When Foxtrot Mike announced their Mike-102 carbine at SHOT Show 2023, it immediately caught my eye; I am a sucker for the odd and esoteric. But the majority of shooters will look at the Foxtrot Mike and ask, "why?"
And that's a fair question. Why would they use an HK-style forward charging handle, a modified direct impingement operating system, and 5.56mm AK magazines when they could build a standard AR-15 for a fraction of the cost? As much as I'd like to answer that question in a short sentence or even a single word, it's a little more complex than that. I've even heard some people refer to it as a poor man's MCX. But is it? Let's take an in-depth look and find out.
0:00 Franken-Gun Intro
0:46 What is the Foxtrot Mike Mike-102?
1:25 Mike-102 Features
1:56 Barrel, Gas System & Muzzle Device
2:30 M-Lok Handguard
2:40 HK-Style Charging Handle
3:45 Integrated Recoil System
4:20 Billet Lower Receiver
4:40 Why AK Magazines?
5:50 Extended Paddle Release
6:04 Ambidextrous Safety
6:20 A3 Tactical Skelestock
6:54 Mike-102 Accuracy and Reliability
8:12 Trigger
8:28 Mike-102 Worth a Buy?
