You can read part one in this series here and part two here.
There are plenty of “budget” firearms available. Lots of them have strong feature sets, but they often come from nations such as Turkey and Brazil. They’re more affordable because their manufacturing costs are significantly lower (despite the dreaded T-word).
When Rost Martin, a firearm manufacturer in the great state of Texas, introduced the RM1C pistol, people took notice. The line has gained popularity among users and built a following—something that’s difficult to achieve today, given stagnant gun sales and market saturation. Following the success of the RM1C, Rost Martin introduced an updated version that reflects today’s current trends.
In the first article of this series, I shared my first impressions of Ross Martin’s new RM1C Comp. Then, in the second article, I covered first shots and the loadout. In the final article of the series, I take the pistol through some drills, discuss carrying it, and share my final thoughts on whether it’s worth considering or to be avoided.
Carry
As mentioned in the previous article, there are only a limited number of holsters available, so it’s likely your favorite maker won’t have one yet. Rost Martin lists a few options on their website, but ultimately, I chose a We The People Holsters IWB and added the claw. Normally, I’d attach a light, but the light-bearing holsters that are available cost well over a hundred dollars.
I’d consider that, but to someone looking for a more affordable entry point, spending over $100 seems like a non-starter. It’s unfortunate that good holsters cost so much. Yes, I believe they’re worth it, but for many people — especially those new to firearms or carrying — better options at lower prices are needed. That said, I digress.
The RM1C Comp carries much like my SIG SAUER P365 XMACRO or Hellcat Pro. The RM1C is on the larger end of the “slimline” compact guns of today, but it isn’t bad. I carried the pistol in the appendix position and used a Nexbelt. Aside from the heat and humidity, I had no issues. The holster was satisfactory. It’s not the most comfortable I own, but it does the job. You have some customization options with ride height and claw position, so that’s a plus. Overall, I have no issues with making this my daily driver.
Drills
Since I added an optic, the first task was to sight it in. I usually sight in pistols at the 7 to 10 yard range and then confirm at longer distances. Drills and testing were completed with Winchester 124-grain NATO ammo. Testing took place over several range sessions, once on private property where I had more freedom to move, and a couple of times back at Kelbly’s range. Here are some thoughts on those drills:
- Accuracy Test: I tested at 7 yards and 25 yards from a rest. I’m happy with the offhand 7-yard accuracy, which generally puts rounds in a nice cluster. Twenty-five yards proved a bit more challenging, even from a rest. Again, this is a carry gun and I was using inexpensive ammo, so I’m not expecting match grade precision, but I was hoping to do better.
- Appendix Draw: My draw from the Appendix position to a shot fired averaged between 1.53 and 1.6 seconds. Accuracy was initially on target, but it improved as I practiced. For me, I need to warm up and build that muscle memory (obviously, not an option when there is a real-life threat, but that’s why we practice). With some more practice, I can get those splits under 1.5.
- Modified Bill Drill: Same concept, from the ready position. But to start with, only two shots. The key here was to familiarize yourself with the comp. I have smallish hands, so I tend to drive the gun a bit too much and add too much downward pressure with my offhand to aid in recoil management. That generally works fine with a regular pistol, but it didn’t work so well with a comped gun. The second shot came up low on the first few attempts. After I adjusted my grip and reduced tension, I was able to achieve accurate center-mast hits. My best split was .18 seconds, with the average in the .21-.22 range.
- One-and-One with reload: As it says, one shot, slide lock, reload, one shot. For this drill, I used a free shot timer app that works with my Apple Watch. My goal was to use something that was more accessible—not everyone has access to a nice shot time from Kestrel or Pact. I tried the BSHOT APP, and it works, kind of. It uses the microphone on the watch to sense shots fired. Unfortunately, it didn’t capture on specific drills. The average of my five best times was 2.21 seconds (which sounds accurate enough). I held the gun at the ready position and reloaded from my NeoMag Gen 2 that was in my pocket.
- Mozambique Drill. Two to the chest, one to the head. I initially tried using the app on this drill, but it was giving wild readings or not reading at all. Instead, I focused on controlled shots and technique. I noticed on the third shot, I tended to pull low and right, maybe it’s me overcompensating and not easing offhand tension. I’m not sure, but it’s something to work on in the future (again, I’m not an expert pistolero, just a regular gun guy).
Final Thoughts
So, after three articles, a few thousand words, half a dozen range trips, and nearly 500 rounds down range, where does the RM1C Comp stand? Well, I hate to disappoint, but it’s on par with anything else I’ve carried or owned. I’m not claiming it’s a perfect pistol…there is no such thing. The RM1C Comp’s texturing leaves much to be desired, and I think a gas pedal molded into the frame would be a nice touch — not to mention, my front sight was off out of the box.
Overall, though, this pistol met or exceeded all my expectations. Is it as good as my P365 XMACRO? It’s pretty darn close. However, note that the XMACRO retails for approximately $699.99. The RM1C is more than $200 cheaper. That’s a heck of a lot of value. The main differences are that the XMACRO features night sights and extensive aftermarket support. Nearly every holster manufacturer offers options for it, and a wide range of aftermarket parts is available to customize the pistol.
Will Rost Martin reach that level? Maybe. But I’d say that’s unlikely. Very few pistols have that kind of support.
If you’re looking for a carry gun while staying within a reasonable budget, it’s well worth checking out the Rost Martin. Even if your budget is larger than most, you should still consider it — anything you save on the gun can go toward a quality holster and more ammo. So, with all that said, the Rost Martin RM1C Comp earns my full support. Good pistols don’t always have to cost a small fortune.
You can read part one in this series here and part two here.