I finally got around to sending an email to Maple Leaf Firearms out of Texas (they do a lot of S&W, Glock, and Sig optic cuts) asking if they would do a cut on an FNX slide. I will report back with their response. From everything that I've heard about them and their customer service though, I suspect that they will.

 

The more I think about it selling the 40 and buying a 509T might be a better option.

Holosun 507c v2 = $330
Trijicon supp. sights = $140
milling slide for RDS = $300 or more

Basically $800 to put sights on my FNX 40. Or I just buy a 509T with a Vortex Viper from Cabelas for $900 and sell my 40 to offset the cost. End up with a brand new pistol with optics for much less. I would think I could still get $400-500ish for my used FNX 40. Yes/No? Hell, toss in a few box of HST and I could end up only paying a couple hundred out of pocket.

 

The Vortex dots IMO are far inferior to even the Holosuns, let alone the RMRs of the world. If I ever got a pistol that already had one on it, I'd be getting rid of it ASAP and buying what I actually wanted. Thing is, you'll never get close to paying for replacing it with even a Holosun. And if you plan on this being a carry piece, good luck getting more 17 round mags for the 509T. The 24 rounders are useless for anything other than range fun, and you'll want at least a spare mag or two if you want to carry it (I go with two spare mags myself). So if you replace the Vortex with a decent dot like the Holosun, count on adding some more money on top of that because you'll never get enough from selling the Vortex to pay for the Holosun.

If Maple Leaf emails me back and says they will do it for the FNX, they'll be significantly cheaper than what C&H is asking for their milling job, even with the addition of the Trijicon suppressor height sights.

If you're determined to sell the FNX and get a 509, you're probably better served to get an MRD model. You're not having to pay the "tactical tax," you still get the slide already prepared for a dot with suppressor height sights, and it's G19 sized rather than full size, so easier to conceal.

 

The Vortex dots IMO are far inferior to even the Holosuns, let alone the RMRs of the world.

Far inferior? not sure about that. From what I have seen and read it would seem that EVERYTHING is inferior to Trijicon but some are catching up. That is if you want to spend $500-$600 or more on something Vortex, Deltapoint, Holosun et.al. will do, near equally, for $300.

That being said, depending on who's reviews your read or watch. Everything NOT Trijicon mostly all seem to be in the same ballpark as each other givin they are same price point; and not a $70 knockoffs. I can find lots reviews that put Vortex over the Holosun and many that go just the opposite. If you watch/read enough reviews everything will be on the top of someones list. Except Triji which always seem to be on the top of the list. However, I am not made of money; so wont spent double on marginal gains.

Plus, Vortex has an UNCONDITIONAL lifetime warranty. Even if you smash it. They will replace it. That's hard to beat, and Trijicon doesn't.

 

I have a Holosun 407c on my carry pistol, and that's what I'm primarily comparing the Votex to, not the RMR. The Holosun is far more user friendly, as you can adjust zero and change batteries without removing it from the slide. The Holosun also has the ability to auto adjust to brightness levels, and the movement of the draw from the holster turns out on. There's a reason the Vortex was a sub $200 unit prior to panic pricing. It simply does not have the features or the build quality of the Holosun let alone anything made by Trijicon or Aimpoint. They make decent rifle optics, but I'm not impressed with their red dot offerings. I paid under $250 OTD for my 407c brand new and what you get with the Holosun for not much more money than the Vortex makes it a no brainer. I can't in good conscience put them in the same ballpark as someone with some experience handling both. Too much disparity in features and build quality between the Vortex and Holosun.

 

Im talking about the Vortex Venom. I may have said viper earlier. Venom has top load batt. The downside is it doesnt have the shake awake feature. That and the solar cell is why I have a 507c sitting here next to me. I was going to put it on the 40 but now I am thinking about buying something else. Not even sure if i will get another FN. I am looking at the VP9, Rex Zero 1T and a couple others. Basically something reasonably priced and already has or is cut for optics.

Rex is an interesting sidearm. If you are not familiar as I was not; Its kind of a best bang for your buck P226 clone. However, so far it is the ONLY side arm to pass MAC's reliablility test without a single failure. P226, Glock17, VP9 and EVERY single other firearm failed the test and usually had multiple failures.

 

Heard back from Maple Leaf and they will not do the FNX unfortunately.

If you ditch the FNX and opt for another FN, I strongly recommend the 509 MRD instead of the Tac model. $200 cheaper, still cut for optics, and it simply does not cost $200 more to manufacture a TB vs a standard barrel. EFK has about a $50-70 difference between their TB and standard offerings. KKM might have a slimmer margin between the two. I'm not a big fan of that massive of a price hike for something with the main difference being the threaded barrel and the "tactical" name. Spare mags are also available for the Mid and Compacts, not so much on the full size Tac, plus that 24 rd mag is only good for range duty, not for CC.

If that Rex is a P226 clone, then me being a lefty rules it out for any consideration. Thats my biggest gripe about the hammer fired Sigs. They are not southpaw friendly in any way, shape, or form. Thats what drew me to the FNX series to begin with. A solid DA/SA offering with fully ambidextrous controls.

 

THe 509 midsized MRD is not a bad option. Comes with 15 rnd mags? How hard to get say +2 mags for it? Without, my pinky will be left wanting I think.

 

Cant find a black 509 midsize MRD in stock in anywhere.

EDIT: I ended up pulling the trigger on a optics ready VP9. I couldnt find the 509 I wanted and if I ordered one it was going to be $1K+. Picked up the HK for $800 shipped. Not only price but the ergos and better trigger. Ill still have to drop in some suppressor sights but I will be able to drop in tritium sights and still come out cheaper.

I may still try the dovetail adapter on the FNX just to see how it works. If I like it I may keep it that way.

 

I picked up a black 509c MRD today. Fortunately, 15 rd mags can be found, as can the spacers, so I'll be running it as if it were a Mid. My LGS has 4 or 5 more 509c MRDs in black for $700 too.

 

Yup. Can find compacts all day. I searched for 2 days straight scouring every corner of the internet for a black midsized. Nothing in stock.

 

.3" is a negligible difference on barrel length, so it was really the mag spacers that allowed me to settle for the compact. I'm not a huge fan of FDE, but they have one in stock locally that I almost bought instead of the compact. You can thank the tacticool crowd for so much being FDE these days though. Fortunately for us, at least the color alone doesn't trigger the "tactical tax."

 

Well the dovetail plate fits the pistol and the Halosun fits the plate pretty much perfectly. The screws are just the right length. It even fits my DeSantis leather holster which I love. I may just keep this and get another RDS for the VP9. My intent is to switch to the VP9 for OWB carry and keep using the shield for IWB for now.

 

Run with it for a while and l be curious to see how well it holds zero.

 

Me too. It has a set screw to hold it in place. However the set screw goes through the dovetail. Phht. Good job right? That being said, the thing fits very tight like regular sights. I had to hammer it in with a wooden dowel. ie used a hammer and a 1"ish diameter branch from a hardwood. LOL Its my go to when I dont want to mar finishes and it works great.