Firearms News August 2023 — Issue #15: FN America's Reflex Pistol

This Month in Firearms News:

On the cover: FN America might be a bit on the tardy side when it comes to introducing a micro compact pistol, but I am happy to say that the FN Reflex is not a retread of competing designs. There are quite a few things about it which surprised me, and in a good way. First, the details—this is a micro compact pistol only available chambered in 9mm. It has a 3.3-inch barrel, and each pistol comes with two magazines. One 11-round magazine that ships with extended fin- ger hook base pad in place (although they provide a flush basepad for it), and one extended 15-round mag- azine. Yes, they have neutered 10-round magazines for those of you living in low-T states. It has a polymer frame, but hold on—one of the very interesting things about this pistol is that it is not striker-fired. Instead, this pistol has a single-action-only operating system, with an internal hammer. This single-action-only (SAO) trigger system provides for a vastly improved trigger pull, at least when compared to FN’s larger pistols, and tells me that FN was seri- ous about producing a gun that was a shooter. 

Seriously, before I veer away into the other details, let me talk about that. The heavy trigger pulls of FN pistols in general, and their 509 in particular, have turned a lot of people away from the design—and also sent a lot of business toward Apex Tactical, whose Action Enhancement Kit brings the 509’s trigger pull down to 5.5-lbs (which, honestly, is where it should be to begin with). When I tested FN’s new 509C (Com- pact) in 2019 (which is much bigger than the Reflex in every dimension, and heavier, while holding fewer rounds), it officially had a trigger pull of 5.75 pounds, and my sample (as did most of them) had a trigger pull that came in a full pound over the spec, and you feel every ounce. But maybe that’s changing. 

Also inside:

• The Savage Stance: You've waited a century for this.
• The S&W CSX Compact Carry 9mm Pistol: Old school features, new manufacturing methods.
• The Rossie RM66: A Six-Inch Barrel to Help Maximize The .357 Magnum Cartridge for Rural Concealed Carry!
• The Glock Model 42 Pistol: A Popular Choice for Women Looking for Personal Protection

Pick up a copy at your local magazine stand, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or major book retailer. Firearms News prints two exciting issues per month so be sure to get both copies or subscribe!