FNH-USA has been introducing some very
interesting weapons lately, and two of their best pistols to
date are the two featured in this review. FNH seems to be one of
those rare companies who listens to what shooters want, and then
puts those ideas into production. Even today, many gun makers
still produce handguns that are not user-friendly to left-handed
shooters. It seems that in developing a new design, they would
go ahead and engineer in ambidextrous controls, but some gun
makers do not. With every new weapon that FNH develops, they
integrate ambidextrous controls into the design. Thank you.
Being a left-hander, that is important to me, and it is also of
importance to anyone who carries a fighting weapon, as it is
sometimes necessary to utilize the weapon with the weak hand.
The FNP-45 Tactical was developed for the US
Military pistol program, and has many useful features integrated
into the design. Most noticeable is the threaded barrel for the
attachment of a sound suppressor or muzzle brake. Both the
FNP-45 Tactical and the FNX-40 shown here are totally
ambidextrous, having a slide release, thumb safety, and magazine
release on each side of the pistol. Another thing that FNH seems
to understand is that on a pistol that is built for fast
magazine changes, the owner will want to have extra magazines.
FNH supplies both of these pistols with three magazines. They
also supply extra backstraps to allow the easy fitting of the
weapon to the user’s hand. Also on both of these new pistols,
there is a section of 1913 Picatinny rail ahead of the trigger
guard to accommodate a laser sight or flashlight, if the user
desires to attach one.
Neither of these pistols are pocket guns.
They are full-sized, serious fighting pistols. Both have
features that separate them from the competition. These FNH
pistols are capable of being carried cocked and locked, if
desired. Both are capable of being carried with the hammer down
for a double-action first shot, if desired. Both also have
multiple strike capability in the trigger mechanism. That means
that the slide does not have to pre-cock the hammer, as these
are true hammer-fired pistols. That feature was utilized in
testing for this review, as I had a cartridge that failed to
fire when the trigger was pulled. I pulled the trigger twice
more, but evidently, it was a bad cartridge, as the primer was
properly indented, but it would not fire. That happens, even
with premium ammunition sometimes, as it was in this case.
The FNP-45 Tactical and the FNX-40 have
well-textured polymer frames, and both come with interchangeable
backstrap inserts, as noted above. The backstraps are also
textured. The trigger guards have ample room for even a gloved
finger. The magazines are made of steel, with polymer baseplates.
The mag wells are slightly funneled for easy insertion of the
magazines. Both pistols have Rowell-type hammers, and are
serrated for easy cocking. De-cocking is accomplished with the
safety levers. Up is “on safe”. Pushing down places the
trigger in the “fire” mode, and pushing down further
de-cocks the hammer.
Sights are very good on both pistols, but are
better on the 45 Tactical. The FNX-40 has good three-dot sights,
but the FNP-45 Tactical has a set of excellent Trijicon tritium
night sights. The sights are of a high profile, to be of use
when a sound suppressor is installed on the pistol. The front
and rear sights are drift adjustable on both pistols.
Disassembly is identical for both the FNX and
FNP pistols, and is quick and easy to accomplish. Lock the slide
to the rear, drop the magazine, rotate the disassembly latch,
and release the slide to go forward, guided by the hand.
Reassembly is just as easy. There are no pins to push out, and
no small parts to get lost. Very good design.
Both pistols, while hand-filling, are not
overly large for most shooter’s hands. The extractors are
spring-loaded and robust. The ejectors are built for positive
ejection of empty cartridge cases. The cases do not slam into
the slide, and are in perfect condition for reloading. That is
important to many of us. The feed ramps on these pistols are
well-polished and shaped, and every type of ammunition tested
fed smoothly into the chamber. The springs are of a flattened
coil design, and the guide rods are made of genuine steel.
Critical dimensions are listed in the chart below. Weights are
listed in ounces. Linear dimensions are listed in inches.
Trigger pulls are listed in pounds of pressure. DA is
double-action and SA is single-action. FDE is Flat Dark Earth
color, as shown on the FNP-45 Tactical here. Trigger pulls on
both weapons were very good, with smooth double-action pulls and
crisp single-action pulls. Neither pistol has a magazine safety,
but both pistols have firing-pin block safeties to prevent the
weapon from firing unless the trigger is pulled.
|
FNP-45T |
FNX-40 |
Chambering |
45 ACP |
40 S&W |
Weight with empty
magazine |
33.2 oz |
27.4 oz |
Trigger Pull DA |
9.4 lbs |
9.5 lbs |
Trigger Pull SA |
4.25 lbs |
4.25 lbs |
Barrel Length |
5.3" |
4.0" |
Barrel Diameter |
0.625" |
0.587" |
Overall Height |
6.62" |
5.5" |
Overall Length |
8.75" |
7.37" |
Grip Thickness |
1.28" |
1.24" |
Trigger Reach SA |
2.62" |
2.58" |
Trigger Reach DA |
2.98" |
2.86" |
Magazine Capacity |
15 |
14 |
Magazines Supplied |
3 |
3 |
Threaded Barrel |
.578x28
TPI |
No |
Optics Mount |
Yes |
No |
Slide Finish |
Black or FDE |
Black or Stainless |
Frame Color |
Black or FDE |
Black |
Both pistols were fired for accuracy and
reliability with several brands and types of ammunition.
Reliability was one hundred percent with both pistols. There
were no failures or stoppages of any kind, with the exception of
the one faulty cartridge listed above. No handloads were tried
in the FNX-40, but the FNP-45T performed very well with my
standard target handload. This load consists of a Rim Rock 200
grain lead SWC atop 5.5 grains of Hodgdon Titegroup powder in a
new primed S&W 45 ACP case. Accuracy was pretty good with
both pistols, keeping high performance hollowpoint ammunition
between two and three inches at twenty-five yards, shooting from
a hand-held rested position. Accuracy from the handload with the
45 was excellent, grouping into one and one-half inches at
twenty-five yards, handheld from a rest. Velocities were
recorded at a distance of twelve feet, at an altitude of 541
feet above sea level, and an air temperature hovering around
sixty-five degrees with low humidity. I love October! Velocities
are recorded in the charts below, and are listed in
feet-per-second. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint bullet. EPR and
AF are specialty premium bullets as loaded by Extreme
Shock Ammunition. DPX is a homogenous copper hollowpoint.
FMJ is a full metal jacket bullet. WCC is Winchester military
ammo. PB is Cor-Bon Pow’RBall.
FNX-40 (40 S&W)
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Cor-Bon DPX |
140 |
1160 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
135 |
1262 |
Cor-Bon PB |
135 |
1310 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
155 |
1278 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
180 |
1071 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ |
180 |
1074 |
Extreme Shock EPR |
150 |
1121 |
Black Hills JHP |
180 |
960.3 |
FNP-45T (45 ACP)
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Cor-Bon JHP |
200 |
1064 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
165 |
1246 |
Cor-Bon JHP |
230 |
929 |
Cor-Bon DPX |
185 |
1086 |
Cor-Bon PB |
165 |
1246 |
Cor-Bon Glaser |
145 |
1236 |
Buffalo Bore JHP |
230 |
982.4 |
Buffalo Bore FMJ |
230 |
959.2 |
Handload LWSC |
200 |
985 |
Extreme Shock EPR |
185 |
1175 |
Extreme Shock AF |
125 |
1499 |
WCC 1911 Ball FMJ |
230 |
801.1 |
Both pistols turned in respectable
velocities. The Buffalo Bore 45 caliber loads listed are the
standard pressure ammo. I had none of their Plus P stuff
available, but it usually is also a top performer in 45 ACP.
FNH-USA pistols are getting better all the
time. These are the best and most modern auto pistols ever
produced by FNH. They are strong, reliable, durable, and built
for today’s modern soldier and law enforcement officer. They
will serve very well for the rest of us also. As fighting
pistols, these two FNH pistols are as good as it gets, each
holding a fistful of cartridges; fourteen plus one on the 40 and
fifteen plus one in the 45. With the two spare mags thoughtfully
provided, that is plenty of firepower. The FNX-40 comes in a
nice hard plastic case, and the 45 comes in an excellent padded
soft case.
The FNP-45 and FNX-40 are built from top
quality materials, built right, and built in the USA.
Check out the extensive line of FNH products
online at www.fnhusa.com.
For the location of an FNH dealer near you,
click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.
To order the FNH pistols online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.
Jeff Quinn
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