of it before. Thanks for sharing.

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