Today we're taking a look at the core of the Budget PCC build, the Foxtrot Mike FM-9 complete upper receiver. This comes as a complete unit, ready to drop right onto any milspec AR lower receiver you might have lying around. FM Products makes this in a number of different barrel lengths, from 3.75 inches all the way to 16 inches. This particular version is the one with the shortest, 3.75 inch barrel. Retail for this combination is $329, but I found it at Brownells on sale for $250.
The charging handle is milspec, with nothing particularly unique about it. The bolt carrier group, however is very unique. It is proprietary to the FM9 and made by Foxtrot Mike. Its machined from 8620 steel and then nitrided for corrosion resistance and ease of cleaning, and marked FM9 here on the ejection port side. The firing pin and extractor are in there as you would expect, and it also has this weight at the back end that is 9mm specific to add weight to the assembly and slow down the bolt carrier group during the cycling action.
The upper receiver itself is billet made from 4150 steel, which is really nice and allows FM Products to design in some cool details. My favorite detail is this recessed area around the bolt release that has a nice bevel to it. Overall the receiver has a really nice sleek slabsided look to it that sets it apart from other 9mm upper receivers. The receiver is melonited for corrosion resistance. The ejection port does not have a dust cover, nor does it have any provisions to install one. It is also slick-sided with no forward assist, and it has a full-length top rail as well. The top rail is not t-marked, for those you you that are looing for that. I did note that the shell deflector is made of plastic and not steel. It does seem to be screwed down very well, and it hasn't cracked or come off in the 400 or so rounds this has through it thus far, so it's admittedly a small complaint.
Moving forward, there is a handguard that continues the top rail section all the way to the muzzle end, and it also has this small tab that indexes with the receiver to make sure that the handguard doesn't ever rotate. There are single M-Lok slots going all the way around the handguard, and FM throws in a pair of these plastic slot covers and one of these plastic hand stops in the box, both of which are also M-Lok. It's secured to the barrel nut by these eight screws on the sides of the handguard.
Underneath that handguard is the barrel, with again is 3.75 inches long. It's button rifled with a 1 in 10" twist rate. At the end of the barrel is the blast diffuser muzzle device, which directs the concussion of the shot out in front of the shooter. It is held to the receiver by a proprietary barrel nut, which has holes tapped for those 8 screws that hold the handguard to it. Since the handguard indexes to the receiver via that tab, and the barrel nut is screwed to the handguard, theoretically this will completely prevent the barrel nut from ever backing out, which I think is a unique way to secure it.
As I mentioned I've put about 400 rounds through this upper so far, and I've had absolutely zero problems with it. it reliably runs all of the ammo I've tried to run through it, steel or brass cased. I have not run aluminum cased ammo through it, as FM advises against this in the manual. It's very accurate at any distance I shot at out to 50 yards, which is the furthest I could go at my local indoor range.
Just a few more quick notes on this upper: FM recommends Magpul magazines for use with the FM9, which is what I have been using. FM also says that you should use a 6oz buffer weight along with a .308 carbine buffer spring in order to effectively get that bolt carrier groups slowed down. Lastly, FM advises to run the FM9 as wet as possible with regards to lubrication, using a light gun oil but not grease.
Overall I think that for the money, it's REALLY hard to beat the combination of features and reliability that you get with this upper. Its reliable, built well, has a really cool barrel nut securing system, and in this shorty configuration it is VERY easy to maneuver in tight spaces or fire one-handed. If you're interested in the FM-9 upper, you can find it at Brownells, where I got this one. Don't forget to check out PT on YouTube as well, if you haven't done that yet. Until next time, stay safe!