FN Herstal SLP 18" (Question)

[dasanii19]

I just asked this quesiton on another forum but wanted to see if anyone on here had any input as well.

My question is... Looking at the FNH SLP 18" version I've seen two different setups, I've noticed that some SLP 18" versions have longer barrels then others. Do the older SLP's have true 18" barrels while the newer SLP's have 18.5" barrels? I'd like to know when they started doing this and why? Any info on this would be great!

Example..



VS.

 

[dasanii19]

Bump. Im suprised to see no input on this thread. As nice as this shotgun is, it doesnt seem to be very popular.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

I just don't think people care enough about the extra half of an inch to find out its raison d'etre, if they even noticed the change at all--part of that is it not being super popular, which I think is because it's the same thing as the Winchester X2. (Don't quote me on that, though.)

It looks like a nice gun, though!

 

[dasanii19]

See I'm thinking it's not that popular because it hasn't had any after market parts available for it, but from what I've been hearing that's changing this year. This info came out of the mouths of FNH. I've also "heard" that the SX2 and the SLP are made on the same assembly line along with a few others of the same design.

As for the 1/2", it's not bothersome but rather a simple observation. They obviously made the change for a reason, my question is why? Is the 1/2" difference to distinguish the the imported FN's from the non imported FN's? Ok, if that's true then did they change anything else on the non imports?

I have no problem with the shotgun at all, just like to know my weapon inside and out.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the SLP and SX2 are the same gun... as is the Browning Gold

i didn't even know there were different lenghts until i found this thread...then i had to go dig mine out to see which barrel i had (longer barrel, got it last Dec)

OT: which shell carrier and light attachment base are you using?

 

[dasanii19]

That's a picture I stole from someone on another forum, I was just using it as an example..

Yea, my question is just out of curiosity as im sure any owner of the SLP would like to know. Ill post back the info I get back from FN

 

[RNB65]

A buddy of mine bought a 18" SLP last summer. He's had a lot of cycling problems and he's not at all impressed. It looks nice, but I'll stick with an 870.
-

 

[dasanii19]

This is the first i've heard of any problems with the SLP. I'll take my 870 but i'll have a side of SLP's to go with it please.

 

[9mmepiphany]

He's had a lot of cycling problems

i wonder is he has the right piston installed

 

[dasanii19]

9mm, thats funny you posted that. I just got done reading this..

Dont believe the SLP manual ...

I just received my brand new SLP Mark I.

I read the manual very carefully and on page 16 it says regarding the gas piston system... the heavy gas piston for heavy loads is supplied as an accessory.

So, naturally I assumed the normal piston was installed.

Upon inital cleaning I didnt bother checking the piston. Now that I took a 2nd look I noticed the gas piston installed was the one for heavy loads.

Double check your new SLP to verify which piston is installed so you are shooting the right loads for the correct piston.

 

[dasanii19]

Well, I called FN direct. Customer service had no clue what I was talking about, they understood the quetion but had no answer.

How can I be the only guy that has noticed this 1/2" difference?

This has struck my interest now..

Anybody and everybody that owns a FN SLP 18" please post a picture here. Maybe we can norrow it down to a production date.

 

[RNB65]

i wonder is he has the right piston installed

Yes. He's checked and triple checked. He's tried both pistons just to make sure they weren't mismarked. It still won't cycle reliably. He just got a lemon and so far he's too stubborn to send it to FN for repair.
-

 

[dasanii19]

9mm, can you tell me where you bought your SLP 18" from?

Thanks

 

[9mmepiphany]

so far he's too stubborn to send it to FN for repair.

and there's the answer isn't it.

"if it hurts when you hit your thumb with a hammer...stop"

 

[9mmepiphany]

9mm, can you tell me where you bought your SLP 18" from?

sure...i got them from SCP Firearms in FL

 

[dasanii19]

Thanks 9mm, I just got off those phone with him. He looked at an old photo he had to see if the barrel was longer on it and indeed it was.. So far no luck with finding out why they made this slight 1/2" change. Yo would think FN would know..

 

[MAX100]

This is probably your answer. FNH is now making the SLP in SC to comply with the 922r law. The barrel is on the list of 922r compliance parts. They are probably now using barrels that are made in the good old USA. Most shorter US made shotgun barrels are 18.5" long instead of 18".



GC

 

[dasanii19]

Max100, that was my first guess (as stated above). But why wouldnt FN Herstal know about this obvious change? FN herstal's customer service rep "Bob" told me that he knows nothing about the 1/2" difference and either do any other FN emplyees he's asked. Anybody can speculate, but I want a fact and reason. It's just blows me away that FN Herstal can't provide simple accuate information about their product, is this a company I want to invest my time and money in? FN Herstal needs to step their game up if they want to be in the running.

 

[9mmepiphany]

maybe not the answer, but i'll tell you why most shotgun barrels in america are longer than 18"

if 18" is the legal minimum and they don't measure each barrel, there is a very good chance that some barrels will be under that lenght...it's just a tolerence in the machining. i was just talking to an expert witness earlier and he recalled a case where the defendant was convicted because the barrel was 1/16" too short

i'm not surprised that the folks at FNH wouldn't be aware of a production change if they didn't send around a memo...i don't think they thought an extra .5" was worth it

 

[dasanii19]

9mm, I do agree with you that the .5 isn't anything to get excited about but on the flip side gun enthusiasts are pretty particular about their firearms..

I know that some people are particular about the 870 police in which they would prefer the true 18" barrel over the 18 1/2".

I truly am flabbergasted that FN Herstal doesn't know their product inside and out . I just started researching the FN Herstal SLP and that's the first thing I noticed about the 18" model.

I just bought 2 FNH SLP 18" shotguns, both have the 1/2" difference, I just want to know "why".

 

[9mmepiphany]

i'd think with the combination of the change in manufacture location (domestic) and to comply with 922r easier they just took the oppurtunity to make a running change.

 

[dasanii19]

That certainly could be the answer. Makes me curious if they had "modified" anything else internally or exteranlly that we have no clue about. I mean nobody had a clue about the 1/2" until I brought it to their attention and thats an obvious change from a glance.

I want to make it clear to everyone that im not bagging on the SLP, this has just struck my interest now that nobody has regognized the barrels 1/2" addition, nor knows why for that matter not even FNH that to me is a little odd.

 

[TheFringe]

I called a FN factory tech last year to ask if ghosting an extra round would somehow hurt the action. He was not aware that a round could be ghosted in a FN SLP. Like dasanii19, I may have discovered something that most if not all others had missed. I now utilize a total capacity of 10 rounds (8+1+1 2 3/4 inch shells) in my SLP Mark I 22" and assume the 18" version can ghost a round on the carrier as well.