Alfa Proj. / RIA AL9.0 Trigger Job

mrcabinet

mrcabinet

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
95
Location
Auburn, AL
I'm a fan of Czech pistols, so I've been intrigued with the Alfa Proj. 9mm revolver since I first saw them a couple years ago. But not enough to pay retail for one. This RIA AL9.0 came available locally the other day, at a price that was very attractive, so it's now mine.

20221112_171133.jpg 20221112_171206.jpg 20221112_171247.jpg 20221112_171401.jpg

The fit and finish is surprisingly good for a revolver in this price range. Size wise it's similar to a S&W K frame, but with the heft of a Ruger, which I don't consider to be a bad thing. The trigger really isn't bad - it's just unnecessarily heavy. DA is a ridiculous 11 lb.s 6 oz., and SA comes in at 5 lb.s 2 oz. average. I'm the 3rd owner, so I'm pretty sure it's already been "broken in".

Aftermarket springs are non-existent, so my goal is to see if I can lighten it some with basic polishing of the internals.
 
There is nothing elaborate with the internals on these. Anyone that's torn down a CZ sear cage will find this to be a piece of cake.
20221113_103938.jpg

The only photo I found online of the Alfa Proj. internals showed a screw at the bottom of the mainspring that could be turned to increase or decrease tension. This one doesn't have that.
20221113_103544.jpg

Instead, I discovered that the screw that the trigger spring installs on is cammed, so that tension can be adjusted. I adjusted it to the top for the lightest pressure.
20221113_104308.jpg 20221113_104327.jpg
I should have put it back together and checked the trigger pull after that adjustment, but I was all in at this point, lol. However, I did discover that there is an access hole in the side plate that allows the screw to be adjusted without pulling the plate off. Doh!
 
At this point it was just smoothing and polishing the most obvious things that moved and rubbed. There was a small burr on the trigger spring which I removed and then polished, as well as where it rides on the trigger.
20221113_104755.jpg 20221113_105158.jpg

And of course the sear faces on the hammer and trigger, the pawl where it rides on the trigger, and the mainspring guide.
20221113_110123.jpg 20221113_110240.jpg 20221113_110302.jpg 20221113_112625.jpg

After reassembly, the trigger pull came in at 10lb.s 10oz. DA and 4lb.s 3oz. SA average. Nowhere near one of my Smiths, but it's smooth and crisp, and considerably better than it was before. I'd call it acceptable, for now. Without any aftermarket springs, it's most likely as good as it will get. When I have more time I may play around with the mainspring some. A CZ75 mainspring looks like it may fit....
 
Here's a helpful hint for anyone else that dives into one of these. This spring-loaded pin, which puts pressure on the pawl, will prevent the sideplate from going into place.
20221113_113832.jpg

Fortunately, the mfg. provided an easy way to deal with it. See that little hole behind the pin? Press the pin in and place a small wire into the hole, from the outside.This captures the pin and allows the plate to fully seat. Simply pull the wire out once the sideplate is in place.
20221113_113920.jpg
 
mrcabinet said:
Here's a helpful hint for anyone else that dives into one of these. This spring-loaded pin, which puts pressure on the pawl, will prevent the sideplate from going into place.
View attachment 1114801

Fortunately, the mfg. provided an easy way to deal with it. See that little hole behind the pin? Press the pin in and place a small wire into the hole, from the outside.This captures the pin and allows the plate to fully seat. Simply pull the wire out once the sideplate is in place.
View attachment 1114802
Click to expand...
I always wondered what that hole was for!;)
 
gobsauce said:
I've been incredibly curious about it myself, but they're unobtainium.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I jumped on this one. Hopefully I can squeeze in a lunchtime range trip this week.

NIGHTLORD40K said:
I also like that there is a full steel gripframe hiding underneath the grip, unlike in Dan Wessons or Rugers.
Click to expand...

And the hammer doesn't let out a loud "clunk" when it drops, like the DW I owned (briefly) did.
 
Guys, just don't get too excited about it - it's a revolver exactly on par with it's price point. Nothing less, nothing more. I know them since they first entered the market as "Holek" .22 LR & .38 Spl revolvers with Zamac frames - the internals are all the same. Nothing changed, except for the steel frame. They are good and cheap revolvers, but nothing beyond that.
 
Mizar said:
Guys, just don't get too excited about it - it's a revolver exactly on par with it's price point. Nothing less, nothing more. I know them since they first entered the market as "Holek" .22 LR & .38 Spl revolvers with Zamac frames - the internals are all the same. Nothing changed, except for the steel frame. They are good and cheap revolvers, but nothing beyond that.
Click to expand...
They aint exactly cheap here- somewhat less than a Ruger but more than a Weirauch (EAA Windicator) or Charter Arms, and about twice what a Rock Island (Armscorp) M200 runs.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
They aint exactly cheap here- somewhat less than a Ruger but more than a Weirauch (EAA Windicator) or Charter Arms, and about twice what a Rock Island (Armscorp) runs.
Click to expand...
I can't speak of Charter Arms, but Alfa Proj revolvers are definitely better build than the Windicator. They are just not "way better"...
 
I have no delusions of an Alfa Proj. being anywhere near the quality of one of my Smiths or Rugers, nor do I have any expectations of it being a "target Grade" pistol. Anyone with a lick of sense that buys one would think the same. I bought it more as a novelty than anything else. I will say though that the internals, including machining, are better than any newer Charter Arms or Taurus that I've opened up in recent years, and it is head and shoulders above the Phillipine revolvers that RIA offers. Sadly, the trigger is better than any of the new Smiths that I've handled - even before I worked on it.
 
I finally got her to the range yesterday. Put 96 rounds of my 125 grn. CLRN reloads through it, all of which were trouble free. This gun is an absolute hoot to shoot - It felt comparable to some warm .38s through my mdl. 15. Here's the first 18 shots taken at 40'. They were a little low and left, but a bit of sight and trigger finger adjustment took care of that. All in all it's much better than I expected out of a 3" barrel. 20221127_130607.jpg
 
Nice results and a great thread. Thank you! So much better than most of THR opinion pieces that offer no education.
 
mrcabinet said:
I'm a fan of Czech pistols, so I've been intrigued with the Alfa Proj. 9mm revolver since I first saw them a couple years ago. But not enough to pay retail for one. This RIA AL9.0 came available locally the other day, at a price that was very attractive, so it's now mine.

View attachment 1114753 View attachment 1114754 View attachment 1114755 View attachment 1114756

The fit and finish is surprisingly good for a revolver in this price range. Size wise it's similar to a S&W K frame, but with the heft of a Ruger, which I don't consider to be a bad thing. The trigger really isn't bad - it's just unnecessarily heavy. DA is a ridiculous 11 lb.s 6 oz., and SA comes in at 5 lb.s 2 oz. average. I'm the 3rd owner, so I'm pretty sure it's already been "broken in".

Aftermarket springs are non-existent, so my goal is to see if I can lighten it some with basic polishing of the internals.
Click to expand...

Like you, I was interested in the Alfa Proj 9mm revolver since I first saw it. I never pursued one, but when I saw Rock Island's version, I thought I might actually stand a chance of getting one at some point. Not long after that, I was at a gun show about 100 miles from home and stumbled upon a dealer who actually had two of them. Of course, I bought one.
Mine has been to the range only once so far, but when there, it shot very well in terms of accuracy in single action mode. It is also comfortable to hold with the Trausch-like grips. I'll have to take mine apart to see if the internals are similar to yours.
Alfa Proj.jpg
 
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