FN X

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Excoastie

New member
What is the general consensus about the FN X in 9mm?

I've heard good things about FNs in general, just nothing specific to the X.

I was looking at the 1911 platform, but the more I looked into it, the less I liked it. Yes, I know that is a sacrilege, but I'm OK with that. My hands just aren't big enough to hold it comfortably and be able to reach the slide release etc. with my thumb. I have also found that they're a bit of a PITA to take down and reassemble. I borrowed a friend's SR1911 and it took me about 20 minutes to get it apart, and close to an hour to reassemble it, even while watching a YouTube video that provided step by step instructions.

I don't need the hassle.

Having said that, I was hoping to stay with the same (loosely defined) overall look of the piece. I think that I have found that with the FN X. I can also get it considerably cheaper than any of the 1911s that I was looking at for just shy of $600 OTD.

The planned use is for target shooting, and as a weapon that my 18 y/o son can call "his". He has shot my Shield 9mm, XDS .45, and a few other 9s and 45s. He seems to prefer the 9, and he likes the Shield, but said he would prefer something "slightly bigger".

Exco
 
This is my favorite topic ever.

I have an FNX 40 and absolutely love it. The ergonomics are the most comfortable I've found in a handgun so far. Some people do not like the aggressive texturing so make sure you get your hands on it.

The only gripe I have is how the back straps are secured. It's this silly little notch that you have to depress with a small punch or something similar. I highly recommend looking up pictures of it so you understand how it works. I did not do this and I permanently damaged the notch. It's not a huge deal because once I had the correct back strap on I just used a small amount of super glue to secure it and I've never had a problem.

Overall it is a fantastic weapon and one I'll never get rid of.
 
thanks kvon that is the type of input I was looking for.
I was able to put my hands on one this afternoon. I liked the way that it felt. The aggressive texturing didn't bother me, as I have something similar on both the XDS and the Shield; I found it to be one of the things that I liked about it, along with the overall feel, etc.


xandi, I just had a hard time getting it apart. I couldn't get the takedown notch to line up properly to get the pin out, and getting it back in was a nightmare.

This was my first experience with a 1911, so call it inexperience.

Exco
 
I've had my fnx now for several years, put many thousands of rounds through it and shot many competitions with it. Overall the fit and finish are superb as well as the reliability. I've had one jam and it was because I caught the slide on a barricade. The gun is accurate enough for me. 2 inch or so groups at 15 yards. My only gripe lack of aftermarket support. Until recently it was a pain to find replacement mag springs, the gun didn't necessarily need them but I felt it was time to replace. Finally found them on midwestgunworks, that and magazines are expensive. 45 bucks a pop 40 when they are on sale. I prefer sa/da and I love that it comes in a lightweight ergonomic package so I stick with the fnx.
 
I love my FNX-45, it has been a reliable pistol and is so well liked I use it as my home defense weapon.
 
The FNX-45 pistol with a suppressor is what I use for my home defense and is by night stand. I broke down and bought the suppressor because it hit me that if I had to discharge my handgun in the house I did not want to suffer hearing loss as well. Being that the round is subsonic it is very quiet as well. Feel safe with 31 rounds of 45 acp.
 
I have the FNX 45 and the FNX 40 and the FNS 40. Well over 2,000 rounds through each.

Never a hiccup except the first shots with the 45 were Ammo One brand (ammo was difficult to find at the time) and it would not fire or eject. Put decent ammo in it and never a problem since.

The 45 resides in a safe on my night stand.

Had not fired it in about 6 months because I had purchased a couple of revolvers and two other semis and put more time into them. Finally took the 45 out and fired 50 rounds through it and man did it feel good. Dead on target. It and the 40s seem to just fit my hand.

Easy take down and cleaning.

I have thought about getting the FNX/FNS 9mm but I have two other 9mm and I now have probably too many handguns to shoot them all with any regularity.

With colder weather coming upon us and coat wearing time, the the FNH pistols will become carry pistols. If FN made a truly pocket carry 9 or 40 or 45, I would be sure to get one. Might would consider getting rid of a couple of other semis.

I am sure you will be pleased with any FNH pistol.

EDIT:

This thread caused me to take a look at the FNAmerica web site and I stared and compared the FNS 9 and 40 Compacts with my Glock 27. The measurements are similar and at times I pocket carry the G27 comfortably ) in my fat boy pants. Normally I pocket carry a Shield 40 or 9) I believe the FN compact models would work for pocket carry.....oh no, OP, you have cost me another 500-600 bucks and there is a gun show down the road this weekend.

OH, I am left handed and the ambi controls is what initially was a big reason I started looking at FNH. At the time I did not care for striker fired and no safety, but have changed that mentality. Still like hammer fired weapons better.
 
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I borrowed a friend's SR1911 and it took me about 20 minutes to get it apart, and close to an hour to reassemble it, even while watching a YouTube video that provided step by step instructions.
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You were definitely doing it wrong then.
 
Big fan of the FNX series, and I like having a hammer. Wouldn't mind a slightly larger slide release button, but no big deal. And if we "men" have grown so soft that the texturing of its grip is too much for our dainty little cupcake baking hands......well that's no fault of the gun, is it? :o :o
 
You were definitely doing it wrong then.
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You're correct. I was doing it wrong, and that was most of the problem.
If you add to the fact that I didn't secure the spring bushing and I shot it across the room; I then spent far too long trying to find it.

Nope, don't need the hassle, especially on a gun that is too large for me to comfortably hold, much less shoot.

I scored an FN X 9mm from my LGS for $579 out the door. I was pleased with that price, as it was actually a little cheaper than the box store, and I'm supporting a local shop.

They didn't have it in stock, so had to order it. I should be able to pick it up tomorrow if I don't get called into to work, otherwise on Monday.

Exco
 
You're correct. I was doing it wrong, and that was most of the problem.
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Extra points for honesty. LOTS of us have been in similar situations.

I personally believe there are some things that just orders of magnitude easier if you get personal hands on training to do it.

Obviously I think shooting would be one of these events.

Being familiar with firearms, watching the Ruger 8 minute video on disassembly and then another 8 minute video on reassembly I think I managed to get a Ruger Blackhawk back together in about 3 hours.

My personal best though was a Ruger Mark I that was left behind at a shooting range where I did volunteer work. The range closed for the summer and during the last week someone left the Ruger behind. All us volunteers had a turn at shooting it and then (this was back in the late 1960's) with no manual or no knowledge we took the thing apart, cleaned it and then throughout the rest of the summer when ever we dropped by to check out the range we'd all take turns trying to reassemble it. Somebody finally got it at the end of the summer before we started up again. So off and on several people took almost three months for the reassembly.
 
The surprising thing about FNH handguns is that while nearly all are now polymer, they don't really look like or feel like polymer in your hand. They are (as is the FN practice and tradition), very well-thought out and well-engineered weapons.

I'd argue that they are the gun equivalent of the lower-end Porsche models. (That is to say, they're not Toyotas, Chevrolets, Rolls, or Ferraris -- but good solid machines that offer real value for the money spent.)
 
I had an FNX. It shot well and was reliable. I sold it because the safety on the gun dug into the web of my hand while shooting. Very annoying.
 
I have an FNS 9c and it's a really nice pistol, other than the flush mounted mag release. So I was shopping for a .45 and tried dry firing the FNX, the trigger was so rough and crunchy it was a no go for me. If it was as smooth as my FNS9c I would have grabbed it. Other than that I liked it very much. Maybe it was just that one, or it would break in just fine, but I don't just plop my money down hoping something will get better.
 
Extra points for honesty. LOTS of us have been in similar situations.
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+1 I agree. I have taken 1911s down tons of times. To include stripping the entire frame, installing aftermarket parts, etc. Still didn't stop me from launching the spring plug off in my closet a few months ago. Took me a couple hours of pulling everything out to find it. It landed in a cardboard box with books and stuff in it, then rolled to the bottom and got under the contents somehow. It happens. So in that instance it took me probably 2.5 hours to field strip and reassemble a 1911 :o
 
I have an FNX-45 and really like it. A big factor for me is the condition one carry and the safety operation, both of which are similar to a 1911.

If you decide you'd prefer a striker fired pistol in lieu of a traditional DA/SA, you might check out the FN 509.
 
The FNX series offers excellent reliability and versatility. Right or left, gloved or bare, DA/SA or cocked and locked; they work. Given that and the relatively high capacity to weight ratio, these should shine in open-carry or professional duty roles. Personally, I like the balance of the smaller-framed FNX-9 and 40. They fit my hand like a glove and have relatively pleasant recoil. The fifteen-round FNX-45 feels strangely light in hand for its size.

BTW, the FNX-40 magazines are actually stamped for use with .357 Sig but I'm not sure they ever made an FNX-357. Was that a scrapped plan? Has anyone tried a conversion barrel?
 
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