FN FS2000 as a practical weapon?

[NavyDoc]

I've many AR15 types in the old collection and I was thinking about adding a FS2000 to the 5.56 harem. At this point, having more than enough firearms to handle practical applications, new aquisitions are, honestly, toys.
However, the FS2000 seems to fill an M4 type niche and I was wondering on anyone thoughts on it's usefullness as a weapon. It seems to have a few non-tactical issues such as non-dropfree mags.
Would you use this as your go-to fighting weapon?

 

[jlbraun]

Google

FS2000 "triple feed"

 

[ssr]

I have an FS2000 that i like pretty much, although my experience with it is still limited. I am much more comfortable with my ARs and they would definitely be what i would grab before my FS2000. As i said though, my experience with the FS2000 is more limited. I like it and right now consider it a "fun gun". If a criminal was busting into my house, I would not feel too bad, however, if it was my FS2000 that was in my hands.

 

[barkingowl]

I have an FS2000 too. But it wouldn't be the first gun I'd go fighting with. I think I'd bring my AR first or my PS-90.

 

[JWarren]

It really depends on your location, your needs for the firearm, the anticipated uses, and the laws in your area.

In short, it would be next to worthless for me. It is illegal to use .223 for deer hunting in MS, and there is no other animal I hunt that a .223 would be used for. That basically kills the hunting angle. Then there is the one where you may want an AR-15 as a SHTF weapon because of parts availability and such. Well, that also knocks out the PS-90.

So, in my case, its not a practical firearm at all. Then again, I am a Saiga AK, and AK kinda guy. Game wardens like those 30 caliber holes around here.


-- John

 

[Shipwreck]

Well, come check out the FN Forum ( www.fnforum.net ) - We have a lot of FS2000 owners.

For me personally, I prefer the PS90 to the FS2000. The front of the FS2000 just seems bulky to me.

 

[ugaarguy]

jlbraun, I've gotten an AR to triple feed - a Colt SP1 no less. It was the mag and not the gun.

As for the FS2000 itself the biggest thing that stands out to me from handling one is balance. You can drop your support hand (to open doors, help you navigate an obstacle, etc) and the weapon is so well balanced that you can keep it shouldered and maintain sight alignment with virtually no effort.

The mag change is no big deal either. You've got to use your support hand to hit the mag release anyway. It kinda makes sense that mags don't drop free given the mag releae operation and overall design of the rifle.

 

[MudPuppy]

How easy is it to clear a malfunction? That aerodymic body kit looks slick, but does it keep you from the innards if you need to get at 'em?

Maybe if you were doing some CQB on the top of a speeding bus like in the Matrix?

 

[Onmilo]

I am a fan and player of but two computer game series.
"Splinter Cell" and "Ghost Recon".

In the "Splinter Cell" series the game hero "Sam Fisher" uses an FS2000 to great effect.

He is completely useless with his 5.7 caliber FN pistol though,,,,,,,

 

[BigSoundRacing]

I have about 500 rounds through my FS2000 with an EOTech on top - and I would never want to come up against that combination in any situation.

For fun, we throw a plastic ball or golf ball up on the hill side, then play golf while pushing the ball up the hill with the objective of never allowing it to come to rest.

The butt pad is wide and tall, so there is almost no recoil, seems every shot comes back to the POA / POI. As you spend time with the rifle you learn to count your shots so that you change out the mag before the mag runs dry - otherwise it requires a full pull on the cocking handle. As you spend time with the rifle you learn that the mag release button is your friend, simply grab the mag, rotate your hand, and drop the empty mag to the floor. Seating a fresh mag requires disciple to seat the mag past the weather proof seal - some people remove the seal.

The trigger is like a sponge and the only thing you can do with it is to place good grease/dry lube on the plastic to plastic surfaces. The rifle is shipped "in my opinion" dry, and needs a good lube job on the trigger unit.

For the money, a RRA AR-15 beats the trigger hands down at half the cost.

For the money, there is no faster target acquisition in CQB in .223.

If you want .223 as your go to rifle, you might like it. For myself, there is nothing better than my DSA SA58 FAL in 308.

Your results may vary, BSR

PS: If you reload .223 and shoot from a bench, the FS2000 will drop every case in the exact same spot - I use a thick towel to cover the bench and recover 100% of my brass. Be careful as you inspect the rifle, most people are not comfortable with handling the rifle because the chamber/bolt is enclosed and not open like most rifles.

 

[Chris Rhines]

I was pretty unimpressed with the one that I saw used in a practical rifle match a few months back. It malfunctioned several times, and the malfunctions took a very long time (minutes) to clear.

One anecdote, but there it is...

- Chris

 

[praharin]

How easy is it to clear a malfunction? That aerodymic body kit looks slick, but does it keep you from the innards if you need to get at 'em?

cant find a link, but if something goes wrong, youre up the creek until you can take the rifle almost the whole way apart. there is no way to get a fte out and a tap rack bang will just result in the triple feed. do a little searching, there are pics on the net somewhere of how to fix a malf with the fs2000

 

[seWis]

FS2000 practical experience

I not only own an FS2000 but also a mod'd DPMS LR308 AP4, SA Socom 16. Each weapon has its strong points but let me give a practical example of the FS2000's best feature. Earlier this year, my brother and I were walking through the north woods of Wisconsin. He was using my AP4 with an Eotech 552, I was using the FS2000 with an Eotech 552 as well. I have tactical slings on both rifles for ease of use. As we walked along a narrow path, we were suddenly confronted with a growling flurry to our left. In one motion, I had the FS2000 up to my shoulder and ready to fire. My brother took about 5 more seconds to have his firearm ready, including branches that caught his hand guard. The compact FS2000 allowed my swinging movement to take place within my body area. Our would-be attacker turned out to be a grouse taking to flight but had it been a wolf (which are now VERY common up there), I would have gotten one or more shots off in defense while my brother was still dealing with the heft and size of the AP4.
In the thousands of rounds I've fired through the FS2000, I can count my jams on one hand. Yet my my Socom is more reliable (no jams) but it's the heaviest of the three. For accuracy, the FS2000 loses to my AP4. When I use my Burris 4-12x EuroDiamond with Leupold QRW rings, I consistantly throw sub-MOA groups at 100 yds. Is the FS2000 perfect? Heck no! Just squeeze that beautiful 12 pound trigger!! Would I get rid of it for another rifle? Heck no!!! Is it a "go to" weapon? It's always been a reliable shooter for me and it proved it's worth in a "quick reaction" scenario. Hope that helps you decide.

 

[VirgilCaine]

How easy is it to clear a malfunction? That aerodymic body kit looks slick, but does it keep you from the innards if you need to get at 'em?

Get at the innards?

If there's a gun I need to "get at the innards" to unjam, I'd definitely pass on using it anytime it mattered.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

If there's a gun I need to "get at the innards" to unjam, I'd definitely pass on using it anytime it mattered.

The FN2000 doesn't have an ejection port. It has a unique forward eject system that pushes the empties out a tube in front. As a result, if there is a failure to extract or a double feed, it can be difficult to diagnose and correct.

Bullpups can definitely be handy. I played with a 16" AUG with Eotech and it was quite an impressive little package. I'm a little wary about no classic ejection port though.

 

[Groucho_]

Well, not being a super secret black ops CIA operative, I doubt I'd have many uses for the 2000, but it's a neat gun and could have potential practical uses to it. In addition I bet it could be built into a decent target rifle, don't know if it'd compete alongside M1A's sheerly on issues of the cartridge, but I think the system could hold its own against an AR (note I said hold it's own, I'm not calling it better than the AR). At any rate, for pure recreation, I ask why not? The only answer I can come up with is price, but if money's not an issue and you could see yourself shooting one, go for it. I'd love to have one if it were legal in my state.

 

[ssr]

As noted above, I have an FS2000. One thing I just can't mentally get over is all of the action taking place right under that trap door under my right eye. It just keeps me a little uneasy.

 

[rero360]

if they would allow SBRs in NY I'd buy one, while it looks nice and is a neat weapon, I'd want it in the original configure at least barrel length.

 

[TexasRifleman]

The inability to clear a malfunction in any decent time frame pretty much moves it to the "range toy" list in my opinion as others have mentioned.

That's the only problem I see with them. They are very nice for sure.

 

[VirgilCaine]

The FN2000 doesn't have an ejection port. It has a unique forward eject system that pushes the empties out a tube in front. As a result, if there is a failure to extract or a double feed, it can be difficult to diagnose and correct.

Hmmmmmm. That Kel-Tec .308 was supposed work like that.

 

[Browning]

Well for me I don't think that anything that has a price tag of a couple thousand dollars is "practical".

 

[MudPuppy]

Apologies if this is too far adrift, but how does clearing an AUG fair in comparison. I really like the ideas of a bullpup and am kicking around the idea of getting rid of a bunch of my lower priced EBRs for a "nice" something.

There's a lot of good stuff out there now, with the sig and xcr, not to mention some classics like the FNC and HK93. I'm all AR'ed and AK'ed up, i'm jonesing for new toy.

 

[ExSoldier]

BigSoundRacing: That is the combo I want: FS2000 & EOTech for an optical. I'd take one to war in a heartbeat, at least as fast as I'd take an M4. You're not gonna BUTT STROKE anyone with either, but I suspect the FS2000 is going to run longer and dirtier since it's essentially a sealed unit. I also like the fact that the first six or seven casings don't eject. That helps when it's important to be "discrete."

I've already got an older CAR-15 that's waaaaay pre-ban. I like it fine for ranges out to about 200 meters with iron sights. Beyond that these tired old eyes will need an optic. If I start needing range in excess of that, out comes my ROBAR built M1A with the Shepherd range finding scope (3X10).

 

[VirgilCaine]

"discrete."

It's "discreet." And if you're worried about that, get a brass catcher, a bolt action, or a revolver.

 

[MudPuppy]

Hehe, discreet case ejection...after whatever noise happens prior to the ejection?

Although, I stumbled upon a deer once and took a shot from about 15 yards--how I missed it, i don't know. It just stood there until I cleared the stovepipe out of my autoloader. When I dropped the case...it bolted.