Have you handled an FN 509?

[Zaydok Allen]

Yesterday I was picking up a little ammo at my local big box rip off center, and I noticed they had an FN 509 under glass. I asked to see it and was immediately impressed with the overall feel of the gun. It fit my hand fairly well, seemed a nice trim design, and had a good set of sights on it. I really didn't know much about the 509, but I assumed it was meant to better compete with the S&W M&P 2.0. But I don't really see a big difference from the FNS. The slide has a little different profile, the rear sight is meant to work for single handed cocking, and there is an extra bit of stippling on the grip. Other than that, I see little difference from the FNS.

Then I tried the trigger, and it was such a god awful gritty piece of junk, I couldn't believe it. It was definitely far below the quality that I felt on the FNS line in the past. There was a bit of take up and then a fair amount of resistance. When the resistance began, it felt like two pieces of sand paper were being rubbed against each other. The break was pretty ragged feeling also. In fact my exact word to the sales clerk was "Wow. That is a gritty ass, horrible trigger in that gun." Then he tried it, and his eyes got big. His response was "Yeah......... I don't think that one's for me either."

I'm just wondering if it was one bad example or if others have observed this as well. I'm guessing it would smooth out with a few thousand dry fires, but given the quality of some of the guns I own, I saw no reason to even entertain owning a gun with a trigger that rough. Just wondering. Maybe it was just one bad example.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've heard the same about the gritty trigger on the FN Forum, where at least one member has a 509 and several others have handled guns in their LGS. The owner said, however, that the grit seems to be disappearing.

I understand, too, that APEX is ready to release a trigger kit (having worked with FNH ahead of time) for the 509 and FNS models. FNH seems intent on getting after-market support for their guns. From my experience, the only thing really needed are trigger kits, as holsters and sights are now readily available. (After market [Mec-Gar} mags and recoil assemblies or units would be nice, too.) There seems to be few after-market suppliers and they're often out of inventory.

The triggers on my two FNS-40s (one a Long Slide that had been tuned before I traded for it) are pretty good, but I'd consider an APEX kit for the non-tuned FNS. (If it proves to be a lot better, I'd upgrade the Long Slide, too.) The triggers, while not marvelous, seem as good, stock, as my Glocks with Ghost parts installed.

 

[1KPerDay]

Held one today. trigger was pretty good... not stellar but good. Ergos good. Slide was pretty stiff to retract. Mag release? Deal killer for me. You have to push it all the way in for the mag to drop. Like way more than you should have to. maybe it could be modified but it's unusable for me as is.

FWIW

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The "extended" mag release is one of the reasons I ditched my FNP45 years ago. Rather than extending it toward the thumb, they extended it towards the trigger guard. As a result, my larger hands and tendency to have too much finger on the trigger lead to the tip of my trigger finger getting hit every time I pulled the trigger. No matter what I did, I couldn't keep my finger far enough right to avoid it. I have skinny fingers and slim hands to begin with, so my grip isn't the strongest. It makes keeping the pad of my first knuckle on the trigger difficult.

Interestingly enough, I just watched a Hickok45 shooting the breeze video. He mentioned how much he liked the 509. He also mentioned that the trigger seemed gritty at first, but was smoothing out. Maybe it just needs a bit of breaking in.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I suspect that a too-long mag release can be cut down or (in the case of the FNS guns) swapped out with one for another model. The FNS and FNX share many parts, and there is more than one FNS mag release. Don't know if the FNS and FN-509 releases are swapable.

 

[TomJ]

I've had the FNS 9C for a while. I had a chance to handle the 509 a week or so ago. The triggers were comparable. I understand what you mean by the grittiness, as I feel just a little of that in my 9C. I'm okay with it as I like everything else about my 9C.

 

[Fiv3r]

Hmmm I might be tempted by this if the street price comes in around current FNS prices. I like that it's basically a beefed up FNS-C. Still, I may wait for a compact version. Full size FNH pistols with their 4" barrels and super long grips sometimes carry a bit weird on my belt.

I do like the look of this one over the new Beretta, and all of the FNH pistols I have owned have been flawless.

 

[Fiv3r]

Hmmm I might be tempted by this if the street price comes in around current FNS prices. I like that it's basically a beefed up FNS-C. Still, I may wait for a compact version. Full size FNH pistols with their 4" barrels and super long grips sometimes carry a bit weird on my belt.

I do like the look of this one over the new Beretta, and all of the FNH pistols I have owned have been flawless.

 

[groundhog34]

I handled one at the NRA of course it was hand picked and tuned. The quality seemed very good equal to or better than Glock. The trigger was pretty good but read my first sentence again. I would not hesitate to buy one if I were looking for a SA/DA pistol.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Hmmm I might be tempted by this if the street price comes in around current FNS prices. I like that it's basically a beefed up FNS-C. Still, I may wait for a compact version. Full size FNH pistols with their 4" barrels and super long grips sometimes carry a bit weird on my belt.

If you're talking about the FN-509, I don't think it's a beefed up FNS9c. The FN-509 has a barrel that is .25" longer than the FNS-9 (full size) and The FNS-9 is a close match to the Glock 19 which some consider a "compact". I wouldn't expect to see a COMPACT version of the FN-509 for a good while, if ever,, because it arguably is already a compact model. The FNS-9c is almost a sub-compact -- longer barrel than most sub-compacts, (3.9") but very short grip like most sub-compacts.

 

[Fiv3r]

If you're talking about the FN-509, I don't think it's a beefed up FNS9c. The FN-509 has a barrel that is .25" longer than the FNS-9 (full size) and The FNS-9 is a close match to the Glock 19 which some consider a "compact". I wouldn't expect to see a COMPACT version of the FN-509 for a good while, if ever,, because it arguably is already a compact model. The FNS-9c is almost a sub-compact -- longer barrel than most sub-compacts, (3.9") but very short grip like most sub-compacts.

Yes, all of the pros of the 509 like the recessed crown and beefed up internals and easy to rack slide intrigue me. I'd just like to see them offer it in what they call a "compact" version with a sub 4" barrel and shortened grip like the fns-c.

Actually, they can keep the 4+" barrel. It's the super long (if admittedly high firepower) grip that makes it tough to conceal.

It's the one reason my fns-40 and fnx-9 went bye-bye.

Still, I may bite again. A tough as nails duty sized pistol may be what I am looking for come the fall months.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Actually, they can keep the 4+" barrel. It's the super long (if admittedly high firepower) grip that makes it tough to conceal.

If you pick the right ammo, not having a slightly longer barrel doesn't make that much difference. (Hornady, for example, has SD ammo designed for shorter barrels.)

it's not really harder to carry a longer barrel, but the LONGER GRIP is an issue. I put up with the longer grip so that I have the (hopefully unneeded) extra rounds. Several of the folks on the FN Forum with the FNS-9c claim it comes with an improved trigger -- but all of them seem to smooth out pretty quickly. (As my FNS-40s were used, acquired in trades, I can't address how quickly that process occurs.)