FN 509...new gun issues

[GlockFan]

I picked it up from my ffl last night and could see some problems immediately. I have 2 obvious ones and 1 that may work itself out.

First, one of the rear luminescent sight dots was not completely filled in. This should have been easily spotted during inspection. After i charged the sights with light, there was almost no glow on the left side.

Second, and has been reported by others, the left side magazine release is extremely difficult to operate. I have no problem with the right side. Here is where it gets interesting. I also have a FNS so I put the 509 mags in that gun. No problems. Both magazine buttons eject the 509 mags as they do with FNS mags. So I went ahead and swapped the bases. Now, the FNS mag works fine in the 509. The left side release feels the same as the right. There is a different texture/finish to these 2 mags also. I think the 509s are dull, rougher and not the same quality as the FNS. The FNSs have a slicker feel to them. So I guess the issue with the magazine release could be magazines. I don't see how a "break in" period could help this.

Last is the trigger. There is nothing special about it. It feels gritty and heavier than the FNS. The FNS does have some use so, on this, I could see how a break in might help it smooth out.

Saying this, I do like the gun a lot. It is beefier and feels more substantial. If I can have FN address my problems I would be happy.

 

[Fiv3r]

That's a bummer about the 509 having a few issues. I was SO close to buying one a few weeks ago. I was looking to buy a full size gun to pull carry duty while the SIG 320 issues are worked out. However, I decided that I wanted to buy something a bit cheaper as the SIG really is my favorite pistol to shoot. The higher price tag on the 509 is the only reason why I didn't try one and went with the Ruger instead.

FNH makes a heckova gun, though.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I'm fighting with myself right now about buying a 509. I just bought a Beretta APX. I don't need the 509, but then I didn't need the APX, just wanted it. I guess I just need to want a 509 a little more.
Keep us posted on how things work out.

 

[stchman]

IMO, there just isn't enough to warrant buying a 509 if one has an FNS-9.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If I were you, I'd join the FN Forum, here> http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-handguns-forum/ There are a number of new FN-509 owners there and they typically work out problems pretty quickly. I don't remember the mag quirk you discovered/described (i.e. that changing the base plates improves things when the mags are switched) hasn't been mentioned there, but they have complained about the ambi releases being a problem. You might find a couple of guys there who have some solutions, based on your input and descriptions.

I think the trigger will clean up pretty quickly -- but there are guys (in the FN-509 or FNS sections of the FN Forum) who have learned how to smooth out the FNS triggers quickly, and the FN-509 and FNS systems seem to be very closely related. (I have an FNS-40 and an FNS-40L)..

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The 509 I handled had a gritty crappy trigger. However I've heard that this issue smooths out over a bit of time.

No input on the other issues. Sorry for the problems.

 

[GlockFan]

I did come across the fnforum while googling my issues and will check them out. I took some pictures of the magazines and sights and will try to post them here. I am bummed about the magazine/release issue. I see no physical changes to the magazines just new floor plates, and the rougher finish. The sights do lose the luminescent charge very fast. I will probably get night sights anyhow if I plan on keeping the gun around. I will be honest though and say I expected a bit better seeing all the hype it got.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The sights do lose the luminescent charge very fast.

Factory photoluminescent sights aren't worth crap. CZ used to do that on their guns, too -- but I don't know if they still do. (There are some BETTER photolumnescent paints available, but I'm not sure how effective they are. It's been discussed on the S&W Forum, and I've tried one of the recommended brands-- and that brand does work better than the stuff that comes on the guns from the factory.)

If you can find some, the Tru-Glo sights (which have a tritium vial AND a fibre-optic rod between the vial and the shooter) makes for a really effective sight in both day and night use.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

RE: difficult to release mags...

I mentioned this on the FN Forum, too:

Coil springs (and mag springs are a type of coil spring) take a SET after a bit of use. It may be that simply leaving the mag fully loaded for a while may speed the process.

The strong mag spring presses UP against the underside of the slide when the mag is fully loaded and that, in turn, means the mag is being pressed down against the release mechanism. That will make pressing the slide release more difficult.

Down-loading the mag 3-4 of rounds will tell you if its the SPRING that's causing the mag problem, and leaving the mag loaded should reduce the tension a bit if THAT seems to be the case.