r/AlphaFoxtrot

Hello all,

Firstly, thanks to everyone who had an opinion, thoughts and such to share when I first posted about what 2011 tier should I buy into.

So a lot has happened since I first posted. I shot a bunch of guns I could get my hands on and try out. Eventually,I landed on and purchased an Atlas Artemis v3 and then while I waited for it I went ahead and purchased an Alpha Foxtrot Romulus to tinker with and learn on. Since then I have also purchased an Atlas Titan v2 (the Osight is temporary while I wait for my SRO) and an Atlas Perfect Zero 4.6 Build kit (not pictured.

General notes on buying (my observations and opinions):

1. Atlas is the best production gun manufacturer and it’s not even close.

1.1 Atlas Alpha grip is the best grip I’ve encountered.

1. The v3 grips are much more pleasant in my hands than v2.
2. The Romulus is a fantastic platform to learn on and tinker with (and no painful “uh-oh” lessons learned on the Atlases). While being a better starting point than the Prodigy.
3. Shooting the Artemis is amazing, I started laughing after I shot the first mag. It’s just phenomenal.
4. Fitting and installing a thumb safety is annoying, ridiculous and generally a pain in the ass a tedious and patient process.
5. This can be a VERY expensive hobby, very quickly.
6. This community has been pretty awesome and I really appreciate it and you all.

Thanks for reading.

Notes, Upgrades to the Romulus (for those curious):

1. Comp correction was done in my garage, fairly easy and well worth it.
2. Double tap thumb safety was fitted and installed, not a fan of the big logo but it was the only shielded safety I could get.
3. Flat firing pin stop from EGW was fitted and installed.
4. Miller grip safety delete was installed and is damn near a perfect fit.

I have an advanced pistol class coming up next month, not sure if I should run the Romulus 4.25 comp or the Echelon 4.0FC COA. Let me know what you guys think. Gonna be 400 rounds possibly more running and gunning, multi target transition shooting, etc.

My experience with the Alpha Foxtrot Romulus 3.5 Comp with the aluminum grip has been extremely positive, especially after getting through the initial break-in period. During the first 100 rounds, the pistol ran very smoothly. The action felt tight and solid, and I was impressed with how well the gun handled and shot right out of the box. However, as I continued shooting, I noticed the slide gradually becoming rougher and more difficult to cycle. Eventually, the slide became tight enough that it actually locked up.

After inspecting the pistol, I realized the problem was largely due to how tightly fitted the slide and frame are and, more importantly, my own lubrication practices. I had initially lubricated the obvious areas but had not properly lubricated some of the critical friction and locking surfaces. With such a tight-tolerance pistol, those areas are especially important. The lack of sufficient lubrication allowed friction to build up during the initial break-in, which ultimately contributed to the slide becoming extremely difficult to cycle. In hindsight, I consider the lock-up to have been my fault rather than a problem with the pistol itself.

I completely cleaned the pistol and properly lubricated the critical contact points before taking it back to the range. The difference was immediately noticeable. Once properly cleaned and lubricated, the slide became progressively smoother, and the pistol began cycling exactly as it should. I subsequently put another 500 rounds through the Romulus, and it ran flawlessly. I experienced no further cycling or lock-up issues, and the slide is now even smoother and more "buttery" than it was when the pistol was new.

The aluminum grip has also been fantastic. It completely changes the feel of the pistol in my hand. The grip feels solid, rigid, and extremely well made, while still providing excellent control during rapid fire. It gives the Romulus a very premium feel without making the pistol feel unnecessarily bulky. I really like the way the aluminum grip balances the gun and contributes to how planted it feels during recoil. After spending more time with the pistol, I have become a big fan of the aluminum grip.

What really stands out to me is how soft-shooting the Romulus is. Out of my collection of both striker-fired and hammer-fired pistols, the Romulus 3.5 Comp is currently the softest-shooting handgun I own. The combination of the compensator, tight fit, and aluminum grip makes the gun exceptionally controllable. Recoil is very manageable, the muzzle stays flat, and the pistol feels extremely smooth during rapid follow-up shots.

Accuracy has also been impressive. The Romulus is one of the most accurate pistols in my collection, with the only pistol I would currently put ahead of it being my SIG P226-X Legion Carry. The Romulus consistently produces tight groups and feels extremely predictable when shooting from a steady position. The combination of its tight slide-to-frame fit, smooth cycling, excellent trigger, and aluminum grip gives it a very refined shooting characteristic.

Overall, my initial slide lock-up turned out to be a valuable lesson in how important proper lubrication can be with a very tightly fitted pistol. I don't consider the incident a reflection of the Romulus's reliability because, after properly cleaning and lubricating it, the pistol has now gone another 500 rounds without a single issue. In fact, it has continued to improve as the parts have worn in together. At this point, the Alpha Foxtrot Romulus 3.5 Comp with the aluminum grip has become one of my favorite pistols to shoot. It is easily one of the softest-shooting, smoothest, and most accurate guns in my collection, and the aluminum grip is a big part of what makes the overall package so impressive.

Need some help though I’m a left-handed shooter and I’m looking for a owb light bearing and non light bearing holsters any help would be appreciated

My new pick up, I’ve got a few attachments s added to it already and i have a few performance upgrades coming in too-

Currently sporting:
• OSIGHT X multi reticle
• OLIGHT Baldr Pro/RL

Performance Mods: [Ordered but not installed yet confirming fitment]

• EGW 1911/2011 Ignition kit (opted to keep the stock trigger for now currently firing at sub 3Lbs trigger weight)
EGW set up:

- Carbon Steel Lightened Hammer
- Hard Sear
- HD Ball Head Long Disconnector
- 17Lbs ISMI 1911 Mainspring
- Lightened Leaf Spring

• DSC Spin-On Brick System
- DLC (BLACK) Single Port Comp Brick

THOUGHTS:

- Fires VERY flat, Recoil is very manageable and very easy to get back on target for a follow through

- The comp has a V port in the very front which does help however I am considering more ports to make an even flatter shot (this however might effect cycling and may require extra tuning)

- The gun itself has great balance overall for the size of it very comfortable grip however I plan on switching to an aluminum grip by Miller Precision

- The slide is incredibly light, not the lightest but the spring upgrade should make an improvement overall for a budget 2011 it has very high performance

- Fitment and Finish are great no wobble points however i’d recommend an upgrade for the ambidextrous thumb safety as it can mechanically lock if the hammer is cocked back when upper is being taken apart as its very tight fitment in the lower

HELP:
- I’m looking for customization options( Grip bushings; Flared Mag Well; Porting suggestions)
Open to recommendations for places to buy from, haven’t found many options for the AF1911 but to my understanding certain products for Springfield Prodigy’s and Staccato’s have good fitment with minor adjustments so send recommendations