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Sized right and dead-on target, the FN Reflex is more than ready to hammer the micro-compact market.
Dominating the concealed carry market, the micro-compact 9mm has become the standard bearer for on-person self-defense firearms. Why not? At once, this class of gun provides the terminal performance and firepower to neutralize most threats, while avoiding toting around a boat anchor to achieve these ends.
Like all good ideas, gun manufacturers have flocked to the concept in droves and for the most part, created echoes of each other in doing so. FN America, however, has broken from the herd to create a micro 9mm that stands on its own legs in a marketplace full of facsimiles.
The Reflex is a reaction to the rote, a self-defense system meant to streamline protecting yourself making it, simply put, reflexive.
FN Reflex Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Operation: Internal Hammer Fired SAO
Mag Capacity: 10 or 11/15 Rd.
Weight: 18.4 oz.
Barrel Length: 3.3″
Overall Length: 6.2″
Twist Rate: 1:10 RH
Height: 4.27″
Width: 1″
Trigger Pull: 4.5-5.5lb.
Sight Radius: 5.05″
MSRP: Base $599, MRD $659
Striking Out In A Different Direction
If any two factors challenge the efficiency and effectiveness of shooters, they are the trigger pull and slide manipulation. The former is the bedrock of handgun accuracy, while the latter is the foundation of managing the gun—getting it and keeping it in the fight. FN enhances shooters’ ability to accomplish both these facets by opting for an internal hammer-fire system in the Reflex.
Hammer guns are not the norm in modern pistols, particularly concealed carry guns. Striker-fired pistols have dominated, fine given they are proven, reliable and at this point very familiar to most shooters. However, these pistols have a drawback in they rely on heavy springs to cock the guns, and many rely on the trigger pull to finish cocking the striker spring.
The result, the trigger is heavier than it should be, and the slide requires more force to manipulate.
These issues are all but erased with hammer guns. The mass of the slide cocks the hammer in its rearward motion and requires much lighter springs to accomplish this task. Furthermore, when the hammer is cocked, it’s cocked, making the trigger pull a single-action affaire.
How this boils out with the Reflex, the pistol has a consistent and brisk 4.5-pound break on its trigger. Furthermore, its slide requires a fraction of the force to work compared to other micro 9mms.
Not only does this make the Reflex ideal for those just learning how to run a pistol well, but it also gives an advantage to those familiar with the handgun’s operation. Even among experts, heavy slides and triggers have the potential to muck up the works, particularly in high-adrenalin circumstances. The Reflex cuts these away and allows muscle memory to operate at its peak.
Also get an inside look at the FN 510 Tactical in 10mm.
Sized Right
A concealed carry gun isn’t worth spit if you don’t carry it or it doesn’t conceal well. This is the main driver in the micro compact’s popularity—it does both extremely well. FN has done a dynamite job in portioning the Reflex to make the pistol among the most compact options available.
While the gun’s 3.3-inch hammer-forged barrel keeps its overall length at 6.6 inches, this might be among its most pedestrian measurements. What really turns heads—or should—is the pistol is a mere 1 inch in width and 4.4 inches in height with its 11+1 magazine with its flush-fit base plate.
This last measurement is vital—taken from the top of the slide to the bottom of the magazine—because it determines how concealable a pistol is. Even with the Reflex’s 15+1 magazines, the pistol maxes out at a tick north of 5 inches—still mighty concealable.
This dovetails with another point, FN has crafted the gun to utterly petite proportions without compromising on firepower. It’s a micro 9mm with a duty pistol capacity, which should give most carriers plenty of peace of mind.
Proportioned Ergonomics
Among the micro-compact 9mm’s greatest challenges is feeling and operating right in the hand. These are small guns, so fitting in the palm and remaining controllable is a steep task. FN nailed it across the board here and along the way threw in some desirable points that make the gun even more user-friendly.
First off, the gun’s grip is excellent, offering enough circumference that even larger-handed shooters won’t swamp the pistol with their paws. While the pinky will fall off when using the flush-fit magazine, the 11+1 mag has an extension most will be able to get their entire hand on. And the 15+1’s extension pretty much gives the gun a full grip.
FN has enhanced the controllability of the grip with aggressive, almost sandpaper-like texturing on the panels and raised cubic surfacing on the straps to control the gun’s movement on the Y-axis.
A high beavertail helps you get the most out of the grip ergos, ensuring your hand naturally situates in a high grip, aligning the barrel with your arm. The controls are also laid out well and intuitively, with the magazine and slide release within easy reach. The mag button is particularly nice, oversized and easy to find, speeding up the pace of reloads.
Finally, the slide has excellent cocking serrations, fore and aft. Combined with the lighter force required to work the slide, the serrations make certain you can operate the Reflex quickly and without fail.
Sights And Such
There are no surprises with the Reflex’s sights. Iron across the board, FN opted for the familiar three-dot configuration. However, the front sight is an orange night sight with a tritium insert, very vivid and easy to get eyes on. The company, however, has kept the gun relevant to modern shooters with the MDR model that comes with a slide cut compatible with RMS footprint micro sights.
Parting Shot
The gun world is rife with small-time pistols, designed to always be on-person and protect your six. There are plenty of fine options out there. However, FN cooked up one of the few truly fit for nearly any level of shooter.
The Reflex proves among the most user-friendly micro-compact pistols on the market today.
The trigger is tuned in, giving armed citizens a smooth and crisp single-action break, a feature certain to enhance their accuracy potential. With overall lighter springs to operate the hammer gun, shooters can also effectively manipulate the pistol quickly and efficiently. Add on the pistol is no bigger than a minute, thus easy to carry, self-defense newbies and veterans alike have a tool they can bet their life on.
Automatically, those assets should make the Reflex the go-to micro-compact 9mm.
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