FN FNX: No Love?

I have had an FNX-40 for a couple of years. No complaints at all, it is a great pistol...well made, accurate, good trigger for a combat gun, quality night sights... It is my primary home defense pistol. The combination frame-mounted safety / decocker is a nice innovation.

In 2013, I noticed a "hole" in my collection. I had no 40 cal, and I had no SA/DA pistol. So I looked at the Sig Pro SP2022 and the FNX... both were completely satisfactory, I thought both were a good value. The FNX fit me a bit better, but I could have gone either way.

Considering the price and the fact it comes with 3 mags and factory night sights, it should be flying off the shelves. But I think FNH has a marketing blind-spot when it comes to the US civilian market. No question they know how to sell military weapons to the US and other governments all over the world. But marketing pistols to US civilians? not so much.
 
I have an fnx in both 40 and 9, and an fnp tac in 45. I absolutely LOVE them, hands down the best semi-autos I own. They eat any kind of crap ammo I feed them, I've never had a misfire or jam of any kind (even when I run them totally filthy). In my experience they are at least as reliable as a glock and way prettier (not a high bar we're working with there aesthetically, I know) with great ergonomics (interchangeable backstraps are the best invention since vaseline).

Mags are hella expensive, but really high quality (I get the FN mags, not any of the aftermarket ones).

From what I know, the FNP is convertible to LH whereas the FNX is fully ambi. The controls and mags are slightly different shapes. FNX has adjustable sights, FNP did not (the Tac model has the extra high adjustable sights though). Other than that, very minor cosmetic differences. The X is just an updated P, like a glock gen 3 vs 4.

I do know a few people who say my FNX-9, which is my go-to screwing around gun, is hard to aim. I find that it is the most natural point of any gun for me, maybe tied with my p239 or px4. Of course one of the complainers is a Glock person and they just plain ain't normal, and the other I suspect just wanted something to blame terrible groups on...

Edit: The aggressive grip texturing does tear you hands up pretty good if you aren't used to it- it's made to be a "tactical" gun that is glove-friendly though, so it was a deliberate move (same thing with the oversized trigger guard).
 
Last year I was looking for an affordable DA/SA pistol and it came down to the FNX and a Beretta PX4. I ended up going with the PX4, but not because of a problem with the FNX. I just preferred the feel of the PX4. I may still purchase an FNX at some point though.
 
They are very well-made, reliable, and durable. The FNX-45 is one of the highest-capacity .45s on the market if that matters to you. I'm also glad to have another SA/DA option on the market. Now if only they'd give us one in 5.7...
 
but after handling and dry firing I'm not as impressed as I though I would be
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My sentiments exactly. And I love FN products of all types.

I have the 5.7 and like the caliber, capacity, and capabilities but the gun is no object of beauty to be "loved".
 
Makes a great HD gun!

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More thoughts about the trigger:

In DA mode, it is about average. it is as good as a SW 5906 or a Sig 226. It is not quite as good as a Beretta 92. It is not anywhere close to a tuned DA revolver, but I have never found a DA/SA pistol which was.

In SA mode, it is not a 1911... It is more of a 2 stage military style trigger, it has some take-up, and then it has a Glock-like creep stage before the break. It is a light trigger, but it is not crisp like a good 1911, or a good revolver shot in SA.

If it is compared to its competitors (Sig 2022, Sig 226/229, Beretta 92, out-of-production SW 59/39-series) it compares well.
 
Nice FAS1. My new FNX-45T will be set up with a similar Streamlight, a Griffin Revolution 45 suppressor and a Burris Fastfire III. One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post is the sights on the FNX-45. The sights are the best I have seen on a production semi-auto. Most pistol iron sights are set up with very little daylight between the front blade and rear notch. This set up favors accuracy (read bullseye) shooting over fast target acquisition. The FNX-45 sights are set up with a thinner front blade, likes the sights you would see on experienced competitor's pistols in action shooting divisions that exclude optics. Irons are faster when you have some space between the front blade and rear notch. FN also utilized a rear sight that's tapered down on the sides, instead of squared off, like a target sight. This is so the rear sight obstructs less field of view, making it faster to acquire multiple targets after the pistol is presented in the sight plane. Again, this is another feature developed in action shooting and adopted for defensive work. It's hard to fathom why many aftermarket sight sets, especially some nights sights, will claim their sights are "tactical", yet overlook these basic design elements. You can say that personal preference is a factor, but there's no arguing with results at the upper levels of shooting competition, where split seconds count and scores don't lie. It's refreshing to shoot a pistol that is set up well out of the box, for a change. I've spent too much money replacing crappy sights, or buying trigger upgrades for Glocks, M&Ps and XDMs. If FN can square sights and triggers away at the FNX pricepoint, anyone else selling a gun for the similar money should as well. I disagree that the FNX45 trigger is like a Glock, with long, heavy creep. To get a Glock trigger down to the 4lb range, you must lighten the striker spring, which can result in FTF due to light primer strikes. Yes, guys do get them to run with softer primers, usually hand loads, but I wouldn't advise it in a defensive pistol. From my experience, the FNX has suffered due to some bugs in earlier versions that should have been eliminated before release. I few well published issues can create a reputation for unreliability that's difficult to overcome. My FNX has no such issues, and I'm not the only one out there who recognizes that the new FN pistols are "undervalued" (ever heard of Hickock45 on Youtube?) I don't have a lot of time with the FNX-45 yet, but indications are great so far.
 
The FNX-45 sights are set up with a thinner front blade, likes the sights you would see on experienced competitor's pistols in action shooting divisions that exclude optics.
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Actually, the FNX and FNS have a pretty wide front blade and large dot, notably wider than many other production pistols and that's part of the reason I like them. The difference is simply that the rear notch is wider and cut with an arc instead of a square at the bottom. Trijicon HD uses the same setup on their sights and I like them for that reason.

To get a Glock trigger down to the 4lb range, you must lighten the striker spring, which can result in FTF due to light primer strikes. Yes, guys do get them to run with softer primers, usually hand loads, but I wouldn't advise it in a defensive pistol.
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I don't think this is true. You should just be able to lighten the return spring and change out the connector. This is true of most striker fired pistols. Now you will reach a point where you'd have to change the striker spring to get the pull any lighter, but it would be less than 4 lb. for sure.

I'm not sure why anyone would compare a Glock to a DA/SA pistol. Different ignition mechanisms and trigger types. The FNS would make more sense. The FNX doesn't really compete against the Glock in my mind. For the price and the quality you get it's one of the best DA/SA deals out there IMO.
 
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"The FNX-45 sights are set up with a thinner front blade, likes the sights you would see on experienced competitor's pistols in action shooting divisions that exclude optics."

Actually, the FNX and FNS have a pretty wide front blade and large dot, notably wider than many other production pistols and that's part of the reason I like them. The difference is simply that the rear notch is wider and cut with an arc instead of a square at the bottom. Trijicon HD uses the same setup on their sights and I like them for that reason.

Quote:
"To get a Glock trigger down to the 4lb range, you must lighten the striker spring, which can result in FTF due to light primer strikes. Yes, guys do get them to run with softer primers, usually hand loads, but I wouldn't advise it in a defensive pistol."

I don't think this is true. You should just be able to lighten the return spring and change out the connector. This is true of most striker fired pistols. Now you will reach a point where you'd have to change the striker spring to get the pull any lighter, but it would be less than 4 lb. for sure.

I'm not sure why anyone would compare a Glock to a DA/SA pistol. Different ignition mechanisms and trigger types. The FNS would make more sense. The FNX doesn't really compete against the Glock in my mind. For the price and the quality you get it's one of the best DA/SA deals out there IMO.

What other production front blades are more narrow than the FNX? My FNX front blade is .114. One of my Glocks, a G20, is .148. The trijicon nights site on my HK P30 measures .138, an XDM .141. The rear notches on all are closer in size, with the Glock at .141 and the FNX at .125 representing the range of width difference. So what production pistol has a front sight as narrow as the FNX? The only pistols in my 80+ collection with front sight blades that narrow are the Dawsons I put on my STI comp guns, and some warren tactical aftermarket sets.
I've done dozens of trigger jobs, on everything from 1911s, glocks, xdms, M&Ps, and numerous rifles. I just fit two Ghost evo elite "3.5lb" connectors in two new gen 4 G20s. One pistol started with a nearly 9 lb pull, and the other with a 7 lb pull, according to my Timney gauge. The connectors dropped the weights to 6 and 5.75lbs, respectively, which is consistent with my results in the dozen + Glock trigger mods I've done personally. At that pull weight, I'm satisfied that these pistols will function with whatever primers I put in front of the striker. One thing I do know, is that the more significant the alteration from a stock glock triggers, the more issues with reliability and safety systems arise. On top of that, I've never really attained any results with the numerous different glock trigger mods I've done that seemed worth the effort, expense, or compromises. I do like some things about glocks, but the triggers are not one of them. There's just too much spongy flex in the mechanism for my taste.
My reference to glock triggers above was in response to an earlier post in this thread that claims similarity between the glock and FNX triggers, an opinion we both seem to disagree with.
 
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FN Semi

Hello All, I could not resist the chance to talk about my 5.7.I have had mine for 2 or 3 years and could not be more pleased with it so far.Sights on target when you pull it up.For me,it is my best long range accuracy compared to my Glock or Rem.45 1911.My buddy that shoots with me talks about it every time we meet up..He shoots like crap but pretty good with it.. I was checking out the thread because I was thinking about getting a new 9mm.My glock is great but every now and then a shell will bounce off your forehead and if you dont have your safety glasses on you get to go to the eye doc.Trust me,not cheap,ruined my day at the range.In a bad situation,well everyone knows.Eliminated the Glk from carry for me.Anyway...Good day..SHOOTEM TILL THEY ARE GONE.
 
What other production front blades are more narrow than the FNX? My FNX front blade is .114. One of my Glocks, a G20, is .148. The trijicon nights site on my HK P30 measures .138, an XDM .141. The rear notches on all are closer in size, with the Glock at .141 and the FNX at .125 representing the range of width difference. So what production pistol has a front sight as narrow as the FNX? The only pistols in my 80+ collection with front sight blades that narrow are the Dawsons I put on my STI comp guns, and some warren tactical aftermarket sets.
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My point is front blade width is not the only factor in fast sight acquisition. You can accomplish the same goal with a wider rear notch. You're right I was confusing the size of the front dot with the overall width of the blade (though I find for me and others the size of the front dot is a factor as well). I never found my FNX had faster acquisition than any of the pistols I have with Trijicon HDs. I would accept that a thinner front blade allows, however, for more potential shootability especially at ranges where the front blade becomes the entire width of a human head (a problem I have found with the Trijicon HDs at 25 yds and farther).

I've done dozens of trigger jobs, on everything from 1911s, glocks, xdms, M&Ps, and numerous rifles. I just fit two Ghost evo elite "3.5lb" connectors in two new gen 4 G20s. One pistol started with a nearly 9 lb pull, and the other with a 7 lb pull, according to my Timney gauge. The connectors dropped the weights to 6 and 5.75lbs, respectively, which is consistent with my results in the dozen + Glock trigger mods I've done personally.
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Then you either have an off gauge or are buying compliant models of Glocks or just got rather unlucky. I also have worked on a number of Glocks and all of them stock came in at weights of 5.5 -6 lbs on a 5 pull average off a Lyman digital gauge. This can be checked in countless examples online as well, including Glock's own literature as to their stock weights. Variances occur no doubt, but 9 lbs. is heavy for a stock Glock.

One thing I do know, is that the more significant the alteration from a stock glock triggers, the more issues with reliability and safety systems arise.
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This is true of any pistol and I can agree with it. My argument was that you don't need to change the striker spring to get a 4 lb. weight and I stand by that.
 
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I have the 5.7 and like the caliber, capacity, and capabilities but the gun is no object of beauty to be "loved".
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Does it need to be? I guess it depends on how you view firearms. To my any polymer fantastic is just a tool. Even the HK P30 which I find visually appealing doesn't sell me on its looks.

Now that being said I will admit I can't own a car I don't find visually appealing. Also all of the metal framed pistols I own are often for their looks or, more often, their history. So I can't claim to be immune from being more than concerned about utility.

I think FN products are just as nice as many others, with the cold hammer forged barrels being a big seller to me (for which I am likely a sucker). I actually just ordered an FNS compact. I think FN suffers a bit from the same disease HK did where there civilian sales are much more of a side business than their military sales. HK learned a hard lesson that civilian sales can offset lean military times, and I hope FN doesn't have to learn the same lesson (though I think they're starting from a better civilian relationship than HK).
 
The S/A trigger on my FNX 45 is very light with a nice reset. Soaks up recoil like a fluffy pillow. Accuracy out of the box was very good. Zero issues at 700 rounds. 15 rounds of 45 acp, what's not to Love? :cool:
 
Good to hear others with similar positive experiences. My FNX-45 has even worked its' way into my EDC, and I'm confident the "T" version I'm picking up next week will have similar performance. On that note, it seems the FDE "T" versions are drying up-no stock at my dealer's 3 distributors and not many left on GB. The sell for a premium over black, even though they wholesale at the same cost. Plenty of black available, though, and I've seen them as low as $1025. shipped. I could not find any sign of threaded barrels for the standard FNX-45 anywhere, including MGW. The FNX inspired me to look at the FNS-40, and there are some smoking deals on those right now. Pricing is so good, I ordered 2, and barring any surprises, I expect the FNS-40 to bump my HK VP9 as my primary EDC. This well known glock lover seems nearly converted after shooting the FNS-9. If I have a similar experience, I may try one of the new compact versions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEbWnuKixTk
 
My FNX40 has been flawless over 2500 rounds. Bought in May of '12 and hasn't had any of the so called FNX problems. The new compact and longslide are on my list to buy. The only downside to FN handguns is the lack of aftermarket support.
 
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