The 509's sight dovetails are cut to accept Sig Sauer night sights. Not exactly sure what you mean by "faux" night sights since FN uses Trijicon tritium lamps in all their night sights.

 

Mine has a luminous filling, exactly as HK uses on their P30. They beam like crazy when charged from a flashlight, then diminish over a few hours. Not 'true', tritium, night-sights. Nice to know re: Sig cuts.

 

Well that's odd, I don't know of any 509 with luminous sights only black (MRD) or tritium (Tactical).

 

LOL, that was the same input about the safety version.....

 

Hi...the FNX 9 is indeed lighter. I wouldn't be too concerned with the difference in the magazine finishes. I think the FNX feels 'handier' than the 509 and if I had to choose between the 2 on which one I rather edc it would be the FNX.

They both are nice, smooth shooters though. The FNX SA trigger is obviously much better than the factory 509 trigger.

I'm not sure if FN has upgraded current production 509's with the trigger they put on on 545 but the 545 triggers are really nice. I LOVE my 545.

The 509 will have more parts support and aftermarket parts availability than the FNX 9 will but I don't think you could go wrong with choosing either one.

 

I have both. The 509 has a decent, but not great, trigger by striker standards. The FNX trigger is way smoother, but I expect that out of a hammer gun. I've not messed with the 545 or 510 yet, so I don't know about the trigger on those, but I've been contemplating an Apex trigger for the 509. The only thing I would really change about my FNX-40 is the SA reset is a touch longer than what I'm used to with Third Gen Smiths, CZs, and Berettas. Other than that, it's a fantastic shooter and one that points naturally for me.

I carry appendix, so I prefer a DA/SA for daily carry, but the small size of my 509c means it gets the bulk of my summer time carry when I'm just in shorts and a tshirt. I carry the FNX-40 a lot during the winter. The FNX-45 is more of a bedside gun. I don't think I've found any ammo that any of the three will not eat. All three have been reliable for me, so I'm comfortable from that standpoint with either. Aside from the finish though, I believe the FNX mags are the same bodies as the 509 mags. At least with the 40 models, the FNX and FNS share magazines (I have a FNX-9 slide/barrel, and use FNS-9 mags when running that), and I know the 509 mag is basically an FNS mag with a different floorplate.

 

I also have both the FNX9 (and FNX45T) and the standard original released 509. I do not have an issue with either one of them, they are just different. The SA trigger on the FNX is way better than any striker fired trigger I have ever used, factory or aftermarket. The DA trigger pull is long like I would expect.

My FNX9 has those same night sights that are pictured above. Before the whole tactical situation started with the threaded barrel and slide cuts for optics, the 2 versions of the FNX that were available were the standard sights and the night sights. They glow in the dark when charged with a light source, but do not have the "windows" found on typical tritium sights.

I have never weighed them to see what the difference is, but can do so if there is information that you are looking for that has not been published elsewhere.

 

Alright, I got both onto my e-scale with empty mags. The FN site has the 509 at 26.9, but is way off on the FNX at 21.6. The 509 was 26.8 oz. and the FNX at 25 oz. even.

Not having been carrying or using DA/SA for years, I was surprised how well I liked the FNX. Still, I shot the 509 more accurately....that session. Some more compare-n-contrast is in order, LOL

 

I have three FNs: 509 LS Edge, 509, and FNX-45 Tactical. I love all three. The differences I think are obvious, so I won't restate them. What I will add is aftermarket parts are severely lacking for all three. The 509 was the first FN handgun I bought, and I wish like hell I knew enough to buy the Tactical version, which brings me to my point.

My standard 509 is fitted with an Apex trigger, and I LOVE it! However, I wish like hell I could buy a slide for it that would allow me to mount an optic. Barrels are scarce as well. When Apex dropped their slide, I immediately signed up to be notified. So how on earth did I not end up with one of their slides? I fell asleep thinking they'd have them available. One day when I was ready to purchase, I went on the site and my heart sank. "Out of stock". I effin hate seeing that phrase on firearm websites. It's like a disease...a plague. Midwest Gun Works has OEM slides for sale, but guess which ones are out of stock. They had the 509 LS Edge slides for a while, but now even those have all been bought up, and the 509 Tactical slide was only $264!!! Ugh!!!!!

I don't want to buy and entire 509 Tactical just for the slide. I want just the darn slide...so I can switch them out as necessary.

I wish more people shared my opinion, but the FN 509 and 5xx are arguably the best out-of-the-box guns you can buy today that has most features a modern handgun can have. Prove me wrong. However, I cannot for the life of me understand why the aftermarket parts list is so bare. It drives me nuts. I built a Polymer80 with a Live Free Armory slide and barrel and bunch of other goodies. I couldn't even get this thing broken in before it was stolen out of my car (I hate to admit that...), but the point I want to make is I tried to build this thing to essentially be a 509 tactical with so-called Glock reliability. I spent over $2000 on that build...should have just bought a tactical. 🤦🏽‍♂️ That Frankenstein Glock never fired through a single 15 round magazine without a malfunction.

As mentioned earlier, I have thrown all types of ammo at all three of my FNs, and I have literally NEVER had a single malfunction. Not one! Went to the range with a buddy who had a Glock (completely stock), and had so many malfunctions, it really left me with a bad taste in my mouth for Glock. I know Glocks are reliable, BUT from my personal experience, there is no way in hell I'd trust Glock the same way as my FNs.

What parts would I want for my FNs that are damn near impossible to find? Slide (yes, I know there are companies that cut FN slides...for $800+, not worth it...rather buy a whole new gun), flared magazine wells, magazines, IWB holsters, and...again, thinking of it, there is really nothing that my guns NEED to make them all around fantastic pieces of equipment.

I wish the break (trigger break) on the LS Edge was less abrupt. That 45 is so darn smooth, it makes putting hole in hole at 10 yards easy. The Edge requires plenty of dry firing to get used to the somewhat heavy break...not heavy as in weight. With this weird hard click which without practice makes the gun a bit more difficult to not disturb the sights when firing.

I am not sure what the rules are here, but if anyone knows how I can get a tactical slide (just the darn slide), PLEASE let me know. An Apex slide would be even better!

 

I have three FNs: 509 LS Edge, 509, and FNX-45 Tactical. I love all three. The differences I think are obvious, so I won't restate them. What I will add is aftermarket parts are severely lacking for all three. The 509 was the first FN handgun I bought, and I wish like hell I knew enough to buy the Tactical version, which brings me to my point.

My standard 509 is fitted with an Apex trigger, and I LOVE it! However, I wish like hell I could buy a slide for it that would allow me to mount an optic. Barrels are scarce as well. When Apex dropped their slide, I immediately signed up to be notified. So how on earth did I not end up with one of their slides? I fell asleep thinking they'd have them available. One day when I was ready to purchase, I went on the site and my heart sank. "Out of stock". I effin hate seeing that phrase on firearm websites. It's like a disease...a plague. Midwest Gun Works has OEM slides for sale, but guess which ones are out of stock. They had the 509 LS Edge slides for a while, but now even those have all been bought up, and the 509 Tactical slide was only $264!!! Ugh!!!!!

I don't want to buy and entire 509 Tactical just for the slide. I want just the darn slide...so I can switch them out as necessary.

I wish more people shared my opinion, but the FN 509 and 5xx are arguably the best out-of-the-box guns you can buy today that has most features a modern handgun can have. Prove me wrong. However, I cannot for the life of me understand why the aftermarket parts list is so bare. It drives me nuts. I built a Polymer80 with a Live Free Armory slide and barrel and bunch of other goodies. I couldn't even get this thing broken in before it was stolen out of my car (I hate to admit that...), but the point I want to make is I tried to build this thing to essentially be a 509 tactical with so-called Glock reliability. I spent over $2000 on that build...should have just bought a tactical. 🤦🏽‍♂️ That Frankenstein Glock never fired through a single 15 round magazine without a malfunction.

As mentioned earlier, I have thrown all types of ammo at all three of my FNs, and I have literally NEVER had a single malfunction. Not one! Went to the range with a buddy who had a Glock (completely stock), and had so many malfunctions, it really left me with a bad taste in my mouth for Glock. I know Glocks are reliable, BUT from my personal experience, there is no way in hell I'd trust Glock the same way as my FNs.

What parts would I want for my FNs that are damn near impossible to find? Slide (yes, I know there are companies that cut FN slides...for $800+, not worth it...rather buy a whole new gun), flared magazine wells, magazines, IWB holsters, and...again, thinking of it, there is really nothing that my guns NEED to make them all around fantastic pieces of equipment.

I wish the break (trigger break) on the LS Edge was less abrupt. That 45 is so darn smooth, it makes putting hole in hole at 10 yards easy. The Edge requires plenty of dry firing to get used to the somewhat heavy break...not heavy as in weight. With this weird hard click which without practice makes the gun a bit more difficult to not disturb the sights when firing.

I am not sure what the rules are here, but if anyone knows how I can get a tactical slide (just the darn slide), PLEASE let me know. An Apex slide would be even better!

Just send out your slide and have it milled C&H Precision Weapons does this and there are other companies as well that will perform this service.

 

Apex slide in stock right now but it's the cut for the Acro/MPS. Of course the RMR cut slide is out of stock.

Apex 5.00" Slide for FN 509 - ACRO/MPS Slide Cut

NOTE: Optic not included

www.apextactical.com

 

How on earth did I miss this. I generally prefer a RMR/Holosun cut, but this may just work! Thank you!

 

Obviously, i am quite late-to-the-game for FN, having tried everything else under-the-sun. Especially when it comes to PSF's...P lastic S triker- F ired.

That said, I've now found that the FNS is working out better for me than the 509. That vid by Justin Opinion that was posted recently forced me to get one, LOL. Now, the ShootingSight striker is enroute for even a closer comparison. Already apparent is the slimmer nature of the FNS/509 than the FNX.

 

Obviously, i am quite late-to-the-game for FN, having tried everything else under-the-sun. Especially when it comes to PSF's...P lastic S triker- F ired.

That said, I've now found that the FNS is working out better for me than the 509. That vid by Justin Opinion that was posted recently forced me to get one, LOL. Now, the ShootingSight striker is enroute for even a closer comparison. Already apparent is the slimmer nature of the FNS/509 than the FNX.

Nice! Where were you able to find an FNS in stock? I had the FNS but sold it. Out of my FNX9, FNX45 and 509T I just didn't see it getting much use and I knew someone who would give it a good home.

 

😎 Glad to help. lol

 

Searching from time-to-time, GunBroker, Armslist, RiverOfGuns.com, and similar local sites.

 

Nice. The FNS I had I found at Cabela's barely used and my FNX 9 I found on gunbroker as new old stock some years back.