I’m a fan of 9mm PCCs and large-format pistols. I’ve had a few over the years, and they’re always my go-to’s for fun shooting. They also serve well as home defense guns.
While it’s easy to think that all of the 9mm AR pistols are more or less the same, every once in a while, something comes along that stands out.
Foxtrot Mike’s newest compact offering, the 5-inch VFM-9 Folding PCC Pistol, is one of those things. It is definitely not just another 9mm AR.
It Starts With Mike
Foxtrot Mike’s VFM-9 starts with their fully ambidextrous Mike-9 lower receiver. Even FM’s lower is a step up from a basic AR. It’s machined from aircraft grade aluminum and finished with a black hard mil-spec Type III anodizing. It’s a compact, lightweight profile lower weighing only one pound. The Mike-9 lower is compatible with 9mm Glock style magazines. It features what Foxtrot Mike says is one of the most reliable last round bolt hold open systems available.
The lowers extra wide mag well allows for fast, intuitive magazine changes. All of the controls are fully ambidextrous, including the bolt catch, mag release, and safety. A steel ejector rounds out the design, providing consistent, dependable ejection.
The Mike lower used on the VFM-9 also includes a folding buffer attachment. Foxtrot Mike’s patented folding stock adapter is machined directly into the receiver. It’s not not bolted on like most folding adapters. This makes it stronger than other AR folding systems. It features an integrated latch that locks solidly during firing, but allows the firearm to fold for transport.
It’s a captive system that keeps the buffer contained in the receiver extension when folded. That does mean it can’t be fired when folded but that’s how all of the folding AR systems work. With the buffer assembly folded you knock about eight inches from the overall length. That makes it particularly well suited for vehicle use, discreet carry, or just easier storage.
The VFM Dual Charging Upper Receiver
While the lower is above average in features, things start getting interesting with the VFM-9 upper. The upper isn’t your same old AR upper either. My VFM-9 is fitted with a 5.2-inch 41V50 steel barrel. It’s threaded 1/2-28 and comes fitted with FM’s Micro Blast Diffuser. The barrel rated for a service life exceeding 10,000 rounds. That’ll take a while to wear out. Rather than a traditional barrel nut, the VFM-9 uses a thermal-fit barrel design, which reduces weight and cost, while preserving accuracy. The streamlined MLOK handguard attachment cuts fasteners from eight down to two, simplifying assembly without sacrificing rigidity.
The other departure from most AR’s is the Dual Charging capability. The VFM-9 has both a traditional rear mounted charging handle as well as a front charging model. The forward charging handle is a four position model which can be mounted on either side of the forend. The dual system allows for shooters trained on the traditional AR manual of arms to readily transition to the front charging system. Years of muscle memory kick in and forget there’s a front charging option? That’s okay, you can still use the traditional charging handle as well.
The RMB (Recoil Mitigating Buffer)
So we have a fully ambi lower, with a top tier ejector, as well as a dual charging upper with thermal fit barrel. That’s good stuff, but not even the best part of the VFM-9 in my opinion. That part would be the proprietary RMB (Recoil Mitigating Buffer) system.
The RMB uses what Foxtrot Mike lists as an an A5 length buffer tube. That’s matched up with a finely tuned reciprocating mass to eliminate bolt bounce. Although honestly the tube measures more like a standard length buffer at around 7.5 inches long. Either way, if you’ve done much shooting with 9mm PCC’s you’re aware that bolt bounce is a long standing issue with traditional blow back designs. The RMB features a sliding buffer body, a dampening spring, and a durable urethane impact modifier that work together to smooth the recoil impulse dramatically. Foxtrot Mike notes that in high-speed video testing with the 5 inch VFM-9 upper the system demonstrated complete elimination of bolt bounce. Bolt bounce is especially an issue in this growing world of FRT triggers. It’s one of the main things that seems to impact function in 9mm designs.
Even in traditional semi automatic fire, eliminating bolt bounce reduces recoil and makes for smoother shooting. Which keeps you on target, and allows you to engage targets faster and more accurately.
The Whole Package
When you add it all together, the ambi lower with integrated folding mechanism, the dual charge thermal fit upper, and the recoil managing RMB system you end up with a PCC unlike anything else out there right now. The 5 inch VFM-9 is 21 inches overall, and only 14 inches overall with the receiver extension folded. Weight is only 4lbs 13oz.
The VFM-9 comes with a Thril RTG pistol grip and Foxtrot Mike’s own brace. The grip is quite comfortable with an extended beavertail, integrated thumb rests, and textured grip panels. Foxtrot Mike’s pistol brace may be my favorite one so far. It has a streamlined, blade profile and is easily adjustable with an M4 type latch. It has three sling slots allowing for a variety of attachment methods.
The VFM-9 as tested has an MSRP of $749.00. Foxtrot Mike also makes versions with 7 and 10 inch barrels, and with heavier buffers. Just a couple days before I sat down to write this they announced the VFM-45 as well. So if if you were holding out for a bigger bore option, now you’ve got it. I built my own .45 ACP PCC using a Foxtrot Mike lower last year. It’s a nice build, but now they have me thinking about a VFM-45 version instead.
Meprolight MCO PRO
With the VFM-9 in hand I needed a good optic to go with it. I had talked to the folks at Meprolight at GunCon 2025 and arranged to get an MCO PRO optic and MMX3 magnifier. Meorolight makes top tier optics and I thought they’d be well suited to the unique VFM-9 platform.
The MCO PRO is a closed emitter design that shields the optic form the elements. It features a user selectable three segment reticle, that gives shooters flexibility to tailor the sight picture to their preference. The MCO PRO offers 10 daylight and 2 night vision brightness settings, supported by both automatic and manual brightness controls. Powered by a CR2032 battery, it delivers an impressive 25,000+ hours of runtime at setting five. To further enhance battery life it includes a Shake Awake function to conserve power when not in use.
While not an issue on the smooth shooting 9mm VFM, the MCO does have a built in recoil block. That helps maintain proper alignment and reliable zero retention under repeated recoil. Being a military grade optic, it’s IP67 water and dust proof. For users seeking a higher mounting option, a 1.93-inch riser is available separately. The MCO PRO has an MSRP of $439.99.
The MMX3 magnifier is kind of overkill on a 5 inch barreled 9mm, but I took advantage of it when shooting groups at 25 yards. The MMX3 is a compact, lightweight magnifier weighing just 6.1 ounces. It attaches to any MIL-STD-1913 rail directly behind your optic with a quick detach mount. When not in use it can be “flipped” out of the way. There’s plenty of space on a flattop AR upper for both it and the MCO PRO. There’s even some room to spare. You could fit a folding backup iron sight on the rail as well if you wanted.
Meprolight’s magnifier works with both 1.5″ and 1.93″ height over bore optics with the included riser. Elevation and windage dials also allow for precise FOV line of sight alignment. It has a wide FOV enables rapid target acquisition with both eyes open. So even with some helpful magnification you can still maintain your field of view and engage targets rapidly. MSRP on the MMX3 is $329.99.
Easy Portability
The VFM’s stock assembly folds via a push button located just above the pistol grip on the left side of the receiver. It allows the buffer extension and brace to fold to the right side of the gun. As previously noted, overall length with the brace folded is only 14 inches. That pretty darn small. That would fit into some shoe boxes. It also easily fits in my 5.11 RUSH 24 pack. In fact it slides right into the laptop pocket with optics installed. It’s light enough that it’s comfortable to tote around, even with a few spare mags.
I like the idea of a truck (or Jeep) gun that’s more capable than the sidearm on my hip. But I don’t like the idea of just leaving the gun in the vehicle all of the time. With the VFM-9 folding up so small and easily fitting into the RUSH pack, it makes it easy to take with me. And although my pack is camouflaged it’s still not a gun case so folks may not jump and assume I have a folding 9mm PCC inside it. Heck, even school kids tote around camo packs these days so it’s not an automatic tell. Although maybe I should get a more neutral color pack, like I used to use, for some situations.
Either way, the point is this thing folds down small and is easy to store and carry. Equally important, it’s quick to get back into action. The brace doesn’t lock in the closed position, which I kind of wish it did. The up side though is that it’s very fast to deploy. So that may have been a conscious choice by Foxtrot Mike. Simply swing the brace open and it locks into place. Once locked it feels as solid as any fixed receiver extension.
Range Time
I shot the VFM-9 off and on over the summer, and into the fall of this year. I had my 21 year old son and a couple of buddies out on various range trips. As usual much of my shooting was done at reactive targets, along with some general plinking at pop cans and plastic jugs. I did do the obligatory bench testing as well.
The VFM-9 is a very handy package. It’s 21 inches with the brace closed. With it extended on it’s 6 position receiver extension it stretches out to 24.5 inches. The brace is a brace, not a stock. With that said it’s pretty comfortable. You can get a good cheek weld on it shooting with the pistol raised to eye level. For incidental shouldering it works out okay. The soft recoiling RMB system probably helps in that regard.
I’m right handed and normally don’t really care about ambidextrous controls. I get that it’s nice to have, but can usually take or leave them. With that said, I have to say that I found the right side bolt release on the VFM-9 very handy. I could release it with my trigger finger, while still maintaining a firing grip. I found myself doing that after reloads more often than not. The magazine releases on the FM lower are much bigger than a stock GI release, and very easy to use. The ambi safety used GI style levers, which is fine. That’s all I ever use anyway.
The forward charging handle is neat, but I have literally decades of M16 and AR use so that took some getting used to for me. I did use it when I thought about it, but found myself just using the traditional rear mounted charging handle much of the time. Which is okay with the dual charge system. One thing the forward charging handle is really nice for though is for press checking the AR to check your chamber status. It’s way easier to do that with the forward charging handle than the rear mounted one.
Smooth is the word that comes to mind when you shoot the VFM-9. I have a traditional 9mm PCC built with mostly Spikes parts, as well as an H&R based Colt 635 clone in 9mm. Both are running heavy buffers. They’re not unpleasant to shoot by any means. But there is a noticeable difference between either of those and the Foxtrot Mike PCC. They have an 8 inch and 10.5 inch barrel respectively, and both weigh a good deal more than the VFM. Despite that both tend to recoil more. The VFM feels more like shooting a .22LR than it does a blow back 9mm. Recoil impulse is smooth and even, with very little if any muzzle climb. Everyone who shot it agreed, it’s an extremely easy and pleasant gun to shoot.
Follow up shots are easy, and even rapid fire strings tend to stay on target. The VFM-9 is just easy to shoot. The grip is hand filling and, especially with the textured grip panels, secure. I’ve been running the same grip on my .45 build with my suppressed upper for about a year now. I have a 10mm upper I use with that build as well.
As far as my support hand goes, I’d typically grip it just ahead of the mag well. There isn’t a lot of space with it’s 4 inch handguard, but it is just enough. My thumb tends to settle into the front MLOK groove on the left side of the rail. The blade of my hand rests along the angled magazine well. I can easily apply rearward pressure for added stability that way. I’m tempted to try an A3 Tactical +10 Modular Foregrip, which makes it 100 degrees, so not vertical. That should be okay, but it’d be nice if we could just repeal the NFA and not worry about it.
Accuracy Testing
I can hit pop cans steadily at 25 yards and send them bouncing around the backstop. That’s good enough for me. But in the interest of science, and not getting beat up in the comments, I did sit down at the bench and shoot some groups on paper.
The Meprolight MCO PRO proved to be a great fit for the VFM-9, as I expected. I selected the circle dot reticle, and found it very easy to pick up. There’s plenty of brightness adjustment for any lighting situation. I shot it on bright sunny days, overcast ones, and right before dusk. Optics quality from Meprolight is excellent, as I expected. The Shake Awake feature works like a champ too. Any time I picked up the gun the optic was ready to go.
I installed the MMX3 when I did my bench work. Then left it on and used it for some offhand shooting. Like the sight itself, optics quality was clear and there was no distortion. As advertised in the specs, you can easily use it with both eyes open, and maintain your field of view down range.
I had a half dozen different loads I used for accuracy testing. They included Federal’s 124gr TMJ Syntech, Freedom Munition’s 124gr JHP, Lehigh Defense’s 115gr XTP load designed for 5 inch barrels, the Remington Range 124gr FMJ and Golden Saber 124gr BJHP, and Wilson’s 135gr HBFN load which was also designed for 5 inch barrels. I used a mix of Glock OEM, Magpul, and XTech magazines for my testing. The VFM-9 was boringly reliable throughout testing, regardless of ammo of magazine combination. That’s a good testament to Foxtrot Mike, but also to the ammo and mags used. When it comes to reliability I like boring.
Overall accuracy was very good out of a 5 inch barrel. My VFM-9 liked the Remington loads the best. My best group of the day was a 3/4″ group with the Remington Golden Saber load. It should have been a half inch group but a flier opened it up a touch. The Remington Range load was right behind it with 7/8″ groups. Federal came in third with the Syntech loads and the 1 1/8″ groups it produced. The Lehigh Defense and Freedom Munitions loads both checked in with 1 5/8″ groups. The heavier Wilson brought in a still respectable 1 3/4″ group. Basically everything grouped within about a half inch of each other regardless of load or bullet weight.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m very impressed with the Foxtrot Mike VFM-9. I have two short barreled 9mm PCC’s already, and just built a 16 inch one. Despite that, I plan on buying my test gun. It has features that none of my other guns do. None of them shoot as smoothly as the VFM, and none fold down anywhere near as small. They all have collapsible stocks, but they don’t have a receiver with folder assembly built in.
I’m curious to see how well the VFM-9 will work with an FRT trigger. And want to run it suppressed as well. I didn’t want to do either one yet. FRT’s can be finicky, and installing the suppressor means swapping out the muzzle device. Once it’s officially mine I’ll start tinkering further. I suspect it’ll be a good platform for both things though.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for an incredibly smooth shooting PCC with above average features for a very competitive price, then the Foxtrot Mike delivers with the VFM-9. If you aren’t a 9mm fan, the release of the .45 ACP VFM-45 is now an option too!
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