FN FNX

The FN FNX pistol is a series of semi-automatic, polymer-framed pistols manufactured in Columbia, SC, by FNH USA, a division of Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal. The pistol is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP cartridges.

Standard features
All variations of the pistols (save some law enforcement models that are decock only) include ambidextrous safety/decocking levers, magazine releases, and slide stop release levers. All variations also include a Picatinny rail, fixed three-dot combat sights, and a loaded chamber indicator on the right side. New models are sold in a plastic hard case with three magazines, and a total of four interchangeable backstraps.



Field stripping is accomplished by locking the slide to the rear, rotating the takedown lever clockwise ninety degrees and releasing the slide stop while carefully allowing the slide to be pushed forward out of the frame. The barrel and recoil spring then separate from the slide to complete the disassembly procedure.

Variants
As of the beginning of October 2012, the only variants of the FNX 9 and FNX 40 pistol were purely cosmetic: both the FNX-9 and FNX-40 are available with the slide finished in matte black or stainless steel. The FNX 45 was released at the beginning of October 2012. It is currently available in Black, Stainless, and FDE (flat dark earth).

The FNX tactical was released in .45 ACP shortly after the initial production runs of the FNX 45. There may also be a compact version of the FNX, most likely in .45. This is expected to hold 10 rounds in its magazine as opposed to the full sized FNX's 14, or the FNX tactical's 15 rounds.

The FNX 45 also has magazines that come with 12 witness holes, numbering from 4 to 15, enabling the shooter to more accurately gauge the number of rounds left. This is in contrast to the original FNX having a hole marked 5, 10, and 14, for the FNX 40, or 5, 10, 15, 17 for the FNX 9.

Function
The FNX is a short recoil operated pistol, much like many other centerfire pistols on the market. Its difference lies primarily in the distance the barrel and the slide travel prior to the barrel dropping and unlocking. The FNX barrel and slide travel up to twice the distance of some other semiautomatic pistols, such as the Springfield XDm (HS2000), before separating. This helps to reduce the felt recoil of the pistol by allowing the spring to absorb more momentum from both the barrel and the slide.

The pistol is also a hammer fired, as opposed to striker fired, pistol. This also affords the ability of the pistol to be Single Action/Double Action.

The pistol's safety mechanism is based on the safety found on a M1911. It is possible to cock the hammer back and turn the safety on simultaneously to carry the weapon "cocked and locked". The safety lever also acts as a decocker when pushed down further after removing the gun from safe.

Aftermarket
Unlike other handguns from companies such as Glocks, Sig Sauers, HKs, and others, the FNX does not have a large aftermarket for parts and upgrades. The few companies that make custom parts for these guns do so infrequently. Some of the modifications include barrel changes, trigger jobs, holsters, and Metal Safety/decocker levers.

One such company that specializes in aftermarket parts for the FNX is JathTech LLC. The company currently offers an extended metal safety lever to replace the plastic one that has been known to have issues on the FNX 9 and 40. They will soon be offering a magazine extension, and a trigger kit for the weapon.

A company that makes barrels for the gun is known as EFK Firedragon, and will make conversion barrels, threaded barrels, and ported barrels.

Several holster makers have begun offering holsters for the pistol, and include Garrity Gunleather, CrossBreed, Safariland, and Fobus. The lack of modifications and accessories has made this gun unattractive to some buyers.