Target Sports

LBR REVIEW: MAKE MINE A SMALL ONE!

Created on 26th May 2009

Richard Atkins checks out a match style .22LR Long Barrel Revolver from Alfa-Proj

MANY LONG-STANDING readers will harbour fond memories of times past when a Sunday morning at the local gun club will have included practising their single-handed target pistol shooting at 25yd. Those who did not go that route but chose fullbore instead, be it centrefire precision or PP1 and PP2 etc, will have shared the same fascination with attempting to keep most of their shots in the black under demanding conditions - oh how the foresight blade has a will of its own, particularly towards the end of a course of fire and especially when a good score is within reach! That was before the pistol ban of course, and such things are now the preserve of those outside the UK mainland.

Back then, although there were some notable .22 LR revolvers used, most chose semi-auto pistols for .22 precision events, with models from Walther, Hammerli, FAS, Pardini and Unique featuring prominently. Sadly, none of those has made a longer barrelled version to suit current UK restricted conditions, and who can blame them? All their efforts in perfecting ideal weight distribution and balance would be wasted, and for a relatively small market. Also, they would not conform to strict overall dimensions required by the ISSF in international competition, and would only be UK-eligible. Consequently target pistol shooters have been denied the ability to retain or gain skills in single-handed precision-type shooting on the British mainland; now just those with the time, finances and determination to travel abroad to shoot occasionally can do so.

Thankfully, due to some foresight and persistence among the resilient UK clubs, many took on other types of shooting to at least keep the clubs operating and maintain facilities at which various ‘modified' types of courses of fire take place, be it with 22 semi-auto rifles like the Ruger 10-22, Remington 597 and various others, or besides the fullbore side with lever action rifles. Plus, of course, smallbore pistols can also usually be used on ranges where smallbore match rifle disciplines take place. And now there is the option to do rather more on those ranges. We have seen some .22 semi-auto long barrelled pistols based on the Browning Buck Mark rifle appearing quite recently; now a neat little revolver complete with really nice anatomical target grips joins them.

The Alfa-Proj concept

Terry Geary of Merseyside Armoury was a regular trader at the NPA Anno Domini pistol meetings at Bisley, the forerunner of the Phoenix Meeting. There he sold many revolvers and was well known for the Smith & Wessons he then specialised in. All that went with the ban, but Terry has not gone away. He picked up the Alfa-Proj agency a while ago and has seen the sales of his centrefire models steadily grow as confidence reappears in the market, helped by more events being organised where they can be used. Now Terry has persuaded Alfa-Proj to introduce a .22LR model with anatomical target grips fitted that make it suited to the single-handed style of precision shooting, once popular in many clubs and the basis on which many went on to represent their county and even their country. This won't allow us to do that, but we can become reacquainted with the precision stance and techniques.

We have Brazilian maker Taurus to thank for making available most of the first fullbore LBRs seen on UK ranges. Alfa makes fullbore models too and we featured one in our November 2006 issue. At the moment, though, Alfa is the only company offering a model with true target grips. These can be had with a fixed or adjustable palm shelf - the model we have has the latter.

We know from our previous review that Alfa-Proj is based in the town of Brno in the Czech Republic, which is well known as a gunmaking centre. Although this company is relatively new, having been founded in 1993, its history goes back much further and it also holds the famed ZH Bren trademark. No surprise that its staff know how to put a serviceable firearm together.

This LBR in .22 Long Rifle calibre has a similar size frame to that of the S&W K frame on its .38/357 model. This means there is plenty of metal for extra capacity, so this cylinder holds 10 rounds, which is ideal where 10 shot strings are required. If shooting in five round strings you will need to note the anti-clockwise cylinder rotation and close the cylinder precisely to start with a live round coming up with the next index: it's not difficult with a little practice. An S&W style cylinder release is fitted to the left side rear of the frame; this puts the firing hand thumb immediately next to it for ease of use (when standard grips are fitted). The extra thickness and thumb shelf of the anatomical grips mean that your thumb cannot reach this latch without releasing your grip and rotating the revolver in your hand. This is no hardship when shooting precision as it's just as easy to retain your grip and operate the catch with your left hand (it's a right-handed grip and not useable by left-handers), ready to push the cylinder through with the fingers of the left hand, then rotating the hand 180º left to depress the ejector rod as the cylinder is opened. It takes far longer to say than do, and is easily mastered.

The cylinder cycling is crisp and precise, the lockwork handling the extra indexing with ease. Trigger pull is surprisingly light even in double action mode, being smooth and without excessive ‘stacking' of the pressure as the release point is reached. Single action release, as generally used in precision shooting, is quite light and with reasonably short pull before release, thus providing the ‘surprise break' capability which many target shooters favour.

Carefully removing the wooden grips reveals the main hammer spring (a strong coil spring fitted over a stamped steel spring guide) which also locates the spring in the hammer base transferring its energy to the hammer. Spring tension is adjusted by washers that pack it out from the bridge it rests upon. NB: extreme care is needed when removing the grips as they are a very precise fit and, besides being clamped in place by two screws, they are also aligned by two tightly fitting locating pins. Very gentle prising is required, inserting a slim shim between the faces if need be - but not a wedge, such as a screwdriver, as this could mar the joint faces. The proper procedure is explained in a separate leaflet provided.

For those who are not daunted by doing so, a plate in the right side of the frame wall can be removed for cleaning, inspection or lubrication of the action by undoing three screws and tapping the frame gently with something soft like a piece of lead. This will cause the plate to pop out revealing the lockwork. As with its big-bore brothers the parts within are a mix of castings and stampings as is the modern trend, with those precision parts required for cycling and timing the action precisely machined to fine tolerances. Revealed within is the rising transfer bar that ensures that the hammer's blow can only be transferred to the cartridge when the trigger is actually pulled. If the hammer should ever fall accidentally, say if dropped from a considerable height (most undesirable), the gun will not discharge. The transfer bar is connected to the trigger at its base and only rises up as the trigger is pulled: when released the hammer strikes this bar and this in turn hits the firing pin, detonating the priming compound in the rim of the cartridge. This is in line with the latest safety principles incorporated in many modern revolvers. The fit of parts is good and timing of the cylinder proved precise and secure.

Note that there is a little knack to re-fitting the side plate. A spring loaded plunger used to keep the cylinder rotating pawl in position sits in the underside of this plate: this must first be fully depressed and retained by placing a small pin in a tiny hole in the plate. With the plate back in position the pin can be removed, which activates the plunger within. A little fiddly but quite simple to do, once you realise that's how its done!

Well balanced

The balance is surprisingly good for a revolver that must have a 300mm minimum barrel length and be 600mm overall length. This gun's barrel is 305mm long and has an overall length of 630mm muzzle to the tip of the rear frame extension spur. The revolver balances right on the crane (front cylinder bearing/pivot point) even with the wooden forend fitted, which some may prefer to remove, both reducing weight and bringing the balance point back to mid-cylinder. The rear extension spur is made of square section solid steel and welded to the bottom of the frame, so no fears of dropping the revolver and inadvertently ending up with a Section 5 firearm!

The whole revolver is surprisingly light given its dimensions. This is due in part to the use of an alloy shroud fitted around the steel barrel which is screwed into the frame, the anodising of which is deep blue and contrasts well with the blacking of the frame, cylinder and other parts. This alloy shroud plays its part in achieving the balance too.

The front sight is a conventional ribbed, ramped blade type, which is ideal for guns used when drawn from a holster as it prevents snagging while giving a decent front sight picture. As this model need not be drawn from a holster it would be nice to see an undercut ‘Patridge' type front blade that gives a sharper definition to the front sight's profile when precision shooting; maybe that option will follow, as the blade appears to be steel and set into the shroud.

Over several outings to the range this revolver proved a joy to use. It consumed standard ammunition reliably (except for becoming fussy when the reviewer forgot to replace the washer under the mainspring after taking photos) and was very satisfying to shoot. The factory test card supplied with each gun (10 shots, with eight cutting all within an inch at 15m from a rest) shows the gun's potential; we, though, were delighted with our own modest results at 25yd considering iron sights and ageing eyes! This reviewer can't claim to have ever reached above a modest standard at precision revolver shooting, but it was certainly nice to try it over again. The Alfa-Proj .22LR ‘ could certainly form the basis of interesting and enjoyable precision shooting taking place once more in those clubs that retained the will to keep their facilities in operation. Why not try one? We think you will like it.

Technical Specification

Make: Alfa-Proj
Model: LBR target
Calibre: .22 LR
Capacity: 10 shots
Barrel length: 305mm
Overall length: 630mm
Sight radius: 350mm
Trigger pulls:
Single action: 46oz (1.3kg)
Double action: 9.5lb (4.3kg)
Total weight: 3lb 15oz (1.8 kg) (inc grips)
SRP: £470 (as reviewed)*
£450 (fixed palm shelf)*
* Including a hard carry case and cleaning kit

UK supplier: Merseyside Armoury
T: 0151 7337357