With roots tracing back to 1905, Armscor Precision International launched its U.S. operations in 1985. A short time later, they acquired Rock Island Armory and the rest is history. This successful partnership is known for pumping out a wide array of ammunition and some mighty fine firearms. As an instructor, I aim to offer my students a variety of ammo and firearm configurations to train with as choosing a firearm is a very personalized journey. Guns are most certainly not a “one size fits all” type of product, so I was very pleased to try out a new revolver: the Rock Island AL22.
Whether you are a first-time shooter, casual plinker or looking for a reliable sidearm for trapping adventures, the AL22 Revolver has all your bases covered. Chambered in .22 LR, this double-action to single-action (DA/SA) wheelgun is available in your choice of a blued or stainless-steel finish. Both options feature a rubberized grip, which provides a great handling surface. During my first test shoot, temperatures reached 95 degrees and humidity was almost as high, but slipping due to sweat was never a concern.
Weighing in at less than 2.5 lbs., transitions were a breeze when moving in between various targets. The minimal recoil is easily absorbed by the gun itself, which is another perk for first-time shooters looking to learn the basics of sight picture, sight alignment and all-around safe firearm handling. Manipulation of the nine round cylinder was as smooth as a hot knife cutting through butter.
Throughout the course of my range session, I experienced zero malfunctions while feeding and ejecting round after round of Armscor .22 LR. As you may know, .22s can be a bit finicky when finding an ammunition type it prefers and runs reliably, but this combo was a perfect match.
Additional features of this handy little revolver include an adjustable rear sight paired with a fixed front sight. Firing this revolver in double action gave the ol’ trigger finger a bit of a workout, but this is par for the course when it comes to double actions in general. After a full day on the range, I took advantage of the 4-lb. single-action trigger pull versus the 11-lb. double-action trigger pull.
If you find yourself looking for a similar platform but perhaps with a little more "knock-down" power, Rock Island Armory has you covered. The AL Revolver series also comes in options chambered in 9 mm, .357 Mag., and 22 Mag.
Model: AL22 Revolver
Manufacturer: Rock Island Armory
Caliber: 22 LR
Overall Length: 9.57”
Overall Width: 1.46”
Overall Height: 4.09”
Capacity: 9 rounds
Barrel Length: 4”
Front Sight: Fixed Ramp
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Trigger Pull (SA): 4 lb.-6.5 lb.
Trigger Pull (DA): 11.5 lb.-13 lb.
Action: DA/SA
Weight: 2.42 lbs.
Standard Finish: Stainless
Grip: Rubberized
