FN's FNX/FNS series

[Tallball]

It's nice to hear all of the good words about them. Next time I have a chance to get a decent used one for $250, I'll get it! Apparently I shouldn't have let that one get away.

 

[Count Les Neins]

I can't comment on the FNS, but I personally have a FNX45T. IMHO, it is one awesome firearm.

I got the FNX45 "compact", with the combat sights. Ready to go, straight out of the box. One of the few...

 

[jjones45]

I got the FNX45 "compact", with the combat sights. Ready to go, straight out of the box. One of the few...

One of the few is an understatement. The only fnx 45 compacts I’ve ever seen have been BB guns. There’s not even a YouTube video of someone shooting a fnx 45 compact. Where did you stumble upon that unicorn? I’m jealous lol

 

[TIMC]

I have an FNX 9 and an FNP 45
Both guns have been nothing but awesome. These guns have proven to be both reliable and extremely accurate.

 

[hemiram]

I had an FNS-40 for a while. I didn't like the grip much at all, but I don't like any of the faddish meat tenderizer grips. No problems at all with it. At it's original price though, I never would have even thought about it.

 

[Count Les Neins]

One of the few is an understatement. The only fnx 45 compacts I’ve ever seen have been BB guns. There’s not even a YouTube video of someone shooting a fnx 45 compact. Where did you stumble upon that unicorn? I’m jealous lol

It's just a FNX45 with a standard, unthreaded barrel, and combat sights on the slide. Nothing special.

 

[Propforce]

No difference. The FNS-40/40L and 9/9L models share the same frames and the slides are interchangeable regardless of caliber or color.

I have both an FNS-40 and an FNS-40L. Note: The 9/40 model is similar in overall length to the glock 19, while the 9L/40L is similar to the Glock 17.) They both (all) use the same frame.

I'm supposed to be picking up an FNS-9c in the next couple of days in a local transfer.
The FNS-9c/40c barrel designs are slightly different than the larger-framed guns, and that means a longer 9 or 40 barrel can't be cut down and used in the 9c or 40c.

I have an EFK-Firedragon 40>9 conversion barrel for the 40. (If they had offered 40L conversion barrels when I ordered the FNS-40 barrel -- they didn't then, but do now -- I would have ordered that instead. I like the 9L and 40L best.) EFK-Firedragon just recently added a 9c/40c threaded barrel to the line. I've found that you can use 40 mags when shooting hardball (round nose) ammo in the 9mm conversion barrel, but you need to use a 9mm mag if you're using hollow point ammo, at least with some ammo designs. (The sharp open mouth of the 9mm hollow point ammo catches on the feed ramp when being chambered from a .40 magazine.)

They're fine guns. The triggers are better than many striker-fired guns, and not as good as others. (I have an H&K VP9sk and a SIG 320Compact, and they both have somewhat better triggers than the FNS line, but the triggers in the FNS guns are NOT bad, and I prefer them to the Glock triggers.)

Apex is supposed to be bring out a trigger system for both the FNS and FN509 lines, and I'll check into that option, eventually. (I have an Apex trigger system in one of my Glocks, and it takes a so-so trigger and makes it quite good.) There are good do-it-yourself guides to improving the FNS triggers on YouTube, and a gunsmith on the FN Forum has been working with APEX to improve the triggers.

Walt,

I have a FNS-40. Does this mean I can buy a 9mm conversion barrel and drop into the FNS-40? If so, who sells the FNS conversion barrel?

 

[Siscowet]

Have a standard FNX45. Bought the threaded barrel for the tactical for it. Plus a Shepard 45 suppressor and raised night sights. 1000 rounds no FTE or FTF. Accurate, eats everything I put through it. Just an excellent pistol.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I have a FNS-40. Does this mean I can buy a 9mm conversion barrel and drop into the FNS-40? If so, who sells the FNS conversion barrel?

Yes, and I have done that with my FNS-40. When I bought a 9mm conversion barrel from , EFK Firedragon (the only firm that seems to be making them now) they didn't make barrels for the FNS-40L, or I would have gotten that barrel instead. I've had two EFK barrrels (including one for a BHP I recently sold). I've been very impressed with their products -- the barrels shoot great and look great!

You MIGHT have to get some 9mm magazines if you shoot any 9mm hollow point, because the jagged hollow point tip, at least for one or two brands, bite into the feed ramp when being fed from a .40 magazine. I shoot a lot of hardball, and that's not really an issue, but I still eventually bought some 9mm magazines for the FNS-40

I may eventually get a conversion barrel for the FNS-40L.. I also have a .40 conversion barrel for my Glock 37 (which is .45 GAP), and have really enjoyed .40 for the first time in a long time in all of my .40s. (I've had a bunch of .40s over the years, and I think I shoot the FNS 40s. and the Glock 37 with a .40 conversion barrel the best of any I've owned.)

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I had a friend that was a big H&K fan. He said that the FNS 9 felt odd in his hand, but after he put some rounds through it, he liked it.

I actually had the opposite, slightly modified experience. Years ago I bought an FNP45. The gun was an absolute pleasure to shoot, and very accurate. Unfortunately the magazine springs all went to hell on me in a few months. It wouldn't feed. So, being inexperienced, I replaced all the mag springs rather than sending it in to FN. A few months later, the same thing happened. So, I replaced the springs one more time because I'd bought extra. The gun worked again, but I decided to ditch it before an issue came up again. I traded it cheap towards an HK45. It was not easy giving up 5 rounds of capacity, but I needed a gun that worked.

I always thought the FN felt really good in my hands with the largest backstrap in it, and the grip texture and weight of the gun kept it firmly planted. When the HK showed up, I thought it felt weird in the hand and wasn't sure I'd keep it. After putting rounds through it though, she was a keeper for sure.

I have thought about picking up an FNS or 509. I'd give FN another shot as I like their designs, and it sounds like the inconsistent FNP teething issues were resolved with the FNX.

I've never had an AD in my life. However, many people have. Since it is quite possible to design a pistol such that you do not need to pull the trigger for dis-assembly (such as the S&W M&P 40 I carry), why design a new pistol that does require it?

I hear what you are saying and I don't disagree. I really prefer not having to touch the trigger when disassembling a gun. But if someone is careless enough to clean or take down a loaded gun, then there are bigger problems going on than the gun design. I know engineers understand you can't fix stupid, only circumvent it, but in weighing a design choice flaw over a user error, in this particular context I kind of feel like the user is the bigger problem. Our perspectives are going to vary obviously if you are an engineer.