Not interested in Glocks or M&P’s at the moment due to my own personal reasons. Which of THESE two would you pick and why? Until HK releases a VP9c in 20xx, I will have to settle for these two.
The P320c with night sights comes in between $550 and $600 where as the FNS9c comes with night sights and 3 mags for $420. I admit the price is tempting but I am willing to pay for quality if it is noticeably better.
What seems to be the consensus versus these two firearms?
The FN is a very high quality piece from a very high quality manufacturer. I would give it very serious consideration.
The FN is very tempting, especially at the price point, but my understanding is that it has to go back to the factory for a detail strip (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). For me, not being able to do PM and detail cleaning after heavy shooting/exposure to elements makes it a no-go. For that reason I would vote SIG. If I’m wrong or if that’s not a deal-breaker, then both should serve you well and it becomes a matter of preference.
The 320c is more mid sized. It is basically the exact same size as my P2000. The FNSc is more like a M&P compact size if that matters to you. The FNSc I shot had a nicer trigger pull than the FNS fullsize I use to own. The compact trigger is basically just like the FNSL version which I feel is their nicest version. I looked at the FNS as a very Glock like trigger with a better grip angle for me. Speaking of the grip, the FNS grip is very aggressive if you are thinking about IWB carry.
I shot the 320c better because the grip fit my hand better than the FNSc. I did like shooting the FNSc with the full size mag but that kind of defeats the purpose of a compact. One could argue you can get a subcompact grip frame for the Sig and have both versions, but the FNS mag sleeve to fit full size mags in the compact does the same thing. The FNSc looks like you are getting the LE price where the 320 is right there with retail. Is one $100+ better than the other? Your call. Good luck on your decision. I don’t think you can go wrong with either weapon. David
jck,
You can detail strip it without sending it to the factory. But it is fair to say that it is a pain in the ass.On the flip side they are bomb-proof and FN is not known for beta testing their stuff on the public.
The big difference between them is the triggers.
Thanks for the clarification!
If the past holds true after market support will be better with the Sig.
Sig320 get my vote. I had an FNS9 for a bit so I have experience with both.
TXPO
What personal reasons do you have for not liking Glock?
Did the G19, the most ubiquitous handgun in the world, steal your girl?
P320C is GTG and it will have a lot more aftermarket support (parts, holsters, etc) than FN ever will.
I started with an early M&P which suffered from accuracy issues and a dead trigger at one point. When I was able to out shoot my fullsize M&P9 from a rest at 20 yards with a friend’s XD subcompact, it went down the road.
I then transitioned to Glock. My first was a G19 Gen4 and after multiple recoil assembly changes, I traded it for a like new G19 Gen3. Enter BTF. Ejector and extractor changes and even having a friend who is a Glock armorer work it over, BTF continued. I ended up selling it and settling on an older Gen3 G17. So far it has ran great. I had a brief stent with a G27 that I took in on “pawn” from a close friend in financial trouble. The gun ran fine, but I didn’t like the size and not having a rail.
The G19 size is perfect for CCW as the G17 is just too big for me. But I am reluctant to try another G19 as the same friend who is the Glock armorer, bought a new G19 Gen4 in April 2015 and is still struggling with BTF. I know that may seem a bit anecdotal but even after a trip back to Glock, the 19 still suffers.
The Sig P320c is the closest in size and knock on wood, I haven’t heard of any big issues to date. The FNSc with the pinky extension is also close in overall size and unlike the G26/27, it has a rail for a WML. I do wish it was slightly larger and held 15 rounds, but I feel confident with 12+1.
The M&P being my first gun, left a big first impression on me. I know they have since changed the barrel twist rate and updated the triggers. The M&P compact does interest me, but frankly, I am just “gun shy” of them after the dead trigger.
I would get over your personal reasons and get a Glock 19. Virtually unlimited aftermarket support, every sight under the sun is available, easy to find holsters and cheap magazines. You can detail strip in 2 minutes. Supremely easy to fix yourself. Set aside your emotions and go with the logical choice.
Brass constantly hitting you in the face isn’t an “emotional” bias - it’s a design flaw.
My vote is for the 320C.
First I’d make sure my wrists weren’t breaking causing brass to face. Glock could try to fix it, you can get an Apex extractor and/or a White Sound Defense HRED. Before I buy any new pistol I check to see what sights and holsters are available. The plusses of the 19 outweigh any negatives.
This is borderline absurd. You listed out a bunch of advantages that the platform has without addressing the problem the OP listed, which is hot brass flying towards his eyes. What is he supposed to do once he sets aside his “emotions” exactly? Become at expert at flinching out of the way of the brass?
The issue of BTF with post-2010 Glocks is well documented. Even some pre-2010 models did it occasionally. Let’s get off the excuse wagon (limp wristing, etc.). I like properly working Glocks, too. This is the fault of the manufacturer, and I don’t understand why some people insist on giving them a free pass.
I listed some possible remedies for his malady in my previous post. Glock has probably sold a million G19s, there’s gonna be some bad ones out there. The G4 G19 seems to be more problematic. The slim chance of buying a defective G19 still doesn’t outweigh for me all the positives the Glock brings to the table. A quick look around the internet I could not find FNS9c magazines, for example. The standard size ones cost twice as much as Glocks. Raven Concealment doesn’t list the FNS9c as a gun they make holsters for. Sevigney looks like the only decent aftermarket sight. The Compact carries 20% less rounds as the similarly sized G19.
The OP could also buy a G17 and have the grip chopped.
While I agree, chances are you will get a decent working one, I can understand a guy who’s already gotten crappy one not wanting to chance it again. A lot of people get 2-3 for range, CCW and backup use. I can totally understand the prospect of sending one more of them back to Glock or futzing with extractor/ejector replacements being daunting.
While Gen 4 19s tend to be more problematic, it seems (anectodally, perhaps) that they are more often fixed by Apex drop in without any additonal work, in comparison to malfunctioning Gen 3s.
This is part of the reason why suggestion of a grip chopped G17 is good. So is buying police trade in weapons which are generally earlier model Gen 3s. But, having occasionally been beaned in the forehead by a Gen 2 17, there is no sure answer.
If the guy has lost confidence in Glock, I can’t blame him.
Me, either. Over the past 15 years I have had two Gen. 3 19s (H- and P- prefixes, I belive) and one Gen. 4 26 (X-prefix, I think) that have had malfunctions right out of the box (this isn’t taking into acount BTF.) This is out of 5 G19s and 2 G26s. I realize that others have had no issues, but after an over 20% failure rate, I’m not willing to spend my money on an unknown, then my training time on vetting/tinkering. Not when SIG and HK offer guns that meet my needs and (for me) work right out of the box. Glocks can be great weapons and I wouldn’t fault someone for choosing that platform, but I wouldn’t criticize someone for shunning them, either. Not with all the collective bad experiences out there.
My experience with G19s has also been sub-par. I have one right now that is tolerable but throws at least one or two piece of brass in my face a session. Fortunately, I wear glasses all the time so the prospect of having my eyeball seared by hot brass isn’t an issue. Further, I own it only as a reference piece, as I no longer consider Glocks for my own self-defense.
I have seen too many folks burned by sig over the last 15 years to easily forget. However, I have been intriguied by all the 320 love so I went to Clyde’s and fondled one. It was OK, but the trigger was a little meh. It was smooth with a crunchy break (different, but probably in the same category as a std Glock). But it might have been an odd ball. Other than that it seemed like a clone of a poly CZ (which is no bad thing). Maybe I will get one.
For now though, my experience with my FNs has been so excellent I see no reason not to recommend them. Reasonably priced and bomb-proof. I do prefer the FNX though (just because I like hammers for reliability, etc).