No love for FN?

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nebeel

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This is something that I've been curious about lately. There is a lot of press, interest, and LE use of both the Glock & M&P lines of pistols. There doesn't seem (at least to me) to be nearly the amount of interest and use of the FNS/FNX lines of pistols.

Is there a reason for this? Is quality inferior? Price seems to be in the same general area so I don't see this as being a huge factor.
 
I like the FN pistols. I bought one for a house gun because of the ambidextrous controls. My wife is a lefty. They have good capacity and are quite accurate. I (and the wife) have a few thousand rounds through it and no problem.
Who doesn't love a pistol that holds 15+1 of 45acp!!
 
I fell for the FN pistols. On paper they have all the features needed to make them the perfect gun. Price was reasonable considering the features too. Unfortunately I found both accuracy and reliability to be below par.
 
I think they are probably pretty good guns. However, it is tough keeping up with the model changes. It seems they've been through the FN, FNP, FNX, FNS, FNG (just kidding on that last one), in what seems like the last five years.

It would be fine I suppose if they were merely trim changes, but I don't think many of the parts interchange, and I'm not sure the mags are even compatable across the alphabet soup of names.
 
I have an FNP40 and haven't had any problems with it. I understand that Greenville S.C. PD is now using FN'S as duty weapons.
 
I got an FNP-45 shortly after they were released. The only "complaint" I had about it was I intended it for a carry gun and that much .45 is heavy! It functioned perfectly, but I sold it in favor of something lighter.
 
I fell for the FN pistols. On paper they have all the features needed to make them the perfect gun. Price was reasonable considering the features too. Unfortunately I found both accuracy and reliability to be below par.
Do you mind if I ask what the reliability issues were?
 
FN, the S&W of Belguim...

They're kinda French, kinda not...but they're tough and make guns that work,
usually at MILSPEC quality...meaning eats anything, accuracy on par with the average Ruger.

Usually pretty good quality, but as with all mass-produced weapons, expect a few duds.
If you get a dud, send it in for repair. They'll fix it. That's what warranties are for.
 
I have 2 FNS handguns they have been flawless and I think they are underrated, I think
they sell a lot of weapons to the military and don't advertise/ push the civilian side
as hard as say the glocks or mp.
 
I love my FNH pistols. I've got a 9mm FNX and an FNS 40. Fantastic shooters. Reliable, accurate, and feel so fantastic in the hand.
 
Big Shrek FN, the S&W of Belguim...
More like the S&W of the world. And that gives S&W more credit than it deserves. FN has been the preeminent supplier of small arms to the free world for decades.



They're kinda French, kinda not
Kinda French like the USA is kinda Canadian?:rolleyes:
 
FNS....

I'm left handed & would buy a new/unfired FNS in .40 or 9x19mm if possible.
They are robust, well engineered & have many + reviews.
The -s are they don't have a lot of holster/gear choices like Glocks, M&Ps, SIGs & few people know of them.
I like the newer long slide pistol without the safety but the standard stainless steel pistol is fine.

It would be a tough choice between a new FNS & a PPQ for a sidearm.
 
I think that the main problem that most have with FN is that they charge too much for their pistols. The quality is good but IMO is not better than lesser priced pistols from respectable makers like the Springfield XDM and S&W M&P Pro series.
 
More like the S&W of the world. And that gives S&W more credit than it deserves. FN has been the preeminent supplier of small arms to the free world for decades.




Kinda French like the USA is kinda Canadian?:rolleyes:
Let's not forget that the Browning HiPower is/was/always has been made by FN. Just marketed in the US by Browning.
 
Maybe it is just marketing that doesn't put them in the forefront like done manufacturers. I know they are huge in the manufacturing world especially for militaries.

I have debated getting one to try for a couple years. Would probably go with the FNX done I prefer hammer fired pistols.
 
Money, LEO's at least around me put a contract out saying they need 30 new duty pistols and the manufacturers put out a bid on them and they usually go with the lowest. Usually it ends up around here being glock or m&p's. My friends dept got xdm's and there was almost a revolt over that because no one wanted the Croatian gun.

I see fn ads about the same as I see hk ads.

Plus fn does a ton of gov't contract work
 
Can anyone recommend a FN that would be good for CCW?

Or, something for range, 3Gun, or competition use?

Point being, a lot like HK, they don't cater to the consumer market much in pistols. What they sell is duty guns. Most of the stuff they made their reputation on is now sold as old stuff to collectors. Same for HK - biggest props they get now is the P7, long out of production. Nothing else like it on the market or even similar in the lineup.

Price is an issue, too. The exchange rate and possibly there country's taxes and what amount they can export gets involved on their end (especially HK.) I don't think FN is as bad off but it still goes to what are they selling that is a direct competitor to the LCP/Kimber/SIG P938? Notably absent.

No cute kids in that family, they are all grown up. No problem with them at work, but nothing you'd want to go on vacation to Disney World with. As opposed to the Shield, XD, Storm, Glock, etc., so to speak.

Since they depend on Gov't contract and major runs of a few models, they don't play the Gun of the Month Club at SHOT, so, they don't get put into the hopper for our attention in the media.
 
Interesting designs with some great features and all the ones I have examined appear to be very well built. It's just for me the grip frames on both the FNS and FNX feel as though they're too bulky and too large, for a 9mm./.40 caliber platform. The .45 version is even more uncomfortable and difficult for me to handle, small hands notwithstanding.

And as Tirod pointed out, these are essentially service weapons so not really anything there in the line-up if your interests are more towards something for CCW.
 
There have been a few rumblings about a compact version, but I don't think it's going anywhere. Even then, it would be more in line with a G18 in terms of being concealable.

For me, even at the duty size, the FNS-40 is pretty concealable. It's got a 4" barrel and it quite a bit thinner than a comparable Glock. The FNX is a bit chunky. The ambi decocker really adds a bit of width. However, as has been said, FNH is more about duty gun contracts than winning the already heavily saturated CCW market.

The texture on the grip are a little extreme but not a "cheese grater", but everything else about them feels very solid and well made. I'd love to have an FNX-45 to round out my collection.
 
I agree with most folks here. I looked into an FNS-9 recently, particularly after the price drop - $450 for its quality would be a Glock-beater, except...

It's a service-pistol size, so basically a range pistol for a person who wants to CCW. I'm not saying you can't conceal it, just that the grip is a little harder to hide than some.

I haven't read anything good from people who have done a detail strip - it has small pins and pretty much a micro ball bearing for a small detent. That doesn't sound like much fun to me.

Finally, support seems to be sparse. Aftermarket stuff is hard to come by, and so is institutional knowledge of types of failures. I'm sure they can work them out, so I'll be watching for when that happens - just not now.
 
I think that the main problem that most have with FN is that they charge too much for their pistols.
Huh? I got my two-tone, stainless slide FNX-45 with 3 magazines for $663 out the door ... That's TOO much money? Compared to what? No manufacturer makes anything that compares with the FNX-45 (15 round magazines), a totally reliable, extremely accurate pistol with the H&K/Taurus style frame-mounted de-cocking safety, capable of being carried cocked and locked.

Really, the FNS/FNX platform may not suit everyone, but give it a try -- I think most would be pleasantly surprised.
45s010_zpsaa35d686.jpg

The -s are they don't have a lot of holster/gear choices like Glocks, M&Ps, SIGs & few people know of them
Not true now, RS -- I found a plethora of choices, especially in kydex, for the FNX-45, and the major production leather guys (Galco, DeSantis, et al) have jumped onboard with some good choices as well.
 
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Never really tried one. When the .45 version came out, reviews were saying how large the grip circumference is and since I have short fingers it didn't make much sense for me to even check it out.
 
I got an FNX-40 because of the ambidetrous features. My son is a southpaw, and I've decided I'm done getting rid of guns. I'll only aquire them now.

I find the FNX-40 just as accurate as my Kimber Tactical Custom II. I am very happy with it.
 
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