As we reported, FNH USA is coming out with their new FN-15 series firearms. The 16 inch carbine and the 20 inch rifle will retail for $1,149 each, meaning that it is perfectly positioned to give Colt a run for its money. And everyone else in the AR-15 market for that matter. We had an opportunity to test out the rifles at a special event held by FNH USA Sunday evening, and we have some slow motion video to go along with the commentary on the guns.
This isn’t a precision, high end rifle — this is an entry level AR-15. And I mean that for both the company and the consumer. This is FNH USA’s first AR-15 rifle, and it looks like they’re taking their time dipping their toes in the water before releasing the specialty rifles further down the line. The rifle feels like every other AR-15 rifle, including the “meh” mil-spec trigger and the fire control components, but that FN logo emblazoned on the side of the rifle might be enough to get people over that hump and get their credit cards out.
It looks like they’ve positioned the rifle to be a direct competitor to Colt’s 6920, and it should give them a run for their money.
Needless to say we’ll get these rifles reviewed ASAP with a more complete overview of how they run, but for now they look pretty good.
AlphaGeek, I just spoke to the Alameda Co Sheriffs CCW dept. and was told the “90% of applications are APPROVED as long as you have a valid cause.” Also told me that approval was over 1 year…
19 barrel in a 26 frame is old news. The Glock 19 factory threaded barrel functions perfectly fine in the 26 with a silencer too.
Makes a lot of sence for FN they sell their barrels to a lot of AR manufacturers. They may as well start making their own Ar15 style rifles!!??
FN manufactures rifles for the US military.
My last two Model 70 barrels (FN) have actually proven very accurate.
I’d love it if FN would just sell complete uppers with the best barrel they can produce.
The comment about buying one based on the FN logo on the side cracked me up as it is in all likelyhood what will keep me from purchasing one. I can not stand the current fad amongst manufacturers to laser engrave their logos and trademarks all over their weapons and scar them up with that white nonsense. Just stick this the standard engraving / roll marks on the left side of the lower and call it a day. Silly I know but something that irrelevant to overall function will keep me from buying one.
This is the new business model of low grade companies.
1. Find cheap materials, or source the parts from China.
2. Introduce new product that is not actually new or innovative. Call it “Tactical”!
3.Charge as much or more as well established reputable companies even though your company is crap.
4. Pray to your personal higher power that nobody notices.
5. If this doesn’t work the first time rinse and repeat.
I have a since that this is not far from factual, but drinking four
gallons of water as fast as you can is actually deadly.
Tuesday’s announcement represents an astonishing turn of
fortune for Birkenfeld, who was released from federal prison in August after serving 31 months on charges relating to his efforts
to help a wealthy client avoid taxes. ” we might ask Shakespeare if he were sitting in front of us.
The last time I was in a gun shop a couple week’s ago I asked if the .380 Glock was available to public yet and was told no. In the US, .380 Glock goes to law enforcement officer’s only!
Ummm… yeah. Not really a fan of FPSRussia. I really don’t like his taste in firearms, his “safe” handling skills, or his fake accent. Honestly, I was kind of hoping he would have stayed gone. Many younger people watch his videos and believe he is safe, intelligent, and fun. Not a good thing.
“In Soviet Union, bad accent fakes YOU! He, he, he.”
Hey Nick, I’ve seen a magazine review of a Colt AR-15A4 with 20″ barrell & rifle length gas system like USMC rifle. I can’t mention of that rifle anywhere else. Can you track what’s up with that?
Video one, did he say an extra 400-500 fps from the G19 barrel?
He wasn’t being serious, right? I think my sarcasm-meter is broken…
As part of the effort to normalize firearms and show they can be used for fun rather than murder, I approve of his channell, even though he’s rarely practicing proper safety. But then that is something the rest of us can take care of when dealing with new shooters.
Nick, your review is possibly the worst review I have ever read about our RR-Evolution-BLK. I am disappointed that you didn’t feel the necessity to consult with me with any issues prior to bashing the optic on the public forum. Given the chance, I would have happily tried to rectify any issues that you might possibly have had just as I was happy to oblige your request to review the optic in the first place.
That being said, PFI is dedicated to building quality optics…period…regardless of where it is made. Customer satisfaction is our number one goal, and I personally answer almost 90% of all inquiries and give personal support for almost all technical questions or issues whether it be a soldier in Afghanistan or a novice shooter somewhere in the midwest. My dedication to this company goes far beyond any compensation. I truly believe that our reticle concepts help shooters engage targets much faster and more precise by giving them the ability to acquire, range, and impact a target without the need to manually adjust or make calculations. In my eyes, if a novice shooter can pick up a rifle and smack a target 600 yards out without any experience with the weapon system, we are doing something right. Then, imagine that capability in the hands of a soldier or a LEO who must use that system in the face of not just a threat but multiple threats. Our reticle systems have proven themselves time and time again in combat especially with our RR-900 series that was designed for the Army’s M14 EBR program,
As for the RR-Evolution-BLK, I have never been told anything but that the glass clarity is impeccable which is to be expected since it is BAK-7 glass. Further, I have never seen the illumination problem that you have stated. I don’t know what brightness setting that you have it on, but here is how my reticle looks at the highest brightness setting:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23055226@N06/sets/72157639719913286/
As you can see from the pics in the link, nothing is washed out whether in complete darkness or in low light conditions. These pictures were taken just now with my phone camera. The reason that we spec’d 3 brightness settings was to give the shooter the ability to manage the brightness especially over time where a degrading battery will lessen its intensity inherently. Generally, with a new battery, the 1st brightness setting is all that will be needed, but as time goes on, a higher setting can be used to mitigate any lost brightness. It might just be a battery issue. If so, just leave it on for a few hours, and any washout will be gone. Any notion that the scope produces artificial light to a game warden is preposterous. I am from TX, and I have hunted with game wardens. That comment was absolutely uncalled for.
As for clarity beyond 250 yards, I am flaberghasted at your comments. There is a fine focus for a reason and a parallax setting is absolutely unnecessary for a 1.25-4x. The preset parallax setting has been designed to handle both close range and long range clarity. It is a compromise and balance that certainly does not affect the shooter’s ability to impact a target. Recently, I was conducting military tests with the US Optics version of the BLK scope. The soldiers testing the scope were so excited that while they were waiting their turn to shoot with the US Optics version, they picked up the rifle with the civilian RR-Evolution-BLK scope. With supersonic loads ranging from 110gr to 125 gr, they were impacting targets out to 600 yards. With subsonic loads, they were impacting targets to 300. A civilian contractor conducting a non-firearm test with another group stopped by. This gentleman had NEVER shot a firearm before. With less than 5 minutes of instruction, he impacted the SAME targets as the trained shooters did with less than 1 mag and in under 3 minutes. Remember, the trained shooters saw this optic system for the first time that day. The novice shooter did as well, but before that day, never pulled a trigger in his life! So, if a first time shooter can impact a 600 yard target, then the comment saying that it is impossible to use it at 500 yards is quite puzzling. As an even further note, the fastest time to impact 5 targets with our scope vs the plethora of other scopes was 52.83 seconds. The longest time was 103 seconds with a military issued optic. The absolute fastest time on those same targets was 35 seconds with our RR-CQLR-1 on an M4.
It might be possible that Nick got a lemon. It happens but rarely. Nick, please do send the optic back, and I will personally take a look at it. If there is an issue with that optic, I will gladly send another for further testing and review if you would like to test it. When I get back from SHOT, I will add more pictures to show clarity beyond 250 yards. I have never had an issue seeing both the image and reticle clearly at any distance.
I will be shooting a video to show how this scope performs as well. The video will not only show impacts at 100 yards but also on the speed to engage multiple targets at various distances.
Now, I am going to continue preparing for SHOT. Anyone with questions can post it to this page or feel free to email or call me directly. Please leave a message if I do not answer. I will return your call. It would be my pleasure to assist you. Godspeed and God bless.
Sincerely,
Richard M. Nguyen
RROSM – Pride Fowler Industries
Vice President – Military/LE Liaison
Ph: (832) 377-6765
Fx: (877) 893-4502
Email1: [email protected]
Email2: [email protected]
http://www.RapidReticle.com
Tyranny by any other name would still smell like shit.
The new possession felony might actually get some real criminals off the street for longer, thus actually reducing crime. At that point, the SAFE act will be credited for the success and a new push to double down on gun owners will be born. THEN, when the majority is lulled, a new push for early release from the community organizers (“these laws are RACIST!!!) will end up repopulating the streets with said criminals, thus raising violent crime and giving the excuse to redouble the assault. Kind of like the Cuban boat lift.
having worked with folded metal i’m pretty sure i’d slap my grandmother for the chance to run a mag through this gun.
My question…. Will it shoot? That $4000 price tag better have some AMAZING accuracy behind it or the reviews are going to be BRUTAL.
I wonder how much the bright green zombie version will cost…lol.
I google the gun I’m interested in and just pick the TTAG link.
This is technology that’s clearly still in its infancy, so I’m sure it’ll be good someday that people went through this step of its evolution. But it’s not for me. Maybe for my kids. Well, my friends’ kids, because I don’t have any.
I had the good fortune of carrying an FN built AR last time I was called up (911). It was such a pleasure to have a dependable battle rifle instead of that POS Colt! Of course we all know that AR stands for ARMALITE and that is what all the services should be carrying (in 7.62X51) and NOT the poodle shooter 5.56X45 however, since the Armament Division Boss HATED the Original AR and 5.56 caliber round E. Stoner was informed that ARMALITE would NEVER get a DOD Contract and that SOB General was as good as his word. As for the POS M-4, I wouldn’t carry one of those damn things into a carnival much less into harms way. Cutting the barrel to 14.5 ” just makes the pitiful 5.56X45 round that much less effective on enemy combatants and that’s something that none of us need! As for the price-point on this new entry from FN, I have to agree with a previous poster, way too high!
I just bought the FN15 Carbine, when to the range and put 200 Remington 55gr thru it without first clean and no hiccups whatsoever. After being in the ARMY for 25 years I felt this rifle exactly the same thing as my Colt M16, however, the trigger on the FN is crisppier. I never thought that after dealing with an M16 for so many years I could get one but have to say that love it and most awesome thing is that is multi caliber which means you can shoot either 5.56 or .223 is rifled in 1/7 twits which is great for shooting up to 77gr, I strongly recommended, 5 stars.
I have to admit i have always liked FN and have a military surplus FN M16A2 upper on a noveske lower (back when Noveske lowers weren’t expensive) and its a great 20″ A2.
Id really like to buy the 20″ FN A4 model but the price is a little high. I might be able to settle on the price if they didint print that giant glaring white logo on the lower. Hopefully they change this
The FN civilian entry “blows”. Too expensive for base AR design and other than the trade mark barrel, nothing you won’t get with a LE 6920.
Fired one against my BCM socom barreled carbine and my Spikes M 4 LE, performance was equal, except both BCM and Spikes carbines have a full auto BCG compared to the semi auto on the FN( LMT also comes with a semi auto”enhanced” bcg-why? Full auto seems to work better in sometimes over gassed carbines!)
For the price tag, FN should be offering something “new” or design improvement-not worth it when PSA is down the road from FN and overs basically the SAME carbine for $300.00 less…..