If you have a lean gun budget like most folks including me. (by the way my pay-pal button is working guys! Then you could do a whole lot worst than to look at a rifle like this.
Some nice looking wood here too!
But just make sure that you have a good Gunsmith give it a serious inspection. As that is money that is never wasted. Trust me as I have gone down that road and the view was not pretty!
For more information, visit https://fnamerica.com/.
To purchase an FN pistol on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=FN%20pistol.
We here at GunsAmerica first heard about what would become the FN 509 back in January, 2016 at SHOT Show.
There were plenty of looks back and forth between the FN folks, followed by a polite “We’ll get back to you” when asked about it. Fast-forward 12 months to the 2017 SHOT Show, and FN responded with an invitation to a meeting at an undisclosed location in Las Vegas.
At that meeting, we were given the opportunity to fire a few hundred rounds through the FN 509. We received our sample of the 509 a few weeks ago after promising not to discuss it publicly until April 17th, 2017.
The new FN 509 pistol brings 17+1 firepower to a reasonably compact package for EDC enthusiasts. Image courtesy of FN.
Note the ambidextrous controls of the pistol. Image courtesy of FN.
Army Contracting Command released the official MHS RFP on August 28, 2015. The XM17 Modular Handgun System competition was a request for a new Army and Navy handgun to replace the M9 handgun. The list of requirements was demanding, to say the least.
The pistol proved to be rugged and reliable and delivered great results for the author.
There were eight entries to the initial test.
The Army Times reported on January 19, 2017 that the competition for the new U.S. handgun had been won by SIG Sauer Inc. on January 18, 2017. The resulting P320 is a great gun, but more than one person has asserted that Sig Sauer owes its victory to the price point.
The P320 comes in at $207 a unit—more than $50 cheaper than the M9. As expected, Glock is still protesting Sig Sauer’s win, as their pistol’s box clearly says “Perfection.”
The pistol came in a zippered nylon case along with two steel 17-round magazines.
Sometimes, second place can be more valuable than first. If you are in second place, you have reason to improve and better yourself, as well as an example of what to work towards. If you’re in first, you have no incentive to improve. FN took a hard look at their pistol and decided to use it to pursue the civilian market with the 509.
This pistol has plenty of potential to disrupt the current leader in consumer and Law Enforcement sales, especially considering that Glock came to the 2017 SHOT Show with approximately zero new pistols to showcase. I asked about the Glock 17M and was told we might see it next year.
The 509 is well-equipped for the task it has been assigned. It is a striker-fired, polymer-framed 9mm pistol. The four-inch, stainless steel, cold-hammer-forged barrel sports a recessed target crown.
There is a slide and magazine release on each side of the gun, accommodating both right and left-handed shooters. FN offers three choices of interchangeable back-straps, and a tapered grip with texturing.
The slide has cocking serrations both in the front and rear, along with a left-side-mounted takedown lever. There is an optional ambidextrous manual safety mounted at the rear and top of the frame.
The dust cover has a Picatinny rail for accessories. The trigger guard is elongated and rounded, to allow firing with gloved hands. The trigger is a metal two-piece design with a pivot in the middle.
The dust cover area of the polymer frame has a strip of Picatinny rail for accessories.
My gun arrived wrapped in shipping paper to protect the plain cardboard box—Christmas came early! Upon opening the box, I saw a zippered black case that resembled a day planner from back in the era of pen and paper.
The FN logo embroidered on the outside was a clear indication that the contents were not dreary notes and scribbled appointments. Instead, the case contained the FN 509 and two 17-round magazines.
This gun was not your typical FN pistol; in fact it looked more like FN and Sig had worked together to design a Glock 19. The 509 was not big and boxy, but simple and compact. The fact that FN had built a pistol with a capacity of 17-plus-1, and yet smaller (in most respects) than a Glock 19, was impressive.
The standard sights were metal, and all the controls were present on both sides of the gun. The gun fit nicely in my hand, and the trigger was better than I expected from a polymer service pistol.
The magazine of the FN 509’s steel magazine (right) holds 17 rounds of 9mm. Shown next to a Glock 19 magazine for comparison.
I was not able to get the 509 to the range for a couple of days, so when the time finally came I had my plan ready. I brought a slew of 9mm rounds to run through the gun, along with a few trusted friends who would not break the embargo on the new pistol.
The 509 was passed around like a collection plate on Sunday morning, with each person trying it in the hand, working the controls, and finally testing the trigger before handing it down.
The two magazines were loaded up and the fun began! I would guess that the first 200 rounds of my ammunition were run through the gun in a matter of a few minutes. Once everyone had had a turn on the New 509, I asked the “Well, what do you think?” question.
Everyone responded with general approval, save one person who took issue with the feel of the trigger. I asked what he was referring to, we arrived at the conclusion that the trigger’s smooth rounded convex face was throwing him off. He had never shot a gun without a Glock style trigger before. His opinion was it was not bad, but different.
The pistol shot tight groups at 20 yards with loads from Sig, Federal and Hornady.
Next on my agenda was speed shooting. I had set up some steel plates and other steel targets down range. We all started at the 10-yard line and worked our way back.
Our ability to keep control of the pistol under pressure was due in part to the three different kinds of checkering on the grip of the 509. We took turns shooting faster and farther away until we had all exceeded our abilities.
I believe the gun had more potential than we did, in terms of speed and accuracy.
The pistol features a modular, removable back strap system for customizing the grip to individual shooters.
As my merry band of helpers departed, I took stock. We had fired 500-plus rounds of practice ammunition, and the FN 509 had suffered no malfunctions.
While I had taken the gun apart to inspect it prior to shooting, I did not apply any oil or perform any maintenance; it went from box to range without fail.
I wanted to test the accuracy of the FN 509, so I put a target out at 20 yards and made some marks with my sharpie. What I discovered was that the gun will do its part if you can do yours.
I chose three loads from three separate brands, and the table of my results shows that the gun performed consistently with all the ammunition choices.
The FN 509 is going to be a factor in LE gun purchases. I also predict that it will be the pistol that gains FN widespread acceptance in the civilian market.
I hope that FN has already loaded the distribution chain to avoid the wait time we often see for new guns.
Note the steel locking block and frame rails for strength within the polymer shell.
The 509 makes sense to me, and I welcome a new take on the polymer service pistol. It is clear to me that this gun is not lacking anything.
This is a gun that I personally will be running, as it fits in a compact footprint with a full-sized capacity. You can get a gun developed for the military world, but refined for the civilian self-defense market.
It will work equally well from either hand, without needing to change over parts. The price is competitive, and from a company that will stand behind their products. I think the 509 could be a serious competitor in the largest category going.
For more information, visit https://fnamerica.com/.
To purchase an FN pistol on GunsAmerica.com, click this link: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=FN%20pistol.
SwitchbladeUSA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) has introduced S.3264, the Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2018 (KOPA) including repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act. This is a companion to the House KOPA bill, H.R.84, introduced last year. Originally conceived and authored by Knife Rights in 2010 and first introduced in 2013, KOPA will remove the irrational restrictions on interstate trade in automatic knives that are legal to one degree or another in 44 states, while also protecting the right of knife owners to travel throughout the U.S. without fear of prosecution under the myriad patchwork of state and local knife laws.
Sen. Wicker said, “I am pleased to introduce the Knife Owners Protection Act. This legislation would provide law-abiding knife owners the appropriate protection when transporting knives across state lines. It would also repeal the antiquated Federal Switchblade Act. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to advance this sensible policy for knife owners”
Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “We are proud to have Senator Wicker leading the KOPA effort in the Senate, a bill that will actually protect traveling knife owners and repeal the archaic and useless Federal Switchblade Act. It is clear that Senator Wicker understands the plight of knife owners placed in legal jeopardy by the patchwork of knife laws they encounter traveling in America.”
Unlike S.1092, the problematic and seriously inadequate Interstate Transport Act that was recently marked up in committee and which is being promoted by one segment of the industry, S.3264 and H.R. 84 include a robust Right of Action that would actually provide real protections for knife owners that need these protections the most.
TAKE ACTION!
We need your help to gain additional co-sponsors. Please call or email your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor this commonsense legislation.
A Right of Action provides for persons unlawfully detained for transporting their knives properly secured in compliance with the act to seek financial compensation from a jurisdiction that ignores the intent of Congress to protect these travels. Without a strong right of action, there is no deterrent—biased and rogue jurisdictions like New York and New Jersey would have no incentive to follow the law. In a state like New Jersey, where knife law offences are felonies, it is especially critical to dissuade them from prosecuting law-abiding citizens.
Lacking a Right of Action, acting with impunity, without fear of any meaningful recourse from their law-abiding victims, these rogue jurisdictions will further persecute citizens who attempt to defend themselves from illegal, and unjust or misguided enforcement actions. A robust right of action holds jurisdictions financially accountable if they willfully ignore the law. A strong right of action causes jurisdictions to consider these adverse repercussions before they arrest or prosecute an individual that is protected under the act.
Ritter said, “ignoring the unfortunate lessons of the past and passing a knife transport bill without a robust right of action would be unconscionable and an extraordinary disservice to knife owners and the entire knife community. KOPA’s right of action provides the teeth needed to actually give real protection to knife owners.”
Ritter added, “The Federal Switchblade Act was an asinine idea when it was passed in 1958 in a wave of Hollywood-inspired politically motivated hysteria and has only become more irrelevant as time has passed. The majority of states have always allowed switchblade possession and with Knife Rights’ repeal of switchblade bans in 15 states in the past eight years, more than four-fifths of the states now allow switchblade possession to one degree or another. It is way past time to repeal this law that only serves to interfere with lawful trade and commerce.”
A FAQ on KOPA with additional details and background can be found at: www.KnifeRights.org/KOPAFAQ2017.pdf
We need your help to gain additional co-sponsors. Please call or email your Senators and Representative and urge them to co-sponsor this commonsense legislation. PLEASE use the EMAIL A FRIEND option after you email or call to ask your friends to support this effort!
You can use Knife Rights Legislative Action Center to easily email Congress: CLICK HERE to email your Senators and Representative.
Or, CLICK HERE to locate your Senators’ and Representative’ phone numbers. We have included a call script to make it easy.
About Knife Rights :
Knife Rights (www.KnifeRights.org) is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization, working towards a Sharper Future for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy. Become a Knife Rights member and make a contribution to support the fight for your knife rights. Visit www.kniferights.org
Someday I would just love to sit down and buy this man a beer! I am also willing to bet, that I could really pick up a ton of good tips from this gentleman.
I am also dead sure that his students over the years were very lucky to have such a great teacher in their classroom.
Grumpy
I fondly remember picking up my grandfathers old dusty, faded hunting magazines and reading about hunting rifles. Unless you were buying a rifle from Kenny Jarrett, or other custom builders, sub-MOA rifles were nary to be found.
Sometime during the late 90’s or early 2000, factory rifles started to appear that could produce MOA results with factory ammunition. These days, companies guarantee MOA accuracy and owners seem to fly into a fit of panic if their new rifle fails to group 1.047 inches at 100 yards.
I recently got to spend some time behind a Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, and had no problems hitting a 24-inch plate at 1,800 yards. How times have changed.
Before field testing, a dry patch was run down the bore of the rifle to clean any residual oil. I took advantage of the threaded muzzle and attached a SilencerCo Trifecta muzzle brake. I also checked the screws on the scope base and found them to be slightly loose.
The scope base was removed, the screws were cleaned, dabbed with Rocksett thread lock and the scope base was re-attached. The trigger on the Predator rifle is adjustable between 2 to 7 pounds.
For testing purposes, I left it at the factory setting which measured just shy of 3 pounds. Since the majority of my testing would be done in the prone position, I built up the comb using some foam and athletic tape.
Proper comb height mitigates issues related to parallax and, increases fitment and comfort.
Accuracy testing was done at the family ranch, in the prone position. The target, an RE Factor Tactical Hitman Target, was 100 yards away and stapled to an old wooden shed. For testing purposes, I used a Nikko Stirling Diamond 4-14X power rifle scope. During testing, I positioned myself so that wind would be at my back.
This was to mitigate horizontal deflection related to aerodynamic jump.
The results of the accuracy testing are represented in the pictures. From the pictures, you can see that the 140 grain Barnes Precision Match and the 127-grain Barnes VOR-TX LR hunting ammunition performed the best, printing .65 and .50 MOA 3-shot groups at 100 yards. Hornady’s offering also performed well.
The 140 grain Hornady American Gunner held .75 MOA, while the 147-grain Hornady Match held 1 MOA. Hornady 147 ELD-X Hunter held .75 MOA. The round that performed the worst was the 130-grain OTM Match + round from PRIME.
Typical groups from the PRIME ammunition were around at 1.25 MOA. For the long-range portion of testing, I chose to use the Hornady 147-grain Match ammunition, due to performance at 100 yards, and the fact that I had a significant amount available.
For the long-range portion of the test, I wanted to push the Mossberg Patriot Predator out to 1000 yards. I believe that a well-made rifle, regardless of barrel profile, when paired with good glass, and good ammunition should be able to hit an 18-inch target at 1000 yards.
For the long-range portion of the test, I set up an 18 and 24-inch steel target. During my field test, I shot the Mossberg Patriot Predator at 100, 200, 450, 800, 1000 and 1800 yards. Field conditions for the test were less than ideal. I had a 1/2 value, 15 – 20 mph wind that alternated from 2 o’clock to 10 o’clock.
The wind, combined with the dry air created a dense mirage that periodically obscured the steel targets. With that said, I had first round hits all the way out to 1000 yards, and though I was shooting at a relatively large target, the rounds were at least MOA. Things got interesting when we drove to the 1800 yard line.
The mirage combined with the erratic wind would make this shot difficult. Shrugging off the perceived challenges, I took a wind reading with my Kestrel, grabbed D.O.P.E. from the Applied Ballistics mobile application on my phone and cooked off 10 rounds at the 24-inch target. Of the 10 rounds shot, 4 connected. Not bad for a thin barreled, lightweight factory rifle paired with factory ammunition!
I have done a lot of coyote hunting, and I consider the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle to be damn near perfect for the task. In my opinion, a good coyote rifle should be lightweight, accurate and rugged. The trigger should be crisp and predictable. The straight comb, though not optimal for heavy use in the prone position, is excellent for shooting in a sitting position of a tripod or shooting sticks. Since the Mossberg comes from the factory with a threaded barrel, an end user can attach a muzzle brake or suppressor to mitigate recoil and observe hits, or misses.
The Best CaliberWhat is a good caliber for hunting coyotes? I prefer a round with a high ballistic coefficient, flat trajectory and a lot of energy for a quick ethical kill. Of late, I have been moving towards the 6.5 Creedmoor for all of my hunting and competition work. 6.5 Creedmoor is accurate, has a flat trajectory and bucks the wind better than its counterparts.
The round itself can ethically kill deer and antelope and would make short work of a coyote. If I wanted to merely kill coyotes, I would opt for the Barnes VOR-TX LR or Hornady ELD-X precision Hunter rounds.
If I wanted to harvest coyotes for their fur, I would use a match round and punch a round through the heart and lungs. I have found that MATCH rounds do not damage the pelt as much as a hunting round, but require better-shot placement for an ethical kill. If the 6.5 Creedmoor is not your thing, pick an accurate round with a high ballistic coefficient, mild recoil, and a flat trajectory.
The Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle is a fantastic piece of hardware. It is lightweight, well made and very accurate. As its name implies, the rifle would excel at hunting coyotes, but it would also be perfect for any large game in North America.
The Mossberg Patriot predator would make a fantastic “ranch” or back-country rifle. I recommend the 6.5 Creedmoor version of this rifle, due to the inherent accuracy of the round.
The rifle I tested was not made for long range shooting, but as demonstrated, you can see that I stretched the range on this particular rifle. The Mossberg Patriot Predator was a joy to shoot, and unlike other rifles I have tested, I did not have to “fight the rifle” during testing. These rifles retail for around $350, which for the performance you get, is a steal.
For more information about the Mossberg Patriot Predator, click here.
For more information about Barnes ammunition, click here.
For more information about Hornady ammo, click here.
To purchase a Mossberg Patriot on GunsAmerica, click here.
Okay let us just begin by saying that this rifle was never meant for a Peasant like me.
Especially since it is pretty obvious that this shooting rig was made up for some serious long range target shooting. For example, the scope set up was top of the line 1930’s technology. (I would bet that the scope & rings cost almost as much as the rifle too)
Also unless you went whole hog and sent off to England. To certain folks with names like Holland & Holland or Rigby. Then you went with a Winchester. Which is meant as no slight to them.
The last thing that I would like to mention. Is the choice of 220 Swift as the caliber of this rig. Since it was the fastest round out there.
Although at the price of quickly burning out your barrel. which was due to the poor quality of rifle barrel steel of the time.
But the good news about that. Is that now a days with the vastly improved steel used in barrel making. The barrel life of most barrels shooting the fast 7 hot 220 swift is around now a thousand or so rounds. before the barrels start to decline in accuracy.
*By the way, I have one in a sporterized 1903 Springfield. That shoots like a dream and is not fussy at all. When it comes to its diet of 220 Swift ammo. It just keeps plugging away at the x ring area.
I just can’t imagine the time & money spent on this thing!
