Shooting the FNX9 Pistol...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I recently tried out two different FNX9 9mm pistols. FNX is the successor to Fabrique National's FNP-handgun series. This polymer-framed, double-action semiautomatic sports frame-mounted, ambidextrous thumb safety levers, which double as decockers, and the pistol does permit Condition One ("cocked-and-locked") Carry for those preferring that option. Unlike the Hi Power, the FNX-line is manufactured in the USA.

The FNX9 has a stainless-steel slide-and-barrel assembly. On one pistol both were left "in the white" for a two-tone appearance. The slide/barrel assembly had been somehow coated black on the pistol. (Other than "looks", these pistols performed equivalently.)


Here is the dark version of the FNX9 semiautomatic pistol. The thumb safety ("on safe" in this picture) can be applied whether the hammer is at full-cock, in the "hammer drop position" (as shown in the photo) or fully foward. The hammer can also be cocked with the thumb safety applied and the slide can be hand-cycled as well. The only time that the pistol must be off-safety is to fire it! Certainly, it can be carried with the hammer down for a DA first-shot and the safety off, but for those preferring to do so, the safety can be applied and disengaged during presentation as is done by practicioners of the single-action autoloader. Barrel length is 4".

FN advises that these pistols are sighted-in for a dead-on hold at 20 yards.


This 15-shot group was fired in three series of 5-shots, the first of each being fired double-action. The two shots at 6 o'clock and one at eleven o' clock are those hits. The remaining twelve were fired single-action and are in about a 2" group. The three double-action shots spread the group to approximately 3 1/2" or so. Ammunition used was Winchester 127-gr. Ranger +P+.

I have no doubt that the pistol is capable of better inherent mechanical accuracy and the spread is due to the "human factor"....mine!


Primer strikes were positive and reasonably well-centered. There were no failures to fire whatsoever in over 1000 shots fired in 5 separate range visits, including this one.

Previous to todays shooting session, this particular FNX9 had digested roughly 700 shots of various commercial ammuntion. With today's 320 shots, that count is now over a thousand with no failures of any sort.

In my opinion, the pistol has the potential as a viable choice for those desiring a reliable and lightweight polymer-framed autoloader for either home defense, concealed carry or both. (The pistol is larger than some expressly intended for clandestine carrying, but this pistol can be concealed with little effort and appropriate clothes selection.)

There are features I really like with the FNX9, but it has some I find distasteful as well. For those interested in a more detail and lengthy report, follow the link below:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/t...9mm_pistol.htm

Best to all and good shooting.

[KentF]

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the review. I'm a long time fan of the Browning Hi-Power and have enjoyed your site and books. I am currently using a HK P30, but the FNX9 may be something I'd like to look at more closely. It will be interesting to see how accessories for this become available.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello and thanks. I agree. I think that the pistol is very comfortable, but really don't like that it must be sent to FNH for service should it need to be detail-stripped. I hope that this doesn't preclude after-market options from becoming available.

Best.

[Wheeler]

The safety/decocker/slide release reminds me of a Browning BDM. I hope the FNX does better in the market than the BDM did. Is there any chance you could gove a quick comparison between the two?

Wheeler

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. No, not and be fair. I don't own a BDM and do not know anyone close by who does. It's been several years since I shot one and my experience with them has been limited to perhaps half-a-dozen shooting sessions with them over the years.

Best.

[Wheeler]

Hello. No, not and be fair. I don't own a BDM and do not know anyone close by who does. It's been several years since I shot one and my experience with them has been limited to perhaps half-a-dozen shooting sessions with them over the years.

Best.

I figured it was a shot in the dark. The only reason I asked is I have one and physically it reminded me of the BDM. I should have been a bit more clear in the way I phrased that question. Sorry if I put you on the spot, that wasn't my intention.

That was a well written review. Thank you for taking the time to post it and to do the research.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. No problem on this end.

Best to you and yours.

[Laughingdog]

I bought one of these in March, and really only have one complaint. Finding holsters and mag holders for these is next to impossible. Aside from that, it's a fantastic gun. I just wish I could actually start carrying/competing with it.

I'm have 1450 rounds fired through it so far. I had 2 failures to feed and 5 failures to lock back on an empty mag over the course of the first 1000 rounds. Those are all atributable to the reloads I was shooting. Until shooting them back to back with factory winchester white box ammo, it wasn't obvious that my 124g reloads were leaning towards "mouse-fart" loads. I wouldn't have thought that 1/3 up from starting charge to max charge would be that wimpy. Even then, the mouse-fart loads were only a problem with shooting weak hand.

I've let A LOT of people try this thing out. Everyone is shocked at how nice the trigger feels, especially in light of the $600 price tag. Everyone also seems to shoot this thing low to start out. The trigger breaks far enough back that it's easy to start pulling up on it instead of just straight back. I can say my initial groupings were very similar to the picture put up by the OP. Now that I'm growing more accustomed to the trigger, I'm down to about a 1.5" group with 10 rounds, and the occasional 0.5" group if I really slow it down.

My favorite thing is how short the reset is in single-action. I have a Springfield Operator with match barrel and trigger. My best split on that at an 8" circle at 5 yards is about .23, with .30 average. With the FNX, I'm down at 0.17-0.20 comfortably.

I cleaned the gun once, when I first bought it, and don't intend to do so until I pass the 2000 round test with it, or start having problems with factory ammo. I highly doubt the latter of those will come to pass.

[MTechnik]

I bought one of these in March, and really only have one complaint. Finding holsters and mag holders for these is next to impossible. Aside from that, it's a fantastic gun. I just wish I could actually start carrying/competing with it.

(thought I already replied here, but I must have been hallucinating...)

I emailed the US Customer Manager, Bob Ailes, and let him know that the lack of readily available blue guns, more specifically, not in the hands of holster makers, is hurting their pistols. I recommended they send blue guns to the top and middle tier of holster makers, as well as do whatever it takes to grease the skids for more sight options.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I just completed another shooting session with the FNX9 for those who might be interested:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/s...iderations.htm

Best.