22 Cal Revolver - One type of handgun that seems to be creeping more and more into the niche category is the medium-sized, double-action revolver chambered for rimfire cartridges. This is a shame because they are so much fun to photograph. That's why I was pleased to see that Armscor has added rimfire options to the Czechoslovakian Alfa Proj double-action revolver series in its Rock Island Armory catalog. In fact, the company offers an oft-shunned .22 WMR option (better known as the .22 Mag.) in addition to .22 LR models. Called the AL22M, this .22 Magnum is available in either blued or stainless steel with 4-inch barrels. I don't get to spend as much time on the range with rimfire magnums these days as I'd like, so I jumped at the chance to pick up the AL22M to flip
The AL22M is a double-action revolver that borrows design influences from various well-known revolver manufacturers, including Charter Arms, Colt, Smith & Wesson and Ruger. But the company provides some details that are not found in models from other manufacturers. These revolvers may sound a bit like "Frankenguns" but the elements come together nicely to give them a clean, classic revolver profile.
22 Cal Revolver
This rimfire is built with the same medium frame and materials as the Alfa Proj .357 Magnum revolvers. Perfect for .38-cal. ammunition, and constructed entirely of stainless steel, this revolver is chambered for the .22-cal. ammo is the definition of a rimfire wheelgun that is built to last. Weighing in at 39.3 oz., unloaded, it keeps felt recoil to mild, sensitive levels.
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The square profile on top of the barrel and frame seems to be influenced by Colt's design while the system is a bit more Smith & Wesson in nature. The front sight is a needle serrated ramp with a clear orange polymer insert for improved visibility. The square notch at the back has a pair of adjustment screws for height and windage. The 4" barrel is full length under the lon that covers the ejector rod. Nothing about the profile of the barrel is changed from that of the .357 Mag. version. They simply milled a smaller caliber for .22 Mag. ammo.
With so much metal to work with inside the barrel, the ammunition capacity of the AL22M was increased from the traditional six to eight cartridges with additional barrel flutes to match. Each of the chambers is countersunk, or countersunk, meaning that the edges of the cartridge case are flush with the back of the cylinder. The cylinder rotates counterclockwise and swings slightly to the left side of the frame when released.
The barrel of the gun tested rotated freely in the open position. The cylindrical tap, sometimes called the yoke, is set into the frame Charter Arms style. The smooth ejector rod is long enough to push spent cartridges about 80 percent from the exit of the cylinder but does not clear them completely. To ensure the case ejects correctly, it helps to tip the nozzle up (in a safe direction) when cycling the ejector.
The exposed hammer has a profile unique to the Alpha Proj design. It is relatively long and narrow with a knurled spur for better purchase when hand hunting the weapon. The coil spring assembly supporting the hammer bears a striking resemblance to those used in Ruger's GP100 series of double-action revolvers. On the left side of the frame, just behind the cylinder, is the rounded and fluted cylinder release. It is pushed forward, Smith & Wesson style, to open the cylinder for loading. On the right side of the frame is a plate attached with a pair of standard screws. This can be removed to allow access to the interior of the gun for cleaning and repairs.
S .22 Cal Revolver, Antique Pistol
The trigger has a traditional round profile. Inside is a curved, smooth stainless steel exhaust. It is not unusual for the double action trigger of rimfire revolvers to be on the heavy side. The hammers must give the rimfire primers an authoritative blow to ensure proper ignition. The AL22M's double-action trigger weighed somewhere over 12 lbs, which is the maximum pull weight my Lyman digital trigger gauge can measure. But it had a clean, well-polished feel that was free of blockiness or stacking. The single action trigger was a bit of a surprise as it was better than I expected it to be. With the hammer manually cocked, the trigger dropped to 3 lbs., 11 oz. with a short, clean break suitable for target shooting or hunting small game.
The revolver's square grip frame is conveniently housed in a two-piece rubber grip. While some of the double revolver grips from the good old days seemed to be sized for grizzly bear paws, this revolver grip was designed to fit a variety of hand shapes, including smaller ones. The grip has finger marks, stone textures and it accommodates the steel backstrap of the grip frame.
It also has a curved extension that fills the space between the receiver and the trigger. It's a comfortable grip to work with, especially with a softer leading edge cartridge. As a medium-sized, all-steel revolver, the AL22M has some heft to it, which is a positive feature for target shooting and game hunting. All of this lends itself to being nice to photograph.
My experience has been that rimfire primer failures are much less common with the .22 Mag. ammunition than .22 LR, especially the bulk box .22 LR practice and plinking loads. This revolver proved completely reliable with all ammunition fired during the course of the test. There were no issues, snags or problems of any kind, just a smooth release time. Formal bench rest 25-yard accuracy testing produced comparable five-shot group averages across the three loads tested.
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However, the LabRadar chronograph results told a different story. Usually the bullet speeds are pretty consistent as well. But in this case they varied more than usual. Typical standard deviation figures are usually in the 10s or 20s. In this case, they ranged from 69 to 113. This is because, despite its small size, the .22 Mag. is a rifle cartridge and it is packed with powders designed for closed chambers and barrels 16" or longer. Firing them from a 4" revolver affects the powder burns, which in turn reduces bullet velocity. Just like a .22 LR pistol, it will take some testing to find which .22 Mag. loads are the most consistent in your revolver.
Ever since I first handled the Alpha Proj revolvers at a trade show a few years ago, I've been looking for an opportunity to work with them. It is a well made revolver series that is a welcome addition to the Rock Island Armory catalog. The AL22M proved to be a reliable and enjoyable revolver that was a pleasure to work with. Although the eight-shot .22 Mag. Model may be a little too far off the beaten path for some shooting sports enthusiasts, the Alfa Proj series of double action AL revolvers deserves a closer look. The revolvers are well-made, smooth operators with realistic prices that fit between the premium models and the budget guns. If your tastes lean toward centerfire models instead of rimfire, the AL series is also available in 9mm Luger and .357 Mag. or .38 Spl., with 2" or 4" barrels.
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