FN introduced their FN 509 9mm striker-fired pistol last year. It was a product of their bid for the Army’s Modular Handgun System contract. Now, they’re expanding the 509 line with the new, optics-ready 509 Tactical 9mm pistol.
courtesy fnamerica.com
We’ve had our hands on the 509 Tactical for a couple of weeks now and so far, it’s everything you’d expect in a tactical pistol from FN (read our review of their excellent hammer-fired FNX-45 Tactical here).
The 509 Tactical is the full package, right out of the box. That includes the ability to mount virtually any pistol optic on the market, as well as a suppressor-ready barrel with an O-ring sealed thread protector that keeps it from walking off the end when you’re shooting un-suppressed.
The FN 509 Tactical also ships with two 24-round extended magazines and one 17-rounder, not to mention suppressor-height night sights.
Look for Jeremy’s full, no holds barred review in the next few days. Until then, here’s FN’s press release:
FN ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF FN 509 SERIES WITH RELEASE OF FN 509 TACTICAL PISTOL
FN America, LLC announces today the expansion of the FN 509® Series of striker-fired pistols with the release of the FN 509 Tactical, an optics- and suppressor-ready 9mm pistol. The pistol features the company’s patent-pending Low-Profile Optics Mounting SystemTM that enables the platform to accept more than ten commercially- available miniature red dot (MRD) optics and remain adaptable to future optics releases with no requirement of direct milling of the slide.
“The FN 509 Tactical and the FN Low-Profile Optics Mounting System are another leap forward in the optics-ready pistol market,” said John Keppeler, vice president of sales and marketing for FN America, LLC. “FN set the trend for factory optics-ready pistols with the release of the FNP-45 Tactical nearly a decade ago and we’re set to do it again with this release. From barrel to base plate, the FN 509 Tactical really is the ultimate tactical pistol.”
courtesy fnamerica.com
The FN 509 Tactical, an extension of the FN 509 family, is based on FN’s submission pistol that the U.S. Army tested for its Modular Handgun Trials, but includes the significant improvements to the design that were implemented in the FN 509. Like the optics mounting system, FN’s team of engineers set out to develop the ultimate tactical pistol by addressing the market’s existing limitations.
As a result, the FN 509 Tactical features an FN-signature 4.5-inch, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel with target crown, 1⁄2” x 28 threads that accept the bulk of 9mm suppressors available and thread cap with integrated O-ring to prevent loosening during use. Lastly, the 24-round magazines, nearly identical in length to the pistol’s slide, maximize ammunition capacity without impacting carry convenience.
The optics mount accepts the majority of MRD’s on the market with no need to direct mill the slide, allowing for a low-profile mount and co-witness with the suppressor-height iron sights. The slide cap, for use when not shooting with an optic, has raised sight wings that protect iron sight alignment if the pistol is dropped or jostled, and provides a textured ramp for racking the slide against a belt loop, pant pocket or boot.
See the FN 509 Tactical at the company’s next stop on the FN Battle-Proven Tour at the Bojangles Southern 500 NASCAR Race in Darlington, South Carolina, Sept. 1-2, 2018. For more information about the FN 509 Tactical, please visit www.fnamerica.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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The World’s Most Battle-Proven Firearms.® | FN America, LLC, is a U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of products, training and support services under the FN brand name that enhance their performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit us at www.fnamerica.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hope the review goes well.
I’m really digging the looks of this gat!
What is tactical at all about that monstrosity?
Threaded barrel, extended mags, optics cut… did you read the article, or just make an edgy comment after just looking at pictures?
Alex Waits,
I had the same thought/question myself before reading the article. Even after reading the article, I still kind of wonder how the word “tactical” means anything. Perhaps that is the important question, “What does the word ‘tactical’ mean as a descriptor of a firearm?”
Usually that it’s tan.
Yep, or that it has a rail on it somewhere. The rest is just tacti-cool.
It’s not tactical since it’s not a Creedmoor. Just saying…
Much like the words “Carry”, “Competition”, or “Target”, the word “Tactical” has come to describe a general package of features for a firearm.
For any particular model, it usually means with a matte or dull finish, night sights, suppressor ready, and with a rail. The term is developing to also include being pre-cut for optics.
At one time, it might have just meant “paint it brown”, but that’s not what it means anymore.
Looks badass!!
Hope it is not twice the price of the regular 509. The FNP45 Tactical was over $1000, I bought a regular FNP45 for $500.
Does look nice, are they selling the 24 round mags individually
MSRP- $1049
🙁
OK. so I was off by $49 . It does look cool though.
Looking forward to the review
I own a FN 9mm and its an outstanding pistol. The feel and balance is great.
The FN 509 Tactical also ships with two 24-round extended magazines and one 17-rounder, not to mention suppressor-height night sights.
Someone at FN should get a serious bonus for mandating that configuration.
And the $1049 MSRP could help finance that bonus.
It may actually be a bargain at that price. Look up and see how much it’d cost to convert a normal 509 into the 509 tactical and see.
No I’m not defending FN. I know their stuff is overpriced and I used the term bargain very loosely.
With that barrel and the mags ,can’t buy in some states like N.Y.
That’s it then, we’re going to cancel the release since George can’t get one.
Everyone, please disregard this product announcement. The FN 509 Tactical has been cancelled.
That’s ok , I hear you can go to any gun show and get them without a background check
What does tactical mean ?
That it’s tan.
See my response above.
“The FN 509 Tactical also ships with two 24-round extended magazines and one 17-rounder”
Nothing like loading a full box into two mags.
I just bought a CZ PO7 “tactical” with threaded barrel and suppressor sights for $450.00.
I fell in love with FN pistols @ TFF 2016, definitely like my 509.
Con-I don’t like Suppressor height sights unless using a suppressor.
Pro- I want some of those extended mags, red dots are cool for shooting steel.
So wouldn’t FN 509 Competition be a more appropriate moniker?
$1000. polymer handgun, and it is so much better that the other 5 top selling polymer handguns, why? Some 20 years ago I was looking for a carry gun that suited me in 9mm…I was making the move from 45 to the 9. One pistol I came across was a Mauser M2…it was in 45 ACP and the grip was wide to my hand, but the barrel rotated to lock-up in battery. I wish I had kept the gun just to become more familiar with that un-lock/lock-up feature…I’m thinking it may be more efficient than the Browning barrel drop/raise lock. The cam rotating barrel of the Mauser would be more costly to produce. I would like to hear some thoughts on this.
I don’t know the whole history of the rotating locking lug, but Beretta uses it in their Cougar (now under their Stoeger branding) and their PX4. I have the PX4 with the stainless slide. It is a great shooter! Generally speaking, it is not my carry gun, but I keep it ready with my CX4 carbine for Home Defense since they have interchangeable magazines. Mine’s in .40. I wish it was in 9mm, but .40 was the only caliber I could find back in 2007 when I bought them.
You are right, the Beretta PX4 guns were very slick and smooth brand new out of the box. That’s the way the Mauser M2 was…I didn’t shoot it much, although it was an ergonomic gun (a little wide for my hand). I’ve never owned a Beretta, but I handled many and was very impressed by the PX4 series of guns…I worked at a Bass Pro Shops on the gun counter. I’ve shot these guns at the range and they were a very slick and pleasant gun to shoot (9mm).
I guess my point about the rotating lock-up is this, the striker fired polymer guns are so similar that I fail to see much difference other than grip angle, grip inserts, the Sig “fire control” unit…and they all look pretty much the same. When a manufacturer introduces a new pistol, I look for an improvement. When the Sig P320 guns were introduced, it was a big deal in field striping the gun the trigger didn’t have to be pulled.
But the Beretta PX4 and Mauser M2 guns have a very slick lively action…I’d like to see a manufacturer give the rotating mechanism a shot…or at least a machinist or engineer explain why the rotating lock-up is not a viable “improvement”.
If you like the rotating barrel action, try a Bond Arms Bullpup. The design is updated from Arne Boberg’s 7+1 capacity XR9-S, with Boberg Arms also producing a XR9-L and a 6+1 capacity XR45-S before the sale of production rights and equipment to Bond Arms.
I have fired regular pressure, +P and NATO rounds through a XR9-S and regular pressure rounds through a XR45-S. Recoil was mild.
It’s not so much that I’m a proponent of the rotating barrel, but my very limited experience tells me the rotating lock-up seems to be a very smooth, efficient and slick system. I carry the Sig P320 guns…I would like an engineer, machinist and/or gunsmith to comment on the positives and negatives of the rotating lock-up. The few guns I’ve shot with the rotating lock-up seemed to be very solid…just a thought.
FN 509 is one of the best striker fire gun out in the market. The standard FN 509 you can get them on gun broker for $430-$500 and the FN 509 Tactical you can get it for $830-$900. It is worth the money because if you start adding all the feature is cost you more for after market, so I rather get from manufacture already come with all of it.
After market cost:
Night sight cost $100-$150 for suppressor
RMR cut $200-$300 and you stuck with one optic
Suppressor barrel $150-$200
24 rounds magazine $50-$75 each
I trust the manufacture pre cut and you can mount most if not all the optics in the market…
Hope the review goes well.
I’m really digging the looks of this gat!
What is tactical at all about that monstrosity?
Threaded barrel, extended mags, optics cut… did you read the article, or just make an edgy comment after just looking at pictures?
Alex Waits,
I had the same thought/question myself before reading the article. Even after reading the article, I still kind of wonder how the word “tactical” means anything. Perhaps that is the important question, “What does the word ‘tactical’ mean as a descriptor of a firearm?”
Usually that it’s tan.
Yep, or that it has a rail on it somewhere. The rest is just tacti-cool.
It’s not tactical since it’s not a Creedmoor. Just saying…
Much like the words “Carry”, “Competition”, or “Target”, the word “Tactical” has come to describe a general package of features for a firearm.
For any particular model, it usually means with a matte or dull finish, night sights, suppressor ready, and with a rail. The term is developing to also include being pre-cut for optics.
At one time, it might have just meant “paint it brown”, but that’s not what it means anymore.
Looks badass!!
Hope it is not twice the price of the regular 509. The FNP45 Tactical was over $1000, I bought a regular FNP45 for $500.
Does look nice, are they selling the 24 round mags individually
MSRP- $1049
🙁
OK. so I was off by $49 . It does look cool though.
Looking forward to the review
I own a FN 9mm and its an outstanding pistol. The feel and balance is great.
Someone at FN should get a serious bonus for mandating that configuration.
And the $1049 MSRP could help finance that bonus.
It may actually be a bargain at that price. Look up and see how much it’d cost to convert a normal 509 into the 509 tactical and see.
No I’m not defending FN. I know their stuff is overpriced and I used the term bargain very loosely.
With that barrel and the mags ,can’t buy in some states like N.Y.
That’s it then, we’re going to cancel the release since George can’t get one.
Everyone, please disregard this product announcement. The FN 509 Tactical has been cancelled.
That’s ok , I hear you can go to any gun show and get them without a background check
What does tactical mean ?
That it’s tan.
See my response above.
“The FN 509 Tactical also ships with two 24-round extended magazines and one 17-rounder”
Nothing like loading a full box into two mags.
I just bought a CZ PO7 “tactical” with threaded barrel and suppressor sights for $450.00.
I fell in love with FN pistols @ TFF 2016, definitely like my 509.
Con-I don’t like Suppressor height sights unless using a suppressor.
Pro- I want some of those extended mags, red dots are cool for shooting steel.
So wouldn’t FN 509 Competition be a more appropriate moniker?
$1000. polymer handgun, and it is so much better that the other 5 top selling polymer handguns, why? Some 20 years ago I was looking for a carry gun that suited me in 9mm…I was making the move from 45 to the 9. One pistol I came across was a Mauser M2…it was in 45 ACP and the grip was wide to my hand, but the barrel rotated to lock-up in battery. I wish I had kept the gun just to become more familiar with that un-lock/lock-up feature…I’m thinking it may be more efficient than the Browning barrel drop/raise lock. The cam rotating barrel of the Mauser would be more costly to produce. I would like to hear some thoughts on this.
I don’t know the whole history of the rotating locking lug, but Beretta uses it in their Cougar (now under their Stoeger branding) and their PX4. I have the PX4 with the stainless slide. It is a great shooter! Generally speaking, it is not my carry gun, but I keep it ready with my CX4 carbine for Home Defense since they have interchangeable magazines. Mine’s in .40. I wish it was in 9mm, but .40 was the only caliber I could find back in 2007 when I bought them.
You are right, the Beretta PX4 guns were very slick and smooth brand new out of the box. That’s the way the Mauser M2 was…I didn’t shoot it much, although it was an ergonomic gun (a little wide for my hand). I’ve never owned a Beretta, but I handled many and was very impressed by the PX4 series of guns…I worked at a Bass Pro Shops on the gun counter. I’ve shot these guns at the range and they were a very slick and pleasant gun to shoot (9mm).
I guess my point about the rotating lock-up is this, the striker fired polymer guns are so similar that I fail to see much difference other than grip angle, grip inserts, the Sig “fire control” unit…and they all look pretty much the same. When a manufacturer introduces a new pistol, I look for an improvement. When the Sig P320 guns were introduced, it was a big deal in field striping the gun the trigger didn’t have to be pulled.
But the Beretta PX4 and Mauser M2 guns have a very slick lively action…I’d like to see a manufacturer give the rotating mechanism a shot…or at least a machinist or engineer explain why the rotating lock-up is not a viable “improvement”.
If you like the rotating barrel action, try a Bond Arms Bullpup. The design is updated from Arne Boberg’s 7+1 capacity XR9-S, with Boberg Arms also producing a XR9-L and a 6+1 capacity XR45-S before the sale of production rights and equipment to Bond Arms.
I have fired regular pressure, +P and NATO rounds through a XR9-S and regular pressure rounds through a XR45-S. Recoil was mild.
It’s not so much that I’m a proponent of the rotating barrel, but my very limited experience tells me the rotating lock-up seems to be a very smooth, efficient and slick system. I carry the Sig P320 guns…I would like an engineer, machinist and/or gunsmith to comment on the positives and negatives of the rotating lock-up. The few guns I’ve shot with the rotating lock-up seemed to be very solid…just a thought.
FN 509 is one of the best striker fire gun out in the market. The standard FN 509 you can get them on gun broker for $430-$500 and the FN 509 Tactical you can get it for $830-$900. It is worth the money because if you start adding all the feature is cost you more for after market, so I rather get from manufacture already come with all of it.
After market cost:
Night sight cost $100-$150 for suppressor
RMR cut $200-$300 and you stuck with one optic
Suppressor barrel $150-$200
24 rounds magazine $50-$75 each
I trust the manufacture pre cut and you can mount most if not all the optics in the market…
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