PPQ, FNS-9 or used P99AS???

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Christmas shopping for my son… he wants a 9 or 40 modern pistol, I’m kicking in half.

Homed in initially on the PPQ, but have since found the FNS-9 locall with extra mag & night sights for the same price. (Both are $549 LGS)

I’ve read all the FNS-9 strings here and in the usual forums, but most are older threads. Any word on recent models? One thing I need to see is if this one has the manual safety or not, not keen on that.

I’d love to hear any recent intel on the FNS-9 vs the PPQ

Also found an older German P99AS in .40, with box and extra mag. Very nice condition for $449. I know the AS trigger is a matter of taste, but given my son is most familiar with the M9 he’s OK with the DA/SA aspect. Most of the folks I’ve talked to or read who owned German P99AS’s liked them. I’m going to check the date codes, but if it’s early it does not appear to be shot much.

We’d prefer a 9, but we can buy quite a bit of ammo for the $100 difference. (And I shoot/reload 10mm/40 anyway).

Not keen on G3/G4 Glocks, but still looking at Gen 2 Glock 19’s or 23’s. But at $450 locally well used & ugly, just not jumping out at me. S&W MP’s are quite high locally, and out of stock from Grant, etc.

So I keep coming back to the Walthers until I handled the FN.

All input welcome!! Help me spend my son’s money (and mine!)

2

PPQ. In my opinion.

3

I’m actually in the same boat as you.

I’m looking for another range toy and I’ve been eye’ing them both. I’ve shot them both as well and they’re both superb pistols.

However, I am leaning towards the FNS-9 for a few reasons.
-Comes with NS.
-Comes with 3 mags.
-The SS slide looks super nice.
-I’m more familiar with the ‘American’ magazine release controls.
-Feels like a 1911 in the hands.

With that said, I don’t think the FNS beats the PPQ’s trigger. But that’s just me.

I think your son would be happy with either pistol.

4

Add to your list the SS CHF barrel

Possible cons:

  • less holster options (have not totally researched this)
  • Harder to find mags

Though my LGS counter guy disagreed, I also agree that the PPQ trigger felt slightly better, and there are reports of FNS-9 trigger varying from pistol to pistol. Not clear if this is breakin / cleaning issues or what.

I see the PPQ as my default choice (or possibly the P99AS), but need to try to shoot the FNS-9.

5

The mag is an issue, but PPQ mags are a bit difficult to come across as well. Parts are painful to find as well :(. Those two reasons are the probably why I would never use them as a training tool and just make them range toys.

You can always dry-fire the FNS-9 you’re about to buy to see what the reset would be like.

I’m impressed that youre local dealer has it for 550. They’re all in the 650-680 range here :confused:

6

PPQ

Not sure if the issue persists but I recall the FNS having an issue where the pistol gets locked up. May want to do some research. Also trigger wise every FNS seems to have a different feel to the trigger, be sure to feel them first.

7

The lockup issue in very early guns was addressed by FN based on what I’ve read so far. But will confirm.

8

Of the three the PPQ is the only one I’ve shot. I’ve gone from almost selling it the day I got it to life long keeper.

Parts availability from a practical stand point should be a non issue. Several make sight now. Mags are outrageously expensive, but can be found with lots of effort.

Your son will be proud to own one.

9

I have an FNS-9. I haven’t had any issues locating 17 round magazines for it, but haven’t bought any either. I’ll be getting moved to California soon, and have been searching fo 10 rounders, which haven’t been released yet.

I got a good friend of mine to pick up a PPQ. Between the two, the PPQ trigger is better. But in actual use, the difference between them was a wash for me. My FNS trigger is better than just about any other trigger I’ve tried, short of 1911s and the PPQ. The safety has never bothered me. Though I prefer to have the last backstop of a manual safety for a lot of reasons, the one on the FNS is small and unobtrusive. I’ve never missed it when deactivating it. Reactivating it is a bit slower, but there is rarely a “hurry” to activate a safety. Even then, you can leave it off or look for one of non-safety models.

There have been some reports of people being able to induce malfunctions by pushing the trigger forward in a certain way. This causes the slide to lock up until the trigger is squeezed completely again (not good if you have one in the chamber). But, I have not been able to induce the malfunction on my pistol and I don’t think it is common.

There are plenty of holsters out there for FNS. I’ve seen them at RCS, Safariland, DSG, and I have one coming next week from Trotac. I wouldn’t be worried about holsters.

I’d say its a wash between the two. I really like the PPQ as well, and will probably own one some day.

10

I’d go with the PPQ, but then again, I’m biased…:slight_smile: As far as parts/mags, go Walther is supposed to set up shop in the U.S. themselves, starting in2013. S&W as a importer will be completely out of the picture…I’m thinking this will go along way towards getting anything you need… Compared to Glock, parts for anything are harder to get, but, in the PPQ’s case you have to break something first, and that’s something I really haven’t read much, if anything about… You can also use Magnum Research Baby Eagle mags (they’re exactly the same) for range use, training…They’re about $30-35 apeice…

11

PPQ all the way. It’s that good!

12

The PPQ has the simplest manual of arms and the simplest to shoot. If you can find a PPQ, grab it or someone else will. At the moment, they’re hard to find. After “the divorce” becomes final in January, PPQs and mags should become available again. Many PPQs have been shot hard but I’ve not heard of any failing.

Go with the 9mm. While $100 will buy a lot of ammo today, you will save more in the long run with the 9mm. As much as I like the 40 S&W, the 9mm is a more practical choice

13

I’d take a PPQ or a P99 over anything else out there, and I had a bad experience with an early FNX, so I’m biased too.

I would compare Walther to Sig and H&K. I would compare FN to Glock or S&W, or maybe Ruger. All of FN’s polymer pistols have been released with design issues that either got fixed, or didn’t, at a later time.

FN Forty-Nine:

Issues with the trigger or sear housing breaking half way through the trigger pull

FN FNP 9/40:

Issues with the sear housing cracking, causing FN to introduce a new sear housing design, which also had issues with cracking, which caused FN to introduce another sear housing design, which finally resolved the issue.

FN Five-Seven:

Issues with the top round in the magazine hitting the mag release spring, causing it to come loose, causing the mag release to stop functioning, causing the mag to fall out of the pistol.

FN FNP 45:

Issues with the trigger pin coming loose and locking up the pistol, not allowing the trigger to be pulled, the slide to be racked, or the hammer to be cocked. It also had issues with the front-to-back length of the mags where certain ammo would get stuck in the mag.

FN FNX 9/40:

Issues with mag insertion, issues with mag springs wearing out in less than a month only from keeping them loaded, issues with loose backstraps, as well as an issue where the pistol would not release the hammer in a DA trigger pull if the pistol got “hot”, and by “hot” I mean leaving the pistol in direct sunlight for a matter of minutes. I’m forgetting a few more as well.

FN FNS:

This issue hasn’t been fixed yet:

http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/my-take-on-the-fn-s-striker-fire-pistol

ALL of FN’s polymer pistols have had design related issues that could stop function of the pistol.

I don’t trust FN’s polymer pistols. I don’t think they do enough testing before releasing their designs. My experience with one of their pistols, and then the experience with trying to get FN to resolve these issues, pretty much sealed the idea that I will never buy another FN polymer pistol unless it has been in the market for years, and years, with no reported issues, and no issues waiting to be resolved. I don’t have much good to say about the members of the FN forum I dealt with either.

But like I said, I’m biased.

14

I’m looking into a PPQ personally. But I’m waiting for the split of Walther and S&W to occur. Currently it’s difficult to locate a PPQ. I’m hoping this will change for the better once the split occurs.

15

Nothing but good things to say about the PPQ, unless you’re an aftermarket parts over-enthusiast. Solid, reliable, and accurate.

16

I like both pistols, however I am leaning more towards the FNS purely because through my job I can get it at incentive pricing. If all things were equal though i’d probably pick up a PPQ.

17

If you feel the triggers side by side, it’s a no brainer. :slight_smile: The PPQ… and that says a lot because I’m not a Walther fan!

18

On top of all the other votes…PPQ

19

Very true about the trigger, but its amazing when shooting them side by side how much more muzzle flip and perceived recoil the PPQ had in comparison to the FNS. I was suprised honestly.

20

That’s because how high the slide is on the PPQ vs the FN.