ASYM Ammunition has taken off like a rocket over the past year. They provided some .45 ammo in 2010 for the HK45 test and it consistently turned in the tightest groups through the gun ever. The company’s owner, Stan Chen (yes, the Stan Chen, the famous 1911 gunsmith) has offered to send along some ammo for the 2012 test as well. They’re also producing a barrier-blind 5.56mm round that is very similar to the new military “brown tip” load.
The Beretta Nano left me nonplussed. It is very small, light, and fits the hand well. The trigger pull on the SHOT Show guns was reasonable but it has a full reset. Also annoying to me was the lack of an external slide stop… there is no way to drop the slide except to rack it (which is impossible if there is an empty mag in the gun) and there is no way to lock the slide back except to have an empty magazine handy. In other words, it’s impossible to clear the pistol properly (slide back on an empty chamber with no magazine) without going through a number of steps.
Glock announced the gen4 Glock 32, the mid-size 357 SIG version of the company’s pistol. Meanwhile, depending upon whom you ask at the company, there was never a 9mm gen4 problem; there was a minor gen4 9mm problem that is completely resolved and was totally overblown; or yeah, there’s still a problem and they hope they’re close to fixing it. You probably know which one I believe.
FN’s new FNS striker-fired pistol has a lot of potential. Could it be the next contender for the coveted — but so far unclaimed — title of “Glock Killer?” The ergonomics are excellent. The grip, while looking blocky, is actually very comfortable with a traditional grip angle. Controls are all 100% ambidextrous and somehow manage to be both very low profile and easily manipulated simultaneously. In particular, the safety and slide lock both look far too small to be useable without a microscope, but somehow managed to move in exactly the right direction at exactly the right time, every time, when manipulating the gun at speed. The pistol has been in development and testing through FN’s successful 3-gun competition team throughout 2011 and many of the suggestions from that group found their way into the final design. The FNS is P30-like in dimensions, which a full size grip but moderate length barrel. Compact and long slide versions, along with a .45 cal version, are on the horizon.
I mentioned the Raven Concealment Vanguard-2 on the Day 1 recap, but on Wednesday night I actually wore a Glock 26 in one for about five hours. It remained secure and concealed with no trouble (not that it’s hard to conceal a G26). I’m still not sure what it does better than a dedicated full AIWB holster outside of very specific, limited circumstances that don’t really apply to most CCWers and cops, but I doubt that will stop RCS from selling eleventy billion of them.
The SIG P224 met my expectations exactly. Some folks have complained that it’s bulky but I honestly think they’re comparing it to a Kahr or other single stack micro 9mm. That isn’t what the P224 was ever supposed to be. It’s SIG’s version of the Glock 26/27: short, fat, high capacity (11rd 9mm, 10rd .40), with magazine compatibility between the P224 and its bigger P226 & P229 cousins. Currently only available in DAK — which I’m not a fan of — it will be offered as a double/single action 9mm “soon.” SIG also had the P250 on the shelves, so rumors of that line’s demise are apparently, unfortunately, premature. SIG says the P250 continues to sell in large numbers, proving that not everyone in the U.S. has internet access yet.
Tango Down, makers of the incredibly popular Vickers Tactical Glock Mag Catch and Vickers Tactical Glock Slide Stop will soon answer the prayers of many gen4 Glock owners with a Vickers Tactical mag catch that is compatible with the latest Glocks.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Anything from S&W about a gen 2 M&P 9 or at least revisions to fix the issues that seem to plague them?
I got to handle an FNS a few weeks ago, I thought it was a pretty decent set-up, although I didn’t get to do more than dry fire the gun.
If you run into anyone from Grip Force Adapter can you ask them when the new GFA’s will be available?
What did you think of the p938?
Guess we know the 2012 test gun
Still a problem with the Gen4? Besides the recoil spring assembly updates, introduction of the “.” connector, and a new ejector? What other problems are there?
What’s wrong with DAK? You have to learn it, but then it’s piece of cake.
The FNS 9 continues to impress the hell out of me. I can honestly see this pistol destroying the Glock and MP LEO market if it proves reliable and they market it properly. I might like shooting it better than my P30. Though it is a bit early to tell.
Bryce S: Even with the new ejector, connector and recoil springs, some guns are still not running well.
@Lomshek
It is my understanding that S&W has come a long way with the M&P’s and of the guns with reset and trigger issues I have seen (4-5) they have all been fixed with the new parts. The barrel thing is up in the air.
Can anyone hazard a description of the FNS 9’s trigger pull and reset?
FNS – “The ergonomics are excellent.” I did not find this to be true when I shot a prototype back in March 2011. I wonder if they changed some of the grip contours in the final design. It seemed very “blocky” feeling to me compared to M&P. I don’t love the ergonomics of the glock so it could be my opinion is biased. I thought the stock trigger on the prototype (FNH team member said it wasn’t tuned) was fantastic.
Has the FNS retained the FNP/FNX’s modularity in design? From and armorer’s POV the Glock is a dream; anybody can detail strip and replace parts easily and cheaply. The FNP/FNX were like that. Even all 4 frame rails could be replaced in about 5 minutes for $24.
“…proving that not everyone in the U.S. has internet access yet.” That’s comedy gold right there.
Actually, Todd, the guy who said that there hadn’t been a problem with Gen4 9 mm’s was arguably right, since there were problems with all the Gen4’s–not just the 9mm’s. I have a Gen 4 G23 that ran without a hitch for 500 rounds, and then started with the length-wise stove pipes. It took a new RSA, new extractor and filing the ejector down to stop most (but not all) of the FTF’s.
When you think about it, though, what you were told by those guys is staggering. They know that they’ve had to replace the RSA, the extractor, the ejector and the connector to make the Gen 4’s run right. What’s more, they know that you know that as well since it is all public knowledge. Yet, two out of the three of them lied to your face.
Glock has a bigger problem on its hands than problems with the Gen 4. It is losing the trust of its public and its representatives are making the problem much worse. It is destroying the reputation that took 25 years to build up.
RE: Glock. The FARCE continues…….
My next pistol won’t be coming any time soon…
But at this time…it will not be a Glock.
It will be very interesting to see how the FNS plays out. It takes more than just a good gun to achieve market success; i.e., aftermarket support, durability, reliability, minimal lubrication/maintenance requirements, decent (and available) magazines, sight options, et al. I’m certainly not willing to simply write Glock off, despite the Gen4 issues. As I’ve said before, I think that the Gen4 recoil system/platform mods made a tremendous amount of sense-primarily for the higher pressure/more quickly pressure-spiking cartridges, such as the .40, .357 SIG, .45 GAP and 10mm. It strikes me as completely unnecessary for 9mm, and arguably unnceessary for .45 ACP, although the Gen4 G21 SFs seem to quietly have become the Gen4 success story-I’ve literally heard of absolutely zero problems/issues with them to date. I think that the Gen4 application to the G32 will play out well, albeit to a niche audience/market.
I’ll echo the interest in seeing the FNS become Todd’s next test piece (but a Glock Gen4 G31 or G32 in .357 SIG would be interesting, or the new Walther PPQ).
Best, Jon Stein
Beretta Nano: it will never malfunction; so malfunction drills are not necessary ;-).
I think Ben with Beretta told me it was a death ray that never wears out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOsIr3xsv2w
+1 for G4 G19 POS.
Is the new FNS-9 replacing the FNP-9 or can the FNP-9 still be purchased? What will be the retail price of the FNS-9?
The market probably shouldnt concern itself too much over whether the FNS will be the elusive “Glock killer” everyone seems to be looking for; Glock seems to be doing a pretty good job of killing themselves as of late…