FNH handguns and AR'S?

[benny]

What quality are the FNH firearms? How do they shoot? I have been offered the option to buy a FNH rifle for $900 area or handgun in the $420 area depending on the model I choose.

Benny

[crbutler]

FN is the current Army supplier.

I think my SCAR 17 is pretty good, but that isn't a AR. (I can shoot 3/4 MOA with match loads off the bench with it.)

I have heard lots of good about their rifles and shotguns, but the only FN handgun I have is a hi-power (and that is an old Belgian one). If you can get one of those for that price range, get 2.

Don't buy the "new" A5 shotgun. It ain't an A5.

[LePetomane]

Benny, Mrs LePetomane shoots a FNX in a .40 caliber and likes it. I have the Five/Seven. Fine guns.

[Holland&Holland]

FN is the current Army supplier.

I think my SCAR 17 is pretty good, but that isn't a AR. (I can shoot 3/4 MOA with match loads off the bench with it.)

I have heard lots of good about their rifles and shotguns, but the only FN handgun I have is a hi-power (and that is an old Belgian one). If you can get one of those for that price range, get 2.

Don't buy the "new" A5 shotgun. It ain't an A5.

But the real A5 was finicky was it not? The look-a-like is inertia, reliable, better duck blind gun I would think.

[crbutler]

I forgot about the PS90 and the 5.7. Those both have been very reliable and fun to shoot.

As to the A5, it just ain't right. I have a few originals, and as long as you don't do anything weird, like try and shoot really light loads or play mix and match between 3" mags and 2 3/4 shells, and as long as you keep it meticulously clean they work great. I really shoot the old belgian A5's better than most guns. For shooting pheasant or other upland birds, I would not hesitate to use it.

As to what they are selling now, it isn't the log recoil Browning patent gun. It feels different, shooting it (it doesn't have that "double shuffle" feel) and they just are not feeling the same dimension wise.

Why call it an A5 if it is a new gun design? Does it function? I am sure it does, and I expect it handles bad weather and cleaning issues better than the old guns. However, the old A5 is not, nor was it intended to be a target gun. If one pays attention to that, uses field loads only, I doubt the new model is really any more reliable.

On the other hand, now as I think of it, the new A5 may be a Browning gun, which removes it from the OP's list now that I think about it. The ones I have were made by FN, but were sold as Browning.

Same thing with the High Power- Mine is an FN make, but they are Browning guns now. I still can't keep them separate in my mind, using FN and Browning interchangeably, so most of my statements are not really relevant to the OP.

[grimbeaver]

Didn't FNH stop manufacturing the A5 decades ago when they moved it to Japan?

Back more on topic though I would definitely pick up a FNH if it was a good deal. A Five-seveN is on my to-buy someday list. The one thing that really confuses me about FNH is why they don't offer more models for the 5.7x28 cartridge. Given the physical size of the 5.7x28 cartridge you would think they could make a more compact carry pistol and still get quite a few rounds in the magazine.

Only negative I would say is that I think you'll find less after market stuff to go with FNH products. Your choices for holsters, sights, etc may be a little more limited than with most other brands.

[Holland&Holland]

I forgot about the PS90 and the 5.7. Those both have been very reliable and fun to shoot.

As to the A5, it just ain't right. I have a few originals, and as long as you don't do anything weird, like try and shoot really light loads or play mix and match between 3" mags and 2 3/4 shells, and as long as you keep it meticulously clean they work great. I really shoot the old belgian A5's better than most guns. For shooting pheasant or other upland birds, I would not hesitate to use it.

As to what they are selling now, it isn't the log recoil Browning patent gun. It feels different, shooting it (it doesn't have that "double shuffle" feel) and they just are not feeling the same dimension wise.

Why call it an A5 if it is a new gun design? Does it function? I am sure it does, and I expect it handles bad weather and cleaning issues better than the old guns. However, the old A5 is not, nor was it intended to be a target gun. If one pays attention to that, uses field loads only, I doubt the new model is really any more reliable.

On the other hand, now as I think of it, the new A5 may be a Browning gun, which removes it from the OP's list now that I think about it. The ones I have were made by FN, but were sold as Browning.

Same thing with the High Power- Mine is an FN make, but they are Browning guns now. I still can't keep them separate in my mind, using FN and Browning interchangeably, so most of my statements are not really relevant to the OP.

The old A5 definitely has it's loyal following. I had one in 16ga for many years, maybe it was user error, but I always had a devil of a time with it. Many failures to eject. Used it primarily for upland birds and I did so want to love it. It did shoot the 1st round nice and soft but was not much of an autoloader when one had to unjam it for the 2nd shot! Tried cleaning it many times, messed with the rings, brought it into a smith, never could get it to run reliably. Too bad because it looked sweet and was an old Belgium made model. Ok, now I wish I still had it.

Back to the Op's question. If you do decide to go the scatter gun route, I have and recommend the SC 1. The comb adjustability really helped me with a consistency when mounting the gun. And the FNAR does look like it would be a sweet woods deer gun to me.

[UnaStamus]

FN makes quality rifles and pistols. Their rifles are on par with Colt. Their bolt action rifles are better than Remington.

...
Back more on topic though I would definitely pick up a FNH if it was a good deal. A Five-seveN is on my to-buy someday list. The one thing that really confuses me about FNH is why they don't offer more models for the 5.7x28 cartridge. Given the physical size of the 5.7x28 cartridge you would think they could make a more compact carry pistol and still get quite a few rounds in the magazine.
...

There isn't a huge market for the 5.7x28mm cartridge. It's originally a military caliber and the P90 and FiveseveN were/are military-oriented weapons. It's a very niche cartridge, with weapons based around them then being very niche. Aside from the poor ballistics of the 5.7mm load, it's also a very long cartridge. The grip on the FiveseveN pistol is very long and difficult for a lot of people to properly hold and operate the gun. From an ergonomics standpoint, it's probably pretty difficult to make that gun more compact.

[benny]

The P90 and 5 - 7 are not on their list I can buy, the FNS and FNX handguns , the FNAR ,FN15,SCAR16,SCAR17S,SPR are the rifles, and their competition shot guns.

It is some what limited , I got the offer through the NRA for being an instructor.

Benny

[crbutler]

From that list, I would recommend the SCAR, either 16 or 17. They look a little funny, but my .308 can shoot quite well.

[UnaStamus]

If you wanted an "black rifle", get one of the SCARs. They are great rifles and very accurate.

If you want a bolt rifle, the SPR series is phenomenally accurate and consistently so. FN only guarantees MOA accuracy on most of their SPR rifles, but I have yet to see one tested that produces a group that large. Every one I've seen can easily shoot 0.5moa with the right ammo.

The handguns have large grips. Handle one before you decide on one.

[farmerj]

We were issued all brand new FN's when we deployed. Can't say I was let down by their quality or function.

[Thunderjohn]

I have an FNS (striker fired) and carry it everyday. I love it.
It shoots well for me, is very comfortable and has been flawless.
I put a fiber optic front sight on mine. They're totally ambi and come either with
or without a thumb safety.

They just came out with the compact version a month ago and it's very nice.
They all come standard with 3 mags.

[old558]

I have an FNX 45 Tac that I like very much, shoots and handle's great but is a a big gun. You might want to try the FN forum for even more info.