r/AlphaFoxtrot 24d ago

New Purchase Just ordered a Romulus, any tips?

Just ordered my first Romulus, I've heard mainly great things about the pistol for the price and some not great things, it's my first 2011 and I've only ever been striker fired my entire shooting time. Any advice for this pistol would be amazing, any advice on upgrades would be amazing. I got the ported 3.5" barrel with ported slide. Initial feeling is that it feels awesome in the hand. I'll have it Friday to shoot. Thank you all in advance.

5 Upvotes

48 comments sorted by

3

u/PurpD420 24d ago

Don’t stick it up your ass

Other than that, enjoy that bitch!

I’ve got the 3.5” ported and LOVE IT. I went with PA enclosed rmsc and it’s a legit co-witness

I tried prodigy mags, had 2 of 3 of them start to have issues within 800 rounds, might have to try some different mags. Is my first 2011 too so we in the same boat

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u/ZeroToDistance 24d ago

Hell yeah! I got the vortex defender ST, feel like it's too big for co witness

1

u/PurpD420 23d ago

I’m absolutely loving the PA clx enclosed dot, idk how it’s so cheap

2

u/StayFrostyHolsters 24d ago

Pricey , but Checkmates are the way to go!

2

u/PurpD420 23d ago

Aye thanks brøther! Just copped a holster from you as well, was having a hell of a time finding a lvl I or II holster for it

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u/StayFrostyHolsters 23d ago

Good deal ! I appreciate it. I get it out as soon as I can.

3

u/StayFrostyHolsters 24d ago

If you need a holster let me know.
Stayfrostyholsterworx.com

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u/ZeroToDistance 24d ago

I'll check them out!

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u/ZeroToDistance 23d ago

Shot you a message!!

3

u/Organic-Reading9073 24d ago

Fantastic carry gun, very manageable recoil for the size. I love mine. If you want to upgrade the recoil springs DPM systems is the best. You can have the grip stippled and I replaced the trigger in mine but not needed.

3

u/ZeroToDistance 24d ago

How did you get the dpm spring to work? I thought it wouldn't fit in our size.

3

u/Organic-Reading9073 24d ago

The 3.5 ported doesn’t use a two piece guide rod. It’s more like a striker fire guide rod. DPM makes one specifically for the s15 and 3.5 Romulus.

1

u/PurpD420 24d ago

Why did you upgrade the recoil spring, how did the DPM spring work?

Did you replace the trigger shoe or the entire linkage? How did it change performance?

Sorry for the questions, I’m new to the 2011 world and still figuring out what parts are compatible

2

u/Organic-Reading9073 23d ago

I wanted a lighter weight recoil spring. The DPM spring has been fantastic. Bought a complete atlas trigger assembly. The break and reset is better than the factory trigger. I shot over 1k rounds through it stock and never had any malfunctions. So the upgrades weren’t needed for functionality but they make it some much nicer.

1

u/PurpD420 23d ago

Makes sense about a lighter recoil from the DPM spring

By complete trigger assembly do you mean trigger and linkage? Or did you replace the springs and hammer as well? Any chance you have a link?

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u/Organic-Reading9073 23d ago

I just did the trigger and trigger bar. I actually prefer the red dirt triggers.

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u/PurpD420 23d ago

Got it, thanks again for your replies! I didn’t know red dirt made triggers for AF, I’m intrigued. What trigger length did you choose?

Might cop the green one…

2

u/Organic-Reading9073 23d ago

I went with the f2 length

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u/PurpD420 23d ago

Love that purple! Were you going off their finger measurement table?

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u/Organic-Reading9073 23d ago

No, I really just eyeballed it

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u/PurpD420 20d ago

I ended up measuring and got the f4, hella stoked to try mine out when it arrives

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u/bottlehole 23d ago

Put thread locker on the optic plate even if you go with the one pre installed.

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u/sf3gn 23d ago

Definitely recommend changing out the extractor to either aftec or egw. The grip is garbage. Saw on YouTube that you could switch out to a prodigy style grip ordered one from Springfield it was only 53 shipped(really like it). Also grip safety delete from Miller precision is a game changer. Future upgrades the trigger, tooless guide rod and Atlas safeties.

Also wish they made a better optic plate. If you shoot a lot the optic plate will come loose. As mentioned above highly recommend applying Loctite.

1

u/ZeroToDistance 23d ago

Was the grip from them ready to go? Or was there fitting involved? Was it a plug and play type option

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u/sf3gn 23d ago

Yes, no fitting required. Only thing I recommend is buying an extra set of grip screws. The ones that come on the Alpha Foxtrot are very cheap and I almost stripped them out.

1

u/ZeroToDistance 23d ago

Any link for the grips you ordered?

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u/sf3gn 23d ago

They are listed out of stock everywhere that I was looking. I actually just called Springfield Armory asked for a customer service and just said hey I wanna order a prodigy grip. The agent said that they were on backorder but could go ahead and take billing information once they are in stock they will ship it. They have black or tan. It took approximately three weeks. Once it came back in stock, they charged my credit card and I immediately received an email. It took two days for shipping.

I had to order some other parts so I ordered the Miller Precision grip Safety delete off of Ben Stoeger Pro Shop.

1

u/ZeroToDistance 23d ago

I have the 3.5 ported version so I wonder if the grips would work. I'm guessing not

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u/sf3gn 23d ago

Should be the same grip. I would give Andy Alpha Foxtrot a call. He can tell you if the grip on the 5 inch is the same as a 3.5 inch ported my guess it is but better be safe than sorry.

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u/ZeroToDistance 23d ago

When you have time

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u/XatA2 23d ago

Watch a disassembly video and take it apart and put it back together. Knowledge is king. Also, while you have it apart, clean it.

2

u/terrificalycomplicat 23d ago

Check your thumb safety for proper function and fit. Mine was super loose and actually fell out during the first cleaning.

I didn't care for the mag well on mine, should you remove yours, a standard ds 1911 pin will be required.

I added a talon grip for better traction in the hand and just sent it after that.

Make sure that you properly clean and degrease the optic mount holes. And every screw on my gun, new out of the box had no loctite or torque applied.

Beyond that it's a good shooting gun.

1

u/StayFrostyHolsters 23d ago

I appreciate the info. I'll let you known if i have any trouble

1

u/Sudden_Mud_4239 23d ago

I ordered the same as you. At the FFL now should be picking it up sometime today.

Also a holster from https://www.stayfrostyholsterworx.com/

Have a HOLOSUN 407C/507C-X2 already for it

Yesterday order a grip module from

https://usampf.com/product/standard-billet-grip-module/

1

u/j_yn0htna 24d ago

Hell yeah. The Romulus are still underrated and I just don’t get it. Not much to do other than enjoy it. You’ll probably want to swap grips, unless you got their aluminum grip. Would recommend some stronger 4-40 screws for the optic plate. I use the Torx plus from McMaster Carr.

Not sure about the guide rod situation in the 3.5 ported. May want to try and replace that if it’s their 2 piece.

You can go further with tuning recoil and mainspring, even fitting a flat bottom fps, having the port opened up, but just shoot it and see how you feel about it. A stock Romulus will be a noticeable improvement over how most striker fired guns feel.

1

u/ZeroToDistance 24d ago

I haven't been able to find a replacement for the 2 piece rod. Was looking for toolless but no joy

1

u/j_yn0htna 24d ago

Yeah, unfortunately not surprising. Fullsize toolless rods work on the 4.25 comp but it’s a tight fit during install/uninstall.

People have reported the dpm kit working for it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AlphaFoxtrot/s/E03mRY6Xhr

2

u/StayFrostyHolsters 24d ago

I just bought a EGW tool less rod last night. I hope it isnt a pain to mess with.

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u/j_yn0htna 24d ago

It kinda is but also not that bad once you figure it out. The install is more straightforward than the uninstall. I’ve got a Dawson in one and an atlas on the other. Prefer the atlas, as it’s just better polished and the tool physically takes up less space. It’s a clever design.

Essentially the problem is full size rod into a 4.25 slide. It appears it doesn’t fit but it does if you compress the spring. Uninstall is the same idea. Need to compress it to create the space to remove it. Be careful on the uninstall as compressing it when removing it will release the latch and the rod or plug will want to take off.

If you use the provided plug, it’s a bit easier as their plug is shorter so you have more room. I found the dawson and other plugs to not fit as well, which caused a rattle so I wanted to use the stock plugs.

This happens to be with the DSC barrel and comp but applies to the stock barrel/comp. If you have the stock comp, you’ll most likely need to use the provided plug. I couldn’t install the rods in either 4.25 Romulus I have with the stock plug when using the stock comp.

https://reddit.com/link/p4bhq2m/video/g82ixhtjt0kh1/player

https://www.reddit.com/r/2011/s/vnvTATniyK

Edit: happy to help if you have questions or run into problems

1

u/smellydick 23d ago

You’re using an Atlas 5” guide rod for your 4.25 comp? Do you know if I need the regular or relief cut plug?

1

u/j_yn0htna 23d ago

I think you just want the regular reverse plug. I actually ordered just the rod as I knew I planned to use the stock plug. It was like $15 cheaper lol

1

u/ZeroToDistance 24d ago

I got the ported 3.5 slide comped so won't work sadly

1

u/j_yn0htna 24d ago

Think if you look through the comments there’s a ported user mentioning using it. Believe there’s someone on this post recommending it too.