Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
I mentioned a while back that I had purchased an example of the new FN Police Shotgun (a Winchester 1300 clone, hereafter FNPS) on Gunbroker and promised you all a review once I had spent some time with it. Well, I picked it up at my dealer's establishment yesterday afternoon, and unboxed, field stripped and degreased/cleaned it last night as per instructions in the owner's manual. I have yet to fire it or spend enough time with it to formulate any opinions beyond first impressions. See manufacturer's information at http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/sg_police.htm for details on this shotgun and illustrations.
Note going into this exercise that I have an oft-expressed preference for the Remington 870. I have not abandoned my long established love for this the (IMHO) finest example of American repeating shotguns ever produced, nor do I intend to do so. But I work with people who often don't have a great deal of disposable income yet feel the need a protective firearm in the home, and the opportunity to obtain a ready-to-run fighting shotgun, new in the box for about $250, is something I cannot ignore IF the gun bears up. If Chuck Taylor can shoot a Glock, I can run this gun for a while to see how it does. There are several reliable makers of serious-purpose scatterguns out there these days, and we are all lucky in that regard. Most any example from any of the best known makers will serve more than adequately for the lifetime of the original purchaser and even longer, given proper care. Various folks hold preferences for one over another for various reasons, but a solid example of any of them is a worthy companion for times when things go badly. A personal preference one way or another should not rule out objectivity when considering the field of worthy candidates.
Note that 'stream of consciousness' as used in the title here usually means 'disorganized' as far as literature is concened. That's what you will get here- bits and pieces of the review as they occur to me or as events unfold and data comes in. This will take time, bear with me please.
It is my intention- if the FNPS proves itself reliable in initial use- to make this my 'one and only' working gun for the next few months, until I can gather enough data to complete this review. Lacking that information at this point, I will offer first impressions here and now FWIW.
This is the second new-in-the-box shotgun I have purchased thru Gunbroker. It is also likely my last. Both purchases were complicated by various problems, and more importantly in both cases the dealer did not actually supply what was offered for sale. In this case it was my impression that the gun PICTURED was the gun FOR SALE. That was not the case. What was pictured in the ad was the seven shot version (Stock #17674), what was delivered was the five shot version (Stock #17675). I believe in truth in advertising, and this standard was not met in this case. But the gun is here, the paperwork is done and I will live with it. The price was decent enough ($229 plus $20 shipping) not to complain about any further I think.
The FNPS comes packed in a standard cardboard box protected by a form-fitted styrofoam liner and tissue paper. It is shipped in a coating of protective grease that needs to be removed before use- I found that WD-40 did a reasonably good job of dissolving the heavy brown coating from surfaces inside and out. The owner's manual strongly suggests cleaning the gun before initial firing is undertaken- were it in my power I would INSIST that this be done, with all new shotguns. There were a couple of places where the 'cosmoline' was thick enough in the bore of my example of the FNPS to be worrisome. It's not there any more though.
On initial inspection I noted several spots around the sights, barrel ring and magazine tube junction with the receiver that witnessed 'weeping' of chemical residue from the phosphate finishing process. The residue left a brown stain in some places and slightly 'freckled' the anodized finish of the receiver at the point where the magazine tube was installed. I brushed the residue away with an old toothbrush and some light gun oil and will keep a close eye on these areas for recurrence of 'weeping' or rust. Otherwise the finish on the steel magazine tube and barrel is a pleasing uniform matte medium gray, the receiver is anodized in flat black which coordinates well and gives the gun a very businesslike appearance.
I also noted a few areas of 'flashing' in the mold lines of the matte black plastic furniture. Some time spent with a metal nail file cleaned these areas up nicely and left a finished gripping surface on the stock and fore-arm. The forearm is the 6" long 'corncob' variety with deeb ribbing around its circumference. It offers a very secure grip to the operating hand. The stock is sharply checkered in the area where the strong hand falls. The curve of the pistol grip away from the trigger guard is pretty deep, it will make short statured shooters have to 'choke up' on the area to reach the trigger comfortably. Its length of pull from the factory is 13 1/2 inch, about an inch shorter than is standard on the usual US production shotgun. That will be a boon to some folks but is still too long for others (like my 5'4" wife).
The black composition recoil pad is held on by the usual two Phillips head screws and is fitted 'flat' to the end of the stock rather than in the reinforcing socket style seen on some thinwalled synthetic stocks. It mounts to a synthetic stock which has walls about 3/16" thick- pretty substantial by comparison to many offerings. It still sounds a bit hollow if thumped but doesn't resound nearly as much as thinner synthetic stocks do. The 'issue' recoil pad is pretty stiff and is not going to do a lot to help the recoil sensitive. Fortunately the stock is molded with fairly substantial 'ribs' at heel and toe, offering about an inch of room at top and bottom for screws to go into. And since these ribs are molded in for about 3" at the toe and the full length of the stock at the heel, there is ample opportunity to further shorten the stock if needed and to fit a more 'giving' recoil pad like a LimbSaver or KickEez as well. The rib at the toe of the stock also offers full purchase for the threads of the factory installed sling swivel stud. The pistol grip cap is held in place by a single slot head screw and covers a small space in that area that does not connect with the larger void inside the stock. There's enough room there for a spare extractor etc. but not a lot more, there is the usual amount of space in the rest of the stock for those who like to utilize every bit of space for spare parts etc.
The owner's manual is pretty straightforward and not overly painful to read. There is the usual concern for safety, not in one iota misplaced or overstated in my opinion. Granted a lot of verbiage in documents of this type is often an attempt to eliminate or reduce liability issues by the manufacturers of the products concerned. There is no sense in minimizing the potential for danger inherent in ANY firearm. FN puts it this way:
"As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between life and death. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all times handle your shotgun and any other firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger."
That in my opinion is a beautifully crafted paragraph. Would that all firearms owners took its philosophy to heart.
The FN Police Shotgun is a very practical looking tool as delivered by the factory. I will not repeat details offered in the factory literature, but will paste that section minus pictures here for future reference in case the link goes away:
FNH USA
FN POLICE SHOTGUN
The reliability and simplicity of a pump action is combined with the strength and speed of a rotary bolt. This inertia-assisted action is the fastest pump shotgun you will ever shoot. It also provides the versatility of interchangeable choke tubes and a shorter stock to facilitate shooting while wearing body armor. It also features front and rear rifle sights, receiver top drilled and tapped for installation of optional sights, corrosion resistant manganese phosphate finish, synthetic stock and forearm, and interchangeable chokes (improved cylinder and modified choke tubes supplied).
Police Shotgun (7+1, 18") Product #: 17674
Police Shotgun (4+1, 18") Product #: 17675
CALIBER: 12 ga.
WEIGHT OVERALL: 6.5 lb.
LENGTH: 38.75"
BARREL LENGTH: 18" (14" available on special order, Law Enforcement only)
MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 7 + 1 in chamber, or 4 + 1 in chamber
==================================
The FNPS has open type rifle sights installed on substantial steel bases which are silver soldered to the barrel. The front sight is a silver bead on a 1/4" tall post fitted into a 3/8" dovetail on the base. I plan to burnish this bead with fine- grit sandpaper before I shoot the gun to make it more visible. The rear sight is a fixed (non-folding) U-notch blade attached to a leaf type spring, adjusted for elevation with a stair-step slide ramp. The rear sight can be drifted in its dovetail for windage corrections. The sights are fairly small, low in profile and frankly difficult for my aging eyes to find quickly. They still offer a bit more precision than a simple bead however. When trigger time begins, we'll see how they do. I should note that the sight radius is 14" for the factory rifle sights. An advantage for some is that the aluminum receiver is already drilled and tapped in four places for mounting optical sight bases thereon, I personally do not burden fighting shotguns with optics.
The fact that all sighting equipment is on the barrel means that- IF Winchester 1300 barrels will interchange (and it appears they will)- the added verstility of using the gun in the field is available to the owner who buys a longer barrel for wingshooting etc. I am a great fan of guns which offer this added level of utility, specialization (as one writer famously put it) is for insects. For a household which can only afford one shotgun, it is a great advantage if that gun can be conveniently adapted to a variety of roles, and configured so that it fills the various roles with no disadvantages of note.
The FNPS is supplied with sling swivel studs installed from the factory, a nice touch on a real working gun. The front swivel stud is in the middle of the magazine cap, the rear is about 2 1/4" in front of the toe of the stock. I attached a new GI 'silent sling' installed on 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's quick detachable swivels as a carrying strap. This is my preferred setup for shotguns, carrying straps are handy in the field, on the range or when on guard but I don't care for slings inside the house and prefer to remove them when the gun assumes indoor duties.
This is a no-frills package, the FNPS is boxed with a cable lock and keys, an extra choke tube and spanner, and an owner's manual. That's it. No magazine plug to have to remove, as on a sporting gun. No fender skirts or fuzzy dice on the mirror. This is a serious shotgun from the getgo.
I have had some 'hands on' time with this gun for a bit now, toting it about the house and in the field while walking the dogs. It is compact for a standard configuration shotgun with its 18" barrel and short stock. At a bit over six pounds it is light and easy to carry. Of course that often bodes ill in the recoil department- we will see how that goes later. It balances very well and is quite handy. It will take me a while to get accustomed to a different manual of arms, of course, and that is why I intend to adopt this gun as my full time working shotgun for a protracted period.
The gun presently has the ImpCyl choke tube installed, it came with the MOD tube in place but I have changed it out as I intend to sight it in with slugs first as I usually do. The factory recommends CYL (not supplied but available as an accessory) or ImpCyl tubes for shooting slugs. I am going to shoot it a bit with light field loads first to get a feel for it before I commence working on the slug zero though.
I was impressed with this gun when I first saw one a few weeks ago on a dealer's rack. I determined to look into it then, and finding the FNPS available at such reasonable cost cemented the idea of getting one to test. Note that I was not given this gun to test by the factory, dealer or distributor, I am receiving no support or compensation at all of any sort from any source (save my long-suffering spouse) for my time, effort or materials.
Stay tuned,
lpl/nc
Note going into this exercise that I have an oft-expressed preference for the Remington 870. I have not abandoned my long established love for this the (IMHO) finest example of American repeating shotguns ever produced, nor do I intend to do so. But I work with people who often don't have a great deal of disposable income yet feel the need a protective firearm in the home, and the opportunity to obtain a ready-to-run fighting shotgun, new in the box for about $250, is something I cannot ignore IF the gun bears up. If Chuck Taylor can shoot a Glock, I can run this gun for a while to see how it does. There are several reliable makers of serious-purpose scatterguns out there these days, and we are all lucky in that regard. Most any example from any of the best known makers will serve more than adequately for the lifetime of the original purchaser and even longer, given proper care. Various folks hold preferences for one over another for various reasons, but a solid example of any of them is a worthy companion for times when things go badly. A personal preference one way or another should not rule out objectivity when considering the field of worthy candidates.
Note that 'stream of consciousness' as used in the title here usually means 'disorganized' as far as literature is concened. That's what you will get here- bits and pieces of the review as they occur to me or as events unfold and data comes in. This will take time, bear with me please.
It is my intention- if the FNPS proves itself reliable in initial use- to make this my 'one and only' working gun for the next few months, until I can gather enough data to complete this review. Lacking that information at this point, I will offer first impressions here and now FWIW.
This is the second new-in-the-box shotgun I have purchased thru Gunbroker. It is also likely my last. Both purchases were complicated by various problems, and more importantly in both cases the dealer did not actually supply what was offered for sale. In this case it was my impression that the gun PICTURED was the gun FOR SALE. That was not the case. What was pictured in the ad was the seven shot version (Stock #17674), what was delivered was the five shot version (Stock #17675). I believe in truth in advertising, and this standard was not met in this case. But the gun is here, the paperwork is done and I will live with it. The price was decent enough ($229 plus $20 shipping) not to complain about any further I think.
The FNPS comes packed in a standard cardboard box protected by a form-fitted styrofoam liner and tissue paper. It is shipped in a coating of protective grease that needs to be removed before use- I found that WD-40 did a reasonably good job of dissolving the heavy brown coating from surfaces inside and out. The owner's manual strongly suggests cleaning the gun before initial firing is undertaken- were it in my power I would INSIST that this be done, with all new shotguns. There were a couple of places where the 'cosmoline' was thick enough in the bore of my example of the FNPS to be worrisome. It's not there any more though.
On initial inspection I noted several spots around the sights, barrel ring and magazine tube junction with the receiver that witnessed 'weeping' of chemical residue from the phosphate finishing process. The residue left a brown stain in some places and slightly 'freckled' the anodized finish of the receiver at the point where the magazine tube was installed. I brushed the residue away with an old toothbrush and some light gun oil and will keep a close eye on these areas for recurrence of 'weeping' or rust. Otherwise the finish on the steel magazine tube and barrel is a pleasing uniform matte medium gray, the receiver is anodized in flat black which coordinates well and gives the gun a very businesslike appearance.
I also noted a few areas of 'flashing' in the mold lines of the matte black plastic furniture. Some time spent with a metal nail file cleaned these areas up nicely and left a finished gripping surface on the stock and fore-arm. The forearm is the 6" long 'corncob' variety with deeb ribbing around its circumference. It offers a very secure grip to the operating hand. The stock is sharply checkered in the area where the strong hand falls. The curve of the pistol grip away from the trigger guard is pretty deep, it will make short statured shooters have to 'choke up' on the area to reach the trigger comfortably. Its length of pull from the factory is 13 1/2 inch, about an inch shorter than is standard on the usual US production shotgun. That will be a boon to some folks but is still too long for others (like my 5'4" wife).
The black composition recoil pad is held on by the usual two Phillips head screws and is fitted 'flat' to the end of the stock rather than in the reinforcing socket style seen on some thinwalled synthetic stocks. It mounts to a synthetic stock which has walls about 3/16" thick- pretty substantial by comparison to many offerings. It still sounds a bit hollow if thumped but doesn't resound nearly as much as thinner synthetic stocks do. The 'issue' recoil pad is pretty stiff and is not going to do a lot to help the recoil sensitive. Fortunately the stock is molded with fairly substantial 'ribs' at heel and toe, offering about an inch of room at top and bottom for screws to go into. And since these ribs are molded in for about 3" at the toe and the full length of the stock at the heel, there is ample opportunity to further shorten the stock if needed and to fit a more 'giving' recoil pad like a LimbSaver or KickEez as well. The rib at the toe of the stock also offers full purchase for the threads of the factory installed sling swivel stud. The pistol grip cap is held in place by a single slot head screw and covers a small space in that area that does not connect with the larger void inside the stock. There's enough room there for a spare extractor etc. but not a lot more, there is the usual amount of space in the rest of the stock for those who like to utilize every bit of space for spare parts etc.
The owner's manual is pretty straightforward and not overly painful to read. There is the usual concern for safety, not in one iota misplaced or overstated in my opinion. Granted a lot of verbiage in documents of this type is often an attempt to eliminate or reduce liability issues by the manufacturers of the products concerned. There is no sense in minimizing the potential for danger inherent in ANY firearm. FN puts it this way:
"As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between life and death. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all times handle your shotgun and any other firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger."
That in my opinion is a beautifully crafted paragraph. Would that all firearms owners took its philosophy to heart.
The FN Police Shotgun is a very practical looking tool as delivered by the factory. I will not repeat details offered in the factory literature, but will paste that section minus pictures here for future reference in case the link goes away:
FNH USA
FN POLICE SHOTGUN
The reliability and simplicity of a pump action is combined with the strength and speed of a rotary bolt. This inertia-assisted action is the fastest pump shotgun you will ever shoot. It also provides the versatility of interchangeable choke tubes and a shorter stock to facilitate shooting while wearing body armor. It also features front and rear rifle sights, receiver top drilled and tapped for installation of optional sights, corrosion resistant manganese phosphate finish, synthetic stock and forearm, and interchangeable chokes (improved cylinder and modified choke tubes supplied).
Police Shotgun (7+1, 18") Product #: 17674
Police Shotgun (4+1, 18") Product #: 17675
CALIBER: 12 ga.
WEIGHT OVERALL: 6.5 lb.
LENGTH: 38.75"
BARREL LENGTH: 18" (14" available on special order, Law Enforcement only)
MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 7 + 1 in chamber, or 4 + 1 in chamber
==================================
The FNPS has open type rifle sights installed on substantial steel bases which are silver soldered to the barrel. The front sight is a silver bead on a 1/4" tall post fitted into a 3/8" dovetail on the base. I plan to burnish this bead with fine- grit sandpaper before I shoot the gun to make it more visible. The rear sight is a fixed (non-folding) U-notch blade attached to a leaf type spring, adjusted for elevation with a stair-step slide ramp. The rear sight can be drifted in its dovetail for windage corrections. The sights are fairly small, low in profile and frankly difficult for my aging eyes to find quickly. They still offer a bit more precision than a simple bead however. When trigger time begins, we'll see how they do. I should note that the sight radius is 14" for the factory rifle sights. An advantage for some is that the aluminum receiver is already drilled and tapped in four places for mounting optical sight bases thereon, I personally do not burden fighting shotguns with optics.
The fact that all sighting equipment is on the barrel means that- IF Winchester 1300 barrels will interchange (and it appears they will)- the added verstility of using the gun in the field is available to the owner who buys a longer barrel for wingshooting etc. I am a great fan of guns which offer this added level of utility, specialization (as one writer famously put it) is for insects. For a household which can only afford one shotgun, it is a great advantage if that gun can be conveniently adapted to a variety of roles, and configured so that it fills the various roles with no disadvantages of note.
The FNPS is supplied with sling swivel studs installed from the factory, a nice touch on a real working gun. The front swivel stud is in the middle of the magazine cap, the rear is about 2 1/4" in front of the toe of the stock. I attached a new GI 'silent sling' installed on 1 1/4" Uncle Mike's quick detachable swivels as a carrying strap. This is my preferred setup for shotguns, carrying straps are handy in the field, on the range or when on guard but I don't care for slings inside the house and prefer to remove them when the gun assumes indoor duties.
This is a no-frills package, the FNPS is boxed with a cable lock and keys, an extra choke tube and spanner, and an owner's manual. That's it. No magazine plug to have to remove, as on a sporting gun. No fender skirts or fuzzy dice on the mirror. This is a serious shotgun from the getgo.
I have had some 'hands on' time with this gun for a bit now, toting it about the house and in the field while walking the dogs. It is compact for a standard configuration shotgun with its 18" barrel and short stock. At a bit over six pounds it is light and easy to carry. Of course that often bodes ill in the recoil department- we will see how that goes later. It balances very well and is quite handy. It will take me a while to get accustomed to a different manual of arms, of course, and that is why I intend to adopt this gun as my full time working shotgun for a protracted period.
The gun presently has the ImpCyl choke tube installed, it came with the MOD tube in place but I have changed it out as I intend to sight it in with slugs first as I usually do. The factory recommends CYL (not supplied but available as an accessory) or ImpCyl tubes for shooting slugs. I am going to shoot it a bit with light field loads first to get a feel for it before I commence working on the slug zero though.
I was impressed with this gun when I first saw one a few weeks ago on a dealer's rack. I determined to look into it then, and finding the FNPS available at such reasonable cost cemented the idea of getting one to test. Note that I was not given this gun to test by the factory, dealer or distributor, I am receiving no support or compensation at all of any sort from any source (save my long-suffering spouse) for my time, effort or materials.
Stay tuned,
lpl/nc
