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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