Alright, let’s dive into the Fox Trop Mike Ranch Rifle, a gun that’s not just another AR-15 but a clever way to exercise your Second Amendment rights, even in the most restrictive states. If you’re in California, New York, or any other state with strict gun laws, you know the struggle. Fox Trop Mike, or FM for short, looked at the problem and said, “Hold my beer.” They took the classic Ranch Rifle and gave it a modern makeover, making something that would appeal not just to folks in slave states but to all gun enthusiasts.
So, how exactly did Fox Trop Mike earn their spurs? The original Ranch Rifle was the Ruger Mini-14, a rugged, reliable, and lightweight semi-auto rifle in an intermediate cartridge like .223, perfect for pest control, varmint hunting, and protecting livestock. Now, there are a bunch of competitors in this space, which makes sense. Lots of companies have a vested interest in making gun grabber-proof semi-autos.
Because the Fox Trop Mike uses a Remington 870 style shotgun stock, it’s not affected by many of the laws put into place to restrict AR-15 style rifles. The American-made FM Ranch Rifle is literally about half the price of its competitors like CMMG, FightLite, and Sig Sauer. The base model is under $1,000, and their fancy version is under $1,500. And my paw always said, “It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep.”
There are a bunch of different configurations depending on your budget and feature needs. They even sell separate lowers and uppers. But because I’m a fancy [__], I got the most expensive version with a WO stock and a Hyperfire trigger. I do want to say, though, I haven’t tested every version that they have, just this specific rifle.
This rifle doesn’t use a buffer system. A smaller bolt and forward springs handle your recoil. This is how it works with the shotgun stock. In addition to their own side-charging uppers, it should work with any other bufferless uppers like the BRN-180. The charging handle is non-reciprocating, meaning it doesn’t go back and forth with the bolt. They didn’t skimp on materials. The receivers are 7075-T6 with a Type 3 anodize. The 16-inch, 1:8 twist .223 Wylde barrel is a premium match grade 4150 chrome moly vanadium, vacuum stress relieved, Melonite coated, and has a burnished chamber. Now, to break that down, it means it’s great. But to make it simple for the all hat, no cattle crowd, the steel is great for heat resistance, vacuum stress relief helps maintain accuracy as the barrel heats, and the coating is to reduce wear and ensure smooth extraction. Wear-resistant chamber, it’s all good, partner.
The barrel comes with a four-port brake that honestly works a little too good. There’s definite downward movement as you’re firing. You can really feel that push, and while it is really effective, it made it slightly tougher to get fast follow-on shots when shooting unsupported. It has a proprietary 9130 pre-hard steel bolt that gets the same vacuum treatment and coating as the barrel, with an S7 tool steel firing pin and extractor. Basically, tough as a $2 steak.
As far as furniture, you can get a Hogue stock, Magpul stock, and the WO stock that I got. Pretty much whatever fits a Remington 870 is going to fit this. Mine has a 15-inch M-LOK handguard that feels really solid and matches the finish of the receivers well. The trigger is not a standard AR trigger. They have two options on their site, and I have the one that they teamed up with Hyperfire to produce. I got to say, Hyperfire is my favorite trigger company, and even on this non-standard configuration, it is awesome with just a little bit over a 3-pound pull, a clean break, and a perceptible reset. It feels great, and I was able to shoot fast when I wanted to. The trigger pivots from the bottom and breaks from the top, so it is a bit different from what we normally see, but it works really well.
But here’s the million-dollar question: how does all this techno jargon translate to real-world performance? Well, let’s not let the grass grow under our boots now. The rifle I received was pre-production, and in the beginning, I did have a couple of issues with extraction. So, I talked with the guys over at Fox Trop Mike, and they sent me an updated bolt and springs that match their current production version. Once I installed those parts, it ran like wild horses. I have just under 1,800 rounds through it, and it’s important to me that after I upgrade any parts, I have to start the review over from step one, so it took longer than usual.
The manual says to keep it clean and wet, unlike your mom, but ain’t nobody got time for that. I did clean it after I upgraded the bolt and springs, but after that, never did, and she’s still running smoother than a greased pig at a county fair. The reliability after I got the new parts is lights out. I shot lots of no-name ammo through it, and it did great. The only ammunition I had issues with is Armscor, and I have issues with their .223 in every gun that I use it in. I’m just trying to get through it; I have a bunch.
Accuracy was also great. I shot a bunch from various distances, and I’m confident that it is more than effective. Now, the manual of arms on this is different, as you might expect. The safety is a reversible, looking out for the lefties, shotgun-style barrel safety, meaning it moves back and forth from each side of the receiver. Super easy to get used to. Now, where it changes things up is the magazine release. It’s run in tactical style. It’s not as fluid of a reload as a standard AR-15, but it’s not trying to be. I found the best way for me is to drop to port arms or stock held between my body, break my firing grip, hit the mag release with my strong hand, insert the mag with the other, then the bolt release, then back to task. They tell me that you can get a different ambi mag release to make it even more fluid, but it just didn’t bug me enough to replace it. I probably will at some point, but right now, I’m pretty happy. I’ve run every magazine that I have in this, and they all fed and dropped free. Smooth talking and easy walking.
We live in a time where AR-15s are one of the guns most in common use in the United States. Sometimes, something different is a breath of fresh air. My setup is pretty basic. I’m running a Gideon Optics Guardian second focal plane LPVO on top. I added a leather cheek riser because with the optic mount, it just ran a bit high. I had to punch a hole in the leather for the QD sling mount that’s built into the stock, and I asked my wife to make me a leather sling because she’s awesome, and I thought it would be cooler. I was right. Added an M-LOK QD socket to the rail, and I was rolling like a tumbleweed twister.
The FM guns have a transferable full lifetime warranty, but there is a clause that says modifications will void the warranty. So, does that mean a new mag release or a new muzzle device or whatever voids the warranty? Yeah, I guess that’s my question too. Boilerplate language like that does bug me. I understand why they do it and that they don’t want to be liable for damage caused by third-party accessories and idiots with Dremels, but language that allows them to not cover unrelated issues seems sus. I hope they take a look at that clause. It’s paragraph 2, by the way. You know, every trail has a pothole or two.
Real talk, I’ve seen some controversy online with other dudes and Fox Trop Mike, but I can only speak to my specific situation. We’re tired and bark on a tree now. I’ve reached out with questions on nights, weekends, and always got prompt responses, video call explanations, overnighted parts, and honestly, I’ve never had one negative thing to say. I’m not discounting anyone else or denying their situations. I’m just speaking for myself, and I only mention it because I believe in full disclosure of all aspects of my experience. A man’s only good as his word.
Now, thankfully, at this point, I don’t have much compliance to worry about, but I know if I did, there’s likely a configuration of the Ranch Rifle that I could use. And I want to reiterate two points here, though. This isn’t law-proof. Gun grabbers will continue to play the shell game with our constitutional rights, and companies will adapt to allow us choices. A wink’s as good as a nod to a blind horse. I don’t even know what that means. And second, this isn’t an AR replacement and was never meant to be. It’s an option, not just for slave states but for other folks that like the different aesthetic and want something cool. It can make a preacher cuss and a sinner pray.
So, let me break this down for you. The pros: I truly enjoy this gun. It looks cool, runs good, and is a definite conversation starter. But above that, it’s absolutely solid compliance. The Second Amendment is for every American. Performance, it is a beast. Finally, price, and this is probably one of the greatest things, it’s made for the everyman and it’s priced for him too. Like seriously, I’m perplexed how they price them so well with them being so good and all.
And the cons: this is nitpicky, but the muzzle brake works too well. I’d like a little bit more of an even impulse as opposed to the distinct downward push. And, like I just said, the accessory clause of the warranty. I don’t think it’s malicious; it just goes a little too far in my opinion. But you know, lawyers gonna law.
So, what’s the final verdict? Well, I’d say Fox Trop Mike just proved that sometimes the smartest player in the game isn’t the biggest or the oldest; it’s the one who knows how to play by the rules and still come out ahead. But hey, don’t just take my word for it. Why don’t you tell me what you think? Have you tried any of these Ranch Rifles? I want to hear your thoughts.
