Air Arms Alfa Proj

[Exfelix]

The Air Arms Alpha pcp is an excellent pistol for match and general use. One of the advantages is that the grip is ambi, and suits most hand sizes. I get about 85 shots on a fill, and the filler is the same fitting as the AA rifles. I can't fault the accuracy - it's the same as my Benelli Kite which cost twice as much. That's all my opinion, of course, but I'm extremely pleased with it and would buy the same again.
Dave

[magicniner]

One of the advantages is that the grip is ambi

Surely that makes it good for a Club Starter but almost pointless for anyone wishing to make serious advances in 10m or 20 Yard?
Without a palm shelf one cannot apply or learn correct technique,

- Nick

[Exfelix]

Yes, you are perfectly correct, Nick, but I was making a statement in the spirit of the thread, presuming that JohnB wasn't heading for the British Champs anytime soon. I generally score mid to high eighties in club 10m comps, and of the two Alphas competing in the Bisley club league we currently lie first and third. For 'serious competition' John should expect to pay upwards of £1000, but I would recommend the Alpha as a reasonably-priced starter. It is also possible to add a grip shelf should you desperately need one.
Dave

[magicniner]

If the interest is in target rather than plinking surely it's worth getting a gun with what is accepted as a basic pre-requisite rather than hobbling one's self by buying something without??

- Nick

[The Doctor]

I have commented on the AA Alfalfa (intentional spelling) before. The trigger is what I would term 'agricultural' at best, and after several attempts at trying to get it to hold a 500 gram weight I gave up. The balance is pretty awful, and the cocking mechanism is really counter-intuitive and from an ergonomics point of view something that has been dug out of the stone age. The firing cycling is akin to squeezing a damp fart down a bic biro tube. We have had one up the club for three years...it has gathered dust because all the club members hate it with a vengeance!

I am no fan, but I am not a snob - there are better pistols around in the second hand market than would stand up and urinate all over the AA offering - if its plinking you want, buy it.....if its target work, then buy it ....then two weeks later realize you should have bought something actually up to the mark.

Just my opinion though, what do I know

Lee

[The Doctor]

Yes, you are perfectly correct, Nick, but I was making a statement in the spirit of the thread, presuming that JohnB wasn't heading for the British Champs anytime soon. I generally score mid to high eighties in club 10m comps, and of the two Alphas competing in the Bisley club league we currently lie first and third. For 'serious competition' John should expect to pay upwards of £1000, but I would recommend the Alpha as a reasonably-priced starter. It is also possible to add a grip shelf should you desperately need one.
Dave

You can buy a good secondhand steyr Lp10 for around 600-750 which would more that do the job, as well as some nice Morini's - the preconception that cost=scores is wrong, it should be decent kit+bloody hard training = scores. There should be no distinction between 'serious' and 'non-serious' competition - if you are shooting for a score, then you shoot to do the best irrespective of where you are - club, bisley, world cup or olympics.

Minor rant (but with the right intentions I hope) over

Lee

[Exfelix]

This is headed for silly street - perhaps we ought to re-read the original post and not ride away on our own particular hobby horses.

[Bjacobs571]

I think the Alfa Proj classic is a good target pistol for the money. It is not as good as a modern match pistol but they cost 3 times as much new. I found the trigger acceptable and it will out shoot me. My one has never leaked on me unless you put a new Co2 cartridge in with out cocking the hammer. It is an excellent starter pistol which will enable you to see if you want to spend the extra money on a more modern design. another good choice is a Bikal IZH46 if you can find one. I am a little prejudiced as I have upgraded to a Hammerli Ap40 and now want to sell my Alfa Proj Classic.

[magicniner]

This is headed for silly street - perhaps we ought to re-read the original post and not ride away on our own particular hobby horses.

Says the man who managed to interpret a perfectly valid & relevant comment about the pointlessness of ambi grips for any level of 10m target shooting as an argument for spending thousands and trying to compete at national levels

[hwtyger]

The AA is a good buy in co2.
In pcp its way too expensive.
Also, its air reservoir is way too small.
Grip is too thin.
Its VERY light upfront, as its all alu. And the air RIFLE barrelweight that comes with it, doesnt make it balance any better (now too heavy).
Also quite cranked up speed wise, not that much shots (I had a co2).
VERY tiny bolt to cock.

Imo, the Tau 7 is a far better buy; adj grip, thicker grip, better trigger. More shots.

Allthough the AA dóes have advantages above the Tau as well: its alu, so no rust, iirc, the front sight exchangeable easier.

[forest gump]

mine is a precharged and it is great, the grip is what it is, it has been designed to be ambidextrous, and is ugly but i only shoot bench rested so no problem for me, i just cut out some hard foam and made the grip better for me, great accuracy even out to 30 yards and and the power is awesome when you adjust the screw inside the sleeve, mine is not fully adjusted and it still holes cans at 30 yard so you get the best of both worlds,in fact i was so impressed with it i sold my AAev2,imo they are worth the money, must be good very rare they come up second hand on the adds.