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Table of Contents
The basics.
This is a 9mm semi-auto. It’s double-action/single-action with an alloy frame. It comes in two versions: one with a manual safety and the BD with a decocker and night sights. Actually, I should say it came in two versions. When I do these reviews I do my own measurements for weight, trigger pull, and dimensions and I also look at the manufacturer’s site to see if I’m missing something. And the gun has been discontinued. Too bad. I really like it.
Specifications.
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 10+1 and 14+1. Also takes CZ 75 magazines.
- Empty weight: 23.95 oz.
- Loaded weight: (124 gr JHP’s.) 30.62 oz.
- Length: 6.5”
- Width at the slide: 1.4”
- Width at the grip: 1.6”
- Height with 10-round magazine: 4.8”
- Height with 14-round magazine: 5.6”
- DA Trigger pull weight: 7 lbs., 10 oz. (average of five pulls)
- SA Trigger pull weight: 3 lbs., 13 oz. (average of five pulls)
A previous iteration of a “new” concept.
There’s currently a trend of the small, double-stack semi-auto. The Sig P365 started this when it was introduced in 2017. It held 10 rounds in the standard magazine and 12 in the extended. Following that was, in no particular order, the Springfield Hellcat, The Ruger Max-9, Taurus GX4, the Smith M&P Shield Plus, and possibly some others I’ve missed. They all have 10 or 11 rounds in flush magazines and then 12 – 14 in extended magazines.
The RAMI came out in 2004, beating the Sig by 13 years. It has a 10-round flush fit and a 14-round extended magazine. It will also take CZ 75 magazines; I have a few 16-round ones I sometimes carry as a backup magazine. One at a time. If I feel a need for them all at once we’re in trouble.
While I consider the RAMI in the same class as those there are some differences. The big two are: construction materiel and action. The RAMI is an alloy-framed DA/SA hammer-fired gun while all those others are polymer and striker-fired.
The RAMI is also about an inch longer if you measure at the beavertail, which I do. It is also somewhat wider at both the slide and the grip.
How does it carry?
It carries easily. The only polymer analog I have is my M&P Shield. While I have the original version with the 7- and 8-round magazines the height and length dimensions are the same as the Plus. I carried the Shield for years and I intend to carry the RAMI just as long once I fix one minor issue; see below. It conceals easily and the extra ounces from the alloy frame don’t really impact me. I do have two really good gun belts; that helps a lot. No, I don’t wear both at the same time. I just have two good options.
Holsters are easy to find. Vedder, Crossbreed, Urban Carry, and probably dozens of others all have holsters for the RAMI.
How does it shoot?
I prefer shooting hammers to strikers and metal to polymer. This gun epitomizes the reasons why. It shoots wonderfully. Accurate and controllable with an excellent trigger.
The grip side panels are rubber with fairly standard checkering. There is a box on the front of the grip with horizontal grooves and a box on the back with vertical grooves. The grooves are shallow so I can’t really tell you whether they help that much or not but they can’t hurt. I can tell you that the gun is quite controllable. Its recoil is mild and it doesn’t have the twisting action I’ve seen in other small pistols.
CZ triggers are renowned for smoothness and general shootability. There’s a reason for that and this gun is no exception. I have two Sigs and this trigger is at last as good as either of those. Also, it’s just a trigger. No little blade or hinge thingy that pretends to be a safety. Seriously, what are the odds of something getting in the trigger guard and not depressing the blade?
It is accurate enough for me out to 25 yards, with one caveat I’ll get to in a minute. Quick strings at closer distances are quite good for defensive purposes. Picture below is three shot strings at seven yards. Chest, chest, head with the first round being double action. Yes, I clearly need to work on that last shot. That would be me, not the gun. Note that the DA doesn’t really seem to hurt me.
The second picture is a group from 25 yards. I forgot my paper plates that day so I just fired at the “pelvic girdle” part of the target. With no good aiming point I think 8″ is acceptable.
Disadvantages.
Here’s the caveat: I bought the wrong version. I have the standard version with a manual safety. The BD version has no manual safety; it has a decocker and night sights. I don’t like the sights mine came with. They’re not bad sights; it just takes my eyes a bit longer to pick them up than I’d like. Perhaps a younger person with better eyes could handle these better but I really should have held out for the BD version.
What can I say? It was pandemic time, the gun store had maybe 10 handguns in total, and one was a RAMI that I had been thinking about for a while; it just wasn’t the right version. I can lower my own hammer, right?
While I certainly don’t mind manual safeties, I don’t care for this one. First, the physical switch is too smooth. I prefer more of a ledge in order to get a positive activation/deactivation. Second, it only works with the hammer back. I didn’t buy this to carry cocked and locked; I bought it for the DA/SA trigger operation. Finally, it locks the slide when engaged. I just leave it off.
I doubt I’m going to go find the BD version. I am likely to change the sights on this version soon. And I can still lower my own hammer.
There seems to be trend lately for lights, lasers, and/or optics on carry guns. I’m honestly not sure that any of that is worth the extra bulk for me. If you want one of those, though, the RAMI may not be your best choice. There is no rail and the slide is not milled for an optic. A good gunsmith can fix that last and, according this guy, a light rail can also be fixed by a good gunsmith.
Conclusion.
I am disappointed that this model has been discontinued. As I mentioned, I like alloy and hammers and this gun is a fine example of the breed. I’m currently looking at new sights for it and once I get them installed I’ll either update this or write a new article about it. Maybe both.
It can still be found on the used market, of course and if you can get one at a good price I’d snap one up.
Gunbroker has some. I can’t find one on any of the regular retail online outlets that don’t have “Out of Stock” on them.
Finally, if you’re bound and determined to find a DA/SA carry gun, here’s a review of another option: the Sig SP2022.
