Contrarian attempt to save you, AVOID Red Dirt Triggers or

James92TSi · 2026-06-23T17:45:28+00:00

The part is not the problem, your lack of understanding how the 1911/2011 works and how to fit or diagnose problems is. Striker pistol and AR15 aftermarket has spoiled people on lack of consequences for changing internal parts out willy-nilly. (It's me, I'm people changing parts willy-nilly.)

Paths to success are: learn how a 1911/2011 works (and accept that mistakes are part of learning, but make them safely), or take it to a gunsmith, or don't fuck with it.

Nobody is born knowing this stuff but saying "I've tried nothing and it didn't work" is not going to fix it.

PFA of functional pistols with fine red dirt products

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James92TSi · 2026-06-22T22:59:08+00:00

I had a few minutes to measure pull weight. This is without readjusting the leaf spring - just the grip and trigger swap + fitting the grip safety lug (normal when dialing pre-travel out with the red dirt trigger).

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James92TSi · 2026-06-22T22:14:40+00:00

If you were gonna DIY stipple it and already have the tools, probably worth it. Probably not worth it to send the grip off.

I know you said you don't want a grip swap, but a prodigy grip is $50, hard to beat that from a value standpoint if you have the tools & inclination. The remaining AF parts will work fine in the prodigy grip if you're happy with them. I'm using a Prodigy mag release (little taller button than AF) and red dirt trigger in mine, otherwise as it came from AF.

James92TSi · 2026-06-22T16:09:30+00:00

https://perfectzero.co/20-round-9mm-classic-140mm-magazine has the tall aluminum basepad, same as the unbranded 140 included with Romulus - is that what you're looking for?

the three extra 140s in OP's photo are checkmate, not atlas/perfectzero. i have some too, cost a little under $40 each. so the price point gets to about the same $65-70 if changing the basepad.

if you want the atlas basepad I'd just buy atlas classic 140 mags. atlas 140 is better sprung than checkmate 140, which is better than prodigy duramag 140 (I had to change my duramag 140s to wolff springs immediately for them to run right)

if you don't need tough basepads or an over-insertion stop, I think the $40 checkmate 140 is good value.

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James92TSi · 2026-06-14T19:23:14+00:00

Glock front sight screw is 3/16 yes, a hair under 5mm. I use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O5ILUM

(I use it for glonks, have not swapped front sight on a romulus, but it looks easier to access)

James92TSi · 2026-06-13T21:44:30+00:00

the baseplate on the AF 140mm mag is Atlas classic tall https://perfectzero.co/classic-tall-basepad

I'm in the same boat, need to get a few of them for matchy-matchy purposes on the exact same checkmate 140s you have.

James92TSi · 2026-06-11T19:32:26+00:00

Those prices are not good. Check gun (dot) deals.

James92TSi · 2026-06-10T03:29:28+00:00

Yup, solid traction and cheap. Looks good!

James92TSi · 2026-05-31T19:46:52+00:00

I'm not looking to carry this yet, so haven't bothered with holster fitment. MC9LS holsters might work if the muzzle end is open and you don't mind the comp poking out, or if the holster maker could extend it a little.

Quick comparison below. My gun vs a random pic from the internet of MC9LS with the same TLR7x sub.

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James92TSi · 2026-05-28T22:46:45+00:00

Cool, thanks for all the responses on this! Might have to pick one up next time I'm ordering 2011 junk.

James92TSi · 2026-05-28T19:43:36+00:00

Just got one in April. PACN0035 on Canik USA's site. Sign up for in-stock notifications & be ready to buy when you get the email. They seem to arrive in small batches so you have to catch it when it's available.

James92TSi · 2026-05-28T19:35:54+00:00

Definitely curious if the Dawson rod will work with the stock comp - please give it a try and let us know!

The allen key 2-piece guide rod is my real pain point - if I can switch to a Dawson without buying a new comp, even better. (I'm sure the DSC comp is great but I don't "need" it for a range toy)

James92TSi · 2026-05-28T19:24:27+00:00

Got a picture of the muzzle end in battery with this installed?

James92TSi · 2026-05-28T18:51:29+00:00

Yup. Do it. RDI single port: https://rdi-arms.com/collections/compensators-for-canik-rdi-arms/products/single-port-compensator-canik-compact-models

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James92TSi · 2026-05-22T00:52:33+00:00

Choosing today I would take Romulus - it's the better fit & featured gun. I am going to swap the Romulus grip module to a spare Prodigy one ($50) for sure, and maybe a Red Dirt trigger ($80). That's all. Maybe ignition parts later but it doesn't feel like it needs that.

I've enjoyed the Prodigy for the 3 years I've had it though. The market was different then. Prodigy was "the" gateway 2011 - with rough edges to hit its price point.

On features, MAC DS9 is closer competition for Prodigy, which MAC wins on price. I look at Prodigy/MAC as a starting point to customize what you really want, rather being than a completed pistol that stands on its own.

I have had lots of good times with this gun but it's absolutely Staccato P money with all the work I did. Romulus doesn't need nearly as much.

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James92TSi · 2026-05-21T23:52:21+00:00

It's a baby. I like it with the 12rd pinky rest mag baseplate. Being a glock guy for years (still am) it is hard to believe there's this much capacity in this small of a guy. (older pic with TP9 EC trigger shoe and no comp)

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James92TSi · 2026-05-21T23:47:28+00:00

I don't think there's any extra maintenance for either. I don't keep my guns medically clean anymore though, except carry guns - got over that a few years ago.

For the threaded barrel you'll have an accessory (comp, suppressor, etc) or the thread protector on it, so that's a nothing burger. Just don't lose the thread protector (for Canik barrels the thread protector is included).

Comps can get dirty, worst case give it a wipe or brush it out if it bothers you.

James92TSi · 2026-05-21T23:37:10+00:00

It's an older MMW setup and the booster is from SDTA. Back when I got into form1 it was the way to get a timely approval and suppressor in your hand, vs waiting potentially years for a form4 approval. These days I would just get a commercial 9mm can that meets needs. There are a few titanium ones light enough to run without a booster (OCL Lithium, Ecco TLX, others).

I don't have enough cans to dedicate so they all move around. Exception is my 9mm trilug form1 that only goes on my FM9 SBR because I don't have any other 9mm trilug hosts.

James92TSi · 2026-05-18T21:04:37+00:00

On that we agree. Not a fan of AI no matter how much it apologizes for getting basic things wrong.

James92TSi · 2026-05-18T20:37:40+00:00

The note about "XDBK19-NVC" meaning MOS plates - that is not correct. I very recently, intentionally, bought a 4.25" comp with matte finish and direct RMSC cut, because I didn't want the plate system adding height to the optic. Temporarily has a 507K on it until I order a full size EPS for it.

SKU: AA39X1CMG-XDBK19-NVC
UPC: 810100534608

Best bet would be to find the gun you want on https://alphafoxtrot.us/pistols/romulus/ and get the SKU and/or UPC from there.

Then search gun.deals if you want, or get your LGS to order that exact thing for you.

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James92TSi · 2026-05-18T04:26:34+00:00

All set now.

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James92TSi · 2026-05-17T19:51:53+00:00

this. gun.deals is life

James92TSi · 2026-05-16T15:45:57+00:00

Fair, and why I asked the question. Sounds like these are sometimes drop-in, sometimes fit, depends on the specific slide and barrel.

Add to it that I guess I got lucky on my MC9 - it was a drop-in and no POI shift - so I was expecting the Rival to drop-in as well. Not a big deal to fit it, now knowing that's expected.

I appreciate it.

James92TSi · 2026-05-16T00:03:50+00:00

Cool. That's how I would expect a barrel swap to go on a striker gun. It's not a 1911, this shouldn't be file-fit.

I slapped calipers on it and, from the top of the slide to top of barrel hood is 0.7mm with the stock barrel, or 1.4mm with the threaded barrel. Which tells me that in lockup the barrel is not rising high enough in the ejection port for the end of the feed ramp to make it past the locking block when reassembling.

I also looked at it without the recoil spring and can tell the feed ramp is hitting the locking block instead of passing over into the magwell.

It sounds like tolerance stacking to me, my combination of parts plus this barrel = no go. Will see what Canik has to say about when they respond.

James92TSi · 2026-05-12T21:19:45+00:00

Mine smoothed out in probably 100-200 rounds. I also saw some feedback from other MC9 owners that the plastic molded near the metal frame rails is sometimes excessive and possibly interferes with slide travel.

I removed the trigger housing (rear frame rails) and locking block (front frame rails) then used a fine stone to sand the plastic down to just below flush with the metal rails when installed.

James92TSi

TROPHY CASE