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Posted: 6/11/2023 2:10:16 PM EDT
I have had a FM-9 in the box for longer than I should admit and finally got it out.
Initially ran 10 round belts through it to ensure function but once I hooked up a larger belt or tried to run a 150 round bag the belt would pull apart. Specifically, the belt inside the feed chute would pull apart by stretching the single arm of a link out, causing the belt to separate. This was consistently at the point between 3 rounds or so and the rest of the belt. The links and upper were purchased in 2019. Ammo was S&B 115gr. Semiauto, standard strength buffer spring and buffer. I've emailed Freedom Ordnance but thought I check here first. Any help would be appreciated. |
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[Last Edit: Third_Rail]
[#1]
Odd! Did you try the heavier buffer insert? It sounds like the reciprocal mass velocity is too high.
ETA: Wait - do the loaded belts easily clear the feed chute if you try it by hand or is there some imperfection in there hanging up? |
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[#2]
Yes, heavy buffer and carrier weight.
I thought about binding of the belt too but no restriction in feeding that I can tell. I've got a red springco spring in there now and a super heavy buffer weight and will give that a run next week to see if that slows down the system. If not then I'll try a hydraulic buffer combo that amphibian has used. Tried emailing Freedom Ordnance last week but no response. I don't know if there's something improved with the gen 2 top cover or maybe a bad batch of links. I've loaded up a bunch from my second bag of links to test as well. |
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[#3]
Out of curiosity - are you running with a can on there? Nothing is sticking out to me as far as being too unusual about your setup. Certainly nothing where it would be pulling the belt apart like that.
I've fired close to 10k rounds out of my Gen1 setup so far without any real issues and nothing repeatable like you're experiencing. Something is off but I have no clue what it is. |
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[#4]
No can, does it with both 12" and 16" barrels.
Still no response from Freedom Ordnance |
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[#5]
That's frustrating. You'd think there would be some level of support for a multi-thousand dollar upper!
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[#6]
Originally Posted By okent: I have had a FM-9 in the box for longer than I should admit and finally got it out. Initially ran 10 round belts through it to ensure function but once I hooked up a larger belt or tried to run a 150 round bag the belt would pull apart. Specifically, the belt inside the feed chute would pull apart by stretching the single arm of a link out, causing the belt to separate. This was consistently at the point between 3 rounds or so and the rest of the belt. The links and upper were purchased in 2019. Ammo was S&B 115gr. Semiauto, standard strength buffer spring and buffer. I've emailed Freedom Ordnance but thought I check here first. Any help would be appreciated. View Quote This sounds like either a heavy limiter spring on your belt bag or some out-of-spec links. |
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[#7]
Originally Posted By Trapshooter50: This sounds like either a heavy limiter spring on your belt bag or some out-of-spec links. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Trapshooter50: Originally Posted By okent: I have had a FM-9 in the box for longer than I should admit and finally got it out. Initially ran 10 round belts through it to ensure function but once I hooked up a larger belt or tried to run a 150 round bag the belt would pull apart. Specifically, the belt inside the feed chute would pull apart by stretching the single arm of a link out, causing the belt to separate. This was consistently at the point between 3 rounds or so and the rest of the belt. The links and upper were purchased in 2019. Ammo was S&B 115gr. Semiauto, standard strength buffer spring and buffer. I've emailed Freedom Ordnance but thought I check here first. Any help would be appreciated. This sounds like either a heavy limiter spring on your belt bag or some out-of-spec links. I didn't even think about the spring on the bags! Does the belt still pull apart without using the bags? |
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[#8]
Yes, pulls apart with or without using the bag.
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[#9]
The only thing that seems to make sense is something off about the feed chute.
Did they still not get back to you? |
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[#10]
Originally Posted By okent: Yes, pulls apart with or without using the bag. View Quote I don't know which post response you will see first, email me [email protected] |
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[#11]
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[#12]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: I don't know which post response you will see first, email me [email protected] View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Originally Posted By okent: Yes, pulls apart with or without using the bag. I don't know which post response you will see first, email me [email protected] See - that is what I expected from you. I'm still delighted with my upper and point people your way regularly with the availability questions I get about it. It's still my favorite plinker for regular use. Paging @okent - to make sure you see Josh's contact info! |
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[#13]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: See - that is what I expected from you. I'm still delighted with my upper and point people your way regularly with the availability questions I get about it. It's still my favorite plinker for regular use. Paging @okent - to make sure you see Josh's contact info! View Quote I was gone for awhile but I am back lol. New stuff is in the works and we still have parts and assemblies to support warranty. |
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[#14]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: I was gone for awhile but I am back lol. New stuff is in the works and we still have parts and assemblies to support warranty. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Originally Posted By Third_Rail: See - that is what I expected from you. I'm still delighted with my upper and point people your way regularly with the availability questions I get about it. It's still my favorite plinker for regular use. Paging @okent - to make sure you see Josh's contact info! I was gone for awhile but I am back lol. New stuff is in the works and we still have parts and assemblies to support warranty. Excellent to hear! I feared for a short while that perhaps it had been abandoned as a product - which would have been quite a waste. I've been nothing but happy with mine. I shoot it so much at times that I bring three barrels with me to swap out after every 200-400 rounds. Do you still sell the top cover/feed mechanism? I keep thinking about using it to make myself a LAD 7.62x25mm clone. |
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[#15]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Excellent to hear! I feared for a short while that perhaps it had been abandoned as a product - which would have been quite a waste. I've been nothing but happy with mine. I shoot it so much at times that I bring three barrels with me to swap out after every 200-400 rounds. Do you still sell the top cover/feed mechanism? I keep thinking about using it to make myself a LAD 7.62x25mm clone. View Quote Right now I believe we have everything as out of stock to save parts for warranty. We are currently working on a direction for the 9mm belt fed but there will be a resurgence. What that looks like I am not sure yet but whatever we do, we will support past customers when we figure it out lol. |
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[#16]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Right now I believe we have everything as out of stock to save parts for warranty. We are currently working on a direction for the 9mm belt fed but there will be a resurgence. What that looks like I am not sure yet but whatever we do, we will support past customers when we figure it out lol. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Excellent to hear! I feared for a short while that perhaps it had been abandoned as a product - which would have been quite a waste. I've been nothing but happy with mine. I shoot it so much at times that I bring three barrels with me to swap out after every 200-400 rounds. Do you still sell the top cover/feed mechanism? I keep thinking about using it to make myself a LAD 7.62x25mm clone. Right now I believe we have everything as out of stock to save parts for warranty. We are currently working on a direction for the 9mm belt fed but there will be a resurgence. What that looks like I am not sure yet but whatever we do, we will support past customers when we figure it out lol. Fair enough. If there's a mailing list for parts availability I'd love to sign up for that. Honestly I should have just bought an extra feed mechanism and top cover when you had them available. Oh well - live and learn! |
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[#17]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Fair enough. If there's a mailing list for parts availability I'd love to sign up for that. Honestly I should have just bought an extra feed mechanism and top cover when you had them available. Oh well - live and learn! View Quote There is a tab I just added to the menu for the waitlist. I was hidden on the product page and we already get a ton of people signing up daily. Now I am curious with it on the main menu how much that will increase lol |
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[#18]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: There is a tab I just added to the menu for the waitlist. I was hidden on the product page and we already get a ton of people signing up daily. Now I am curious with it on the main menu how much that will increase lol View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Fair enough. If there's a mailing list for parts availability I'd love to sign up for that. Honestly I should have just bought an extra feed mechanism and top cover when you had them available. Oh well - live and learn! There is a tab I just added to the menu for the waitlist. I was hidden on the product page and we already get a ton of people signing up daily. Now I am curious with it on the main menu how much that will increase lol I don't see anything as far as a notify me button on the individual product pages for the cover/feed tray/chute or the main FM-9 waitlist page. I did turn off all the script and ad blockers just in case - but nothing. I might be tech stupid though. |
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[#19]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: I don't see anything as far as a notify me button on the individual product pages for the cover/feed tray/chute or the main FM-9 waitlist page. I did turn off all the script and ad blockers just in case - but nothing. I might be tech stupid though. View Quote On the front page the menu at the top next to store you should see 9mm belt fed waitlist. That is for everything belt fed not just complete uppers. Check box everything you're looking for. |
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[#20]
Update: I got in touch with Josh and he is going to help figure out what the issue is.
Glad that the company is continuing to be available and support the product, even though I have had it sitting a closet for literally 3 years! Thanks Josh |
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[#21]
Originally Posted By okent: Update: I got in touch with Josh and he is going to help figure out what the issue is. Glad that the company is continuing to be available and support the product, even though I have had it sitting a closet for literally 3 years! Thanks Josh View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By okent: Update: I got in touch with Josh and he is going to help figure out what the issue is. Glad that the company is continuing to be available and support the product, even though I have had it sitting a closet for literally 3 years! Thanks Josh Excellent news! I knew it didn't seem right for no support to be available - not for something like this. Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: On the front page the menu at the top next to store you should see 9mm belt fed waitlist. That is for everything belt fed not just complete uppers. Check box everything you're looking for. It stopped at the 1k links option. I cleared the cache and that did it - so I was indeed being a tech idiot. |
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[#22]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Excellent news! I knew it didn't seem right for no support to be available - not for something like this. It stopped at the 1k links option. I cleared the cache and that did it - so I was indeed being a tech idiot. View Quote No I just added all the parts to the form you weren't doing anything wrong but our previous web company didn't understand people would want parts too. They also just had 150 round belt... forgetting the bag part. I recognize your name on the form did I sell you your belt fed when I was here before? |
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[#23]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: No I just added all the parts to the form you weren't doing anything wrong but our previous web company didn't understand people would want parts too. They also just had 150 round belt... forgetting the bag part. I recognize your name on the form did I sell you your belt fed when I was here before? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: Originally Posted By Third_Rail: Excellent news! I knew it didn't seem right for no support to be available - not for something like this. It stopped at the 1k links option. I cleared the cache and that did it - so I was indeed being a tech idiot. No I just added all the parts to the form you weren't doing anything wrong but our previous web company didn't understand people would want parts too. They also just had 150 round belt... forgetting the bag part. I recognize your name on the form did I sell you your belt fed when I was here before? You may well have! I don't recall which forum it was. WeaponsGuild or Weaponeer or maybe here. I bought it via pre-order which I very rarely do. I'm the weirdo who bought five thousand extra links to hand out and gin up more interest - because I love belt feed mechanisms and want it to be a commercial success. |
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[#24]
Originally Posted By Third_Rail: You may well have! I don't recall which forum it was. WeaponsGuild or Weaponeer or maybe here. I bought it via pre-order which I very rarely do. I'm the weirdo who bought five thousand extra links to hand out and gin up more interest - because I love belt feed mechanisms and want it to be a commercial success. View Quote The amount of people who bough 10k links and 10 belt bags from the full auto crowd was pretty common lol |
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[#25]
Originally Posted By 9mmBeltfed: The amount of people who bough 10k links and 10 belt bags from the full auto crowd was pretty common lol View Quote Fair point! I do hope I managed to get some extra interest going for those uppers though. I must have mailed off two hundred padded envelopes full of links to various people. In any case - I look forward to hearing from you when parts/links are eventually available for purchase once again. |
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[#26]
Any word on when the next batch of FM-9’s is due out?
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Never make another person a priority when they merely see you as an option...
"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs." |
[#27]
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