FNP 45-Another range report and pics

[Peter Gun]

Hello,
Finally got a chance to take my FNP 45 out for a spin again. This is my 3rd session with it. I changed the backstrap to the smaller one and that seems to be a lot better for my short fingers. I am really getting into this gun, but i still think the sights are off. I shot about 100rnds and the error was very consistent. This gun sucks up the recoil nicely, and now that im getting used to the different recoil of .45 (I mostly shoot .40) I dont think I'm flinching.
I tried it with a laser as well. A cheap $20 rail mount that I aligned with the sight picture. I got the same error as with sights alone. The laser fell apart after 2 mags, but it was worth it to see that I like the laser concept on this gun and I'm going to get a better one.
Anyone have experience with the Lasermax uni or the Laserlyte V2? I'm trying to decide between the 2.
Here are some targets from the session and some better pics of the FNP w/ comparison to my sig 229 in .40.
The first target is 7yds, second is 15yds and third is 7 yds, 3 rnd rapid fire.
Another thing I like about this gun is that rapid fire is very controllable and the trigger reset is shorter than my sig, almost as short as my old glock was.
I also measured the sights w/ some basic calipers, but is difficult to find somethin to measure against. However, it does seem the front sight is about .4mm to the right on the slide.
Let me know what you think
Peter

 

[Peter Gun]

more pics

more pics

 

[Peter Gun]

Added V2 laser

Dindnt get much feed back, so I got the laserlyte V2 laser. Works great. easy to activate the one button, zeroed easily. I shot 100rnds of WWB 230gr, it didnt loosen up or lose zero. I was having too much fun shooting the stump, so the only serious target practice i did was @7yds. I shot 1.5" groups of 3 easily.
I did not realize what a good teacher the laser is. It shows exactly what you are doing wrong: too much trigger, anticipating recoil, limpwristing, whatever, the laser shows you exactly what you are doing. I think i improved my shooting more in one day than I have in years.
The dot was easy to see in broad daylight and seemed to target well out to 25yds.
I had one malfunction on the WWB, slide did not close on a round. I pushed the slide foward and kept shooting. That was it. I also shot @20 rnds of winchester 230gr SXT and Rem 230gr golden sabres. No malfunctions, accuracy was a little better with the SXT, golden sabres expanded a little bigger in wet phone books. SXT penetrated deeper. This was consistent with the .40 cal loads i had tested from same manuf in the same wet phone books.

 

[Peter Gun]

more pics

 

[Min]

Finally! Someone posts a pic of the FN45 with flat backstrap. Thanks for the range report.

 

[Peter Gun]

Yes, the flat works better w/ my smaller hands. This grip fits me better than either a g21 or USP 45

 

[Min]

So, it's reliable?

 

[powermad]

So, it's reliable?

This is a fairly new pistol but the reports so far have nothing bad to say.

Other than the WWB thing. Several guys have noticed, myself included that WWB isn't stacking right in the mags.
When I bought mine I got a box of WWB and an Uplula mag loader.
At first I thought I had bad mags as it wouldn't stack worth a crap. Even loading them by hand caused them to go sideways. The one time I was able to get a full mag loaded it had FTF issues.

I hopped over to fnforum.net and seen others were reporting the same thing.
I got some Federal and Magtech ammo and there were no more problems.

It is nice that it has changeable backstraps. I tried em both and liked the arched one better.

I checked the SA pull and mine popped at 4.20 lbs. Not bad for out of the box.
By far the best pistol I have owned or handled.

.45 cal... check
Good lookin... check
Well made... check
Ambi... check
Good trigger... check
10, 14 and 15 round mags... check
Affordable...check
Available with manual safety...check

What more ya want?

It's a black thing.


I was holding out for a FDE one but couldn't stand it any longer.

Holsters seem to be few choices at the moment.
These guys are local and claim to have holsters for over 350 guns. http://www.tedblockerholsters.com/index.php

I am liking this one.


You are able to carry it IWB or OWB.

 

[Peter Gun]

Its been very reliable for me so far.
I have shot about 400 rnds of WWB now with just the one malfunction.
My friend has experienced the same malfunctions 3 or 4 times in about 500 rnds of WWB. I might have to find another manufacturer to compare, but WWB is so much cheaper here than others.

 

[BlindJustice]

Questions for Peter Gun

* BBl. Len.
* Weight Empty
* Overall Width:
* Is your model the Decocker Version?

 

[Disaster]

WWB is mostly what I shoot and I haven't had any problems. Weird that FN would have issues.

 

[Peter Gun]

on the WWB issue:
The only problems i have experienced are w/ .45. I have shot thousands of rounds of .40 w/ no problems. I dont even know for sure the WWB .45 was the issue.

Blindjustice:
-Its a 4.5" bbl
-i'm sorry, I dont have a good scale, I think fnusa.com can answer it though
-I'll measure the width tonight for you (I dont think that spec is on the website)
-Mine is the decocker, I dont know if the full saftey option is available yet.
I only want a decocker anyway, not interested in manual safteys on a modern combat weapon

 

[boomstik45]

I've had issues with WWB in several different pistols. I don't use it anymore. I use MagTech.

 

[Disaster]

I've run hundreds of rounds of WWB .45 through several pistols. ...mostly because it is the cheapest stuff I can find, at $30 for a box of 100. Never had a single FTF.

 

[Peter Gun]

I went out for another session and..... of course the laser failed. I was about to head out to the range and i noticed the laser was very dim when i turned it on. It also did not want to turn off. I changed the batteries as it comes w/ 2 sets. Bright again, but still wouldnt turn off. took 5 or 6 pushes of the button for it to stay off. Walked out to the range, turned it on and it turned itself off after first shot. It then turned itself on and off randomly, sometimes bright, sometimes dim. I guess i will have to send it back and see if they have an improved switch or something. In the mean time, I will probably get the Lasermax Uni and see if its better.
I did learn a lot about my technique with this gun, though, so i shot w/ the reg sights and I improved a lot. i think the sight are still slightly off to the left, but apparently most of the deviation was me.
Here are my targets. 1) and 2) are 10 yds, WWB, open sights. 3) is 15yds w/ Win 230gr SXT

Blindjustice:
width of the slide is 28.5mm, widest point at decocker controls is 39.5mm. Thats 1.12" and 1.56"

 

[Peter Gun]

forgot the pics

 

[MyTFAL]

Do you shoot left handed by chance?

 

[opd743]

Look's to me like you are very consistent with your shots being to the left. I would say the front sight needs to be adjusted VERY SLIGHTLY. If you have a chance, shoot it at 25 yards and if you are that consistantly to the left you will know it is the sights and not you.

 

[BlindJustice]

Thanks for the width measurement

CZ 75B - CZUSA lists it at 1.4" however
I think that is the grip/frame
I haven't measured my S&W 1911 full size but
the SIg Arms web site lists their full size 1911 with a
max width of 1.37?

hmm, width
Grips - say at the bottom of the trigger guard
SLide WIdth
Controls width

Guess I should break down and get a micrometer

FNP 45 - Good Looking DA/SA

I like the thumb safety on the 75B

Randall

 

[Peter Gun]

I am a right handed shooter.
I will practice a little more first, but I think I will shift the front sight just a little if i shoot the same deviation. I want to get some night sights anyway, just wish I could get TFO's like my sig 229.

 

[camper]

My FNP45 is spot on target and eats all the loads, 300 rounds, I've put through it to date. Soft recoil for fast sight realignment. Would like to see some night sights made for this pistol. My FNP40 has them.

 

[Peter Gun]

well after studying my targets from my sig 229 (see my other thread), i noticed that I now have about the same deviation in the two guns. So either the new sights on my 229 are off by the same amount, or im still pushing them left with the trigger or something. Definetly need more range time before i decide to shift the sights