Your eyes don’t deceive you. This AR magwell doesn’t bear the standard of a rampant Colt, the crosshairs and lion of an ArmaLite, or the generic logo of a ‘Your Name Here’ parts-bin AR builder. That’s the FN logo, because this is a new FN-15 carbine . . .
FN has been making military M16s and M4s for years, so I’m not sure you can quite call the FN-15 an ‘M4gery.’ The FN-15 doesn’t share the M4’s full-auto bolt group or receiver (no surprise there, eh?) and it also sports a chrome-lined, button-broached 1:7″ barrel instead of one of FNH’s legendary cold hammer-forged barrels.
It comes with all the bits you expect on an upper entry-level flattop AR with a $1000 street price, and it tips the scales at seven pounds empty. The price includes one 30-round magazine (except in Colorado or NY, of course) and a cable lock which you will immediately throw away.
It also includes a detachable carrying handle with A2 rear sights, which I’ve never actually had on an AR before. To my surprise, I like the dual-aperture rear sight and we’ll probably keep it for most of the practical testing.
FNH sources their own 6-position buttstock, and it comes with a unique reinforced toe. I appreciate this feature, because I once had an off-brand M4 stock fail at the toe while the rifle was slung up in a 3-point sling. The sling swivel fell out and the rifle’s butt headed for the ground while its muzzle headed toward my face. I somehow snatched it out of midair before it lasered me, but I’ve been leery of M4 sling swivels ever since.
But enough about butts in slings. This rifle looks pretty sweet, but I’ll probably hand this review off to Joe Grine since I also just picked up a piston-driven AR pistol (a PWS MK107) for testing.
That cop is holding it like it just made a bad smell. . .
Logo is gaudy, but fanboys shall rejoice upon its glorious laser-etched glow…
A basic part of government’s job is to limit our ability to hurt others
Actually this was never part of the government’s job at all. They like to assume so however. Laws restrict people. Law-breakers are punished for breaking laws. This is the only deterrence government has historically had in regards to people hurting each other. Justice… not “limited abilities.” If individuals of the people want to protect themselves from others then they need to take steps to do so. No signed sheet of paper that the government stamps is going to accomplish that. Even if all the guns were confiscated and taken away, people will still hurt each other and people will still kill each other.
I agree with Farago.
Intelligent comments are best. You want a debate or a discussion? Follow the debate pyramid:
http://fablegod.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/disagreement-hierarchy.jpg
There is no need to debate a leftist. You will only waste your breath. One is only allowed so much time on Earth, best not waste a precious second debating gun control with a leftist/statist commtard.
Even if a miracle happens and that law is abolished, do you really believe the state would voluntarily destroy their registry? Remember how they were supposed to destroy the registry in Canada, but suddenly knew exactly which houses to search, and for what?
Would someone please tell me again why the M16 bcg is better than the semi-auto bcg’s that I’ve fired many thousands of rounds through without failure?
The only bcg failure I’ve ever seen in person is a gas key coming loose. That was on a 20 year old knockoff CAR-15.
TTAG’s 1911 bashing gets old. It alienates a part of the readership. Empowers some very ignorant trolls. And basically spread untruths in the face of the untold numbers of sevice priced, consistantly flawless 1911s that protect families, neighbors and bring fans to the shooting sports.
Another article that does a disservice to shooters and supporters.
It’s just plain ignorant.
I’m guessing R.F. is getting ready to sell the site.
John Moses, what’s not to love?
Stranger: “Awe, cute twins. What are their names?”
Me: “Heckler and Koch”
No. Seems white-trashy.
Having been on the receiving end of the new TTAG moderator oversensitivity (deleted comment for telling someone to “get off their high horse”), I disagree with the direction TTAG is taking.
Moderating comments flaming other commenters, staff, and site makes sense.
But moderating and deleting light flaming of our ideological enemies, especially those who argue in bad faith and are deliberately provocative, is ridiculous.
If you can’t tolerate that, IMO, it’s time to shut the comments section off entirely and direct everyone to the private forums.
My nephew’s middle name is Remington.
Long time reader of this site and just now seriously considering a RI CC permit and see that I’m not alone in having trouble writing my “need” letter in this, supposedly, “shall” state.
Just a follow up to my original comment:
I have now put hundreds of rounds downrange and I can shoot 1 MOA with his rifle on a bipod with 5.56 NATO and a cheap 4x scope. So in summation there is now way this review is valid. Either this guy can’t shoot or he was using the wrong ammo. The only issues I have had is with lower pressure .223 (local range reloads) the action won’t fully cycle and load the next round. Which is a common issue if the rifle is built for the higher 5.56 pressures and the SRC is. With that being said I have never had any issues with 5.56 NATO from any company.
Wha? They are just using their $199 FN barrels instead of their $250 CHF bbls? Weird choice, the
CHF bbls would sell more, being that CHF is all the rrage right now.
I wouldnt spend 1000 on it though, I can build a much better AR for the price, although the same goes with Colts, wouldnt buy one of them either.
For 1000 I can have a NiB bcg, quality trigger and nice furniture, and a decent free floated rail.
You forgot kalifornia and CT and Maryland and HI for states with no good mags. And for that fact you cant have that rifle also in all the mentioned states we both said.
PS FN made m-16A2 and M-16A4s for years only later this year will they start the M-4 contract they won last summer by the Army. So M-4s are new to FN. But AR building isn’t.
Looks like a fun carbine to play with. Only downside I wish they make a true 14.5 inch M-4 barrel with a stretched A2 flash hider fixed on.
My boxer’s official registered name is Gunner John Moses Browning.
Happy Birthday and thanks guys for the best gun blog on the net.
That voodoo, that you do, so well.
Congratulations. May the next 4 be even better.
Keep the lights on guys.
CNN might be a little less irrelevant now.
Noooooooooooooo!
I don’t think it’s too much. Seems like a pretty “standard” amount.
I’ve watched the 1911 v. anything-else debates for several years and my main conclusion is this:
1911 Fan Boys will never, ever, consider the possibility that the firearm technology they are using is old and has been replaced by something better.
1911 Dismmissers will never, ever, consider the possibility that 1911 firearm technology produced and continues to produce an amazingly useful tool, for competition or self-defense.
And then, at that point, the debates basically come down to people who apparently are so horribly insecure about their personal choice in firearms, or so envious of somebody else’s higher priced equipment, that they spend their time running other handguns down constantly because, frankly, they are pathetic losers who don’t have much of a life to speak of to begin with.
I enjoy all my handguns: 1911s, Glocks, HKs, etc.
Is calling him a doody head considered ad hominem?
Ruined the gun with logo. Major fail. FN do your homework. Classic roll marks and mil-spec. is what most people want from the brand. Give them a range bag with your logo or a temporary tattoo for their arm. Your commercial graffiti means I’ll be passing and sure a lot of other folks.
The FN DOES have a full auto BCG…C’mon man!
I laugh at guys who thinks a FA carrier are so much better than a semi carrier in a semi auto AR15!
I have a Colt 6920 with FA carrier and a LMT with semi carrier and 3 Home builds using semi auto carriers from CMT,LMT,Bushmaster
None have failed period. Is there any PROOF that a semi auto carrier will fail before a FA carrier no.
As a Member of AR15 since 2000 I haven’t heard any reports what so ever about semi carriers failing.
BTW my favorite carbine is my LMT Defender 2000 14.5 carbine and it sports a semi auto carrier,
FN, some advice. Get rid of the hideous laser logo, get rid of the multi-caliber stamp, get a FA bolt carrier and you will have a contender. These guns collects dust on every gun store shelf with the same complaints. Shills writing articles about how great it is won’t solve the problem. I bought at COLT AR15A4 over yours and it is great.
Some advice to FN. Lose the gawdy logo and multi-caliber stamping. You don’t know your customer. Your rifles are mocked and collect dust at gun shops. Shills writing articles won’t change the facts. Melt you ugly lowers down, put a roll mark on left side of mag weld, use a M16 BCG, put a CHF barrel 1/7 like military, use military standard carry handle – your rifle will fly off the shelves. The arrogance of the company to refuse to change anything – these guns will and have bombed in the marketplace.
It has a 16 inch barrel prefer a 14.5 with a extended flash hider.