After Glock and SIG Sauer, FN also introduces the civilian version of the pistol it submitted for the US Army Modular Handgun Trials. The new 9mm FN 509 Tactical is in fact based on the gun that was tested by the US Army.
One of the most prominent features of the new pistol is FN’s patent-pending Low-Profile Optics Mounting System that enables the platform to accept more than ten commercially-available miniature red dot (MRD) optics with no need to direct mill the slide, allowing for a low-profile mount and co-witness with the suppressor-height night sights. When no optic is used, a slide cap with raised sight wings protects iron sight alignment even if the pistol is dropped or jostled. The cap provides a textured ramp for racking the slide against a belt loop, pant pocket or boot too.
FN 509 Tactical with Low-Profile Optics Mounting System
According to the manufacturer, the idea behind the FN 509 Tactical was “to develop the ultimate tactical pistol by addressing the market’s existing limitations.”
“The FN 509 Tactical and the FN Low-Profile Optics Mounting System are another leap forward in the optics-ready pistol market,” explains John Keppeler, vice president of sales and marketing for FN America, LLC.
The 4.5-inch, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel is equipped with target crown, ½” x 28 threads that accept most 9mm suppressors. A thread cap with integrated O-ring prevent loosening during use. Slide stop lever and magazine release are fully ambidextrous. A capacious 24-round magazine, nearly identical in length to the pistol’s slide, maximize ammunition capacity without impacting carry convenience.
Shipped with two interchangeable backstraps, one 17-round and two 24-round magazines or three 10-round magazines, the MSRP for the FN 509 Tactical is 1049 USD - quite a tad bid higher than Glock’s and SIG’s.
07.27.2018
