(Originally posted on The High Road forums.)
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I bought the RAMI NIB for $490 OTD after shipping and transfer fee. It came with a case, manual, 2 10-round mags, cable lock, snap caps, cleaning tools, and a mag loader. It's the first time I've ever bought a new handgun, so I was impressed with all the junk they give you.
Though the dimensions of the RAMI are close to a Glock 26 or XD subcompact, there's no denying this is a chunky gun. The slide is about the same width as my CZ-75, but the frame is noticeably thicker, since it's alloy and not steel. The shorter barrel makes sitting more comfortable, and the shrunken grip drastically reduces "bend-over" type printing when carrying IWB (at least for me).
Many parts of the gun strike me as overly wide - the hammer, the trigger guard, the beavertail, and the mag release. It handles much like a CZ-75, however, and the back and front of the frame have striations for added control. The CZ factory rubber grips that come with the RAMI are fairly thin and give you a good grip on the pistol. All in all, I was impressed with how well the gun pointed and came on target - basically as good as my full-size CZ-75.
DISASSEMBLY, INTANGIBLES, & DRY-FIRING
Disassembly is basically identical to the full-size CZ-75. The slide release is slightly more difficult to knock out, though. Fit and finish are typical CZ - the black polycoat makes the outside of the pistol uniform and businesslike, and the internals are somewhat rough.
The safety and slide release are very thin. It takes a little practice to consistently knock the safety off and on, but it's very positive and clicks into place audibly (one thing I've always liked about CZs). I recommend not using the slide release at all - better to slingshot the slide back, IMHO. I was able to get a 2-1/2 finger grip on the gun.
The trigger was the one weakness of the RAMI from other reviews I have read. Either I got really lucky, or CZ is making the newer RAMIs differently, because my trigger is pretty good right out of the box. Single action has a lot of takeup on the first shot and the slight amount of creep inherent with the CZ-type action (the hammer goes back slightly when the trigger is pressed), but the break is about as light as my CZ-75 - no 9+ pound trigger here.
Double action is even better, since you don't notice the creep - just one smooth pull, but heavy enough to be completely safe, even at half cock. Both trigger pulls are more than good enough for a concealed carry piece.
AT THE RANGE - MAN, I HATE LOADING SUBCOMPACT MAGS
The 9mm RAMI mags hold 10 rounds, but the 9th and 10th rounds took some incredible cajoling to fit inside - my hand was actually hurting after the range session from loading the mags. Thankfully, the RAMI itself is a bleepcat to shoot- it should be, since it's about the same weight as a Glock 17.
Initially (the first 200 rounds), the RAMI was rather
unreliable, but I later found out this was due to a single defective magazine. The other magazine has worked flawlessly (at one range session, I ran 400+ rounds of FMJ and JHPs and didn't have a single problem), and I fully trust the gun now.
With the RAMI, recognizable 25 yard groups are doable, and even 50 yard shots land where you want them to. Rapid follow-up shots are simple, and reloads are fast. I really appreciate single-action autoloaders now.
If you decide to buy one, make sure to test it thoroughly before you carry it, of course. As an aside, the grip screw worked itself out from the recoil during the break-in and I lost it at the range, so I called Mike at CZ up this morning and he sent a new one. He recommended using a thread-locker like to keep them in.
K&D Holster Review
I ordered a K&D IWB Belt Defender for the RAMI (took about a month, which is not too bad). It's a nice holster - on par with my HBE IWB I ordered last year. The finish is shiny and new, and the holster has the typical stiffness of new leather. Retention is okay but not spectacular, but this is not critical for this type of holster, and I suspect the RAMI's shallow ejection port is much of the cause, as well. I sort of wish that the holster had a higher back like my HBE rig to protect the safety, but you can get this as an option, and the safety on the RAMI is so slim that it's no big deal anyway.
The clips (My preference is for the over the belt style, but the J clips are less bulky) are quite adjustable so you can set your ride height at whatever you like. I'm going to try it as is for now - it rides slightly higher than I'd like but it still feels fine. The holster snaps onto my Wilderness Instructor's Belt with no problems.
The holster is of the smooth-side out, rough side in design. The HBE holster is the opposite. Frankly, the HBE holster looks worse, but works better. The rough material grabs on clothing (specifically your pants/shorts and your briefs/boxers) and helps the holster stay put when you draw. The K&D rig moves around a bit more, and is flatter and somewhat wider at the belt, making it less contoured to fit at the 4 o clock position, at least for my body. It's still a fine holster, and I recommend it fully, but keep this stuff in mind when you order.
