We first caught wind that FNH USA was designing a compact version of their excellent polymer-framed striker-fired FNS-9 and FNS-40 handguns at last year’s SHOT Show. “That trigger, those ergs, thirteen rounds and a seventeen round spare with rock solid reliability in a concealable FNS-9,” RF enthused. “Gentlemen, meet my new carry gun.” Since then, FNH has rolled out a competition long slide FNS and . . . that’s it. Now, almost two years later, it looks like FNH USA will start shipping the FNS-9 and FNS-40 Compacts sometime around shortly, thanks to what may be a premature posting by High Plains Gun Shop . . .
FN66719 – FNS 9 Compact, No Safety, Blk/Blk, Fixed Sights – $499.99 Shipped
FAMILY:FNS Series
MODEL:FNS-9C
TYPE:Semi-Auto Pistol
ACTION:Double Action Only
FINISH:Blackened Stainless
STOCK/FRAME:Polymer Frame
STOCK/GRIPS:Black Polymer
CALIBER/GAUGE:9mm
CAPACITY:12+1
# OF MAGS:2
MAGAZINE DESC:12 rd.
BARREL:3.57″
RATE-OF-TWIST:1-in-10″
SIGHTS:Fixed 3-Dot
ADDL INFO:Striker Fired
ADDL INFO:Includes 17 rd. MagFN66720 – FNS 9 Compact, No Safety, Blk/Blk, Night Sights – $549.99 Shipped
FAMILY:FNS Series
MODEL:FNS-9C
TYPE:Semi-Auto Pistol
ACTION:Double Action Only
FINISH:Blackened Stainless
STOCK/FRAME:Polymer Frame
STOCK/GRIPS:Black Polymer
CALIBER/GAUGE:9mm
CAPACITY:12+1
# OF MAGS:2
MAGAZINE DESC:12 rd.
BARREL:3.57″
RATE-OF-TWIST:1-in-10″
SIGHTS:Night Sights
ADDL INFO:Striker Fired
ADDL INFO:Includes 17 rd. MagFN66722 – FNS 40 Compact, No Safety, Blk/Blk, Night Sight – $549.99 Shipped
FAMILY:FNS Series
MODEL:FNS-40C
TYPE:Semi-Auto Pistol
ACTION:Double Action Only
FINISH:Blackened Stainless
STOCK/FRAME:Polymer Frame
STOCK/GRIPS:Black Polymer
CALIBER/GAUGE:40 SW
CAPACITY:10+1
# OF MAGS:2
MAGAZINE DESC:10 rd.
BARREL:3.57″
RATE-OF-TWIST:1-in-10″
SIGHTS:Night Sights
ADDL INFO:Striker Fired
ADDL INFO:Includes 14 rd. MagFN66721 – FNS 40 Compact, No Safety, Blk/Blk, Fixed Sights – $499.99 Shipped
FAMILY:FNS Series
MODEL:FNS-40C
TYPE:Semi-Auto Pistol
ACTION:Double Action Only
FINISH:Blackened Stainless
STOCK/FRAME:Polymer Frame
STOCK/GRIPS:Black Polymer
CALIBER/GAUGE:40 SW
CAPACITY:10+1
# OF MAGS:2
MAGAZINE DESC:10 rd.
BARREL:3.57″
RATE-OF-TWIST:1-in-10″
SIGHTS:Fixed 3-Dot
ADDL INFO:Striker Fired
ADDL INFO:Includes 14 rd. Mag
That’s all we know so far. We’ve reached out to the PR folks at FNH USA, but haven’t heard back at the time of this writing. We’ll update you as soon as we hear, if only to watch RF drool some more.
Don’t those guns already have 4″ barrels?
A compact version of a full sized pistol is a nice balance though. I love my Beretta 92FS INOX Compact and the Ruger 1911 Commander is just as accurate as 5″ 1911s I’ve shot.
One would hope that FN will make them with the safety as well. Or at leas the ablity to have the safety retrofitted. The FN FNS is one of the best polymers out there.
Looks like the all black one in the photo has it.
@FoRealz, yep I saw that too. It just wasn’t listed on that High Plains website.
This should be a great addition to the line. My CCW s is either a M&P40 pro 5″ and /or a M&P40c the compatibility of mags and ammunition makes this arrangement about perfect in my opinion.
Talk about being late to the party… And not fashionably late, either.
Double Action Only? I thought these were striker fired? Or is there some terminology mixing?
Generally striker guns are considered DAO.
JP beat me to the punch. Most striker-fired pistols are technically double-action, but that has no effect on how you actually use the gun, so (as far as I’m concerned) it’s mostly irrelevant.
I do want one of these. Probably should stick to the XD platform so that all the family’s self-defense guns can share the same equipment, but I really, really, really love the way the FNS handles. A more concealable version of it sounds to me like it’s darn near the perfect polymer pistol.
Actually, it depends.
As JP noted, most striker fired pistols are considered DAO. Technically, most of them are not. XDs, M&Ps, and the PPQ, for instance, are more similar to SA, as the striker is completely or nearly completely pre-cocked. In Glocks, the trigger finishes cocking the striker before releasing it. Not sure about the other striker handguns on the market.
If you want to use “technically”, however, striker fired pistols are neither Double action nor Single action, as the standard definition of these actions typically involves a hammer. I’ve also heard good arguments that in order to be DA the action must have restrike capability. All other DAs except strikers, to my knowledge, have restrike. Some strikers do too (some Taurus models, Walther P99), but most don’t.
I tend to consider striker fired weapons as altogether separate and different than SA and DA weapons, as there are too many caveats.
It all depends on how you define “double action.” The term really only applies to guns that have hammers, and even then it’s not super simple. People who use the term to mean, essentially, “long trigger pull” tend to call striker fired guns double action. By another definition, most striker fired guns are single action only, being that pulling the trigger releases the striker as it would release a hammer, and requires the striker to be cocked again or else it won’t fire. Striker fired pistols with “restrike capability”, then, could be considered double action. But then hammer fired guns with preloaded mainsprings (like the Ruger LC9) have hammers and long trigger pulls, but don’t have the “restrike capability.”
So unless you’re talking about revolvers or TDA pistols the terms double and single action are generally not appropriate.
Edit: Apologies to Skeptical_Realist, I didn’t see your post until I had already submitted mine.
Nice. But any news on whether GLOCK is going to intro a G42-sized 9mm at the SHOT show?
These look cool. Never desired a full sized FN but would be interested in this.
I want a compact Hi Power
FWIW, calculated height (from picture measurements compared to real life OAL) is 5.03″ with pinky extend & 4.3″ w flat bottom mag.
4.3″ is exactly where the P99c comes in (I’ve been interested in a PPQ hoping they come out with a PPQ compact). I noticed neither one is quite as short as the Glock 26 (likely because of the low bore axis on the latter).
They’re out! I’m looking forward to your review. I own the HK VP9 and I love it–and your review of it. I’m eager to shoot the FNS compact, though.
Got mine in hand today! It’s gorgeous.
It feels just like the full size as far as the texture just that my pinky hangs off the bottom with the flush fit mag. It comes with a 12 round flush fit mag, a 12 round mag with pinky extention, and a 17 round mag with x-grip spacer. It also has 2 back straps just like the original FNS full size so you can choose between the flat back plate or rounded. I like the flush backplate on the full size because it reminds me of a 1911 grip feel. On the compact I chose the rounded because the flat back plate made the gun feel too small. So far I’m in love. And this may just replace my HK P2000sk as a daily driver. It carries 2 more than my HK (and the beloved glock 26) and the trigger is amazing! Very smooth pull all the way back with a clean crisp break and the reset is almost not measurable maybe 1 or 1.5mm with an audible and textile click. As far as the price I found them between $485 and $500 in stores.
I have not shot it yet but if this gun shoots as good as it looks and feels we have a huge winner here. FN Herstal has made phenomenal product for many years and I’m 100% confident this gun will not disappointed.
For the same price as a glock 26 this gun wins hands down in ergos, aesthetics, and accessories it comes with out of the box.
I hope you all get a chance to find one soon. Good luck and God bless.