The Foxtrot Mike Products Mike-102 is a very unique gun. It uses 5.56 AK mags but has internals similar to an AR. Why does this gun exist, and how does it perform? Let’s find out.

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As with all reviews, disclosures are essential. FM Products sent this gun to me for review. I don’t have a preexisting relationship with the company. I bought the ammo and paid for range fees and other expenses.

Background

FM Products was on my list of visits at SHOT 2023, and we talked about the FM-15 and the various models on display. I was drawn to some of the short barrel options initially, but thanks to the ATF being the way they are, this review ended up being about the 16″ rifle version.

The FM-15 is a blend of designs. AR-genes are the most prevalent, with the handguard, receiver, barrel, gas system, and lower parts all coming from that design. The non-reciprocating charging handle is HK-esque but closer to the receiver and with a shorter travel. It also does not lock into a latch, so there are no “HK slaps.”

The most unique part is the bolt carrier and recoil assembly itself. While it is clearly a Stoner derivative, a shortened carrier allows the entire assembly to fit inside the upper receiver while cycling. That allows the FM-15 to fire with the stock folded.

This specific model, the Mike-102-16Z, adds some AK features to the standard FM-15 milieu. Instead of STANAGs, it feeds from AK-102 5.56 magazines. This necessitates a different magazine release than AR mags and a paddle release sits in front of the trigger guard. As with other AKs, the Mike-102 does not have a last-round bolt hold open or bolt catch. The stock on this particular gun is a Magpul Zhukov model which is frequently seen on AK rifles. 

Why 5.56 AK mags? In short, CEO Paul Noonan told me at SHOT Show that it was a result of AC Unity putting quality, inexpensive 5.56 AK magazines on the market. An AK fan who buys a stack of those mags could also use them in an AR-ish platform. Anecdotally, my own experience with AC Unity AK-74 magazines has been very positive.

On The Bench

The first thing I notices on removing the Mike-102 from the box was its weight; it only weighs 5.8 pounds unloaded with no magazine, or right at 6 pounds with an empty magazine. That is an impressively low weight for a rifle with a 16-inch barrel and a robust folding stock.

I tried to attach the Mike-102 upper to a standard AR-15 lower and discovered that it does not fit. Because the Mike-102 does not have a bolt hold open, there is no relief cut for a BHO. A standard AR BHO hits the side of the upper and it will not close. The pistol grip, trigger, and safety are all standard AR parts, though.

Disassembly works a little differently than an AR. The upper removes the same, with the standard push pins. Then depress the recoil spring through the hole in the back of the receiver cover plate. With the tension off, the receiver cover slides down. Once the receiver cover is removed the recoil spring and bolt can slide out the rear.

 

 

 

 

On The Range – Accuracy 

My first order of business on the range was function testing and shooting some groups. I attached the Brownells MPO 1-6X24 scope reviewed here. The circular reticle works nicely with bullseye targets. I tried a variety of ammunition ranging from cheap 55-grain FMJ up to 77-grain match ammo. Most 55-grain ammo grouped in the 2-2.5 MOA range with 5-round groups from a rest. Most match ammo grouped right around 2 MOA.

The standout load was, surprisingly, PMC 55-grain XTAC/M193. It averaged about 1.5 MOA, and put up one 0.96″ group. The worst groups were CBC 55-grain 5.56, which has shot poorly in everything I’ve tried. That load averaged just over 3 MOA and has been as poor as 4-5 MOA in a standard AR-15. Regardless of accuracy, all loads functioned well. All of those groups would likely benefit from a match trigger. The standard unit is a mil-spec trigger with the creep and heavier break that are often part of the experience with those trigger groups. 

In The Field

Once I was done with basic test firing and accuracy work I headed into the desert to run drills, hike around, and mag dump into trash. The cocking handle placement along the top of the handguard is sort of like an HK, but it moves more like a SCAR but with shorter travel.

Like an HK, keeping access to that handle clear requires careful optic selection and mounting. A large objective lens would cause issues with the cocking handle. However, putting a heavy scope on this gun is the wrong move. One thing I love about the FM-15 is its weight. It’s really, really lightweight. Once I was done using an LPVO for the accuracy testing, I immediately swapped back to a red dot to keep the weight low.

The trigger is a fairly standard mil-spec unit. It averages about 7 pounds pull weight, and could be smoother, but it is completely serviceable. Just don’t expect a match trigger. 

I did attach a SilencerCo Specwar 556 suppressor just to see how it would run. That is a very high backpressure can and it caused the ejection pattern to go to the moon. Gas to the shooter’s face was sort of like a standard AR, but less pronounced thanks to the charging handle location.

There was nothing to report in the reliability department. This was not an exhaustive torture test or anything. I shot a little over 500 rounds of various .223 and 5.56 ammo ranging from 55-grain to 77-grain. Everything worked.

Overall, the Mike-102 is a fun rifle to take into the hills. Have I mentioned how light it is? It is also quite accurate with cheap bulk ammo. I was able to regularly hit an 8″ plate out to 300 yards with a red dot. Recoil is mild as would be expected with any 5.56 rifle, particularly because it is a direct impingement gun.

 

Observations

There are a few items worth mentioning. The Mike-102 safety selector switch moves indefinitely between positions. It does not snap strongly from safe to fire or back but stops at a whole range of points from about 15 degrees to 80 degrees. And, as noted earlier, the trigger is nothing special and this gun is accurate enough to benefit from something nicer.

A sticker inside the box advises the use of AC-Unity Gen II 5.56 magazines. Those mags do work well in this gun. My curiosity got the better of me so I tried some other options as well. Galil mags do not fit. They’re simply too wide to fit in the mag well. Some AK-74 magazines do fit, but they do not feed 5.56.

Also, for the reloaders out there, the Mike-102 dents cases. It is not a major dent like many AK rifles or an HK-91, though. It is just a little crease about a third of the way down the case between the shoulder and base.

The magazine does not rock in or out of place as smoothly as on a true AK. It almost feels like it is jammed into place and snapped back out. However, it is consistent and I did get used to it with practice. It also seemed to have smoothed out with use.

Conclusion

The FM-15 Mike-102-16Z is a bit niche but could be a great fit for someone already heavily invested in 5.56 AK magazines. For those who are stocked up on STANAGs, a standard FM-15 might make more sense. However, this could also be an intriguing gun for someone who can’t decide which side of the great AK/AR debate they fall on. 

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