FN 509 or 509 Tacticool?

Brettzky

Brettzky

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Hoping for an opinion from someone that's had experience with both.
Clearly a supressor is a pointless option for us here much like it was with the FNX 45 Tactical but the Tactical variant of the FNX 45 is far superior to the standard FNX/FNS 45 for function and accuracy, in my experience.

Are there any functional improvements to the 509 Tactical over the standard model aside from night sights and RMR-capable slide that makes the 40% higher price worth it? The only "comparison" I've seen is hickok45's youtube video of the 3 509 variant but he doesn't actually dig into the details aside from the cosmetics and size.
And has anyone found a link to the grey and black version of the Tactical in Canada yet? I'm not a fanboy of the US military FDE model.
 
Well Reliable Gun has the FN 509 for only $569 right now, can't beat that.

I just read on the XS Sights website that sights are interchangeable with Sig sights dovetail profile. Does anyone have experience to prove that?? Would be sweet to get those Sig X-ray sights from the Legion on it!
 
I love my Tac with the Apex Trigger Upgrade. Awesome Trigger for striker-fired! The Compensator works very well to tame muzzle-flip. The accuracy of the package is excellent - I can produce a ragged 10-shot hole at 8 yards.


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I have a Tactical because I wanted the RMR. Dropped an Apex trigger in mine and it’s a shooter. The fact that it looks great doesn’t hurt. If you don’t want the option of a RMR and don’t want to spend the extra just for the looks and ability to thread on a comp, then get the 509 stock and enjoy.

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Bartok5 said:
I love my Tac with the Apex Trigger Upgrade. Awesome Trigger for striker-fired! The Compensator works very well to tame muzzle-flip. The accuracy of the package is excellent - I can produce a ragged 10-shot hole at 8 yards.


20190415-220549.jpg
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Canuckster said:
I have a Tactical because I wanted the RMR. Dropped an Apex trigger in mine and it’s a shooter. The fact that it looks great doesn’t hurt. If you don’t want the option of a RMR and don’t want to spend the extra just for the looks and ability to thread on a comp, then get the 509 stock and enjoy.

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Sweet and sweet. :)
 
Waking the dead here.
I have the Walther PDP but the look is the only thing really holding me back from loving it. I’ve found a 509 tactical for $100 more than the PDP but comes with an extra mag.

I know the trigger is garbage on the FN and sold my normal version of the gun shortly after originally posting this thread because of it, but the track record of FN is impressive. Also all the reviewers hate on the trigger but love the rest of the gun.
Since I have an optic, the co-witness night sights on the FN are appealing. Don’t care about the threaded barrel.

anyone tried both of these to compare?
 
Mik123 said:
For the gents that have both, how do you rate the 509c tactical to a glock 19?
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They are different animals for sure.

For one thing the optic setup is 10x better then the MOS. Glock fan boys talk how great the MOS is but honestly it is the worst optic mount there is. With the Glock you need these thin plates that can come lose or bend. The plate bolts to slide and the optic to the little plate. I had issues with my MOS coming loose and never with the FN. The FN just has everything right from the go. Direct mount adaptor plates, o rings to keep tension for screws to stay tight. You don't need aftermarket anything. Just bolt the optic on and be done. You also never get Suppressor height sights on a glock so you always need to upgrade the sights to co witness. FN comes with them.

As far as shooting goes, both of mine have been dead reliable. The FN weighs more I'm 99 percent sure but have never put on a scale. I like the grip angle of a Glock better but the FN is damn close. I run Medium beavertail straps on my Glocks and i like the factory beavertail on the FN. I think the FN feels better in my hands to me. Grippier for sure. Glock mags are much cheaper then FN mags if you can even find them.

The compacts are cool because with grip sleeves you can run longer mags and make the grip full length with ease.
https://content.osgnetworks.tv/handgunsmag/content/photos/HG-FN-509-770.jpg

The only issue with the FN is that its an FN. Not nearly the aftermarket or support. If you break a Glock in 15 or 25 years you will be able to get parts. The Sig 320 is now the same story. Will the FN be the same way? I'm not sure. The FN feels like a quality item more then a Glock does but I think I prefer a stock Gen 5 Glock trigger slightly more then the FN.

All that said, right now today, Aug 23 2022. IF you ever plan to mount an optic, the FN is an easier route. For 1500 you get the gun and optic ready to rock. Suprresor night sights already on. If you go Glock, you need to buy a Canada compliant 19 which is a gen 4 and mill the slide which will cost you 1500 all in. Milling also locks you into one RMR footprint and you lose the factory slide finish for Ceracote. Its a better way to mount the optic then MOS but it costs more. Or if you dont want to mill and go diect Glock mount then you can skip a 19 and go 17 Gen 5 and try to find an MOS Glock which has been HARD to find and averaging 1200 bucks when they do pop up. This is the main issue. Your going to spend more for a glock and optic then the FN PR has right now. No question.

TLDR

Glocks have aftermarket and reliability. They will probably go bang forever. The FN has a better build, better optic mount, better sights but maybe a slightly worse trigger (apex makes a good aftermarket trigger) but you can buy one today for less then you can find a glock and have a slide milled.
 
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^Appreciate the detailed response. I already own a glock 19 but I thought about replacing it with another compact with upgraded sights and optic mounting compatibility right out of the box.I think the lack of support is a nail in the coffin for the FN, especially with the import and transfer ban. I'm also looking at the shadow systems mr920, seems like it would fit the bill but it is pricier. Plus I get to use my glock 19 mags.
 
Mik123 said:
^Appreciate the detailed response. I already own a glock 19 but I thought about replacing it with another compact with upgraded sights and optic mounting compatibility right out of the box.I think the lack of support is a nail in the coffin for the FN, especially with the import and transfer ban. I'm also looking at the shadow systems mr920, seems like it would fit the bill but it is pricier. Plus I get to use my glock 19 mags.
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I'd be looking for a full-size. Arms east has a 34 mos right now and a gen 5 17 as well. 19s are not around much because of barrel length. I don't think shadows are worth it. A stock Glock with a Timney alpha trigger is a better gun. Other then the optic mount. Just my 2 cents.
 
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