I'm torn over the FX9

dearslayer

dearslayer

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If one has a Ruger PC9 I'm wondering if one needs a FX9. I have a pretty good idea of what most answers will be ( can never have too many ). Are the differences that extreme or are they similar. I think the FX9 looks great and seems to be more AR-ish but if one has a Ruger does the $1550 price tag justify the need to have one. Curious minds need to know. Anyone have both and can comment on the similarities or differences.
 
You can see the reviews on here and youtube. The FX9 has the cool factor of the AR style release and looks better, but has a heavy trigger, kind of finicky with ammo, price is 1,350 plus tax, not 1,550. Ruger with the 6 position stock should be no more than 1,200, so the price difference is actually quite small.
 
scianna54 said:
You can see the reviews on here and youtube. The FX9 has the cool factor of the AR style release and looks better, but has a heavy trigger, kind of finicky with ammo, price is 1,350 plus tax, not 1,550. Ruger with the 6 position stock should be no more than 1,200, so the price difference is actually quite small.
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I was including the tax when I stated the $1550. I've shot the FX9 at a Range day a couple years ago and I remember loving it. Only issue I have with my Ruger is that it's more forward heavy. I don't remember the trigger on the FX.
 
I just sold my Ruger chassis model and own a JR carbine in stainless and a FX-9. JR most accurate followed by the Ruger and then the FX-9. The only real selling point to the FX is the AR controls. JR has been my favourite since I bought it but is a bit of a pain to clean and doesn't have last round hold open.
 
dearslayer said:
... Only issue I have with my Ruger is that it's more forward heavy. ...
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No question then, you should try the FX9. Lots of guys say they don't have a problem with the weight and balance of the Ruger, but as much as I wanted to love it I just didn't. The moment I picked one up I knew it was off and I couldn't wait to hand it back to the guy at the counter.

Mechanically speaking it's more of a roll of the dice with the FX9 (or any of the other PCC options). But life's too short to spend time with a rifle that doesn't feel great in your hands.
 
Love my ruger PC9. Super simple platform, mine has been perfectly reliable. Open sights are excellent, the takedown feature is cool and convenient for transport. I mounted an Aimpoint MRO on it and its a match made in heaven.
 
DTM5 said:
Love my ruger PC9. Super simple platform, mine has been perfectly reliable. Open sights are excellent, the takedown feature is cool and convenient for transport. I mounted an Aimpoint MRO on it and its a match made in heaven.
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Me too. I have the basic model and just use the iron sights (upgraded glow front sight). I had a SUB2000 and I did not even fire it once when I realized the ergonomics are totally off and the charging handle needs a workout. I think the FX9 is cool, especially the looks, but the price for a 9MM? Nope. Even at the regular price of 1,350 plus, it should be in 223. Then I see people paying premiums and also put hundreds of dollars in upgrades into it. They are $700 in the US which translates into around $900 Canadian.
 
I had one but sold it as I couldn’t handle getting blasted in the face with unburnt powder residue
The jr carbine is much better for me to use
 
Really want to try the FX9, but I've heard as a lefty they're a bit unpleasant to shoot, even the manufacturer seems to agree. Maybe someday I'll cave and try one out. Ruger on the other hand has been absolutely fine for lefty use.
 
Can’t speak to the Ruger but for the fx9 I like the ( arish ) aspect of it. Like others have said if you like tinkering and changing firearms to exactly the way you want then fx9 is the way to go. Haven’t been impressed with the accuracy out of my 18.6” barrel but ordered an 8” from wolverine, fingers crossed it’s good at 50 at least.
 
Fyn said:
Really want to try the FX9, but I've heard as a lefty they're a bit unpleasant to shoot, even the manufacturer seems to agree. Maybe someday I'll cave and try one out. Ruger on the other hand has been absolutely fine for lefty use.
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Get a JR Carbine easy to change to lefty.
 
dearslayer said:
I was including the tax when I stated the $1550. I've shot the FX9 at a Range day a couple years ago and I remember loving it. Only issue I have with my Ruger is that it's more forward heavy. I don't remember the trigger on the FX.
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This is true. I have noticed that as well, with my aluminum handguard one. Even after adding a short foregrip, I still feel the weight (some people say it's nothing and maybe it is, but it's certainly noticeable, at least for me).

Now, as one who has both, I think it depends on which one you got first. I got my PC Carbine first and the FX9 second and I barely shoot the PC Carbine anymore. The take apart can be compelling in that I can use a smaller range bag. But the take apart for cleaning - the FX9 wins hands-down (and in fact, I really dislike the takedown of the PC Carbine with the torx bolts/screws, the torque inch/pounds pressure (which on my FAT wrench has stripped the screw a bit). Plus the whole taking the bolt assembly apart with the stupid shock buffer and weights and such, and the trigger pack whose pins can fall out easily...the FX9 takedown to clean is a no brainer. The safety switch is so much better than the cross-bolt safety. And the FX9 just looks better. In my opinion my FX9 is more accurate. So what, if it doesn't take aluminum ammo - no big deal to me. I think I paid $1149 + tax for my PC Carbine and 1299 + tax for my FX9. The price different, regardless, was not significant.

Both my FX9 and PC Carbine seems to have issues with the last round bolt hold open working when using OEM Glock G5 mags (ie. Glock 17 series). Magpuls seem to work better. The PC Carbine did come with the Ruger magwell and S9/SR9 mag, but I don't know too many people who kept this configuration, but instead swapped it out for the Glock magwell.

If I had gotten the FX9 first, I would have been so happy with it, I wouldn't have probably entertain trying out a PC Carbine. But that's just me.
 
Might be fun to have both as they can use the same magazines and ammo, it's easier to equip yourself and a buddy for a fun range day or to just keep it interesting and different for yourself.

I have an FX-9 and my father has the PC9 - we've determined that the FX-9 is definitely faster in target transitions and reloading, overall the accuracy is about the same, and you're going to have a pile of fun either way. I've enjoying putting some work into my FX-9 as well, but that's not for everybody. I've never been a "just keep it stock since that's how it's designed and that's the way it's meant to be" kind of shooter. I don't own a single firearm that I haven't at least changed the sights on. Having said that, this is kind of the Honda Civic of PCCs in that you can swap out just about everything until you have it perfect for you on the base chassis.

I've done the trigger (TriggerTech FX-9 adjustable trigger) added a TechWell magwell, changed the stock to a Magpul CTR, the grip to a Magpul MOE, added a QD point up front and a sling, the buffer is now an H3 and there's about $1.50 in quarters in the buffer tube to tighten it up a bit, some picatinny for a light when I want to chuck it on there, some grip pads on the MLOK, and both a Vortex Venom and some Magpul BUIS to complete the first iteration of my tinkering. I may change out the Vortex to something else later on, and same with the BUIS, but it works great how it is now so we'll see if I get bored and frisky later! I'm still playing with the buffer and spring system to tune it the way I like it the best, so that's been kind of a fun process too.

I've found SGM 10/33 magazines to work the best in it, OEM Glock, Magpul and a random (unsure of brand) magazine don't always engage the LRBHO. Haven't tried ETS mags yet, but will eventually as I've heard they're good too. It totally eats all the ammo I've fed it (no aluminum case) regardless of 115, 124, or 147 grain. I "broke it in" on 115 grain though with the stock buffer and spring just to follow the manufacturer's recommendation.
 
Well thanks for every ones input. Much appreciate it. I guess all I really need to decide now, is if the cash outlay for another PCC is worth the possible expanded Liberal ban list that may or may not be in the very near future especially now with a liberal /NDP coalition but at the same time there's no point living in fear.
 
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