The Texas-based Rost Martin pistol company brought out two new additions to their RM1 line of striker-fired semi-autos earlier this year. I’m a revolver guy, but after reviewing their first pistol, the RM1C, I was more than willing to review these latest versions.
There’s just something that draws me to these guns. They feel good in my hand, they point well, and I like the sights. The guns rise naturally to the target, meaning there’s no effort in finding the sights when the gun comes up during fast shooting. The company did their homework designing these pistols, and it shows.
Call me old-fashioned, but I also like the idea of folks living the American Dream. See Rost Martin: An Inside Look at the Texas-Based Firearms Company here on CADRE Dispatch if you’d like to read their story. So far, the RM1 guns are all 9mm, and that round blends perfectly with the size of these pistols. I’m sure that’s not by accident.
Ported or Subcompact
The RM1C Comp is the ported version of the 4-inch RM1C, so if you’re looking for less muzzle rise for your shooting purposes, you are in luck.
The RM1S is a subcompact gun with a 3.6-inch barrel and is obviously made for easier concealment. Had you asked me which RM1 pistol I would prefer before I shot them all, I would have answered the original RM1C. For the most part, subcompact pistols never feel quite right to me. Most are stubby, short-gripped, and while they certainly serve a purpose, I’ve paid little attention to them.
Well, as the old saying goes, this RM1S made me ‘eat my hat!’
Sporting the normal RM1 grip ergonomics, this shorter gun worked well for me. For a warm-up session, I added a couple drops of oil to the slide rails of the new guns and ran a hundred rounds or so of Herter’s ammo through them. They each performed as they should with no issues, but I was a bit surprised by how much I like the subcompact gun.
Always relying on my Gunsite training, I prefer a Weaver Stance, and that’s how I shot steel from 50 yards. I couldn’t miss the chest-sized plate with the shorter gun. It’s tough to make money gun writing when you buy the gun you’re writing about, but this pistol has found a home.
Range Time
Five-shot groups were fired from 12 yards off the bench off my Ransom International Multi Cal Steady Rest. Three loads from Buffalo Bore Ammunition were used, including their Penetrator 9mm +P+ 124 gr FMJ-FP, Subsonic Heavy 147gr JHP, and the +P 147gr Hard Cast FN Outdoorsman. Four different Hornady loads consisted of the 115 gr FTX Critical Defense, 115 gr +P Monoflex Handgun Hunter, 138 gr DGH +P Backcountry Defense, and their 147 gr XTP Subsonic. Finishing up, we have two loads from Remington with their Golden Saber 124 gr BJHP and the High Terminal Performance 115 gr JHP.
Everything shot well in both pistols, and some of the groups were exceptionally tight. The only stumble incurred was with the RM1S Subcompact in that the slide didn’t completely return to battery on one occasion. If memory serves, that occurred with one of the 147-gr loads, but I can’t fault the gun or the ammo with this. You’ll have to forgive my lack of specifics and absence of group measurements. I did that range session before leaving for a trip, and do not have my notes with me while writing this article.
Pistols can be finicky, and if feeding problems only occur with specific ammunition or certain bullet weights, I simply would not run it in that gun. Of course, any pistol needs copious amounts of rounds fired through it to ensure reliability before putting it to work, most of which should be with the specific ammunition you intend to carry in it.
RM1 Pistol Features
Rost Martin’s handguns have a variety of features many shooters want, like:
- Crowned match barrel
- Responsive Grip Texture,
- Flat-face trigger with extra-short reset
- Slide-top anti-glare serrations
- Ambidextrous controls
- Funneled mag well
- Deep grip serrations front and rear
- Modular backstraps
- Oversized and undercut trigger guard
- Extended beavertail.
- Optic ready.
There’s also a California Compliant RM1C for those of you in need of that feature.
Rost Martin strives to provide shooters with high-performance pistols at fair prices, and they are doing it well. I’ve shot several of their guns now and must admit that I like them. These guns are made in the great state of Texas, U.S.A., and if you haven’t tried them, I’d suggest they are worth a look. I think you’ll be impressed.
