FNHX 9mm

[RYB44]

I am leaning towards a FNHX - anyone have thoughts or experience with this handgun? A Sig P229 is a little outside of my budget right now! Your help, as always, is appreciated. Barb

[joe magarack]

Had my eye on the FNH then the FNX. I did some reading and talked to some guys that owned them and although the Guns are great shooters,it seems over time the more shot, the Gun starts to loosen up and rattles. I didn't like that so I never purchased. From what i've been reading lately, the FNH 45 doesn't seem to have that issue. Have you thought about a S&W M&P...?

[wellcraft]

i think FN makes great guns and are the most under rated handguns out there. in my opinion FN hand guns and rifles are every bit as good as any SIG, beretta or glock. im own several FN rifles and hand guns and i have no regrets about buying any of them.

[Ten*K]

I have an fnp 45. It's a tank... Not a easy carry. If you are looking for a duty level carry piece, its a good one.

[TGS]

I had one for a very short time that I got on trade. I got it with the idea of 1) trying out the brand and 2) trying out cocked and locked.

1) The DA/SA was somewhat similar to my brand new HK P2000, but with all the grit of a SIGMA. The DA was probably lighter than the P2000, but not as smooth a pull. The SA had way more of a sponge feel before it broke the shot. I don't know if it would have improved considerably...it was pretty bad. I'm a DA/SA guy, too, so keep that in mind. It was serviceable though, unlike a SIGMA or VP70 which are abysmal and demand the intervention of the beard of Zeus to not disturb the sight picture.

2) It was painful just to hold the thing for 5 minutes and dry-fire. I couldn't imagine doing a 2 day course with it. Sharp edges everywhere, the grip is especially uncomfortable. I would wear gloves if doing any heavy shooting. FWIW, I've had 3M grip-tape on my P2000 for the last couple months, which I do all my carryin' and shooting with, so it might be a case of me being a wuss but I'm not too sure given the liberal use of 3M grip tape on my go-to gun.

3) The ambidextrous mag release was junk. It was not easy to push the button, as it was generally very stiff and would also bind throughout the press of the button. I felt this way about the mag release on an FN Five-Seven as well, but not as much.

4) With a high grip, the function lever was digging into my right hand knuckle. This made it impossible to decock without really breaking my grip to something resembling how a person who's never received instruction on a gun would hold a pistol; almost like cradling the gun instead of gripping it. This was because my right hand knuckle would physically block the lever from decocking. Since guns come out fast and get put away slow, this was just an annoyance. I might also be heavily biased since I really like the rear mounted decocker button on the HK P-series.

5) I did not find the weapon easy to take off safe. It was nowhere near as fluid, user friendly or intuitive as a 1911. The lever just wasn't in the right spot for my hand in order to make a smooth presentation. It resulted in establishing a proper grip way too late in the presentation, since I couldn't unsafe it with a decent grip.

6) The FNX9 generally felt like it was going to break, or was assembled with material resembling cheap Taiwanese made toys you get at Walmart. It just didn't feel solid and smooth like a SIG, Glock, HK, Walther, M&P, ect.

7) I've never had a mag that was so tight to load. The only time I've cheated and used an Uplula was during one class...besides that, I've always used my fingers so I don't think it's an issue of me being new to loading mags. I've loaded mags for the SIG P220, P226, P228/229, P239, CZ75 SPO1, HK USP, HK P2000, P30, P7, Glock 26/19/17/22/23, Beretta M9, XD's, Kel-Tecs, LCP's, Kahrs, FN Five-Seven, various curio and relics.....I don't know, a lot of different guns, some of which had +10% Wolff springs. I have NEVER had so much trouble loading a freakin' mag. Unless you're Andre the Giant, I would seriously recommend an UpLula even just to load up one mag.

That's about all I can remember. I've met people who've had the exact opposite experience as me.

If you're concerned about price, consider used west german SIG's.

[RYB44]

Great info, thank you - also, a friend of mine who is a PA Game Commission Officer recommended a Beretta. I have a HK USP 9mm compact for carry, but thought about getting a full size for at home/business when I am "minding" the store. I am all ears.......thank you and Happy New Year.

[TGS]

I am not really sure what condition that other persons gun that posted was in when he got it. BUT, i have a brand new fnx40 with 1100 rounds through it, and my friend has a fnp40 with 500 rounds through it. Both have been flawless. Nothing is rattleing like the first person suggested (lol). And i have had multiple range trips where i shot over 300 rnds at a time and my hand never got beat up by the stippling on it. I love the gun, shoots great, and shoots every cheap reload, WWB, and steel case ammo I put through it. I love it, and the action is smooth as silk, even my double. I did spray some dry lube onto the trigger components when i first got it though. Its a great gun. You wouldn't be upset with your purchase

It had about 300 rounds through it. I got it from a trusted acquaintance. It was well lubed when I got it. It didn't show any wear.

Every single FN I've ever played with at a counter also had the same low-quality feel to it, except for the Five-seveN which was pretty decent save some small cheapy feeling controls like the safety and mag release (I like the Five-seveN, so I'm not an FN hater). I got the FNX to try and give the gun an honest assessment. I've owned most of the commonly available brands, all the way from Kel-Tec to SIG's and HK's, and shot just about every commonly available handgun line/type....so I think I'm pretty fair in my assessments.

If it had a bunch of use and degraded that much, that would prove it's a POS more than anything. My 1.5 year old P2000 has 13,400 rounds through it and feels better than new. Quality guns don't wear out with the typical use they're bound to encounter.

Still, like I said in my post:

I've met people who've had the exact opposite experience as me.

So, use my assessment how you please, but don't try and find an excuse to discount it.

[Asmodeus6]

I had one for a very short time that I got on trade. I got it with the idea of 1) trying out the brand and 2) trying out cocked and locked.

1) The DA/SA was somewhat similar to my brand new HK P2000, but with all the grit of a SIGMA. The DA was probably lighter than the P2000, but not as smooth a pull. The SA had way more of a sponge feel before it broke the shot. I don't know if it would have improved considerably...it was pretty bad. I'm a DA/SA guy, too, so keep that in mind. It was serviceable though, unlike a SIGMA or VP70 which are abysmal and demand the intervention of the beard of Zeus to not disturb the sight picture.

2) It was painful just to hold the thing for 5 minutes and dry-fire. I couldn't imagine doing a 2 day course with it. Sharp edges everywhere, the grip is especially uncomfortable. I would wear gloves if doing any heavy shooting. FWIW, I've had 3M grip-tape on my P2000 for the last couple months, which I do all my carryin' and shooting with, so it might be a case of me being a wuss but I'm not too sure given the liberal use of 3M grip tape on my go-to gun.

3) The ambidextrous mag release was junk. It was not easy to push the button, as it was generally very stiff and would also bind throughout the press of the button. I felt this way about the mag release on an FN Five-Seven as well, but not as much.

4) With a high grip, the function lever was digging into my right hand knuckle. This made it impossible to decock without really breaking my grip to something resembling how a person who's never received instruction on a gun would hold a pistol; almost like cradling the gun instead of gripping it. This was because my right hand knuckle would physically block the lever from decocking. Since guns come out fast and get put away slow, this was just an annoyance. I might also be heavily biased since I really like the rear mounted decocker button on the HK P-series.

5) I did not find the weapon easy to take off safe. It was nowhere near as fluid, user friendly or intuitive as a 1911. The lever just wasn't in the right spot for my hand in order to make a smooth presentation. It resulted in establishing a proper grip way too late in the presentation, since I couldn't unsafe it with a decent grip.

6) The FNX9 generally felt like it was going to break, or was assembled with material resembling cheap Taiwanese made toys you get at Walmart. It just didn't feel solid and smooth like a SIG, Glock, HK, Walther, M&P, ect.

7) I've never had a mag that was so tight to load. The only time I've cheated and used an Uplula was during one class...besides that, I've always used my fingers so I don't think it's an issue of me being new to loading mags. I've loaded mags for the SIG P220, P226, P228/229, P239, CZ75 SPO1, HK USP, HK P2000, P30, P7, Glock 26/19/17/22/23, Beretta M9, XD's, Kel-Tecs, LCP's, Kahrs, FN Five-Seven, various curio and relics.....I don't know, a lot of different guns, some of which had +10% Wolff springs. I have NEVER had so much trouble loading a freakin' mag. Unless you're Andre the Giant, I would seriously recommend an UpLula even just to load up one mag.

That's about all I can remember. I've met people who've had the exact opposite experience as me.

If you're concerned about price, consider used west german SIG's.

I'd take simple whining type posts with a grain of salt. But well written descriptive posts with tons of experience and obviously exposure to many many similar weapons quite seriously. I do think FN has gone to some lengths to improve some of the things TGS has listed here as things he's not a big fan of. My FNP 45 (USG) has been aces. But I have handled an FNX9 and liked it for the same reasons.

I have only 1 complaint about the weapon and its actually going to show my bias. The height of the sights annoys me. I like'em Glock low, because its what I'm used to and like best.

Every other thing I like about the FNP. Although I will say there is some truth to the safety decocker. Being very "in" your thumb space with a high hold. The magazine release IS stiff. And mags are NO effing joke to load. (But keep in mind I'm loading 15 .45acps) that magazine spring is serious business.

As far as the trigger though? Not on my gun. I'd put it against any budget 1911. And broken in it gets even better. The FNX 9 I played with felt the same as my gun "not" broken in. So I would assume it would break in nice as well.

I like everything else about the FNH. It has very little recoil. The sights are well thought out deep set with white, serrated to minimize glare... they let light in between the blade.

The magazines are robust.

I like the guns a lot. Mine is stupid accurate and easy to shoot accurately too.
So I think much of what TGS has posted had to do with growing pains in the series.

But keep in mind, everything he said was true at one time. And some is still true. Handle and fire one yourself if you can.