CZ 2075 RAMI BD (Decocker): Big Gun Performance in a Sub-Compact DA/SA 9mm/.40 S&W Combat/Tactical Pistol!

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By Mike Pannone

May 1, 2015

I train and compete with CZ pistols of all types, from my Tactical Sports in .40S&W and Shadow 9mm for USPSA, to my P09, P07 and CZ75 PCR in pistol classes that I teach for my company CTT-Solutions LLC. I have had extraordinary performance out of all of my CZ guns, but realized I had not tried nor put the 2075 RAMI through its paces, and decided to change that. There are very few CZ pistols that I do not own, and the time came overdue to invest in a RAMI. I bought the CZ 2075 BD model (decocker version) in 9mm at the CZ Custom Shop (CZC) up in Mesa AZ. The gun came with factory-installed night sights, and I left it there to have CZC do a carry trigger job for me (and refinish the frame, so it matched the 2 other de-cocker CZ’s I frequently use: CZ 75BD Police and CZ Pro-Tek 1 Black–a custom CZ 75C PCR built by CZ Custom). They do nearly all of the gunsmith work on my competition, training and carry guns, and are easily worth every penny paid, and any wait time. The CZ 2075 RAMI comes in 40S&W, as well, but I felt the combination of the 2 extra round capacity, the relative effectiveness of modern expanding ammunition, and the enhanced shootability made more sense to opt for a 9mm variant like the BD model.

The pistol is based on the CZ 75 design but was the brainchild of designers Radek Hauerland and Milan Trkulja, and first made available in 2007. The name comes from the first 2 letters of each designer’s name. The pistol itself was actually a spin-off of the CZ/Colt Z40 project, combined with lessons learned in police compact pistol CZ 75 D COMPACT (P-01), but that is a different topic altogether. The CZ-2075 RAMI is a modified Browning locked breech recoil operated pistol, with the barrel locking into the slide via the barrel hood, much like SIG Sauer or Glock pistols. The frame is forged 7075-T6 aluminum, the slide is carbon steel, and the barrel is hammer forged. The trigger mechanism is either the standard CZ75 DA/SA with cocked and locked manual safety version, or the DA/SA with de-cocker that I opted for. I prefer DA/SA guns for personal concealed carry, and if available, also opt for the De-cocker variant. The recoil spring design has an inner spring on the guide rod, and an outer main recoil spring, which I surmise dramatically helps in recoil management.

From the beginning I began shooting it as I do with all my new guns, with 25-yard, 10-round slow fire strings, and a B8 target. I am a bit of a “zero snob” and I cannot tolerate a pistol that doesn’t put the bullet right where the sights say it’s supposed to be, due to poor sight regulation. All shots were fired single-action using a 6 o’clock hold, and to my surprise, I scored a 92 2X with a low-in-the-black group. The gun was factory-regulated at about +1.5-2” at 25 yards, and with the proper hold, the next group was a 96. That was impressive to me. To have sights from the factory that are perfectly regulated on a sub-compact is great, and first impressions often succeed or suffer because of that.

This is another reason I shoot CZ’s. The meticulous attention to detail of their factory guns makes them solid on the first shot. The slide was untouched by CZ Custom, so what I bought off-the-shelf (not a hand-picked CZ gun) was as it should have been, properly zeroed for windage and elevation. Next, I take a reduced USPSA metric target out to 50 yards, and shoot it. Once I established the proper hold, hits were consistent and relatively easy. Any short-sight-radius gun makes the longer shots difficult, but the sight regulation and the barrel fit took a lot of that difficulty out, due to the mechanical tolerances being correct and precise. The final performance test was to put 10 different kinds of ammunition through it to ensure it was defensive-carry reliable with every load. Seven different brands of hollow points ran fine, and three flavors of Russian steel-cased hard-primer ammunition were all 100% positive for ignition.

After that, the gun was put into a JM Custom Kydex appendix rig, and I began to shoot drills and use it for EDC (Every Day Carry). It is a little heavier than the polymer striker-fired guns in the compact or sub-compact format (think G26 [Glock 26] and S&W M&P9C or S&W M&P SHIELD 9mm), but the additional weight of the forged aluminum frame, along with it being a hammer-fired pistol, tame recoil extremely well, even with Winchester 127gr +P+ 9mm JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) duty ammunition.

Over the last 4 months, I’ve shot a documented 4000 rounds. Because I let anyone who wants to shoot my pistol at classes shoot them during our lunch break, the practical round count is well over 4300, yet neither I nor anyone who has fired it has had one single malfunction…NOT ONE MALFUNCTION OF ANY KIND–and that’s with a minimal maintenance regimen. The pistol was immediately shot when I received it for the first 1000 rounds, then given a detailed cleaning. After that, it was cleaned at about 2500 rounds, and then finally, when I got to 3600 documented rounds, it was cleaned and inspected. While I did not need to, I replaced the outer recoil spring, since it was a little over the schedule at which I replace my 1911 springs, so I did it on the 2075 RAMI BD, as well. The difference was barely discernable, but considering the volume fired, it makes perfect sense to me.

Accuracy: 100%
Reliability: 100%
Durability: 100%

My appreciation of the gun in overall performance is completely positive. It is an incredibly mild-shooting gun in 9mm, and has tremendous accuracy capability. In more dynamic shooting events, many sub-compacts show their weakness due to sheer dimensions. This gun does not let you down when you put the spurs to it! I was in Pittsburgh teaching a class, and did a demonstration of a drill that requires the students to shoot 2 rounds in the A-zone (6”x11” vertically oriented rectangle) on 2 USPSA targets at 10 yards in 2.35 seconds or less (for max points and score). I shot it from concealment with my JM Custom appendix rig in 2.38 clean, and 2.00 with one C-zone hit. The drill is designed for an open holster on the hip and not concealment, which often adds about .25+ seconds onto the shooter’s time, based on their level of skill. My times and scores were very respectable relative to those of my full-size CZ-75, except for reloads. Since I shoot fiber optic front sights on all my guns, I am convinced I might do even better with those…another thing to ask CZ Custom about. I shot it using the flush-fit magazine, not the extended one with grip adapter, so that makes it even more noteworthy, since recoil control is only with my middle finger and index finger on either hand.

*Disclaimer* I am a former Federal Air Marshal instructor, and helped stand up the Service in 2002-2003, so I am very familiar and comfortable with this test. So, I modified it to make it more challenging.*

In order to get an honest appreciation for the comparative level of shootability, I shot the old Air Marshal shooting test (TPC: http://dryfiretrainer.blogspot.com/2010/03/federal-air-marshal-tactical-pistol.html) at 10 yards instead of the standard 7, and with an A-zone as my maximum scoring area instead of the entire FBI QIT, as was the standard (see photo for dimensional difference). Anything outside the A-zone goes from 5 points to 3 points, and D-zone hits are scored as a miss. I shot the entire course with the flush-fitting 10 round magazine. The distance was 30% farther, yet the first 2 times I shot it I scored a perfect score of 150 A-zone hits, making all the times individually and cumulatively. The only vaguely-challenging part was the reloads due to the small size of the grip and magazines, which is common to any sub-compact. Since that course of fire is a widely known shooting test and well respected, I believe making the distance 30% farther and the scoring area much smaller makes the point about the shootability of the 2075 RAMI.

Except for reloads, the 2075 shoots so much like its big brother the CZ 75 that it will amaze you. I am certain of that because I certainly was when I shot my modified TPC with it!

Shootability-100%

The CZ 2075 RAMI BD sub-compact 9mm pistol’s price is comparable to the popular polymer striker fired guns in its class, and the only addition I did was to have CZ Custom do a little trigger work–again, well worth the extra cost. Now I have an all-metal, hammer-fired gun that shoots damn near like a full-size gun, is phenomenally accurate, and is 100% reliable with anything that will fit in the chamber. The benefit of the minor weight increase over polymer guns is obvious after the first magazine. The double-action trigger design is my preferred carry option, since it gives me revolver-like safe carry with the long first pull, and a sweet single-action trigger after that. The stock triggers are a smooth combat weight and pull, but the work CZ Custom does is magic and makes the transition from DA to SA all but transparent. Everyone that has shot it, to a man (and 3 women), comment specifically on how nice the trigger is and how soft it shoots for such a small gun.

The CZ 2075 RAMI is a lot of big-gun performance in a small concealed carry (CCW) package. If you are in the market for an extremely reliable, accurate and shootable sub-compact carry gun, this is well worth the look. I teach with it, and it protects me and my family when we are out and about. Need I say more?!

Author’s Bio:
Mike Pannone is a former operational member of U.S. Marine Reconnaissance, Army Special Forces (Green Beret) and 1st SFOD-D (Delta) as well as a competition USPSA pistol shooter holding a Master class ranking in Limited, Limited-10 and Production divisions. He has participated in stabilization, combat and high-risk protection operations in support of U.S. policies throughout the world as both an active duty military member, and a civilian contractor.

After sustaining a severe blast injury Mike retired from 1st SFOD-D and worked as a Primary Firearms Instructor for the Federal Air Marshal Program in Atlantic City and the head in-service instructor for the Seattle field office of the FAMS. He also worked as an independent contractor and advisor for various consulting companies to include SAIC (PSD Iraq), Triple Canopy (PSD Iraq), and The Wexford Group (Counter IED ground combat advisor Iraq and pre-deployment rifle/pistol/tactics instructor for the Asymmetric Warfare Group). Mike was also the Senior Instructor for Viking Tactics (VTAC), and Blackheart International. He started his own consulting company full time in late 2008.

Mike has attended numerous Army, Marine and Navy special operations related schools, and high level training events. He is a certified FLETC Firearms Instructor, Federal Air Marshal Instructor, NRA Certified L/E Patrol Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun Instructor, Glock and Colt (AR15/M16/M4) armorer, and Simunition® FX® Scenario and safety Instructor. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences from the University of Washington.

His specialized knowledge from both military and contract work coupled with his broad operational experience give him a wide range of practical knowledge that is unique.

Mike trains vetted civilians, military, State, Federal and local Law Enforcement agencies the result of which made CTT-Solutions a Small Business Achievement Awardee in 2010, the first year the company did business as a stand-alone entity. He has published 3 books and written numerous articles in magazines to include Shooters Magazine.com, Defense Review, and Recoil. Most recently, Mike has developed protective USGI magazine floor plates for sale and is in the process of developing other products to include training videos. For more information or to purchase products, shop at our Store.

In 2012, Mike joined forces with Alias Training and Security Services to provide open enrollment specialized pistol, carbine and tactical training to civilian and law enforcement personnel.

Company Contact Info:

Mike Pannone
CTT Solutions
E-mail: Info@CTT-Solutions.com
Website: http://www.ctt-solutions.com

Stuart Wong
Ghost Products Inc.
CZ Custom Shop
1008 S. Center St.
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: 480-969-1311
Fax: 480-969-9687
Website: http://www.czcustom.com

CZ-USA
P.O. Box 171073
Kansas City, KS 66117-0073
Toll-free: 1-800-955-4486
Phone: (913) 321-1811
Fax: (913) 321-2251
General Info: info@cz-usa.com
Warranty Dept: warranty@cz-usa.com
Custom Work: gunsmith@cz-usa.com
Webstore: webstore@cz-usa.com
Website: http://www.cz-usa.com

Dan Wesson
65 Borden Ave.
Norwich, NY 13815
Phone: 607-336-1174
Fax: 607-336-2730
Parts & Customer Svc E-mail: dwparts@cz-usa.com

JM Custom Kydex Inc.
PO BOX 18571
Reno, Nevada 89511
Phone: 775-686-8431
Email: sales@jmcustomkydex.com
Website: http://www.jmcustomkydex.com
JM Custom Kydex Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Custom-Kydex/140375716051418

JM Custom Kydex Inc. (Shop)
755 East Greg Street Suite 13
Sparks, NV 89431
Phone: 775-686-8431
Email: sales@jmcustomkydex.com

© Copyright 2015 DefenseReview.com (DR) and Mike Pannone. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links.

All photos contained in this article were shot by CCT Solutions/Mike Pannone, and are copyrighted.

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About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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