Threaded barrel, suppressor-height sights, and 1.25-inch groups at 25 yards — for around $500.
Most firearms manufacturers introduce a full-size handgun first, then a compact and a subcompact. Rost Martin took a different track, starting with the compact, then the ported versions, and now a full-size and a tactical handgun. The Rost Martin 9mm works well in this role and demonstrates that the design has a lot of stretch.
The new pistol is similar in size to the Glock 17 as a frame of reference. With some expectation, I opened the box for the new RM1F Tactical and found a well-fitted, well-finished handgun with good features. At the range, I expected a good shooter, and I wasn’t disappointed. The standout ergonomics and hand fit of the original pistol are carried over to the full-size RM1F.
I’m not calling the Tactical a long-slide pistol because it’s really a full-size handgun, but it’s certainly a long slide compared to the RM1S.
RM1F Tactical Specs
- Length: 8.2 in.
- Barrel: 4.5 in., threaded
- Sights: Fixed, serrated rear, white dot front (suppressor height)
- Magazines: Supplied with 17- and 19-round; 24-round coming
- Weight: 23 oz. with flush-fit magazine
- Average price: $500
Why the Tactical?
This is a polymer-framed, striker-fired handgun. Rost Martin handguns are long on ergonomic design, hand fit, and practical accuracy. The primary role I see is personal defense, some forms of competition, and home defense. The RM1F isn’t too large for concealed carry. With a flush-fit magazine it weighs a whisper less than a Glock 17, not a bad place to be.
The pistol I chose to review is the RM1F Tactical. There are reasons for choosing the Tactical version over the standard version: it features a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights. That’s a good thing for me. For those who aren’t interested in suppressors, the standard RM1F is just fine.
An American Story
The Rost Martin Company was founded by two young people with a rich heritage in the firearms world. Chris and Stefany Toomer named the company after some of their relatives — grandparents, I understand. This young couple understands American values and has made the most of American opportunity.
Features and Fit
The RM1F features a hammer-forged 4.5-inch barrel, handy enough for fast handling but long enough to get a full powder burn from 9mm Luger ammunition. The 9mm is a hot little number loaded with a modest charge of fast-burning powder, and it will maximize performance in this length barrel.
The RM1F Tactical features a threaded barrel, and the slide has both forward and rear cocking serrations. The slide is optics-ready, with a single RMR-type optics plate supplied. The slide cover is removed, the optics plate mounted, then the red dot attached to the mount — a simple enough procedure. Additional optics plates are offered by Rost Martin.
The pistol is fully ambidextrous. The magazine release doesn’t have to be changed for left-hand use; it works by pressing the plunger from either side. That’s important not only for left-handed shooters but for any tactical shooter. A few words on magazines: Rost Martin offers ten-round magazines for those living in non-free states.
My pistol was delivered with a 17- and a 19-round magazine, and 24-round magazines are coming soon. The grip offers a good balance of adhesion and abrasion, and it fits most hands well. The trigger is smooth, with modest takeup and a 4.5-pound break. Reset is sharp.
Firing Tests
Prior to firing, I did a solid fifty dry-fire repetitions. This drill, and concentration on sight picture, sight alignment, and trigger press, sets up good accuracy potential.
I used a good number of loads, including handloads and Hornady XTP factory ammunition, in 115-, 124-, and 147-grain weights. The sights are well regulated for 147-grain loads, with the 124-grain load firing dead on point of aim and the heavier bullets falling into the bull’s-eye with a six o’clock hold. The RM1F Tactical gets on target quickly. The long sight radius makes for good accuracy potential, and the pistol handles like a dream in rapid-paced combat work. I had on hand a good number of handloads with the Hornady 124-grain FMJ bullet at 1,000 fps and the 124-grain XTP at 1,090 fps.
Results were good to very good. There were no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. The pistol was lubricated along the muzzle where it meets the slide, the barrel hood, and the cocking block prior to firing, but over the course of several weeks of firing and 360 rounds of ammunition, no further lubricant was added.
Accuracy on the Bench
Moving to firing for accuracy potential, I fired the pistol over Birchwood Casey’s shooting rest. The pistol was fired with several loads including the Hornady XTP in three different weights, Hornady Critical Defense, and Hornady Critical Duty. I was encouraged by the initial results. Most loads would print a five-shot group of 2.5 inches or less at 25 yards. That’s better than service grade.
The second range trip produced more stellar results — in fact, the best groups I’ve fired in a long time with a handgun. I was firing four-shot groups in initial sighting-in. At 25 yards from a benchrest, the Hornady 124-grain XTP factory load put four shots into 1.25 inches. I was surprised but not amazed. I almost stopped shooting — I knew I couldn’t beat that! Groups ran around two inches at 25 yards for five-shot groups with most loads. The pistol shoots. As my friend Eddie would say, this dog will run.
Running a Can and a Red Dot
I fired the pistol with my favorite 9mm suppressor, the Mojave 45. Results have been good. I like the ability to separate the front of the Dead Air suppressor to make an effective but shorter can, well suited to rapid maneuvers. The Hornady 147-grain Subsonic was used with excellent results with the Dead Air suppressor.
The last step was mounting a Holosun 507 RMR-pattern red dot. Holosun builds service-grade optics at a fair price, and with the 507 on board, speed came up several notches. The combination is a pleasure to shoot.
Carrying the Rost Martin
I scoped out the Crossbreed N8 MultiFlex holster. This holster offers a wide range of adjustment via Phillips head screws in the Kydex body. Adjustment includes not only fit to the slide and frame but retention.
Some of us prefer a stiff draw; others like a looser fit. I like somewhere in the middle, with a good balance of speed and retention. This holster is a lifesaver for those of us deploying a variety of handguns.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the Rost Martin RM1F Tactical is a credible choice for carry, home defense, or tactical use. Reliability is outstanding, which I predicted. Accuracy was more than expected. This is a full-size 9mm with good sights and an excellent trigger, but I did not predict the results I enjoyed. I like this pistol a great deal. It’s definitely a keeper.
