[SHOT 2023] Hands On: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical
Just before SHOT Show began FN America announced the expansion of their 5XX series with two new calibers 10mm and .45 ACP. On the first day of the Show we headed to FN to take a look at the new pistols.
Both pistols are suppressor ready with 4.71-inch recessed target-crown barrels, have optics cut slides and are available in either black or FDE finishes. FN’s booth has a 510 in FDE and a 545 in black on display. The pistols both have a standard 15-round magazine capacity but the 10mm comes with a 22 round extended magazine while the .45 ACP has an 18 round extended magazine.
The two pistols also feature a threaded barrel for muzzle devices, optics cut for red dot optics and suppressor-height night sights. While the pistol’s described as ‘tactical’ (and appears in FN America’s military catalog) FN representatives were keen to stress their applications as self defense pistols for those who enjoy hunting and hiking in areas where a individuals might need some protection from dangerous animals.
Just like their older brother, the FN509, the pistol’s felt good in the hand with all of the 9x19mm’s standard controls and features carried over. We did note that the plastic of the extended magazine’s base felt a little less robust and contrasted with the pistols’ polymer frame.
The pistols both have 4.7 inch cold hammer-forged barrels which are threaded with 0.578″x28 threads ready to accept compensators, suppressors and other muzzle devices. The pistols’ sights have suppressor height sights, with tritium inserts, which will co-witness with optics mounted on FN’s Low-Profile Optics Mounting System. Both of the pistols on display had red dots mounted.
For more information on the pistols check out www.fnamerica.com
TFB and TFBTV’s coverage of SHOT Show 2023 is proudly sponsored by 5.11 Tactical. Click here to check out their new products.
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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I'd say I love my 509c , except for the hinged trigger. Never put in a Apex but the MCarbo spring kit and a little litho brought the pull down to my preference of a 5 poudish trigger. Tough, dependable and I trust it for edc.
These 2 newbs I'm assuming have the above attributes, with upgrades to handle the 10/45, particularly the 10, 22 rnd mag.
My FNX with a Griffin comp handles like butta. So, if you guys have shot these, news on any trigger improvement reporting would be great
The most exciting thing I heard mentioned on video by an FN rep (I believe on ar15 dot com channel) about this was how the 510 and 545 do NOT enjoy slide/frame/mag commonality. 510 is to my knowledge the first purpose-built polymer 10mm handgun, and perhaps one of the only 10mm-specific handguns period. I think that's great news for the practicality of this, not over or underbuilt.
Almost as exciting was that on another vid on same channel about FN's Rush 9Ti cans, another FN rep said their cans were indeed tuned to their specific 509 hosts, and that they had "plans for other calibers." This is really the only correct way to do it.
I don't mind hinged triggers, so I'll keep an open mind on that until I get to handle one with their new "precision" trigger.