After a seemingly never ending search for the perfect carry gun, I think I have a winner.

For the last 10 years or so, I have carried a PPS Classic with a reload or two as my dedicated carry gun. For the last 5 years of that, (since moving to a free state) Ive been looking for that Goldilocks carry gun with a higher capacity that clicked all the boxes.

The first stop was a G48, which it turns out, is a Glock. And like so many before it, the fit for my hand was not good, so it found a new home. Then came the P365XL, great gun, soft shooting, but just too small for my XL mitts. I tried the MC9, And MC9XL, with the latter becoming my dedicated night stand gun, but neither of them carried well for me, so I kept returning to the Walther. I shot the shield plus and the Hellcat, both were a no go for various reasons.

So a few weeks ago I stumbled across a video on the FN Reflex XL, a gun I didn’t even know existed. I stopped into my LGS and to my surprise there was one in the case. I fondled it and bought it. What did I have to loose, I’ve tried everything else.

My first two range trips have been great, around 500 rounds so far with 115 & 124 Fiocchi, 124 V- crown, 115 Cor-bon, 150 Syntec, all cycled and extracted without incident. It is slightly snappier than the 365xl, but much softer than the others I tried in the same size / configuration. It point extremely well, great sights, and to my joy and astonishment , the slide locks open every time on an empty magazine, a first for me with a thumbs forward grip on a smaller platform.

This is my first ownership of an FNH handgun and I am quite pleased.

I don't have any experience with this pistol so its nice to hear about your positive range reports.

I've only had 2 FN pistols over the years and both were quality and shot fine. That being said I ended up selling them because the mags were expensive and there's not a great variety of holsters like there are with other platforms.

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FN Reflex XL

Looks nice (in black, not poo brown).

If FN was good enough for John Browning they're good enough for me. That's a good and helpful review you wrote. And that looks like a good choice. Might have to add it to my suspects list.

Have the regular Reflex and it’s my pocket carry pistol, have about 400 rds thru it with no issues.

Years ago I had a polymer FN don't remember which one but it was a pretty good gun as you would expect from FN. Just wondering,did you try a CZ P10C. Roughly the size of G19 but I have been really impressed with mine. I shoot it quite well and the price is outstanding. Great grip module with S,M, and L adapters. I've seen them from 399-419 range. A lot of gun for the money.

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Originally posted by got2hav1:
Years ago I had a polymer FN don't remember which one but it was a pretty good gun as you would expect from FN. Just wondering,did you try a CZ P10C. Roughly the size of G19 but I have been really impressed with mine. I shoot it quite well and the price is outstanding. Great grip module with S,M, and L adapters. I've seen them from 399-419 range. A lot of gun for the money.

I have a P10C, great gun, but it does not carry nearly as well as the micro / macro platform guns.
If I had to head out the door into k own trouble with only a handgun, it would probably be the P10C. But for daily carry in all climates and associated clothing, I want something thinner.

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Originally posted by Nick:

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Originally posted by got2hav1:
Years ago I had a polymer FN don't remember which one but it was a pretty good gun as you would expect from FN. Just wondering,did you try a CZ P10C. Roughly the size of G19 but I have been really impressed with mine. I shoot it quite well and the price is outstanding. Great grip module with S,M, and L adapters. I've seen them from 399-419 range. A lot of gun for the money.

I have a P10C, great gun, but it does not carry nearly as well as the micro / macro platform guns.
If I had to head out the door into k own trouble with only a handgun, it would probably be the P10C. But for daily carry in all climates and associated clothing, I want something thinner.

I wondered if it might be to big for EDC. Probably could manage in cold weather but maybe not in the summer.

I just picked up a Reflex XL. Range report to follow...

Perhaps a bit OT. Been carrying for 55 years since Oakland PD. Started with a Browning High Power, S&W 3913, and a P229 DA/SA 40 S&W for near 20 years now. At 80 I could be a bit set in my ways, the P229 is the best EDC so far.

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Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I just picked up a Reflex XL. Range report to follow...

I am curious to get your thoughts.

Something I am happy about is, it needs nothing. The sights are tridium with high vis orange, the texture is fantastic - lots of grip without the pain, and the trigger is great right out of the box.
All I need are more mags and carry gear.

So many YT videos indicate that many owners say it shoots very low and left...as does mine.
Nice gun, but it's a mile off target...ten rounds total through it...

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Originally posted by sonnydaze:
So many YT videos indicate that many owners say it shoots very low and left...as does mine.
Nice gun, but it's a mile off target...ten rounds total through it...

Some of the original Reflex SC guns, not the XL versions shipped with mis-matched sights, and some had extractors that caused feeding issues, but those things have been resolved.

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Reflex XL

Barrel Length: 3.8"
Overall Length: 6.75"
Height: 5.2"
How are those dimensions a "micro-compact" pistol? It looks like a great gun but their site calls it micro-compact and it seems closer to full size. I guess I'm missing something.

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Originally posted by LDB:

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Reflex XL

Barrel Length: 3.8"
Overall Length: 6.75"
Height: 5.2"
How are those dimensions a "micro-compact" pistol? It looks like a great gun but their site calls it micro-compact and it seems closer to full size. I guess I'm missing something.

The original was a micro compact, but I would consider the XL a Macro sized platform.

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Originally posted by Nick:

quote:

Originally posted by LDB:

quote:

Reflex XL

Barrel Length: 3.8"
Overall Length: 6.75"
Height: 5.2"
How are those dimensions a "micro-compact" pistol? It looks like a great gun but their site calls it micro-compact and it seems closer to full size. I guess I'm missing something.

The original was a micro compact, but I would consider the XL a Macro sized platform.

I agree with you but when I looked it up on their website they call it micro compact. Oh well, the tape measure doesn't lie no matter what verbiage is used.

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Originally posted by LDB:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick:

quote:

Originally posted by LDB:

quote:

Reflex XL

Barrel Length: 3.8"
Overall Length: 6.75"
Height: 5.2"
How are those dimensions a "micro-compact" pistol? It looks like a great gun but their site calls it micro-compact and it seems closer to full size. I guess I'm missing something.

The original was a micro compact, but I would consider the XL a Macro sized platform.

I agree with you but when I looked it up on their website they call it micro compact. Oh well, the tape measure doesn't lie no matter what verbiage is used.

I’m pretty sure the marketing department was capitalizing on the retail power of “micro-compact” designation.
I don’t consider a Walther PDP compact to be very compact either, but this is the world we live in.

Ok... So I bought a Reflex XL and I also bought the smaller micro Reflex. I recently bought a Fuse and really liked it but was having a hard time picking up the fiber optic sights. So I sold the Fuse to a friend. Today I put 200 rounds of Blazer Brass (both 115 and 124) and 25 rounds of standard pressure Gold Dot 115 through each pistol. My impressions are:
1- Reflex micro: Snappy! But that was expected. Trigger is good but not great. A + is no poorly fitted trigger tab that tears up my pinky. Sights are excellent with a hi-viz tritium front. Fully reliable with the 10 round, 15 round and even the XL 18 round magazine. Mine did shoot slightly low left. I attribute this to the reduced size of the grip which affects my handling of the gun. Since I consider this size of gun to be a "get off me" gun, the accuracy (15 yards) is entirely satisfactory. Fed and extracted without issue. One 10 round mag has a pinky extension and that barely works for me. The flat base plate mag makes me curl my little finger under it when shooting. 15 rounders have a mag spacer sleeve that work fine. Will it unseat the 365 as king of the micros? Nope. But its a worthy competitor.
2- Reflex XL: Essentially the same experience, reliability wise, as the micro. Occasionally had an empty case land on top of my head. Happened only with ball ammo, so I think that's a break in and ammo preference issue that will resolve itself. Far more accurate than the micro. No low left. Softer shooting and much better recoil recovery due to a full grip and longer barrel. Trigger is good but not great. Overall, I shot it better than the Fuse because I was able to pick up the sights much better. It is optic ready but I shot it iron sighted. Will the XL outdo the 365 Macro? Nope. But its close.
Holsters are on order.
Minor whine: The mag adapter spacers on the 15 round mags that let these mags adapt to the Reflex micro are loose and slide freely on the mag tube. Is this an issue? Maybe! But I "fixed" it but cutting down a piece of Gorilla tape and putting it inside the spacer. This reduced the sliding issue greatly. We will see how long that lasts.
Bottom line: pretty happy with the FNs. The XL is definitely a keeper. The Micro will serve a role as an occasional carry when weight and size is a factor. I probably wont carry it on a daily basis as I am very happy with my G48.
Note: The Reflex guns are Hammer fired SAO, not striker fired. Does this really make a difference? Not for me. And the FNs dont use a removable FCU, so if modularity interests you, stick with Sig.