The FN PS90: Initial thoughts, observations and range report

[grampajack]

The PS90 I got has the rail, with iron sights in the mount, and a holo sight on the rail. Which gives the whole
package an unnecessarily high profile, IMHO. I DNK if they make this sight system confusing, on purpose,
but I surely wish I knew, before I bought the gun, what I know now.

I actually just got a tri rail one and I agree the options are pretty limited. Ring Sight now makes a version specifically for the tri rail. I haven't tried it, but I imagine it works pretty well since it's purpose built. Looks though like it sits pretty high, meaning chin weld. I think FN intended for the p90 to be used in more of a heads up chin weld position. Personally I would probably just go with a Trijicon RMR in a low mount, or maybe an Aimpoint micro.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Thanks for your review on the p90s. I too fell for them when I played golden eye. The number of kids I have kept me from the freed up cash to buy one. I was going to say I would sell you my 5.7 if you want one but you live in Canada. Not sure that can cross borders.

 

[bannockburn]

Dragonfly

Excellent review along with the outstanding photos! Too bad about the 5 round limit in the magazines. That t would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[kBob]

Thought most of them got sold to the folks that made the "Stargate" TV series......just kidding. The whole PDW thing (Personal Defense Weapon) is in some ways trying to put a quart in a pint pot. Military planners want guns small enough to be carried or stashed near by for Artillerist, tankers, drivers, supply folks, mechanics, cooks, clerks, and other jerks as we used to say in the Infantry that gives them the ability to defend them selves.......then they complain that it is not as good as an Infantry rifle.

Face it a handgun takes a lot of training and ongoing practice to be good even at the 50 meters most militaries claim them to be "effective" at.
Mean while troops have a lot of other important things to do besides trucking out to a range and spending time there.....like Human relations classes and how the company fund system is supposed to work. Mean while the sort of people attacking riders and REMFs can shoot at them from a lot further them 50 meters.

Look at the US PDW of WWII, the M-1 Carbine. Lighter ( by 35 percent while holding almost twice the ammo) than the service rifle, less recoil, shorter......but about half the effective range as the service rifle and oh the stories about lack of penetration and "Stopping power". Oddly when Marshal and Sanow gathered their info on IIRC a couple of hundred carbine shootings they found 90 percent first round stops and 100 percent full penetration in actual street shootings. WWII and Korea and even Vietnam barracks tales are full of Carbine failures and even some vets that actually used them themselves still get excited and some what angry if you "defend" that "piece of junk".....while others that actually used them I ntheir intended role have nothing but praises for them and might even have one for a HD gun today.

EVERYTHING is a compromise. Even the FBI standards for penetration.

Those are based on a "Failure" in one famous FBI gun fight. That one failure has lead to un imaginable reams of paper and untold gazillions of electronic bytes.....and everyone over looks that that one failed Winchester 9mm silver tip did in fact penitrate more than the current FBI standard in actual flesh. Far more critical to the outcome of that fight were a revolver placed somewhere other than on an agent and the lack of a "Croaky" "Nerd Strap" or "Old Lady Leash" on one pair of prescription eye glasses. Odd that we do not see countless videos on duct taping string to your eye wear as being a critical fight stopper......

I know some folks compare the PS90 to a .22Magnum Sporting rifle in power and compared to say a 5.56 Service cartridge that sounds weak, but is it more than the troops that were supposed to get one need......50 times before reloading? Is it more than a home owner is likely to need for HD......50 times before reloading?. Is it more than one needs to have fun on the range......50 times before reloading?

Give it a rest folks. Stop looking for fights.

-kBob

 

[CapnMac]

I was jealous that you could have what would be a $200 tax NFA short barreled rifle here, until I learned that you are stuck with using only 5 round mags.

No magazine restriction if SBR in US under NFA.
The restriction on the magazine is in Canada onnly.
Interesting aside, there are AR uppers which use the 50 round PS mag and fire 5.7mm

 

[amd6547]

I would like a PS90 chambered for 7.62x25...

 

[Danoobie]

I've yet to see another small carbine or bullpup which can provide the features of the
P90. IMO, the PDW system is a home-run for REMFs. Who else gives you a user-friendly PCC
with total of 72 rounds before reload, ambidextrous controls, in an accurate, light, compact,
package ?