FN FNX: No Love?

T

TunnelRat

New member
Hi all,
I am just curious about how people's experience with FN's FNX line has been now that it's past the very initial offering. From looking on the forums it seems like people were excited at first, then there were some initials issues such as magazines not seating, backstraps that were loose, and some cosmetic wear over time that people found concerning and then the interest seemed to die. Some people seem to indicate they never had such issues, others that it was a mess and they got rid of the gun entirely. After that there don't appear to be any comments.

I know FN has never been massively popular for handguns in the US, but I was curious if those initial problems were just that, initial bugs, or if they never went away. Other than that it seems like it is a decent deal at the price.

Thoughts?
-TR
 
I had been really interested in one until I got to hadle and dry fire one yesterday. It was at the top of my list to replace my XD, but after handling and dry firing I'm not as impressed as I though I would be.

It has a nice and comparatively slim polymer grip and is textured aggressively. I thought the sights were very good and the trigger wasn't bad for a stock DA/SA. Maybe I came in with too high expectations, but I think I'll pass on the FNX personally.

I still think it's a very good pistol for the money and wouldn't bash it, but it's just not for me, at least not at this point.
 
"I know FN has never been massively popular for handguns in the US"

Don't forget the Hi-Power.

I have an FNP-45 USG, but have never shot an FNS/X
 
Bought one a few months ago. Might replace my Glocks. I like the ability to have cocked and locked as well as a DA/SA capability with a safety that works in the right direction. 17+1 rounds of 9mm ammo, good accuracy and so far 100% reliable.

I like the Glock well enough, but feel better about having a 1911 style safety for nightstand use. Glock is fine as long as it is holstered, but I don't always want to use them that way.
 
I have a work buddy that bought the FNX40, he shot about 200 rounds through it and didn't like the feel of a DA/SA system so he sold it to another gun buddy of mine who's put about 5000(allegedly) rounds through it and loves it to death. different strokes for different folks
 
A lot of what I am seeing is that it just doesn't seem to be anything special that people think is worth keeping. My local lgs has one and I hope to take a look at it this week just to get my own impression.
 
Well, let me be the first to say I have it and love it. I've used USPs and Glocks mostly over the past eight years, but this gun is on par enough that I would replace my Glock if FN made a compact model to go with it. Excellent accuracy, reliability, durability, and multiple carry options are the big selling points to me. I'm now waiting to get an FNS because of my experience with this gun and the FNP before it.
 
I had one and I really liked it. I traded it because the ambi-safety dug into the base of my thumb when I held it normally (unpleasant during recoil). And, I am not a fan of DA/SA guns so I was pumped to carry it in condition I. However, if you are a little too motivated when you flick the safety off you will end up decocking the gun also. I hate DA so I had to get rid of it. Plus, compared to other DA/SA guns the DA pull was horrible. The SA pull was really nice, though (which is why I got it in the first place).
 
I prefer the FNP series myself. There are a couple of features that I like on the FNX but I don't think they did a very good job executing the changes to the model. I never had magazine problems with the FNX-40 I had and I thought the trigger was very decent. I'm not a big fan of the more aggressive grip texturing and the new backstraps were poorly done IMO.
 
Plenty of love for the FNX here. My FNX9 has been flawless through hundreds of rounds of all types. I think the trigger is the best non-competition or enhanced DA/SA trigger in production today; much more crisp to me than Sigs or Berettas. The only negative I have to say about the line is when carrying IWB, I have activated the oversized mag release:eek: accidentally. Due to that, I prefer to carry my FNP9m and keep the FNX on the nightstand. Excellent gun though.
 
FN

I don't know the difference between the FNX and the FNP. I have an FNP Tactical .45 and like it a great deal. It did have a 1%-3% FTF problem when new and was repaired by FN. The pistol has been flawless through about 2,000 rounds since it's return with zero problems. I'd rate the pistol and Trijicon RMR sight it's designed for, to be the "best available". I also have the H&K Tactical and several Custom 1911's and 3 Glock's. The FN, in my opinion,
is a steal. I do not think the FTF problem I had is the norm. Though some small percent of owners have experienced the problem.
 
I handled one in a shop and it just didn't feel as nice as a Glock or a S&W M&P or even an XD.
In fact, it felt kind of cheap.
Click to expand...

Sadly, I felt the same way about the FNP/FNX. Of course, I also felt the same way about the Glock and the M&P.

That's why I went with a Walther P99AS and never looked back. It's amazing how much "nicer" Walther plastic looks and feels compared to FN, Glock, or S&W plastic.
 
I have a FNX-9. This is my only poly pistol. I am old school when it comes to firearms, metal rules. That said, the FNX was very pleasant to hold (for me) and I found no short comings to the design when I bought it. Now this is a range gun for me, so I have not tried to carry it (just try to get a CCW in RI!). I do not go out of my way to find issues with this pistol, a 1/8th of an inch gap, really???, for this money? Is it a real issue. The true worth of a firearm is it's performance. Has done very well so far. My wife likes it too, so that is a plus. I still find myself taking it out just to hold it between range trips.. O.k. so I do that with most of my guns :D, but I take the FNX out first. It is a good gun and I for one enjoy it.

oh, mag issues? Check out the FN forum. FN did release a brief that basically states to not insert the full 17 rounds into the magazines (for the 9mm). Load with 16 and there should be no issue, O.k., I know, than why is it a 17 rd magazine? Just sayin I was. ;)
 
I have more pistols than I'll admit to, but still I bought a FNX-9 a couple of months ago. I think it's a great pistol. The only problem I had with it was a couple of failure to feed with my extremely light paper punching reloads. Anything loaded to normal specs worked fine. It's not the pistol I grab if I'm trying to shoot extremely small groups on paper, that's what my 1911 styles are for. For ringing the steel, it's just fine and it has become my choice for EDC.
 
I bought an FNX the first day it was available in my city. It was a mid 600 serial number,and was an early production FNX-9.

I had to push the base of the mag forward for it to "click" in after insertion. There were reports of mag springs going bad in a matter of weeks just by following the instructions in the manual and loading it to it's 17+1 capacity. My backstraps had that 1/8" of up/down play, and would shift my grip when shooting and reloading. My FNX took about 1k rounds through the recoil spring in order to break it in, as I had malfunctions up until that point. There were a few other issues as well, and on top of it feeling cheap, it also felt unfinished, IMO.

After I got rid of mine, there were at least a half-dozen members at the FN forum that reported that their FNX wouldn't fire in DA if the pistol heated up by being left out in the sun for a matter of minutes. Outdoor temperature stopping function in a defensive pistol.

No love here. Would you blame me?
 
I saw one and was interested due to it being FN and the fairly low price.

Did no care for the feel of it vs the HK or the Sig SP2022.

Trigger did not feel as good as the HK and I think the Sig has a better trigger than the HK

Didn't seem like a bad gun, cycled well and seemed to have god fit and finish, just did not grab me at all.

If it works for someone that's great. If its reliable the price is pretty decent though not nearly as good as the Sig SP2022.
 
I Like the FNX

I realize this thread is old, but it is still near the top of the list for a search worded "FNX trigger". I was looking for info verifying a dealer claim that older versions had heavier triggers than current production. I am particular about triggers, as years of Multi-gun competition has taught me just how critical triggers are in getting rounds on target with accuracy and speed. I also know I don't want a light comp trigger on a defensive pistol, although trigger quality in the defensive roll is obviously critical as well. I had also read of some issues with the FNX pistols initially, years ago, but recently I was hunting for a reliable double stack .45 ACP for defense, and decided to try the 15+1 FNX-45. I was initially impressed with the trigger, which has a relatively light double action take that doesn't move my point of aim near as much as my Sig or HK DA/SA pistols. The single action breaks at 4lbs, right in my sweet spot for a defense pistol, with acceptable take up, clean break, and minimal overtravel. As far as "feeling cheap", I don't see it. The frames rails are substantial, and the pistol appears better constructed overall than a Glock. The FNX-45 proved most impressive at the range, grouping better than my HK45s, G21s (any Glock, for me), and Sig P220. I ran ~250 rounds of varied ammo through it, from 230gr ball to hot HP with no issues, and good, consistant ejection that indicated correct recoil spring weight. In my opinion, the trigger needs no mods for my purposes, which is refreshing given the # of Glock, M&P and XDM trigger upgrades I have done. I carried the piece yesterday in a kydex rig, with no issue driving, etc., but it is hefty loaded with 16 rnds of 230 ammo, so it would be my 1st choice for a long day on foot. I have since ordered a FNX-45 T as a suppressor host, two FNS .40s for carry/defense, and may take a look at the new compact. I haven't tried it myself yet, but word is the FNS trigger is similar, if not better than, the HK VP9 striker trigger that is very good (also no mod needed, for me). I'm turning to the FNS-40, since the HK is only available in 9mm, with no ETA in sight for the .40 release. At this point, I feel the FN pistols are undervalued, with the FNS series available for nearly 50% less than the VP9, which is the only striker fired pistol I've shot to date that doesn't need trigger work. I had not heard about any issues with action lockup under high heat conditions except for a single second hand reference. I placed my FNX-45 in a 170 degree oven for 10 minutes, checked the frame temp with a pyrometer at 160 degrees, which was not comfortable to hold for more than ~5 seconds, and noticed no change in trigger action. Looks to me like the 1st production bugs have been tuned out on the FNX-45, and I'm looking forward to trying the striker versions.
 
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I wanted the largest capacity .45 that had a hammer. I bought my FNX-45 in 2013 and it has been perfect through over 900 rounds now. Its very accurate, and feels good in my hand. Its not terribly stylish, but I didnt buy it for that. I wanted a HD pistol, and I dont think there is anything better. I like the fact the safety can be used in different ways, although I keep the pistol with the hammer down on a loaded chamber. I feel comfortable knowing I have 16 rounds of .45acp at arms length, at all times.
 
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