Enter FREE GUN FRIDY and win a RUGER(r] LCP(r] MAX or CALDWELL PABLE TARGET KIT Close At the beginning of October 2021 I was able to attend the annual Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous in SE Idaho. Rendezvous time is my favorite time of the year. If you’re invited you can speak one-on-one with any manufacturer present. Zev was present and showed all their toys to the media. I was captivated by the Zev OZ9 Elite and took a few photos. I knew I would be asking for a sample. RELATED VIDEO: The Zev OZ9 elite’s Company If you’ve ever heard of Zev Technologies, you know that you are a fan of the finer things. Zev Technologies started in Centralia, WA as a small business. It has grown to become a much larger company. I was granted a private tour of their manufacturing facility in the summer of 2020. It’s a truly impressive operation. Every employee I met had a smile on his face, which speaks volumes about a company. It was then that I realized that the American Dream was possible for this company. Many people think that a Zev is a Glock with tricks, but they are wrong. Glock is a Chevy Chevette that looks old and reliable. It’s aesthetically reminiscent of an old Chevy Chevette. This is the end of the comparison. Zev pistols were designed to be powerful, beautiful, and deadly. A Zev pistol is like having the Maserati handgun. These pistols are not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Zev is a successful company because they listened and gave their customers what they wanted: functionality, reliability, and ease-of-use. You won’t find them in every gun shop because they make most of their pistols from scratch. Zev is a manufacturer that pays attention. Zev engineers listened to customers and combined it with their own ingenuity, to create one the best striker-fired pistols available. Recently, I had the opportunity to play with their OZ9 Elite Pistol. This model features a black slide and a bronze-colored “optimized matching grade” barrel. There are a variety of OZ9 models and configurations available, including full-size, compact, and small. If you wish, you can also get the super-sized competition model. I was sent a full-size (duty) model to play with. Zev was one of the first companies to introduce modular, removable, and internal components. You can customize your Zev pistol-like adult Legos to suit your needs. You can take out the serialized internal components (Zev refers to them as the “frame”) and place them in what they call the grip, which is the polymer lower or grip module. This allows you to carry a 4.5″ upper in your sub-compact lower for less profiling. You could also run a full-size top on a compact lower. You’ll see the point. Details You will immediately notice that Zev is meticulous about details. To make your life easier, the slide of this OZ9 Elite features front press check serrations. Rear serrations allow for easier gripping, whether you are racking in your first round of practice or taking remedial action. There are two small cutouts at the bottom of the slide, just behind each muzzle. It also has a cutout on the top that removes some weight and shows off its attractive, bronze-colored, 4.5″ match-grade barrel. The rear sight of the Trijicon is blacked, while the front sight has a red fiberoptic type to maximize visibility. The OZ9 line pistols from Zev accept different iron sights, regardless of their purpose. Zev also includes an ornate removable top plate that can be used to mount your optics on the OZ9 Elite. The Grip Module The “grip”, which is actually a lower-polymer receiver, can be swapped for other Zev grips, as noted above. The grip texture is a good balance of aggressive stippling and not enough to cause discomfort or skin irritation during aggressive training. Just under the grip are stipple strips that can be used as support thumbs. This model comes with a custom magwell already installed. This makes the OZ9 Elite a more comfortable pistol to shoot. To accommodate gloves-wearing shooters, the trigger guard has been enlarged. The trigger is WOW! Zev installed the PRO flat-faced trigger in the OZ9 Elite. My finger literally bonded to the trigger face without any slippage. The trigger is released with a smooth 4lb push back. The trigger resets quickly, almost as if it’s preparing to press the next freedom seed downrange. Optics Ready – To make your shooting experience even more enjoyable, remove the optics plate cover and place a Trijicon RMR (6RM06) on top. An RMR for optics is a must-have. The only problem with the RMR is that the battery is located underneath your optic. Although the battery can last for up to four years, it is still difficult to change batteries. The RMR is a tough pistol optic, so if that bothers you, then you’re good to go. The Trijicon RMR is a great option for military “cool guys” and SWAT teams around the world. Range Time When you hold the OZ9 Elite in your hands, it feels balanced. The weight is just right to do the job. A nice touch is the extended beavertail. You can make a high purchase and not worry about any slide bite. The Zev OZ9 elite has minimal felt recoil. It is not my intention to compare a Chevy Chevette to a Maserati, however I did shoot the Zev alongside my Glock 17 (gen4) to see how it would compare. My Glock felt more recoil, and was not as pleasant to shoot. It didn’t feel as balanced as the OZ9 Elite. Zev knew exactly what they were doing, when they introduced this pistol to market. The OZ9 Elite was supplied with two Magpul Pmags – one for each 17 round. These, along with my Glock mags, were used to run it. It was flawless. It was actually very reliable. I fired 250 rounds through it and didn’t notice any stoppages. This is a positive characteristic, especially considering the 29-degree (F), outside temperature during testing. Overall Accuracy The OZ9 Elite performed very well at the defensive shooting distance of 21 feet. The Hornady “American Gunner”, 124gr, provided the best accuracy for my drills. XTP +P loads made a 1.2″ grouping onto a paper plate. This is proof that a gun paired with the right shot will stop a threat dead in its tracks. Pun intended. It was a blast shooting at my Birchwood Casey AR500 half-inch thick steel Silhouette target with hostage flapper, The resulting splatter on my hostage flapper meant that the bad guy would need additional cranial ventilation. The OZ9 Elite equipped with Trijicon RMR is a force of nature. The equipped sights were tall enough that they could be seen with the red dot. This allowed for tight shot groups and repeat accuracy during some of my drills. Caldwell G2 Ballistic Precision Chonograph at 5ft. Bullet weight in grains. Velocity in FPS at 21 feet (Defensive). Accuracy in inches for best five shot groupings. Ambient Temp was 29 degrees F. AmmunitionVelocityAccuracyFederal Syntech Defense 138gr. SJHP1061 FPS2.0 “Federal Syntech, 124gr. TSJ (Training),1059 FPS2.5 “Red Army Standard, 115gr. FMJ1188 FPS2.3 “Hornady American Gunner 124gr. XTP +P1109 FP1.2” Bottom Line: When you buy a Zev OZ9 you are not only buying a top-shelf pistol. You also get peace of mind. I can see the OZ9 making its way into my EDC bag. These are some very nice pistols. Don’t let the high price scare you. This is one of those rare occasions when you really get what you pay for. I am certain that any Zev pistol will make you a happy shooter. The Zev OZ9 Elite brought a smile to my face. Those who were with me at the range during testing commented on how comfortable the trigger felt. One of them looked like the Joker after a magdump. Bottom line, a Zev pistol is a great choice. You can buy the OZ9 Elite or any other Zev pistol in complete confidence. ZevTechnologies.com has more information. Zev Technologies OZ9 Elite Specs Caliber 9×19
Magpul Magazine Type: Magpul MAG 17 GL9 Qty: 2
Trigger Weight: 4 pounds
Sights: Optic Height Iron Sights w/ Red Fiber Optic Front sight
Barrel: Optimized match grade barrel
Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
Weight: 27.1 ounces
Overall Length: 7.75 Inches
Height: 5.5 inches
Safety: Striker fired
Optic: Trijicon RM06 (RMR)
MSRP: $2235.00 (w/optic) Sign up for the Personal Defense World newsletter today! Sign up for our newsletter I have read and understood the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy and I hereby accept them. Athlon may collect, store, process, and transfer my Personal Data and Non-Personal Data for the purpose of signing me up for the email newsletter. Up Next Riton Optics Updates The 3 TactixMPRD and PRD pistol sights to 2nd generation. Riton Optics by Personal Defense World / Mar 10 2022 TrendingDeSantis provides the holsters for the arrival of the Springfield Hellcat ProB&T USA releases the APC45 PROG with Glock compatible lower receiverRiton Optics updates Its 3 TactixMPRD and PRD pistol sight to 2nd generation PWS Plays with the Long-Stroke-Stroke Piston ARs This is especially true if you have experience with older models and can appreciate the changes made. Primary Weapons Systems (PWS), has taken their concept of an AR rifle to a new level with its MK1 MOD 2M series of long-stroke piston ARs. The PWS MK1 Mod […]
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