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

Accessory rail.

Cushioned backstrap.

Tru-Glo fiber-optic sights.

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.

*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.

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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