FN FS2000: CQB perfection?

I love this gun.

5000 rounds - ZERO malfunctions

You've got the punch of a full sized 17 inch barrel, the compact size of a 12 inch SBR. It balances like a dream, snaps up on target faster than anything I've shot, except for an HK PDW. It might not look it, but damn its comfortable to hold too. Lefty friendly in every regard. Ok I'll shut up now. Here's some pics.







^^Even kept paces with the vaunted HK 416. Little bit heavier, but faster on the follow up shots.




aaaaand the ladies love it

Thats all folks. If you want an incredibly capable close quarters rifle but dont want to shell out the dough and time for an SBR stamp, consider one of these.

I'll agree with that one. I must be used to it, because I seem to do alright, but when I pick up an AR, or even an AK, it hits me...Its almost like a Glock trigger, its got a very short reset, so with practice, quick doubles are very easy.

I handled a new one in the shop the other day (guy wanted $2600 for it hahaha) and the trigger was WAY worse than mine.

I can only assume that it got better over time and I simply didnt notice since it was a gradual change.

I agree 100% with the statements about the trigger and mag pickiness, based on my own experience shooting one owned by a friend. I'm also not too fond of the lack of a last-round bolt hold open.

However, I am soooooooo glad this thread is from someone who actually owns and has shot one (quite a lot, apparently). I saw the title and I was positive this was going to be another "OMG this is the best gun in the whole universe!" thread from some teenager who's never been within 50 miles of one in person.

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I've used in in competitions, classes, hunting, general range shooting, and everything in between. Im no tactical wizard or anything, but I've racked up high round counts through guns like the SCAR, the Sig 55x series, the HK MP5, HK416, and other "serious" weapons. Enough of a base of experience, at least, to be able to compare the FN to them.

As for mag pickyness, its really not about the mag as much as its about the follower IN the mag. Anti-tilt followers are very important if you want reliable function from this gun. The only mag that it cant readily accept is the PMAG/EMAG. Any milspec GI mag should work fine. Any other polymer mags besides the PMAG are (in my opinion) gimmicky, and I wouldnt consider using them in a serious weapon.

As for the carbine itself, I can't comment much further than the last one I handled had an atrocious trigger that would make good shooing much past 75-100 yards more difficult than it needs to be. Also can't say that I would be too thrilled with the prospect of having all that muzzle blast right in front of my face either, but that is what ear plugs and muffs are for. It was nice and handy though, so I will give it some credit.

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Those pics were taken at an ATF shoot. Three of my fathers agency friends brought out some of their toys (Full Auto HK 416 10.5's) and some confiscated weaponry such as some select fire Type-56's, AKM's, an Uzi, etc. They were testing various rounds against bullet resistant glass. The HK and the FN provided the 5.56 (in short and long barrels, respectively), the AK demonstrated 7.62 Soviet, the Uzi was of course the 9mm selection, and so on. I'm not gonna get technical and divulge details, for the same reasons I blurred out the agents face in the picture. As for the target, thats a pistol target, up close where it should be. The ballistic glass was out of the frame of view.

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Yeah they were probably the coolest and most professional group I have interacted with.

Playing the "bad guy" in a SWAT active shooter drill was a hell of an experience. Being on the receiving end of SWAT tactics (albeit questionable, poor ones) was pretty cool. I'll spare the details for confidentialities sake, but lets just say it was an eye opener.

Anyway, I guess we'd better keep on topic or Arts gonna shut it down. Anyone else out there shoot one of these FNs?

Its actually not as bad as people tend to talk it up to be. It may be the muzzle device, or it may just be that internet postings imply that its much worse than it really is. Granted, I've never shot it indoors or anything, but in my experience its plenty manageable. The only bullpup I have shot that was uncomfortable blast-wise was the KelTec RFB. Very similar to the FN, only in .308.

Im not sure what the threading is underneath, as Ive never removed the brake (its pinned in place), but I do recall reading that its NOT standard AR-type threading. I believe any muzzle device that will fit an FAL will fit the FS2000.

Interesting tidbit - the FS2000 is completely manufactured and shipped from Belgium. Unlike some other military style rifles, the FS2000 doesnt have to be modified state-side to comply with import restrictions. It might look scary, but its technically got a thumbhole stock, the muzzle device is a brake, not a flash hider, and it ships with a standard AR type 10 round mag. In theory, its a "sporting" rifle in every sense of the legal definition. Hehehe

Some of the guys over at the FN Forums have had their barrels cut and rethreaded, usually with flash hiders that allow the use of quick detatch suppressors. Everything I've read indicates that the gun runs well suppressed, with no changes needed to the gas system.

Its slower than an AR, but then again most guns are...

Since it doesnt have a drop free mag, you have to reach up and yank the mag, insert a fresh one, and rack the charging handle. Its more or less the same procedure as reloading an AK, an MP5, an HK53, or an AUG.

The AR is the fastest, and the AK/FS2000 are about the same, with the FS being slightly faster, likely because of the straight-insert mags and left side charging handle.