Picked one up Thursday. Seems like there is some anti FN sentiment on this board so i will only report the facts. Trigger: a little gritty to start by 500 rounds it was the best striker fired trigger i have pulled including on a VP9 and PPQ both of which i have owned and traded. Fit and Finish: all i can say is it seems a cut above the regular FNS (of which i am a big fan). Barrel has a match crown, the slide is heavy-HK like without a hint of machining marks, and the frame seems beefed up with the characteristic big thick metal rails. Sights are big 3 dot visible white. Grip: I put the straight back strap on and it fits like a glove.
Range: 900 rounds: 115 Fed Am Eagle FMJ, Sig 115 FMJ , Hornady 115 hollow point, Winchester 115 silvertips-all flawless. Accuracy: at 50 feet made one ragged hole to point of aim, at closer distances it was almost boring it was so accurate.
Negatives: 2 mags, not 3 and getting more mags right now is problematic. (I am limited to 10 rounders).
Bottom line: absolutely love it. No brass to the face, accurate, positive ejection, easy to shoot and reliable.

Thanks for the report. I was thinking about getting one until Apex Tactical mentioned that their new flat trigger for the FN 509 was backwards capatible with the older FNS model.

-Tom

Thanks for taking the time. How much did it set you back? Although the U.S. company doesn't have the best reputation and could stand some improvements, I acquired an 40 FNS a short ago time and solicited some feedback on it which was appreciated. I also notice how much the trigger improved after repeated use. I won't place its trigger in the same catagory as the VP9 or PPQ but it does get the job done. I didn't find any of the issues noted with its grade of polymer. In fact I think its heavy duty in comparison to other. My feelings & take away after each range visit is that is a quality tool built for professionals.

quote:

Originally posted by longjohn:
Seems like there is some anti FN sentiment on this board so i will only report the facts.

FNH-USA, not Fabrique Nationale Herstal.

It was $545.00 plus tax. It was the first one that came in to one of the local FFL's. We have 3 pretty good sized ones here in the Hartford area. I was surprised to see it, went into to grab some ammo and walked out with it. They had literally just logged it in from their UPS shipment.
Anyway, my plan is to just keep pounding rounds thru it and see how its shooting at the 3 and 5 thousand round mark.

My concern with any FNH-USA pistol is how it behaves in temperature extremes- either very hot or very cold.

I pulled the trigger on one at NRA. Terrible trigger and ugly. CZ P10 has a much better trigger.

I was not impressed with the two I played with the at NRA show. A pass for me. Glad you like it.

Interesting, I also played with them at the NRA show and was quite impressed. I'm so heavily in to Glock I don't see picking one up, but the trigger seemed a lot better than my Glocks and the gun felt very balanced in my hand.

The local Point Blank range has one in the case. I got a chance to hold it and dryfire a couple of times and I liked it. Thinking about picking one up but I'd like to try the new P320 xcarry and CZ P10c as well before I throw down the cash for another gun.

Great review OP and thanks for taking the time to post it up.

I like the FNX and the 509 seems like a great handgun, the one thing the turns me off is that the magazines are in my opinion expensive and hard to find.

Really disappointing to read that they abandoned the FNS magazines for yet another design. Certainly annoying on the retailer side but also for me personally as a FNS owner. Still, I'm interested in how the new design feels and shoots. For the most part I've taken care of any itch for a striker from FNH with my FNS9. It's been a very good, shootable pistol that only needs to pass a sun exposure test on a hot day to prove its mettle.

Now if only it will STOP raining...

Our labs did comparative analysis of the US-sourced recent production composite materials by thermogravimetric analysis as well as DSC and DMA, including those for Sig, FN, some others. We saw no significant differences in Tg, melting/decomposition behavior and crack development. Those that go into FN 509 should behave similarly to Glock, etc. as far as heating is concerned. I won't specify employer, sorry.

Honestly, the "don't leave it in the sun thing" with the FN's is really silly. I will keep the pistol in my safe or on my person until i take it to the range or God forbid have to brandish it to defend myself and never give a second thought to the "will it still work after baking in the sun all day" internet issue.
Just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by longjohn:
... and never give a second thought to the "will it still work after baking in the sun all day" internet issue.

Well, whether or not you give it any thought, I hope it's not a problem for you at a critical moment.

KLBJ 590 AM (Austin, TX) had an ad for the 509 during the Hannity Show. I was wondering if it was a local ad or national ad. Unless the 509 receives stellar reviews I will wait for the CZ P10 fullsize. No bias against FN but a preference for CZ.

Well the sun came out this afternoon. An air temp of 72°F or so and steady sun for 20 minutes on the deck table didn't upset the polymer. Felt just as stable as my G19's frame that I was changing the sights on, sitting right next to it. At some point into the summer I'll end up over on the east side (of the Cascades) a few times for some long distance shooting and coyote 'business'; if I remember I may bring it along and see how it does when the temp gets into triple digits. But at a decent (finally, for once) regular temp and a good dose of sun today it seems GTG.

Probably a good shooter from under an umbrella

quote:

Originally posted by soggy_spinout:
Really disappointing to read that they abandoned the FNS magazines for yet another design. Certainly annoying on the retailer side but also for me personally as a FNS owner. Still, I'm interested in how the new design feels and shoots. For the most part I've taken care of any itch for a striker from FNH with my FNS9. It's been a very good, shootable pistol that only needs to pass a sun exposure test on a hot day to prove its mettle.

Now if only it will STOP raining...

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by longjohn:
... and never give a second thought to the "will it still work after baking in the sun all day" internet issue.

Well, whether or not you give it any thought, I hope it's not a problem for you at a critical moment.

I lost my faith in FN while back. Picked up a early FNP Tac and the trigger wouldn't break every few rounds. They replaced the pistol and right off...