FN PS90: made in woodsheds by drunken monkeys ?

[asiparks]

Everynow and then I get the urge to buy something that I don't really need and this time I was thinking, for whatever reason... PS90. Now, I already have a grown up AR and a sensible M1, both of which were made with pieces that looked as though they belonged to approximately the same gun, assembled with an eye to keeping gaps small enough so avoid losing your change down them, and with barrels confidently secured in such a way as they wouldn't wobble or rotate with gentle fingertip pressure...
Maybe the 3 samples (2 green, 1 black) were assembled during a particularly distracting soccer match at 5:30 on a friday night before a 2 week holiday, but the quality of the top sight assembly with its uneven stampings and blobby unfinished castings wouldn't have made it past QC on a $150 Hi Point. The plastic reciever had sharp molding lines and the main pieces looked misaligned and finally I could rotate the barrel about 8 or 9 degrees. I was really looking forward to a new toy but just couldn't get past the hilarious quality. I have a collegue with a Tokyo Marui airsoft replica that is made wayyyyy better than the real one. Are they all like this ?

 

[zero_chances]

i have never liked them, but i have not handled one myself to answer your question. i cant beleive that they would be like that though

 

[taliv]

the barrel is supposed to rotate. the finish on the sight is a little mottled, but it's supposed to be like that. i don't think much of the black finish, but my green one is quite nice. no sharp lines or molding issues on mine.

 

[gbran]

Made in woodsheds?

[/IMG]

 

[Ivy Mike]

that sounds very odd.

I own two FN pistols and the quality on those is top notch. Easily on par with HK and Glock

 

[asiparks]

FN has a high reputation- so I was expecting a lot. Why does the barrel rotate ? I 'm a little old fashioned but it's disconcerting to say the least. The sight on the black one looked as though it had been given 3 thick uneven coats of Hammerite, the green stocked ones were a little better, but consistancy was lacking- why on earth is it supposed to be like that ? Tactical mottling ? I really wanted to like this rifle, i love the way it handles and the way it, (from a distance), looks but it just seems like it was slapped together very quickly and for $1600 I'd expect more

Hey gbran - you're in Cali so I have to ask : Is that yours, is it airsoft ? And if I ever do get one I'll SBR it for that shorter barrel....

 

[rockstar.esq]

I'd wager you've stumbled into the exception rather than the rule. It's hard to tell from your post whether you are talking about three rifles or just one. In any event the only one I've manhandled was at a gun show and it was free of any of the defects you mentioned. Upon further contemplation I must confess that I never tried to rotate the barrel so I can't speak to that. However FN has a reputation to protect and I'd be surprised to hear that they ignored a QC issue. Perhaps you could contact them and see if they'll do anything to get things in order for you. Good luck.

 

[EvisceratorSrB]

I don't want to hijack the thread but while we are on the PS90, I don't understand how the rounds are fed through the magazine from the top. Aren't the rounds placed sideways? If someone could explain this to me once and for all I might be able to sleep

 

[asiparks]

sorry, let me clarify- 3 rifles 1 black, 2 OD. All looked sucky. Maybe it's not QC maybe as Taliv said, perhaps they're supposed to look that way and the barrel is not supposed to be firmly fixed, but it was a big surprise and it gives the impression of shodiness... here's a couple of pics I borrowed from GA of another PS90, (sorry if it's your auction ), they're not super clear, but they kinda show the finish on the metal. You'd laugh at someone if they tried to sell you a $600 AR with finish like that...

Guess I'm just peeved that after looking forward to one of these for ages, it was all a bit of a disappointment....
Evis' there is a rotating "turntable" in the mag, operated by a cam linked to the bolt in the receiver that spins the round through 90 degrees everytime the action is cycled...clever stuff..

 

[taliv]

if you don't believe me about the barrel, go read fivesevenforum.com
every n00b's first post is "OMG!! MY BARRRELLS BROOKEN!!


my question for you is after seeing the rifles and being dissatisfied with the finish, why did you buy THREE of them?

 

[dleong]

I saw and handled a number of the PS90s at a recent gunshow here, and was also surprised at the shoddy finish of the top sight assembly. Other people who handled the rifles also commented likewise.

Definitely not worth $1600, in my opinion.

 

[jerkface11]

Looks like they gave it the Krylon touch and used 3 or 4 heavy coats.

 

[asiparks]

Taliv, why don't you actually read my post- I didn't buy any of them because of the quality. Noob or not, anyone who's used to any rifle, be it AK, AR or bolt action would be suprised by a barrel that moves so freely. So please explain to this noob, what's the functional purpose of having the barrel rotate, and why is the finish "supposed to be like that" ie, crappy ?

 

[dfaugh]

I've only seen/handled one, at a local gunshow. It's a little weird at first, but it appeared to have a fairly decent fit and finish. I didn't get to play with it long though, as the was a line of guys waiting to look at it!

 

[Limeyfellow]

don't want to hijack the thread but while we are on the PS90, I don't understand how the rounds are fed through the magazine from the top. Aren't the rounds placed sideways? If someone could explain this to me once and for all I might be able to sleep

The round drops down from the magazine and is rotated 90 degrees as it enters the breech and then the loading mechanism returns back to vertically ready to accept the next round.

 

[AZ Jeff]

Based on the photos in this thread, it looks to me like the sight mount is an investment casting that is painted/coated directly, with minimal secondary machining. While it looks rough, it's done for reasons of economy/utility.

Government buyers don't care about fit and finish the same way commercial buyers do. They are more concerned with reliability/durability, and cost.

 

[amusthj]

PS90 - not impressed

+1

Not impressed with the samples I held either. Ugly cast marks on the steel and significant flashing on the seams of the plastic. Honestly, it looked reminded me of the zinc alloy cap guns I played with as a kid.

It is obvious FN crams as many of them down their assembly line as possible.

$1600 pays for the name, the design, and the bragging rights. Quality and craftsmanship not included.

 

[asiparks]

agreed AZ Jeff, which would all be well and good except that it's a $1500-$1600 weapon....

 

[hksw]

Based on the photos in this thread, it looks to me like the sight mount is an investment casting that is painted/coated directly, with minimal secondary machining. While it looks rough, it's done for reasons of economy/utility.

Right you are, however, being a gun that is at least $1600, economics shouldn't play a big roll in a major component of the gun, particularly on a part that will advertise the company's manufacturing capabilities and quality.

I have a PS90 on reserve with a local dealer for the past few months and if it doesn't turn up, I think I would be better off without it and not be heart broken. The friend who got me the deal had purchased one of the very few they had and after examining it thoroughly, was a bit disappointed considering the price you pay. (Didn't tell this to my friend, however.) What was a big turn-off was the cast upright. Can't get past that, incredibly ugly. The optical sights were quite a bit off on my friend's gun by about 1.5' (1:30-2:00 very low) at 50 yds. Unfortunately, his did not come with the tool necessary to adjust the sight. Didn't try the built-in iron sights. Otherwise, the gun functioned OK. If the subject comes up with the dealer concerning the one I have reserved, I'm going to tell him I'll pass.

 

[B yond]

just gotta get my $0.02 in here...

I've never had a chance to play with one of these guns, but almost every plastic/polymer gun I've owned needed a little sanding at the seams. I think that's pretty common.

 

[CornCod]

I don't worry about.....

I don't worry about things like cast marks and the like. When it comes to guns, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. In other words, how does it shoot and is the interesting new round effective? This is, after all, a combat weapon, even if insanely overpriced.

 

[Shipwreck]

The monkeys who made it were no drunk - they were only slightly inebriated on that particular day

 

[the naked prophet]

I've never had a chance to play with one of these guns, but almost every plastic/polymer gun I've owned needed a little sanding at the seams. I think that's pretty common.

Hmmm... my wife's Glock 27, my Glock 19, my wife's Bushmaster AR15, my polymer AK furniture... nope, none of them had any sharp flashing, or required any sanding at the seams. My first gun, a Kel-Tec P11, had very, very minor flashing issues. I just scraped it off with my pocketknife, but I expected that in a $250 pistol. I would not buy a $500 pistol with that problem. And certainly not a $1500 rifle.

 

[BlkHawk73]

I'd much rather have reliabilty than a high quality finish. This isn't a show gun, it's not (intend, but probrly bought) to impress the masses at the range. It's designed as a military/law enforcement firearm. even in civilian trim, it's more of a utilitarian firearm rather than a fashion piece. I'd worry less about the finish.

 

[hksw]

I'd much rather have reliabilty than a high quality finish. This isn't a show gun, it's not (intend, but probrly bought) to impress the masses at the range. It's designed as a military/law enforcement firearm. even in civilian trim, it's more of a utilitarian firearm rather than a fashion piece. I'd worry less about the finish.

Generally speaking, I'm the same. However, for $1600+, I'll get something else.