FNS 9C shooting low and left after recall repair

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TomJ

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I have a FNS 9C that I've owned for years. I've always shot it as accurately as any of my other guns. FNS had a recall on the striker assembly (they termed it a voluntary upgrade), and since I received it back from the recall it consistently shoots low and left. I've been to the range with it and a number of other guns and the FNS is the only one I have this issue with, so I don't think it's me. I've measured the sights with a caliper, and they are centered. It comes with two back straps, and it has the same issue regardless of which back strap I use. I have a potential buyer for it but am holding off selling it as I'm not comfortable selling a gun that may have an issue. I spoke with FNS, and they're telling me they did nothing to it that would cause this problem but they're willing to take a look at it. Before I take the time to send it in and take a day off of work to wait for it when they send it back I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what may be causing this.
 
I have no idea what that could be. My FN pistols have been some of the most accurate handguns i have every owned.

That's a weird one.
 
I have no idea what that could be. My FN pistols have been some of the most accurate handguns i have every owned.

That's a weird one.

It is. To add to the confusion, I was also shooting my FNS 40 Saturday, which was spot on.
 
Does the trigger pull feel different than before? Lots of people shoot striker guns a little off depending on how the trigger breaks. Depending on just how harshly it breaks, it can really make a difference. I always shot most Glocks a little left unless I used a (-) connector, or now a (•) connector.
 
Does the trigger pull feel different than before? Lots of people shoot striker guns a little off depending on how the trigger breaks. Depending on just how harshly it breaks, it can really make a difference. I always shot most Glocks a little left unless I used a (-) connector, or now a (•) connector.

It's always had a good trigger, but where it was just a little gritty before it's not now. The difference is negligible.
 
It's always had a good trigger, but where it was just a little gritty before it's not now. The difference is negligible.

I’m at a loss then. Do you have a laser bore sight?
 
LOW LEFT is what most people NEW to striker-fired guns start with. The fact that you don't have that experience with your FNS-40 certainly complicates things. :)

Are you using the same sight picture with both guns?

I got my FNS-9C back from the upgrade but haven't shot it since then. I'll see if I have a similar experience this week, if I can make it to the range.
 
I have a laser bore sight and just checked the sights. They're good.

That makes me think it’s the trigger and how it interacts with the replaced striker assembly. I could be wrong.

Does it break without a noticeable jump of the front sight?
 
That makes me think it’s the trigger and how it interacts with the replaced striker assembly. I could be wrong.

Does it break without a noticeable jump of the front sight?

The front sight isn’t moving when I dry fire it.
 
it is strange, especially since you've had it for years and you've probably shot it a lot.

if using the sights for aiming, check everything that has to do with barrel to slide lock-up, everything, including anything that wasn't or shouldn't be there, including the rear but also the muzzle end and slide.

if snap-shooting, check everything having to do with slide to frame mating. as I recall those have replaceable/removable parts in the grip. anything strange there or the rails that's damaged or different.

you probably would have noticed any of this though, probably would have noticed anything strange with the sights too.
 
Losing a little grit or pull weight could do enough to your trigger mechanics to slightly change your point of impact. Worth more exploration, at least.

Did you have the same results when shooting with your weak hand? Any change with a slight change to trigger finger placement?
 
I tried different backstraps as well as finger placement and shot it off a rest, as I wanted to take the human element out of the equation as much as possible.
 
Does it shoot tight groups low and left, or just a pattern spreading in that direction?
 
Does it shoot tight groups low and left, or just a pattern spreading in that direction?

It’s tight groups, and is consistent in where the rounds are hitting.

I haven’t had the chance to have someone else shoot it.
 
Time to contact FN-America to see if they've got a replacement rear sight that will bring it up the required distance. (The left-part of the POI can be adjusted by shifting the sight to the right.)

If you haven't seen it before, the Brownells Sight Correction Calculator will tell you (so you can tell FN) exactly how much the rear sight has to be raised. Here's a link. Click on the image of the input fields, and it'll open a app that lets you input the specifics for your weapon. It's all done in INCHES!
 
Does anyone have an explanation for why poi would change after the recall work, other than something to do with trigger pull? The only variable seems to be the trigger mechanism, on a gun that was accurate before the recall. (Unless I'm showing my ignorance.)

And I don't think tightness of group means it is necessarily a sight-relation-to-bore issue, when there isn't evidence the sights or barrel have been changed. And if I am consistent with a finger placement that isn't ideal for a grip or trigger, my groups may still be small.

Before switching sights, I would still double-check with my week hand, another shooter, and lighter, higher-velocity ammo (if possible) to reduce dwell time.
 
Does anyone have an explanation for why poi would change after the recall work, other than something to do with trigger pull? The only variable seems to be the trigger mechanism, on a gun that was accurate before the recall. (Unless I'm showing my ignorance.).

You summed it up well. I’m going to bring it to the range and shoot it as well as my FNS 40, and send the 9c along with the target back to FNS so they can see what it’s doing and the difference in the POI between the two.
 
FNS had a recall on the striker assembly (they termed it a voluntary upgrade), and since I received it back from the recall it consistently shoots low and left.
Did they send a repair tag along with the pistol, to show what parts they replaced?
 
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