FN 509 Midsize
The FN 509 family of guns has been out since 2017 and as with all new products from major manufacturers there was a lot of media coverage on it then before it was quickly forgotten as the media moved onto the next big thing. Somehow GBGuns missed that initial exposure to the FN 509 series, but it made for the perfect candidate when our Patrons asked for us to take a look at a mid-priced pistol.
With an MSRP of $649 (lower pricing at end of article) the FN 509 Midsize is neither cheap nor expensive, priced right in that sweet spot that makes you consider if you want to spend that much or not. The 509 Midsize is also built and sized in the sweet spot, 15+1 rounds of 9mm with a 4" barrel. Compact enough for carry, but with enough barrel length for proper ballistics, and enough gun to hold on to for extended range sessions. Unlike so many competitors the FN 509 Midsize is also truly ambidextrous, an uncommon feature that serves both left-handers and serious shooters that want to practice with their other hand.
Serious shooters are who the 509 seems to have been built for. Everything about the build quality and feel says, "duty gun" in both the positive and negative ways. For a closer look at the FN 509 Midsize see the tabletop video below.
The trigger feels a bit, "meh" in dry fire. Once again in that sweet spot that isn't a rough trigger, and isn't a race trigger. Right in the middle where it should be for responsible carry or duty use.
From the FN 509 Midsize Product Page
SPECS
CALIBER: 9mm
OPERATION: Double-action
MAG CAPACITY: 10 or 15 Rd.
WEIGHT: 26.5 oz.
BARREL LENGTH: 4.0"
OVERALL LENGTH: 7.4"
TWIST RATE: 1:10" RH
HEIGHT: 5.2"
WIDTH: 1.35"
TRIGGER PULL: 5.5 - 7.7 lb.
SIGHT RADIUS: 5.79"
PRIMARY FEATURES
Full-sized performance in a concealed carry package
Striker-fired autoloader
Double-action operation
Fully ambidextrous controls
Offered as a non-manual safety model
Fixed 3-dot luminescent sights (standard)
Fixed 3-dot green tritium night sight available (LE ONLY)
SLIDE
Easily racked, combat-style sights
External extractor; loaded chamber indicator
Improved front and rear cocking serrations
BARREL
Cold hammer-forged stainless steel
Recessed target crown
Polished chamber and feed ramp
FRAME
Polymer construction with replaceable steel frame rails
Enhanced grip textures which enables faster follow-up shots in all conditions
Interchangeable backstraps
MIL-STD-1913 accessory mounting rail
Improved flatter face trigger
OPERATING CONTROLS
Fully ambidextrous slide stop lever and magazine release
MAGAZINE
High visibility, low-friction follower; polymer base with black finish
Compatible with FN 509 17-round and 24-round magazines with appropriate magazine sleeves
SHIPS WITH
Two interchangeable backstraps
Two 15-round magazines or Two 10-round
Owner’s manual
Locking device
FN logo soft pistol case
Everything feels very well-built. It's a pistol that includes pride of ownership not because it's flashy, but because it looks and feels like the kind of gun a company like FN is approached to make for one of the many government/military contracts their known to fulfill. I could just as easy imagine the 509 as a duty gun in the US (where it competed against the Sig P320 in the US Army trials) or any allied nation as I can it serving citizens as a do-all kind of pistol.
To see if that feel would continue after a range session we of course put the 509 through our standard battery. The results can be seen in the Shooting Impressions video.
Ammunition seen in our Shooting Impressions video was made possible by our Patrons and supporters of our ammunition savings account through Ammo Squared. Additional, on-demand ammunition through True Shot Gun Club.
The biggest surprise for me was the trigger. In dry fire I was unimpressed. "Sleepy" was the term that came to mind. On the range however it proved to be very learnable and much more predictable than I had expected. Not all guns shoot "live" the way they do "dry", it appears the 509 Midsize is one of those. Excellent performance on the range.
Another big takeaway from the range session was the grip texture. Despite having three different patterns of texture on the gun, it didn't plant as firmly in the hand as one would expect. The good news is adding texture is a lot easier than removing it, so I suppose we can't fault FN for being conservative with grip texture.
Overall the FN 509 Midsize is a gun that warrants the price it commands. Styling may not be the hippest with what 2022 asks for, but that's ok. This is a duty-grade gun that worries not about looking cool. This is a pistol that I feel confident in recommending.
Price check as of 9MAY22 (509 Day!)