Surplus Savings: FNS-9 Under $300
We all get emails from dealers and manufacturers with specials, close outs and deals we are told we can’t live without. A few weeks ago I clicked on an advertisement from AIM Surplus and browsed thought it. I’m always a sucker for surplus guns or oddities that are in an easy to obtain caliber like 9mm or .22LR. Most of the time I think about the deal and then they sell out so I save myself some cash. Imagine my surprise when I read LE Trade in FNS-9 SPECIAL $299.95 with 1 magazine.
Well for under $300.00 for a pistol from a manufacturer with a reputation like Fabrique Nationale the folks at the AIM Suplus marketing department had mine and my visa’s attention. At that price I mean is it really a risk ? considering the pistol new retails for $599.00 if I didn’t like it I could flip or trade it and break even. So I figured what’s the harm, plus it makes a great article so if it turns out to be a great gun, even better.
What I got for $299.95
When my box arrived and I went to my FFL to pick it up I expected a law enforcement trade it to have a ton of holster wear and a decent amount of frame rubbing. Well what I expected didn’t really happen but there were a few things I noticed about the FNS-9 that I will get into in the follow up article once Ive had a chance to put more than a few magazines worth of ammo through it. Here is a brief overview of the Fabrique Nationale FNS-9 and some specifications on what $299.95 got me.
Photo:Rick Dembroski
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
Location of Manufacture: Fredricksburg, Virginia , USA
Model: FNS-9
Caliber: 9x19mm
Barrel Length: 4″
Height: 5.5″
Width: 1.35″
Materials:
- Slide: Stainless Steel
- Frame: Polymer
Action: Double Action
External Safety: No
Capacity: 17 Rounds
Trigger Pull: 6lbs 9.5 Oz (As Tested on Lyman Gauge)
MSRP: $599.00 (Purchase Price $299.00 @ Aim Suplus)
Photo:Rick Dembroski
Initial Thoughts
My initial thought on this pistol after putting a few boxes through it is that I really enjoy it. The trigger is over my Glock 19 with it’s Apex trigger but the ergonomics on the FNS-9 seem to be more in line with my hands needs than the Glock 19. The fit and finish on the gun is great with little to no slide wear showing on the blackened stainless steel slide. There was one small area that caught my attention and that is the texturing on the front strap of the pistol. The thin horizontal lines seem to have shown some degree of wear. This isn’t a huge concern to me but being a surplus gun I wanted to be sure I mention it to our readers.
The trigger seems to be predictable and I’ve only shot three boxes of 115 grain FMJ through the pistol but so far it operates as I expect any striker fired pistol to operate. The sights pick up well when just plinking and slapping steel with it. I have yet to run it in any real drills on the range due to a laundry list of reason. Like I mentioned this is a very quick first look at the Fabrique National FNS-9
Photo: Rick Dembroski
Things to Think About in Closing
This pistol seems so far like it’s going to be a real surplus deal but there are a few things that I have to mention. When the first batches of the FNS-9’s first hit AIM Surplus they cam with 3 magazines for $299.00, the second and later batches only are coming with one magazine. This might sound like an issues but it brings up point #2. Magazines for the FNS-9 can be expensive when compared to other pistols. Luckily on gunbroker.com I was able to find some for about 1/2 off. FNS magazines from FN will set you back $49.99 at the time of this article, even Gunmagwarehouse.com has them for $43.99.
I knew about the prices of the magazines going into it when I ordered the FNS-9 and like I mentioned was able to pick up 3 extra mags at $24.99 each on gunbroker. To some people this will be a deal breaker even for an incredibly priced pistol. I can’t seem to think of why FN prices their magazines so highly aside from the fact of the laws of supply and demand.
What do You Think ?
What do you think ? would you take at the offer of a great used surplus gun that has expensive magazines ? I own an H&K P7M8 and an MP5 so sticker shock on magazines doesn’t even phase me anymore, but what about you our readers ? We want to hear from you on this.
Stay tuned for the coming weeks as COVID-19 slows down and we can all get back out and shoot. What are you doing keep relaxed during the recent almost nation wide lockdown ? Stay safe and stay sane.
