Review: FNS-9 Compact - OutdoorHub. This handgun lives up to what Ruger wanted to build: a solid, dependable, easy-racking carry/home defense pistol at a better-than-reasonable price. The FNS-C is reduced enough in size to be easily concealed, but it’s still large enough to be comfortably shot. It does not project far from the frame, and I think it doesn’t project enough. It is chambered in .40 S&W, has a 3.6-inch barrel and a magazine capacity of 14 rounds. Big enough to shoot, small enough to carry, supplied with any kind of magazine you might want, all for a competitive price. Both sides and the backstrap are covered in raised squares, almost like disarticulated checkering, that do an excellent job of gripping the hand. They’re steel three-dots, with a no-snag rear and post front, both dovetailed into the slide. Here are just 10 of my criteria and factors I use for evaluating any handgun, so I will use them for the FNS-9C. I don’t have large hands, and for reference, I wear medium gloves (at least according to Mechanix sizing). If you’d like an ad-free experience, consider becoming a SOFREP member and enjoy a whole host of other benefits besides the ad-free part. Gaston’s compact carry gun is only half an inch longer from nose to tail than FN’s gat, slightly narrower across the beam and identical in total grip length. Now before you say, “Great, another polymer pistol just like the rest,” check out some of the unique features that we are very excited to test out on the range. The FNS is a striker fired, polymer frame pistol. The designers did away with the small beavertail at the back of the frame. As for the magazines, the full-size 9mm FNS had a 17-round magazine, and FN earned big kudos by supplying each pistol with three magazines. The front of the frame is covered with small, horizontal serrations that aren’t as aggressive as I would like, but the rest of the frame makes up for it. With the flush magazine in place, I can just barely get all my fingers on the gun, although because the base pad protrudes a bit from the front of the frame it isn’t as comfortable as I would like. David Mamet, the famed playwright and Hollywood director, said, "Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance." As a matter of fact, the location and the torque angle of the manual safety make it much easier to disengage it than engaging it! They have black polymer followers and numbered index holes to the rear. We have not yet had a chance to get our hands on these fine-looking pistols, but are excited to give them a run-through at the upcoming 2015 SHOT SHOW. For more information on these and other FNH USA products, you can go to their website. Muzzle rise was sharp when shooting +P loads, but the gun was not hard on my hands even with the hottest ammo. FN FNH FNS-9 9mm Pistol, Rebuild Control Pieces. The FNS-40 Compact offers the same features as the standard models but has 3.6” barrels and is designed to be snag-free for better concealment and a faster draw. This is the FNS-9 Compact (left) and the Glock 26 Gen 4. (Versions of this gun are available with a polished silver slide.) In a real-life situation, you need to make sure the known threat is neutralized before... Walther's Q4 Steel Frame is a carry-friendly version of its popular Q5 Match SF. As for sights, the FNS-C has an excellent set for a factory gun. Most advertised velocities of ammo are generated by five-inch test barrels. Performance is still impressive, just in a more compact package. Government Export Restriction This item may be regulated for export … This would be the first I have heard and seen in the FN. The base pad is angled so it won’t print any more than the flush base pad. FN FNS – wethepeopleholsters.com. EFK Fire Dragon FN FNS Compact 9mm Stainless Threaded Barrel, 1/2-28 RH Threads: Midwest Gun Works. The result is that the compact model feels just like the full-size FNS-40, but with a shorter front- and backstrap. FNS-40 has a VERY SMALL contoured frame-mounted manual safety that is ideally placed for easy disengagement with both thumbs. It has an external extractor with a loaded chamber indicator. Total trigger travel including take-up was half an inch, with a quarter-inch reset. The 17-rounder with grip extension is a great magazine for a backup reload. Review: FN FNS Semi-Automatic Pistol in 40 S&W Pat Cascio 07.21.16 I’ve owned a few FN firearms over the years (Browning Hi-Power pistols that were made by FN), and they were all great guns. Though FN Herstal is an international firearms manufacturer, they have operations in the U.S. as well. FN introduced the new FNS pistol—the FNS-9 in 9mm and the FNS-40 in .40—to law enforcement in 2011. I've been wanting to get my hands on one of these for a long time. So, firearms purchased from FN Americawill be compliant with all U.S. firearms regulations. Right now one of the bandwagons gun writers are jumping on is the perception the HK VP9 is the “greatest striker-fired gun ever!” This is a mystery to me not only because just about every other gun company is already making a polymer-framed, striker-fired gun, but also because most of them are as good as or better than the HK VP9. The FNS-C is available in 9mm and .40 S&W. Compact Carry Pistols Are Effective With Practice, Self-Defense: How to Search for Additional Threats, The New Speer Gold Dot G2 Duty Handgun Load. Criteria and Considerations for this FNS-9 Compact 9mm Review. The slide stop is just that—a stop and not a slide release. Some shooters don’t like this type of safety. There was just the tiniest bit of play between the slide and frame, and the barrel locked up solid. The FNS Compact ships with three magazines — two 12-rounders and one 17-rounder, in the case of the 9 mm version, and two 10 rounders, and one 14 rounder in the.40 S&W version. These are options that many other big-name manufacturers don’t offer in a full line of handguns. Once you’ve inserted a fresh mag just give the slide a tug to chamber a new round. The FNS Compact has distinct FN looks and is a solid performer. Speaking of the grip angle, a pair of … The full-size FNS backstraps have lanyard eyelets, but they are not present on the Compact. © 2020 The SOFREP Media Group. Join our community. FN FNS-9 BAX Pistol Replica. The front of the trigger guard is serrated for those who shoot with a finger-forward hold. The FNS-9 Compact has a 3.6” barrel and an overall length of 6.7″, just a bit shorter than the striker fired compact pistol that seems to own the market: the Glock 19. The Taurus G3 9mm semiautomatic pistol is now available in a compact format: the Taurus G3c. Please see our Shipping Policy to review firearms shipping requirements. Although it’s roughly the same size as the Glock 19, it feels slimmer than a Glock, which is a plus for those who have smaller hands. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. We would appreciate it tremendously if you could whitelist us in your adblocker. This is, in my opinion, a great option to have for the new shooter or someone who wants to keep their firearm a little more secure while carrying with a round in the chamber. FNH USA describes the FNS as having a double-action trigger. Speer's Jared Hinton shows OSG's Lynn Burkhead the new Speer Gold Dot G2 Duty Handgun load. These are captured recoil springs in a steel guide rod assembly. FNH USA has plans to sell versions of the FNS-C with an ambidextrous manual frame-mounted safety at the top rear of the frame, but this pistol was not so equipped. The FNS-C has the exact same look, although the upper portion of the slide is slightly narrower than the bottom, which gives it a stepped look. FNH USA advertises trigger pulls between 5.5 and 7.7 pounds for the FNS-C. Total pull weight on my sample was exactly 6.5 pounds, which is the same advertised pull weight for Smith & Wesson M&Ps and Springfield Armory XDs. FN FNS-40 Compact is a recoil operated semi-automatic pistol manufactured by FN. This is a well-balanced firearm with a good solid feel. It is appropriately named a “compact.” It’s small enough to conceal well in a holster or in a bag or purse, but it’s not a “pocket gun” because it’s too big and heavy for that. … And if you want even more security, you can get on… These pistols are available with night sights as well. Not only does it appear to be a strong addition to FNH’s already solid line of handguns, but it gives a smaller, more carry-friendly option to civilian, LEO, and military users. The frame features interchangeable backstraps, and two were provided with the pistol. Brandon Webb’s Red Circle Mastermind Group - Click Here To Sign Up Now → The FNS-40 pointed naturally and the three-dot tritium night sights aligned when I raised my arm to aim the piece. This is that sort of comparison—well, minus the treachery. At its thickest point, the ambidextrous slide release is 1.3 inches wide and has a total length of 6.7 inches, making the FNS Compact small and light enough for daily carry. So when I ran across a used FN FNS 40 S&W in 99% condition at my local gun gun shop, and snapped it up for $399.00 out the door. This is variant 6 of 6. We understand ads might not be why you’re here, but our ad revenue is one of the ways we keep the lights on and our veteran writing staff paid. It is further protected on either side by polymer wings. It comes with fully-ambidextrous slide stop levers and magazine release and an interchangeable backstrap system with lanyard eyelets. The FNS Compact has distinct FN looks and is a solid performer. |   The end result is a pistol more than half an inch shorter up top. While this pistol is American-made, the company has European roots, and European gun companies love to equip pistols with recoil springs measured in metric tons. Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis. The front sight also has a larger dot for faster target acquisition. I had no problems seeing the big dot on the front sight when doing rapid-fire drills on USPSA silhouettes or while knocking down steel. One thing to remember when shooting and carrying compact models is you will take a slight hit when it comes to velocities. If this was my gun, I would grind down a bit on the front of the base pad so it fit flush with the front of the frame. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. From Smith & Wesson, the M&P Shield M2.0 is a great option for a carry gun with optics option. The sights are dovetailed into the slide, which I like since either sight can be tapped left or right a bit to fine-tune them. The more important question is, What’s the trigger pull like? The magazine release I find a bit weird in shape and function. The FNS 40 never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. Over 700 hours of military entertainment and video content, 12 free e-books, breaking news from the front lines and exclusive interviews with the people in charge. The magazine well opening in the frame has been beveled to smooth reloads, which is a nice touch. The FNS-C in 9mm has a flush magazine capacity of 12, and it also is supplied with three magazines—but each magazine is different. As an example, Hornady’s 124-grain XTP +P load is advertised at 1,200 fps, but out of the FNS-9C’s 3.6-inch barrel, it averaged only 1,063 fps. The FNS-C is definitely big enough to shoot accurately at distance while being small enough to carry concealed with the right choice of holster and clothing. One of the 12 round magazines has a flush baseplate, while the other has an angled baseplate that provides a shelf for the pinky finger to rest upon without adding length to the backstrap. Overview FN FNS-40 Compact Pistol - ",The FNS-40 Compact is a striker fired autoloader double action operating advanced pistol. The Best Forgotten Striker-Fired Handgun - FNH USA FNS-40 … I lubricated the pistol on its long bearing surfaces and cocking block before firing. Don’t try releasing the slide by pushing down on it because there’s just not enough there for purchase. The notch in the rear sight is wide with a shallow V shape to the bottom, and the rear of the sight is serrated to reduce glare. New this year from FNH USA are compact models of their FNS series of guns. There are a couple of features that set this pistol apart from competitors such as the Glock brand of handguns. For this "Shootout" I got my hands on the new FNS-9 … But the biggest difference is in the frame, which is almost an inch shorter, and it is the frame much more than the slide that determines how well a pistol can be concealed. FN pistols have a similar look, distinctive and spare. I would consider them medium and small; the medium is what comes installed on the pistol. These pistols also come with a full ambidextrous slide stop lever and magazine release, and come available with or without an ambidextrous manual safety lever. Like all striker-fired guns the slide rides on steel rails set into the polymer frame, but the FNS-C frame rails are replaceable and not molded into the frame like they are on many other polymer guns. Fear not, the FNS-C does not have a revolver-esque long, heavy, double-action trigger pull but rather one similar to all other striker-fired guns: a bit of plasticky take-up, then a slightly “sproinky” break. I received the 9mm version (officially the FNS-9C) to test, and it weighs 23.4 ounces empty. Red Circle Mastermind - Sign Up →. This agency chose the FNS-40 Longslide model as its duty firearm to be carried by on-duty officers. When pushing it in far enough to drop the magazine (which is quite a ways and required me to break my firing grip), I found the opposite side of the ambi safety pushing against my middle finger. FNH has a history of producing firearms for government contracts (it was the U.S. military’s M4 supplier for many years), so I’m not surprised a full-size duty gun was the first FNS model introduced. In addition to my criteria, there are other subjective features that may be appealing for some, like a certain style, mag release location, action, caliber, appearance, number of mags included, type of sights/modifications, … The trigger itself is all polymer with a wide, rounded face. The trigger guard is oval in shape and wide. The FNS is a full-size pistol, a great duty gun but a little big to carry concealed. One of the first agencies to adopt the new FNS pistol was the Baltimore County Police Department. If one carry gun stands between the FNS-9 Compact and its long-delayed trek towards the top of the sales chart, it’s the GLOCK 19. FFL Requirements This item can only be shipped to a Licensed Federal Firearms Dealer. There is no restrike capability like you’d get with a double-action revolver; if you pull the trigger and nothing happens, you’ll have to work the slide to get going again. The second magazine is a 12-rounder with an extended finger hook polymer base pad. Initial firing was accomplished with the Federal Cartridge Company’s Syntech load. This version of the.40 Smith and Wesson cartridges features a 205-grain bullet at about 850 fps. It’s how we can continue producing high quality coverage of warfare and global issues for you to enjoy. Working the slide takes a bit of effort because the FNS-9C comes equipped with a dual recoil spring. Read Next: FNH Five Seven: Specs & Ballistics. Out of the box the FNS-40 shot to the left, which was caused by me pushing the trigger to … It comes with fully-ambidextrous slide stop levers and magazine release and an interchangeable backstrap system with lanyard eyelets. ICE Agent files $10 Million Lawsuit Against Sig Sauer, Meet The First Women Navy SEALs JJ and Olga Rakanova, Delta Force Member and Veteran Found Dead at Ft. Bragg, A former Delta Force operator’s Glock 17 setup, Green Beret Pleads Not Guilty in Murders at Illinois Bowling Alley. The top of the FNS-C’s slide is flat, which aids in aiming as your hands come up and your eyes look for the sights. The FNS-9™ Compact comes with two 12-round and one 17-round magazine. Fit on my sample pistol was excellent. FNH USA delivered some 1,900 FNS pistols that were built in Columbia, South … The cold-hammer-forged barrel is stainless steel as well, with a black finish. The flush magazine just didn’t give me the kind of control I wanted over the gun when shooting. And more choices are always better. The slide has angled, flat-bottomed cocking serrations front and back, with the FN logo on the left side. The new compact version utilizes a shorter 3.6-inch barrel and shorter grip frame. FN FNS-40 Compact NMS .40 S&W DA 3.6" w/ Night Sights (1) 14rd and (2) 10rd Magazines Pistol 66796. A low bore axis (thanks to the undercut triggerguard), an effectively fashioned high beavertail and a grip angle mirroring the 1911 platform produce less perceived recoil and muzzle flip. It is a result of intensive development and more than 400,000 round of testing. 25 Reviews. The Ruger PC Charger is a short, sweet 9mm pistol. FN FNS-40 Compact MS Pistol -The FNS-40 Compact is a striker fired autoloader double action operating advanced pistol. It sure seems like the striker is slightly pre-cocked inside the slide before trigger pull, so I don’t know if technically it is a true double action. With the finger-hook magazine in place, I can easily get my whole hand on the gun, and I presume this is how most people will shoot and carry this gun. With the slide forward, I couldn’t get the barrel to move at all by pushing down on the hood, which, short of shooting, is the only sure way to predict the accuracy of a pistol. My first trip to the range reinforced my opinion that the finger hook-equipped magazine will be the most popular one among FNS-9C owners. This is variant 1 of 6. But, if you purchase a second-hand pistol, make sure it is stamped with “Made in USA” on the barrel. We can’t say how these will perform on the range, but are very anxious to give them a go at the SHOT SHOW. FNH USA has recently released info on their new addition to the FNS line of striker-fired pistols: The new FNH FNS Compact Pistol. It’s compact and with the right holster, you can easily conceal it. The FNS™-9 Compact and FNS™-40 Compact offer the same features as the standard models but have 3.6” barrels and were designed to be snag-free for better concealment and a faster draw. Details PLEASE NOTE: This item requires an extended processing time of 10 days. Taurus introduces the compact version of their wildly successful 9mm pistol; the G3. Brandon Webb’s Red Circle Mastermind Group - Click Here To Sign Up Now →, Available in standard configuration or with manual safety. Now that FNH has introduced a compact version of the FNS—the FNS-C—perhaps this perception will change. The magazines are steel with a cool blackish-purple finish. All Handguns subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The barrel has an integral feed ramp, and both it and the chamber are polished. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Support authentic military journalism and a 100% veteran editorial staff. This is very thoughtful. SKU 66796-FN. (5 customer reviews) FNH FNS-40 40 S&W Pistol (No Manual Safety) Style: 66760; Department: Firearms > Handgun Semi-Auto; FNH FNS-40 Compact 40 S&W Carry Conceal Pistol Notify Me When Available; Style: 66721; Department: Firearms > Handgun Semi-Auto (2 customer reviews) FNH FNS-9 Compact 9mm Carry Conceal Pistol Style: 66719; Department: Firearms > Handgun Semi-Auto (1 … Wanting to get my hands on one of the frame has a larger for... Successful 9mm pistol ; the new FNS-C sports a 3.6-inch barrel and a magazine capacity of 12 and. Compact is a short, sweet 9mm pistol, Rebuild control Pieces this version of FNS! 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