FNH has been producing quality semi-automatic
pistols for decades, and their current-production hammer-fired
pistols are among the best in the world. The latest design from
FNH is their new FNS series of pistols. The FNS pistols differ
from the FNX and other 9mm and 40 caliber FN pistols in that
they are of striker-fire design, meaning that instead of a
hammer being used to strike the firing pin for ignition, the
striker (firing pin) is cocked and released to fire the pistol,
eliminating the use of a hammer in the design. Striker-fired
pistols are nothing new, but for FNH, these are their first
striker-fired polymer-framed 9mm and 40 caliber pistols.
With their new FNS pistols, FNH-USA is
entering a crowded field of similar polymer-framed striker-fired
pistols. The market is flush with good designs of this type, so
I was not expecting some kind of ground-breaking design when I
opened the box containing the new FNS-9. I was not surprised, as
at first glance, the pistol looks similar to many others.
However, it is the details that set the FNS apart from much of
its competition, and upon closer inspection, I could see that
FNH got the details just right on this one.
Critical
specifications for the FNS-9 pistol are listed in the chart
below. Weight is listed in ounces, and includes the empty
magazine. Linear dimensions are listed in inches. Trigger pull
is listed in pounds of resistance, as measured with my Lyman
digital trigger pull scale. Height includes sights and magazine
base with the magazine in place. Maximum width is measured
across the ambidextrous magazine release.
Chambering |
9x19mm |
Weight with Empty Magazine |
24.6 ounces |
Trigger Pull |
5.75 pounds |
Barrel Length |
4.01 inches |
Barrel Diameter |
0.500 inch |
Overall Height |
5.54 inches |
Overall Length |
7.25 inches |
Grip Width |
1.2 inches |
Frame Width |
1.15 inches |
Slide Width |
0.995 inch |
Maximum Width |
1.31 inches |
Trigger Reach |
2.76 inches |
Magazine Capacity |
17 |
Magazines Supplied |
3 |
Magazine Disconnect Safety |
No |
Manual Thumb Safety |
Optional / Ambidextrous |
Accessory Rail |
1913 Picatinny Spec |
MSRP, as of July 2014 |
$599 US |
Looking at the spec chart, the FNS-9 looks
pretty close in size and weight to competitive pistols, and it
is, but as noted above, FNH got the details just right. The
trigger pull is butter-smooth, as in perfect. The grip portion
of the black polymer frame is textured all around for a positive
grip, but it is not abrasive to hands nor clothing. Both a
curved and flat rear grip insert are provided, to better-fit a
particular shooter's preference. Both backstraps have a lanyard
eyelet at the bottom. The sights are not made of a cheap
plastic, but are durable metal. They are shaped very well for a
good sight picture, and the rear sight will not cut the
operator's hand as it is raked across the top of the slide to
chamber a cartridge or to clear a malfunction. Also, the sights
are dovetailed into the slide, so switching them out for tritium
night sights is relatively easy to do. Night sights are
offered as a factory option as well. The slide is serrated front
and rear, and the slide is also easy to cycle to chamber a
cartridge. The trigger reset is positive, and never failed to
reset at any time.
The magazine release is ambidextrous, and
drops the mag by pushing inward from either side. The slide lock
is not obtrusive, and is also ambidextrous. The pistol shown
here has no manual safety, but a manual safety version is
offered at the same price, if preferred. There is, thankfully,
no magazine safety. The heavy-duty extractor serves as a tactile
and visual loaded-chamber indicator. The magazines have a
capacity of seventeen 9x19mm cartridges, for a total capacity of
eighteen, and FNH-USA ships the pistol with three of these
steel-bodied magazines. Ten-round versions are available as
well, if you live somewhere that you would probably rather not.
The FNS-9 sits low in the shooter's hand, and
even when shooting Buffalo Bore +P+ ammunition, the weapon is
very easy to control. Perceived recoil is relatively light,
compared to most other 9mm pistols which I have fired. The
weapon is very tight, with excellent frame-to-slide and
slide-to-barrel fit. The trigger guard is plenty large, even for
a gloved finger. The front of the trigger guard is textured for
support, if that suits your particular shooting style. A 1913
Picatinny spec rail is provided for the attachment of a light or
laser sight, if desired. The stainless steel slide wears a
durable matte black finish, and a silver-finished version is
also available, for those who prefer a bit more flash.
I
fired the FNS-9 with a variety of ammunition over the
chronograph to check velocities, with the results listed in the
chart below. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second. Bullet
weights are listed in grains. JHP is a jacketed hollowpoint
bullet. DPX, Buffalo Bore Lead Free, and Double Tap Tac-XP
are hollow nose homogenous copper bullets that are made
by Barnes Bullets. Guard
Dog is a FMJ with a soft plastic core to promote rapid
expansion. FP is a frangible, pre-fragmented flatnose bullet.
FMJ is a full metal jacket roundnose bullet. FMJ-FN is a full
metal jacket flat nose Buffalo Bore Penetrator bullet. PB is Pow’RBall,
a specialty bullet from Cor-Bon. Glaser is a pre-fragmented
bullet. Velocities were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above
sea level, with an air temperature of eighty-four degrees
Fahrenheit, and a relative humidity of fifty-nine percent.
Velocities were recorded at ten feet from the muzzle.
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Buffalo
Bore Lead Free HP +P |
95 |
1441 |
Buffalo
Bore Lead Free HP +P+ |
115 |
1158 |
Federal Guard Dog |
105 |
1182 |
Double Tap TAC-HP +P |
115 |
1131 |
Double Tap FMJ +P |
147 |
1066 |
Remington Home Defense |
124 |
1112 |
Atomic HP +P |
124 |
1201 |
WCC NATO FMJ |
124 |
1116 |
Fiocchi FMJ |
115 |
1055 |
Buffalo
Bore FMJ-FN |
124 |
1271 |
Buffalo
Bore JHP |
115 |
1288 |
Buffalo
Bore +P+ JHP |
115 |
1355 |
Buffalo
Bore +P JHP |
147 |
1062 |
Cor-Bon Glaser +P |
80 |
1619 |
Cor-Bon JHP +P |
115 |
1323 |
Cor-Bon PB +P |
100 |
1311 |
Cor-Bon +P DPX |
115 |
1154 |
Cor-Bon JHP +P |
125 |
1289 |
Stryker JHP |
115 |
1013 |
International Cartridge FP |
100 |
1068 |
Stryker FMJ |
115 |
1065 |
Shooting the FNS-9 pistol was a real
pleasure. There are no sharp edges to abrade the hand, and
perceived recoil is mild, even with the high-performance +P and
+P+ ammunition. The pistol functioned flawlessly throughout the
tests, with all ammunition listed above. Every round fed, fired,
and ejected perfectly. There is no break-in period required with
this pistol. It ran perfectly, right out of the box. Accuracy
was very good, with the pistol hitting to point-of-aim with most
ammunition from five to twenty-five yards. The pistol possesses
the needed accuracy to make a head-shot at twenty-five yards
easily, if necessary. As noted above, with the striker-fired
FNS-9, FNH got the details just right, and in the
highly-competitive market segment into which this pistol falls,
the details make a big difference.
One very important detail to many potential
purchasers is the price. As of the date of this review, the
FNS-9 has a suggested retail price of only $599 US. That is
right in there with its closest competition, but the wholesale
price on the FNS leaves the dealer plenty of room to discount,
if they like. Also for that price, compared to some of its
competition, the FNS has better sights, a smoother shape, better
trigger, ambidextrous controls, a steel recoil spring guide rod,
better magazines, softer felt recoil, and a better-quality hard
case. Also, its accessory rail is not proprietary, accepting
Picatinny spec accessories. It also ships with three magazines,
instead of two. I keep coming back to the details, and as I
stated above, the details make a big difference, and FNH nailed
the details on this pistol. The FNS-9 pistol is 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, click on the
Gun Genie at www.galleryofguns.com.
To
order quality 9x19mm ammunition, go to www.buffalobore.com,
www.doubletapammo.com,
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com,
and www.luckygunner.com.
Jeff Quinn


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