FN 509 Review and Accessories
This FN 509 Tactical review will be in a format we don’t typically do. We are retroactively reviewing the 509 Tactical, long after it was purchased, after our makeover, and after putting over 3000 rounds through it.
Table of contents
About FN
FN is a firearms company founded in Belgium in 1889 as Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (FN), which translates to “National Factory of War Weapons.” The company produces a wide range of firearms, including pistols, rifles, machine guns, ammunition, and other accessories.
FN has a long history of supplying firearms to military and law enforcement organizations worldwide. The company is known for producing high-quality, reliable firearms used by soldiers and law enforcement officers in many countries.
One of FN’s most famous products is the FN SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle), developed for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and used by the U.S. military as well as many other countries. FN also produces the FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger), one of the world’s most widely used military rifles during the Cold War era.
FN is a subsidiary of the Belgian industrial group Herstal, which owns several other firearms companies. The company has manufacturing facilities in Belgium and the U.S., and its products are sold worldwide.
About the FN 509 Tactical
The FN 509 is a striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol produced by FN. It was introduced in 2017 as a contender for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) program but was ultimately not selected.
The FN 509 is designed as a duty or self-defense handgun. It is available in several configurations, including a standard model and a tactical model with suppressor-height sights and a threaded barrel.
Unbox
The FN 509 Tactical comes in a cardboard branded box. Inside the box, there’s a nice branded, padded soft carrying case. Opening the soft case, the 509 Tactical makes a great first impression! It is a well-balanced handgun, a little on the light side but an excellent feeling gun. Other items included:
- 2 Magazines: The FN 509 Tactical usually comes with two magazines, one 17-round magazine and one 24-round magazine.
- Backstraps: The pistol may come with interchangeable backstraps in different sizes to customize the grip to your hand.
- Optic Mounting Plates: The FN 509 Tactical is designed to accept various red dot optics, and the pistol may come with mounting plates to fit different optics.
- Gun Lock
- Manual
It’s important to thoroughly read the instruction manual before handling and firing the pistol. Ensure that you follow all safety guidelines, including keeping the pistol pointed in a safe direction and keeping your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
Getting to know the FN 509 Tactical
The FN 509 Tactical is a semi-automatic handgun designed for military, law enforcement, and civilian use. It has a polymer frame and a blackened stainless-steel slide. It has a 4.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel with a threaded muzzle and suppressor height night sights.
The FN 509 Tactical also has an optics-ready slide with a mounting plate system for attaching a variety of red dot sights. The slide is serrated at the rear and front for improved grip during slide manipulations.
Other features of the FN 509 Tactical include an ambidextrous slide stop lever and magazine release, as well as an interchangeable backstrap system for customizable grip size.
The handgun also has an extended and flared magazine well for faster and easier reloads.
Specifications
- MANUFACTURER: FN
- FAMILY: 509 Series
- MODEL: FN 509 Tactical
- TYPE: Semi-Auto Pistol
- ACTION: Striker Fired
- CALIBER/GAUGE: 9mm
- FINISH: Black
- FINISH TYPE: Applied Finish
- FRAME: Polymer Frame
- STOCK/GRIPS: Black Polymer
- BARREL: 4.5″
- OVERALL LENGTH: 7.9″
- CAPACITY: 10+1
- OF MAGAZINES: 2
- MAG DESCRIPTION: 17-round and 24 round
- SIGHTS: Suppressor Height Night Sights
- SIGHT TYPE: Night Sights
- THREAD PATTERN: 1/2×28
- SPECIAL FEATURE: Threaded Barrel
- WEIGHT: 27.9 oz
- SHIPPING WEIGHT: 4.05 lbs.
- CASE: FN Soft Case
- ADDL INFO: FN Optics Mounting System
- ADDL INFO: Ambidextrous Slide Stop Lever
- ADDL INFO: Ambidextrous Magazine Release
- MFG MODEL NO: 66-100527
- UPC: 845737010195
- MSRP: $1,104.00
Barrel & Slide
The FN 509 Tactical features a cold hammer-forged stainless steel barrel with a threaded muzzle. The barrel has a length of 4.5 inches. The threaded muzzle allows for the attachment of a suppressor or other muzzle devices.
The slide of the FN 509 Tactical is made from steel and is finished in a matte black coating.
It features front and rear cocking serrations to facilitate easy slide manipulation. The slide has a length of 7.4 inches and is designed with a low bore axis to reduce muzzle flip and increase accuracy.
The FN 509 Tactical also has a removable optics mounting system that allows for attaching various red dot sights. The mounting system consists of a plate system that securely attaches to the slide and provides various mounting options for different optics.
Finish
The FN 509 Tactical has a durable matte black finish applied to the slide and barrel. This finish is achieved through a process known as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), a vacuum coating process that produces a thin, highly adherent coating.
PVD coatings are known for their hardness, wear, and corrosion resistance, making them an ideal choice for firearms. The matte black finish on the FN 509 Tactical is not only aesthetically pleasing but also helps to reduce glare and increase durability in harsh environments.
The FN 509 Tactical also features a polymer frame available in several colors, including black, FDE (Flat Dark Earth), and gray. The polymer frame is textured to provide a secure grip and is designed with interchangeable backstraps to customize the grip to your hand.
Frame
The frame of the FN 509 Tactical is made from a durable polymer material, which is lightweight and resistant to impact and abrasion. The polymer frame is available in several colors, including black, FDE (Flat Dark Earth), and gray.
The frame has a low bore axis, which helps to reduce recoil and improve accuracy. The grip texture is aggressive and provides a secure hold on the pistol, even in wet or slippery conditions. Additionally, the frame is designed with interchangeable backstraps, allowing you to customize the grip size to fit your hand.
The FN 509 Tactical also features an ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release. It provides quick and easy pistol manipulation by both left and right-handed shooters. The trigger guard is oversized and accommodates gloves, making it an ideal choice for law enforcement and military personnel.
Grips
The grips are made of a durable polymer material available in several colors. Colors include Black, FDE (Flat Dark Earth), and gray. The grip texture is aggressive and provides a secure hold on the pistol, reducing the likelihood of the firearm slipping or shifting in the shooter’s hand during firing.
The FN 509 Tactical also features interchangeable backstraps, allowing you to customize the grip to your hand size and preferences. This customization feature allows for a more personalized shooting experience and can improve the accuracy and overall control of the firearm.
In addition, the FN 509 Tactical has a beavertail-style frame, which helps to reduce felt recoil and improve accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Magazine
The magazines with the FN 509 Tactical hold 17 rounds and 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The magazine is metal. It has a polymer baseplate is textured to provide a secure grip during reloading. It has witness holes, which assist in determining the remaining number of rounds in the magazine.
The extended magazine holds 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which provides even more firepower for the shooter. The extended magazine has a polymer baseplate.
The FN 509 Tactical magazine also has a reversible magazine release button. It allows left- and right-handers easy access to the magazine. This feature contributes to the overall ambidextrous design of the FN 509 Tactical pistol.
Safety’s
The FN 509 Tactical pistol incorporates a couple of safety features to guarantee secure and dependable operation. Its trigger safety is a passive safety mechanism that the pistol’s trigger contains to prevent accidental discharges by restraining trigger movement until it is fully depressed.
Moreover, the pistol features a striker safety as a mechanical safety feature that prevents the striker from moving unless the trigger is entirely depressed.
Sights
The FN 509 Tactical pistol has suppressor height high-quality sights. They enable fast and accurate target acquisition. The standard sights on the FN 509 Tactical are a set of three-dot sights, which consist of a front sight with a white dot and two rear sights with white dots on either side of the notch.
In addition to the standard sights, the FN 509 Tactical also features an optics-ready slide, allowing for the easy installation of various red dot sights. The slide has a mounting system compatible with several popular red dot sight brands, including Sig Sauer, Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point Pro, and Burris Fastfire.
As you can see, we did add a co-witnessed Sig Sauer red dot to the 509 Tactical. We’ll cover that in the aftermarket section below.
Trigger
The trigger on the FN 509 Tactical pistol is smooth and responsive, providing a clean and consistent trigger pull. The factory sets the trigger pull weight at around 5.5 pounds, striking a good balance between making it light enough for fast shooting and heavy enough for safe handling. There was a bit of travel before the break on the trigger, which is easy to acclimate to, but as you’ll see below, we also upgraded the trigger—more details in the aftermarket section below.
The trigger on the FN 509 Tactical has a trigger safety, a passive safety feature that helps prevent accidental discharges. The trigger safety prevents the trigger from moving unless it is fully depressed, which ensures that the shooter has intentional control over when the trigger is pulled.
One of the unique features of the FN 509 Tactical trigger is its tactile and audible reset. After firing a shot, the shooter can feel and hear a distinct “click” when the trigger resets, allowing for fast follow-up shots. This feature is especially useful for competitive shooting or self-defense scenarios where fast and accurate shooting is crucial.
The FN 509 Tactical trigger also features an integral overtravel stop, which helps to prevent the trigger from moving too far rearward after firing a shot. This feature ensures you can quickly reset the trigger for follow-up shots without losing time or accuracy.
Aftermarket Parts Compatibility
The FN 509 Tactical is a popular handgun for its reliability, accuracy, and customizable features. With the vast array of aftermarket parts available, shooters can customize the pistol to their specific needs and preferences. For example, replacement triggers can enhance the trigger pull, reducing the trigger weight and travel for a smoother and more predictable trigger pull.
Other popular aftermarket parts include threaded barrels, suppressor height sights, and red dot sight mounts, which allow shooters to easily mount red dot sights for faster and more accurate target acquisition. Custom grips, magazine extensions, and magazine wells are also available, providing additional comfort and control for the shooter. Overall, the aftermarket parts available for the FN 509 Tactical make it an ideal choice for those who customize their handgun to meet their specific needs and preferences.
Below are the aftermarket parts on our FN 509 Tactical. We have tested them thoroughly and are happy to say they work excellent:
Red Dot for the FN 509 Tactical
We opted for the Sig Sauer Romeo 1PRO Red Dot. The FN 509 Tactical has an optic plate for the slide to fit this optic. We installed it co-witnessed with the suppressor height sights.
We have over 2,000 rounds through the FN with this Red Dot, and it has performed flawlessly.
Handgun Light For the FN 509
For the light, we went with the Streamlight TLR-7® SUB GUN LIGHT. It mounts on the FNs rail and the front of the trigger guard. On-off and strobe features are easily accessible from either side of the trigger.
This is a great light and has had no issues. It is not the brightest light on the market, but it would serve well in many scenarios.
Trigger and Extended Mag Release for The FN 509
The trigger on the 509 Tactical is solid and comfortable, and most will not feel the need to change it. But we did end up adding the Apex trigger and magazine release.
These are not inexpensive upgrades, but they make an excellent gun even better. We added Apex’s Extended magazine release and trigger.
The trigger brought or pulled weight down to 4 pounds with less travel, a quicker reset. It is truly a fantastic trigger.
As a side note for the DIY folks, I recommend picking up the Apex jig (pictured above) if you plan on doing this trigger yourself. The trigger is not an easy install, and although we have done a number of the triggers in different handguns, we opted for a gunsmith to do this one.
FN 509 Tactical 9MM Tactical Review Wrap
The FN 509 Tactical pistol is accurate, consistent, reliable, and high-quality. With thousands of rounds through the FN Tactical, we can say without a doubt it is a STUD! Well worth the money.
- Accuracy: It consistently holds tight groups at various distances, cadences, and drills.
- Reliability: I have thousands of rounds through the 509 without one malfunction or issue.
- Quality: The fit and finish are top-notch, as well as the quality of its components.
- Ergonomics: The FN 509 Tactical is comfortable to hold and shoot. The grip texture and overall feel of the pistol are excellent.
- Customizability: The pistol is easily customized with aftermarket components, including red dot sights, suppressors, and more.
FN 509 Tactical is a high-quality, accurate, and reliable gun for various shooting applications.
FN 509 Tactical 9MM Tactical Review FAQs
The FN 509 Tactical is an upgraded version of the standard FN 509 pistol. It features a number of enhancements, including a threaded barrel, suppressor height sights, and a slide cut for mounting a red dot sight.
Yes, the FN 509 Tactical is easily customized with aftermarket components, including red dot sights, suppressors, and more.
The trigger pull weight of the FN 509 Tactical is factory set at around 5.5 pounds.
Yes, the FN 509 Tactical is a popular choice for self-defense due to its accuracy, reliability, and customizability. Its high-capacity magazine and ergonomic grip also make it a good choice for defensive use.
Yes, please see our blog post and video outlying how to clean and disassemble the FN 509 Tactical.
Yes, the FN 509 Tactical 9MM pistol is rated for +P ammunition. FN, the FN 509 Tactical manufacturer, designed and built the firearm to handle the increased pressure and recoil associated with +P ammunition.
