So… I’ve been playing with the Rock Island Armory Tactical 5” 1911 A1 17 Rd Double Stack 9mm, which came with a Red dot, for under $450. It’s a fun pistol, metal framed so it’s a relatively flat shooter.
I really like it. No issues, not failures although I had to replace the battery on the Red Dot already . It’s had over 1000 rounds through it, and the trigger smoothed out, has an adjustment reset (which I made stupid quick) and the slide has also gotten smoother but it’s not the buttery Staccato like smooth. The finish has come off at certain wear points but if anything I think it’s runs better for it.
However, I’ve come across the Alpha Foxtrot Romulus and I’m fascinated by it. It has multiple configurations and you can get it in 3.5”, 4.25” and 5” barrels with threaded or bull barrel compensated barrels. It’s DLC finished and just about every review I’ve seen shows it running about perfect, all reviews comparing it to the Staccato XC, for around $1,500.00.
I’ve almost pulled the trigger (pun intended) a few times now on buying one but hesitated for a couple reasons.
Comes with a One year warranty.
That price puts me in the Springfield Prodigy, MAC DS9 comp, Girsan Witness 2311 Match X area, with those potentially coming in cheaper.
I’ve seen a few reviews on the price point competition where they’ve had issues with the competition that makes me hesitant on them, but they also don’t have 1 year warranties.
Just not sure what I want to do. I could start messing with The Rock, and forgo the upgrade in pistols but I kinda want a next level DS 1911, without having my wife use one of my pistols on me by spending Staccato like money.
Has anyone got their hands on the Romulus? I’d love to hear someone else’s thoughts on it that don’t make their money as a “Gun Tubber." No offense to those doing that, but I take any one review with a grain of salt. Take a lot of reviews from those I semi trust to take their opinion as anything other than propaganda.
Well, after much thought and deliberation I went ahead and ordered the Romulus Polished DLC 4.25 Comp directly from Alpha Foxtrot. It takes extra time (3 weeks or so) to make for the polished as opposed to the satin finish. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be a fingerprint magnet and No, I don’t care; it looks much better than the satin.
The main reason for purchasing directly from Alpha Foxtrot is because they give a huge discount for military/veterans. It’s close to 30% off. The only real complaint I found was MIM internals but they’re cheap to replace assuming I even need to do that. Really all depends on the process in making MIM parts. The other complaint was the compensation for the 3.5 inch not being effective enough but with the 4.25” I don’t see it being an issue.
Can’t wait. I’ll update as the process moves forward and I’ll give a more comprehensive review of it when it goes through it’s break in.
I suspect there are MIM parts in most if not all my personal firearms. The only part I’ve ever had fail was a plastic trigger on a Sig Sauer P938. Even that didn’t fail to the point of total non-functioning, it just failed to the point of my standards.
Based on your comment, I looked up this 3 part discussion of MIM I found interesting. This is an execerpt from Part 3.:
“RevolverGuy’s sources advise that the MIM parts have maintained better tolerances than the old ones and are much stronger than the old ones, too. While they may not be as attractive to some customers, they’re a lot tougher, are improved in their design, and will offer better service life.”
You are right about that! I polished my Delta Elite and it shows body oils even if you just get close to it BTW, a wipe down with alcohol is the quickest way I’ve found to clean it back up.
I purchased my first 1911 Double Stack, the AF Romulus 4.25”, Polished DLC Non-Comp/Bull Barrel version about 3 weeks ago. I’ve got 600+ rounds through it, so far. It’s shot 108, 115, 124, 147gr. New and Reload. It ate them all without a hiccup. Haven’t modified it at all. Not even a Red Dot… yet. I have ordered a Holosun EPS Carry Green Dot, although it is hard for me to imagine that I could shoot any better than I have been with the iron night sights.
Shoots like a freakin’ dream.
@Jerzees and @Karacal warned me about going down the “1911 Road.” (Thank you!)
I’ve fired Staccato pistols and they’re great. I just can’t afford that kind of coin for a Staccato XC. That’s where my Interest in the Alpha Foxtrot Romulus started. I can buy at least 3 AF’s for the price of one XC. Looking the the P would set me back and extra 1000. The AF is a no brainer for me at that point. The only price compared would be the Girsan Witness Match X. You can save a little more money going with the Aluminum frame but the Alpha Foxtrot just looks plain bad ass.
. It’s had over 1000 rounds through it, and the trigger smoothed out, has an adjustment reset (which I made stupid quick) and the slide has also gotten smoother but it’s not the buttery Staccato like smooth. The finish has come off at certain wear points but if anything I think it’s runs better for it.
BTW, a wipe down with alcohol is the quickest way I’ve found to clean it back up.
