All of this ridiculous fanboy insanity because FNH decides to price their FNP's low to break into a market. There would be no argument if they marked it up like everything else.
I'm going to answer the OP first: I own an FNP9 '07 and a USP .40 AK. Not exactly what you were asking, but close enough. Here's the bottom line, they are so similar in performance it's up to personal preference. There are differences. The USP weighs 2 ounces more, is longer, and overall a little larger with a .25" longer barrel (4.25" vs 4.00"). The FNP holds one more round in .40. The USP will cost you $250-$350 more than an FNP. The ergonomics between the two are fairly similar, but this may be the largest determining factor for many. These are some of the practical differences. Now for everything else.
The USP came out in the early-90's. It's very clearly a well made polymer pistol from the get go. Most importantly they were designed alongside with and to be entered into the OHWS program requested by USSOCOM, and did well. The rest is history.
The FNP is FNH's first attempt to break into the primarily U.S. LE/Military handgun market. Unfortunately for them since 15 years had passed since the majoring rearming of the military and LE, it would be a steep uphill fight. By now, SIG had its foot in with many governmental agencies and military units. H&K's pistols not as much in the U.S., but incredibly popular around the world in military, government, and LE. Glock had become the norm for police departments here in the U.S. In short, the FNP wasn't going to be pushing out well established firearms it's first year. Or ever. It was to give everybody a taste and start building a reputation. The FNX is virtually the same pistol, with an additional round in the mag, but this is a marketing tactic to create the sense of an evolving weapons system. Hearing the name "FNP" and knowing it was never really issued anywhere attaches negative connotation with the pistol, in regards to the military and LE. FNH is on a very predictable and solid long term path for the FN series of pistols to be accepted in the U.S. and worldwide market.
Fortunately, the pistol itself was a winner, so they have a good chance.
It seems to be important to note that this is FNH's first recent rodeo in handguns, but not in anything else. Whenever I see these arguments fly, sometimes the very name and pedigree of FNH is called into question. It is so unbelievably asinine to hear it from those supposedly in the military. For the few who don't know, FNH produces a huge amount of M16's and M2HB's for the U.S. They designed and produce the M240 MAG and M249 SAW. Somehow, the SCAR is forgotten, along with the HiPower, one of the most influential pistol designs ever created. These are a few examples, you can look up the rest for yourself if you're interested, but the point is they are a solid firearms company.
Here's where it gets weird. The FNP was priced low. Really low. Another tactic to help soften the market, but with the side effect of stepping on some toes. "Yes, it appears this $400-$500 pistol performs as well as pistols in the $700-$800 and up range." "Oh no.". Perhaps time will tell and it will show its true colors. Time passed. Nothing remarkable happens, it doesn't explode, it doesn't fall to pieces at 2000 rounds. The only big issue to note is that one year they had a batch of bad plastic in the FCG frames and they could crack. FNH replaced them with correctly formed FCGs, and of a stronger design on top of that.
So the FNP series turned out to be competent and well mannered from day one. Accuracy is on par with premium off the shelf pistols. Reliability appears to be holding passing the 6 year mark. They pass the 25,000 round test. It almost seems too good to be true. So reviews come out, comparisons fly, the FNP is compared with high end pistols and tempers flare. There are no real faults with the gun in these comparisons, lets say for sake of this thread, the USP. So here come the theoreticals and nitpicks. By far the top two:
- The frame is thin and the barrel is thin. Obviously a gun made on the cheap.
The frame is thinner than typical polymer frames, and so is the barrel. This was the give the FNP an edge in weight over the other comparable pistols. The frame is thinned near the mag well and supported by ribs. This is a valid argument and reasonable concern, however, this does not make the frame unacceptably weak. Solid vs. ribbed design is common throughout engineering. Imagine a solid, steel beam. Then think of a steel I-beam. The I-beam is mostly air compared to the solid beam, but it is just as strong (stronger). The supported frame in the FNP is 100% sufficient. The barrel is thinner than the norm specifically to save weight. It is not weak. The theoretical disadvantage will be reduced accuracy as the barrel gets hot faster than a thicker barrel. Pistols aren't really meant for this however, and the barrel passes the lodged bullet test and simply bulges like any other high quality handgun barrel. The weight savings outweigh the cons.
- There are critical parts made using MIM
The FNP uses 9 parts that were created by MIM. This is often viewed as a cheap way to create parts. This is often because MIM is a cheaper way to make parts. That does not mean its a ****ty way to make parts. They don't sub contract these parts to some hut in Burma, Philips Plastics has the contract. They are an industry leader in this field. MIM done properly (all with 420 SS, FN08, and FN02 carbon steel used here) yields extremely durable parts. They pass the 25,000 round test without a single breakage and that's all anybody could ask for in a service pistol. This is a non issue blown out of proportion.
And there are no further valid, legitimate arguments against the FNP that I'm aware of besides its TOO NEW and its TOO CHEAP and it CANT BE BETTER THAN MY HK/SIG/JENNINGS.
I love my HK USP. It rocks, it's an excellent pistol. It's overpriced. So what. I love my FNP, it rocks, it's an excellent pistol and I look forward to it's future. It's underpriced. That's a bonus, for now. It will go up once it takes hold. This is the way it is and no amount of yelling and arguing will change a thing.
OP, buy the one you want if you've got the money because you cannot go wrong with either. You gain nothing significant buying one over the other besides the practical differences outlined above. If you get the FNP, you'll have a few hundred in your pocket for ammo and pizza. If you get the USP, you'll be getting one of the best polymer pistols on the market. My $0.02.
