Back in 2008 when the Command Arms Accessories (CAA) RONI first came onto the scene, I was excited about the possibilities it afforded. It appeared to be a legit solution to a real problem. Having a shoulder-mounted weapon is always preferable to just a pistol. However, rifles are hard to conceal and don’t feed off the same mags as your sidearm.
A couple of years ago, CAA let the cat out of the bag on a new RONI, a much smaller model that looked very promising. The Micro RONI began to really turn heads even while in it was still in the concept phase, before it hit the market. For the last couple of SHOT Shows, I’ve been checking this thing out, and I finally got my hands on one this year.
Much can be said about a product’s value in how it is delivered to the customer. That is to say that if the thing shows up in a plain box with poor or no instructions, it’s clear that the manufacturer has little regard for you as a customer. Even if you have created the most wonderful product, it will not go over well if you don’t present it properly. And presenting a product is different than delivering a product. When you purchase a Porsche, it’s presented to you. But when you purchase a Chevy, it’s delivered to you. See the difference?
The Micro RONI is presented to you in a sturdy carry-handle-equipped carton that’s printed with a seemingly digitized Flecktarn camo pattern that is very eye-catching. Trust me, from a packaging standpoint, this box says a lot about how CAA pays attention to the consumer. The box is clearly marked with a body code for the type and color of Micro RONI contained therein.
Note that there are several Micro RONI variants to fit Glock pistols in three colors: black, green and tan. The one I have currently is the full-sized model for the G17, G22 and G31. It works with Gen3 and Gen4 pistols, including compensated models. The compact version fits Gen3 and Gen4 G19s, G23s and G32s, including compensated models. CAA also offers STAB versions that are equipped with arm braces as opposed to stocks. Finally, there is also a Recon Advanced Kit version that is meant to be shot using just a sling at the rear.
The Micro RONI I have turned my Glock into an SBR, so if you go that route, make sure you have your pistol registered with the BATFE before even buying the kit.
Making The Switch
Up until now, the application of a pistol-to-carbine adapter has involved a bit of finagling to get the two items to merge. Thankfully, the Micro RONI truly is a drop-in adapter that takes seconds to set up.
Until the Micro RONI hit the market, I was the loudest crier against the notion that pistol adapters were “easy” to install and use. For many years, I’ve worked with everything from the simple stocks that insert into the grip of the Glock to full-blown machined aluminum adapters. On the other hands, the Micro RONI really is a marvel of well-thought-out engineering—the hallmark of the Israeli can-do ethos.
CAA did an excellent job in producing an excellent four-minute video that covers everything you ever wanted to know about the Micro RONI. The video also does a thorough job of showing the installation procedure. In a nutshell, the procedure is tantamount to opening the unit and throwing your Glock in. Trust me, when you see the procedure, it really does look like the Glock is just being chucked into the Micro RONI. Remember that up until this kit came along, you had to meticulously install your Glock into an adapter.
The bottom-rear section of the Micro RONI opens up as a hinged insertion hatch swings down. Out drops a charging handle that slides down over the rear serrations of the Glock. You then slide the Glock into the Micro RONI and push it forward until the locking tab grabs the accessory rail. A loud click signals that the Glock is locked in place. You then close the insertion hatch and make sure the locking tab has popped back in place. Now you’re ready to go.
Micro RONI Details
The Micro RONI is equipped with a full-length Picatinny top rail and two side rails for additional accessories. The unit is also mostly ambidextrous. I say “mostly” because the only thing it doesn’t have is a slide lock on the right side. Of course, this is a Glock thing and not a Micro RONI thing, but as a lefty, I look closely at claims of “fully ambidextrous,” and the Micro RONI is a lot more ambidextrous than most other products that make that claim.
The Micro RONI is also very compact. With a length of 13.7 inches it can fit just about anywhere. It weighs in at only 3.75 pounds as you see it, fully dressed out, in this article. One of the features that really makes the Micro RONI stand out is the solid-locking, right-folding stock.
This feature alone cuts the Micro RONI pretty much in half when folded and makes it a formidable anti-terrorism weapon when unfolded. And know that when I refer to the Micro RONI as a “weapon,” it’s nothing more than a given monicker.
It’s so easy to forget that this is just an add-on piece for a Glock.
Intuitive Action
The Micro RONI is one of those things you can’t fully understand until you try it out. I got my first taste of it at Industry Day while at SHOT Show. CAA had several targets set up courtesy of Action Target. They were at varying distances out to roughly 30 yards, and from the instant I picked up the Micro RONI, intuition led me through its use. It truly feels as if you’re holding a factory submachine gun. There is very little wiggle between the Micro RONI and Glock. Every adapter I’ve ever tried always has some slop between it and the pistol. But the Micro RONI feels like a solid, factory-made submachine gun.
When I picked up the Micro RONI, I got a slap-happy grin because, even fully dressed out with all the extras, it was still very light and balanced. Those extras included a Hartman MH1 reflex sight, CAA’s low-profile flip-up sights and polymer THR side rail thumb rests—which are made specifically for the Micro RONI to give you a more ergonomic grip—and the MRFL Integral Front Flashlight. This 500-lumen light is the piece that finally brings the Micro RONI into the forefront as a serious fighting weapon that’s ready for dark conditions. Until now, these types of adapters had an afterthought mentality when it came to lights. But the MRFL turns dressed-out Micro RONI into a turnkey solution. Because the MRFL is designed for the Micro RONI, it requires no tooling or wires. The light quickly pops out and can be flipped for lefties or righties.
When you shoot a Micro-RONI-equipped Glock, you’ll find that your follow-up shots are very fast. But you have to understand that its core is still only a pistol. You might not be able to hit a threat’s eye at 25 yards because striker-fired pistols are inherently sloppy when it comes to a repeatable return to zero due to their unlocking barrels. The best groups I was able to get were around 1.75 inches with Speer’s 115-grain Gold Dot hollow points. That’s nothing to a rifle, but it’s pretty darned good for a pistol.
The Micro RONI allows you to maximize the compact size of a pistol without sacrificing speed and accuracy. Also, due to its light weight, there is zero overtravel when transitioning between targets, and you can easily carry it for extended periods of time. This makes it a great choice for cops in motor units, for example.
My Micro RONI came without any of the extras, but I like things neat and trim anyways. I set mine up with a set of Micro BattleSights from Troy Industries, an MRDS from EOTech and a sling from Basham Single Point Slings. It bears noting that the quick-detach (QD) mount on my Micro RONI had some issues in retaining my sling’s QD attachment. I tested it with three different QD attachments that were of foreign and domestic production, and none really wanted to stay in very well. But I’ve made CAA aware of this issue, and I’m certain the company will address it right away. It’s not a deal-breaker for me since I am a minimalist when it comes to EDC weapons, and the Micro RONI is chief among them.
During my range time, I also tested some new ammunition from Federal’s American Eagle line. This stuff is a new spin on the FMJ of old, it’s called Syntech. The bullets are made of a lead core completely encapsulated in a polymer coating. This coating prevents harsh metal-on-metal contact between the bullet and bore, eliminating copper and lead fouling. Combined with clean-burning powders and the Catalyst lead-free primer, Syntech ammo erases that sweet taste of lead you get in your mucous membranes after a long shooting session. This equates to a better quality of life down the road because you’re not sucking up a lot of lead vapor.
I found the Syntech ammo to be plenty accurate and reliable when compared to other FMJs. Also, the cartridge cases that the rounds are packed in is regular brass, which means that it can be processed and reloaded.
Let Freedom Ring
All in all, the Micro RONI has been a great setup to work with, and I highly recommend it as a viable candidate for a “truck gun.” Think about it: If you get one of the STAB versions of the Micro RONI, it will come as a pistol stabilizer as opposed to an SBR. This means that you are only dealing with the legalities of a handgun. You can leave the adapter by itself in the vehicle or even carry it around with you fully assembled and concealed in a small shoulder bag. Either way, it comes with the freedom to cross state lines without a travel authorization letter from the BATFE, and that equates to real legal freedom.
Command Arms Accessories
caagearup.com
Glock
glock.com
EOTech
eotechinc.com
Troy Industries
troyind.com
This article was originally published in “Handguns Buyer’s Guide” 2018. To order a copy, visit outdoorgroupstore.com.
