The backstory here is that I like 9mm revolvers for concealed carry purposes and I like K Frame sized revolvers for that purpose.
9mm S&W revolvers are hard to find and horribly expensive when you find them.
The SP101 in 9mm isn't bad, but it isn't great either.
I tried the Taurus 905 and broke it in a couple months of hard use - after sending it back to the factory once already. It also has really tight chambers and is basically limited to factory new ammo or new brass reloads, unless you want to test every round in the gun first.
I found a Ruger Speed Six in 9mm and it is most definitely durable enough but shoots low and slightly left. Worse the chambers are very finicky about accepting rounds, so reloads are no faster than with a speed loader.
I like 9mm as a good 9mm self defense load in a 3" revolver splits the difference between 38 Special and .357 Magnum, and *when properly done* makes loading with moon clips much faster than with a speed loader. It also lets me use a common self defense load for both revolvers and my 9mm pistols.
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I'm a shooter, not a collector so pretty much all my firearms work, or have to be able to work, for a living. That said I tend to be a bit of a pistol/revolver snob so I'm naturally hesitant to buy from certain companies - usually for good reason.
In the past I bought an RIA Baby Rock for not much more than $200, with commensurately low expectations and was pleasantly surprised it shot exceptionally well.
With that experience in mind, I took the time to look at the Czech made RIA AL9.0 revolver I found sitting in the display case of a local gun shop.
Finish wise it won't make a vintage S&W jealous. Overall it's well polished and blued, but there a few things that take away from an otherwise excellent finish. The side plate is plain, has a few faint tool marks and the side plates screws don't have the fit they do on a S&W. The laser etched import marks detract from the over all finish and the proof marks are not as neat as I'd like to see.
But that's all cosmetic. Functionally it's well done. The DA trigger pull is 12 pounds and the SA pull is4 pounds. Both are crisp and clean, better than most of the Rugers I own and in the same class as most of the S&Ws I own.
The major difference I noted is that while I can feel the engagement of both the hand and the bolt in my S&W and Ruger trigger pulls, you only get one "click" in the trigger pull with the AL 9.0. In other words, you can't "stage" the DA pull with any reliability at all. But that is seldom done anyway. If you have the time and it really matters, you just shoot SA anyway.
Loading is where it really excels. Both the 905 and the Speed Six needed fairly precise alignment of the rounds in the moon clip with the cylinder before they'd drop in.
The AL 9.0 isn't nearly that picky. With the recessed cylinder design and the slight bevel on the chambers the rounds will go in of thrown in the general vicinity of the cylinder - even with hollow points. Reloading it makes you feel like you are channeling Jerry Miculek.
I like shooting the current FBI Q course with a revolver but the last part of the 3rd course of fire at the 7 yard line:
Draw and fire 4 rounds, reload, fire 4 rounds. The entire drill must be completed within 8 seconds
has always kept me from shooting a clean score as I need about
a half second more to get that last shot off. But I think the AL 9.0 will load fast enough to get me that extra half second.
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It's K framed sized and seems to fit my K frame holsters just fine. The grips are practical and comfortable, which is good as I don't see many aftermarket options out there for it. Armscor does sell a larger checkered wood grip and a larger stippled wood grip for the AR-9 for $55.
Armscor only includes two moon clips which isn't very considerate, given that other brands usually come with five. However, they are well made and are high quality. You can get them for $7.99 each from Advanced Tactical but they only show 116 in stock.
TKS customs also makes them in 5 packs for $40, and while I've had a couple lemons in the last 20 I've bought for other revolvers, they are a good source for more moon clips. They'll replace one if it is defective.
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In short, at $500, I'm impressed with the overall quality and performance so far. I'll hopefully be just as impressed after I take it out and shoot it.
9mm S&W revolvers are hard to find and horribly expensive when you find them.
The SP101 in 9mm isn't bad, but it isn't great either.
I tried the Taurus 905 and broke it in a couple months of hard use - after sending it back to the factory once already. It also has really tight chambers and is basically limited to factory new ammo or new brass reloads, unless you want to test every round in the gun first.
I found a Ruger Speed Six in 9mm and it is most definitely durable enough but shoots low and slightly left. Worse the chambers are very finicky about accepting rounds, so reloads are no faster than with a speed loader.
I like 9mm as a good 9mm self defense load in a 3" revolver splits the difference between 38 Special and .357 Magnum, and *when properly done* makes loading with moon clips much faster than with a speed loader. It also lets me use a common self defense load for both revolvers and my 9mm pistols.
----
I'm a shooter, not a collector so pretty much all my firearms work, or have to be able to work, for a living. That said I tend to be a bit of a pistol/revolver snob so I'm naturally hesitant to buy from certain companies - usually for good reason.
In the past I bought an RIA Baby Rock for not much more than $200, with commensurately low expectations and was pleasantly surprised it shot exceptionally well.
With that experience in mind, I took the time to look at the Czech made RIA AL9.0 revolver I found sitting in the display case of a local gun shop.
Finish wise it won't make a vintage S&W jealous. Overall it's well polished and blued, but there a few things that take away from an otherwise excellent finish. The side plate is plain, has a few faint tool marks and the side plates screws don't have the fit they do on a S&W. The laser etched import marks detract from the over all finish and the proof marks are not as neat as I'd like to see.
But that's all cosmetic. Functionally it's well done. The DA trigger pull is 12 pounds and the SA pull is4 pounds. Both are crisp and clean, better than most of the Rugers I own and in the same class as most of the S&Ws I own.
The major difference I noted is that while I can feel the engagement of both the hand and the bolt in my S&W and Ruger trigger pulls, you only get one "click" in the trigger pull with the AL 9.0. In other words, you can't "stage" the DA pull with any reliability at all. But that is seldom done anyway. If you have the time and it really matters, you just shoot SA anyway.
Loading is where it really excels. Both the 905 and the Speed Six needed fairly precise alignment of the rounds in the moon clip with the cylinder before they'd drop in.
The AL 9.0 isn't nearly that picky. With the recessed cylinder design and the slight bevel on the chambers the rounds will go in of thrown in the general vicinity of the cylinder - even with hollow points. Reloading it makes you feel like you are channeling Jerry Miculek.
I like shooting the current FBI Q course with a revolver but the last part of the 3rd course of fire at the 7 yard line:
Draw and fire 4 rounds, reload, fire 4 rounds. The entire drill must be completed within 8 seconds
has always kept me from shooting a clean score as I need about
a half second more to get that last shot off. But I think the AL 9.0 will load fast enough to get me that extra half second.
----
It's K framed sized and seems to fit my K frame holsters just fine. The grips are practical and comfortable, which is good as I don't see many aftermarket options out there for it. Armscor does sell a larger checkered wood grip and a larger stippled wood grip for the AR-9 for $55.
Armscor only includes two moon clips which isn't very considerate, given that other brands usually come with five. However, they are well made and are high quality. You can get them for $7.99 each from Advanced Tactical but they only show 116 in stock.
TKS customs also makes them in 5 packs for $40, and while I've had a couple lemons in the last 20 I've bought for other revolvers, they are a good source for more moon clips. They'll replace one if it is defective.
----
In short, at $500, I'm impressed with the overall quality and performance so far. I'll hopefully be just as impressed after I take it out and shoot it.
