FMK Elite Pro Plus 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

April 24th, 2019

YouTube Video Link

FMK 9C1-G2 "Bulldog" 9x19mm Semi-Automatic Limited Edition Pistol

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

July 8th, 2014

 

Click pictures for a larger version.

 

 

 

 

Top to bottom: disassembly latch, magazine release, slide lock, loaded-chamber indicator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accessory rail.

 

 

 

 

Cushioned backstrap.

 

 

 

 

Tru-Glo fiber-optic sights.

 

 

Fifteen-shot group, fired standing offhand at fifteen yards.

 

 

 

 

FMK Firearms of Placentia, California is producing a limited run of pistols to honor the United States Marine Corps. Limited to a production run of 2000 pistols, the 9C1-G2 "Bulldog" pistols will be numbered SBD0001 through SBD2000. The tan polymer-framed pistols will wear a desert tan Cerakote finish on the slide, with a polished-stainless barrel, and black backstrap, magazine base, trigger, guide rod, and sights, for a good-looking contrast to the tan frame and slide. The sights are Tru-Glo fiber-optic, and are very clearly visible in most lighting situations. The rear is set in a dovetail for windage correction, and the front attaches from inside the slide, as on a Glock pistol. The black rear sight and front posts are, thankfully, made of steel.

Inset on each side of the polymer grip is a USMC medallion, with the Bulldog in the center. The FMK Bulldog ships in a high-quality Pelican hard case, and is supplied with three blued-steel magazines. The magazines supplied with this pistol shown here each have a capacity of fourteen rounds. FMK also sells ten-round magazines, if desired or required by law. Also in the case is a kydex Front Line right-handed belt holster, a bottle of G96 synthetic lube, instructions, and FMK's  patriotic book, "Red State Coalition".

I reviewed the "Bill of Rights" 9C1-G2 about two and one-half years ago, and the pistols are pretty much the same mechanically, so I won't re-plow the same ground here, but will highlight the features of this special USMC tribute version, and report on the functionality of the weapon. This new pistol has the fast-Action 316 trigger, and does not have double-strike capability. The trigger pull is smooth, and is reset by the slide moving rearward for subsequent shots.

Critical specifications for the FMK Bulldog pistol are listed in the chart below. Weight is listed in ounces, and includes the empty magazine. Linear dimensions are listed in inches. Trigger pull is listed in pounds of resistance, as measured with my Lyman digital trigger pull scale. Height includes sights and magazine base with the magazine in place. Maximum width is measured across the grip frame, and includes the slide lock.

Chambering 9x19mm
Weight with Empty Magazine 25.4 ounces
Trigger Pull 5.4 pounds
Barrel Length 4.17 inches
Barrel Diameter 0.565 inch
Overall Height 5.2 inches
Overall Length 6.9 inches
Grip Width 1.14 inches
Frame Width 1.15 inches
Slide Width 1.10 inches
Maximum Width 1.23 inches
Trigger Reach 2.65 inches
Magazine Capacity 14
Magazines Supplied 3
Magazine Disconnect Safety No
Accessory Rail Yes
MSRP as of July 2014* $849.95 US

*Also includes Pelican hard case, G96 lubricant, instructions, informative book, and right-handed Front Line holster.

I fired a variety of ammunition through the FMK pistol over the chronograph to check velocities, with the results listed in the chart below. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second. Bullet weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. DPX, Buffalo Bore Lead Free, and Double Tap Tac-XP  are hollow-nose homogenous copper bullets that are made by Barnes Bullets. Guard Dog is a FMJ with a soft plastic core to promote rapid expansion. FP is a frangible, pre-fragmented flatnose bullet. FMJ is a full metal jacket roundnose bullet. PB is Pow’RBall, a specialty bullet from Cor-Bon. Glaser is a pre-fragmented bullet. Velocities were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature of eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of seventy-one percent. Velocities were recorded at ten feet from the muzzle.

 

Ammunition Bullet Weight Velocity
Buffalo Bore Lead Free +P HP 95 1362
Buffalo Bore Lead Free +P HP 115 1175
Federal Guard Dog 105 1036
Double Tap +P Tac-HP 115 1004
Double Tap +P FMJ 147 1019
Atomic +P HP 124 1089
WCC NATO FMJ 124 970
Fiocchi FMJ 115 1050
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 124 1208
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 115 1254
Buffalo Bore +P+ JHP 115 1414
Buffalo Bore +P JHP 147 1047
Cor-Bon Glaser 80 1500
Cor-Bon +P JHP 115 1292
Cor-Bon Pow'RBall 100 1267
Cor-Bon +P DPX 115 1123
Cor-Bon +P JHP 125 1239
Stryker FMJ 115 876

The FMK Bulldog functioned very well, with only one malfunction recorded early on in the testing, in which the slide did not fully close on a Federal cartridge, taking a slight nudge to close the last eighth inch. Other than that, the pistol ran perfectly, and never hesitated at all throughout the rest of the testing. The slide always locked open on an empty magazine, and the mags fell freely when the magazine release button was pushed. The trigger has about a quarter inch of easy initial take-up, then releases fairly crisply, and trigger reset was positive and quick. Accuracy was also good. Firing five-shot groups from a hand-held rested position at twenty-five yards, depending upon the ammo, accuracy varied from very good to average. Any weapon can only be as accurate as the ammo which it is fed, and the group sizes varied from three-and one-quarter inches to as tight as one and one-half inches, which is excellent accuracy for a fighting pistol of this type.

The FMK Bulldog proved to be a reliable, smooth, and accurate pistol, that honors our United States Marine Corps. FMK has a tradition of being a very patriotic gun company, and with this Bulldog, they continue along that path, producing a pistol that is not only handsome and reliable, but also a fitting tribute to our USMC. The FMK Bulldog is built right, and built in the USA.

For more info on the FMK Bulldog and other FMK products, go to www.fmkfirearms.com.

To order quality 9x19mm ammunition, go to www.buffalobore.com, www.midsouthshooterssupply.com, www.luckygunner.com, and www.doubletapammo.com.

Jeff Quinn

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Click pictures for a larger version.

 

 

 

 

FMK Bulldog comes packed in a genuine Pelican hard case.

 

 

Front Line right-handed Kydex holster is included.

 

 

Also comes with a bottle of excellent G96 CLP lubricant.

 

 

Bulldog comes with three 14-shot steel magazines.

 

 

The Bulldog ships with this informative book.