Guns FN 509 Tactical: Ready For Anything Recoil Staff February 20, 2025 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. Sponsored ContentThe FN 509 series has a model for any task and any shooter. But if you want to pick just one that really encompasses a do-all pistol, the clear winner is the FN 509 Tactical. Available in full-size, midsize, and compact, all three are built to perform under pressure. Even for the shooter who wants something a little more flashy and plused up out of the box, the FN 509 Edge is an option.With features you need, features you want, and not an ounce of fat to trim, the FN 509 Tactical doesn’t compromise. SPECS & FEATURESCaliber: 9mm Operation: Double-action Mag Capacity: 10 or 17/24 Rd. Weight: 27.9 oz. Barrel Length: 4.5″ Overall Length: 7.9″ Twist Rate: 1:10″ RH Height: 5.75″ Width: 1.35″ Trigger Pull: 5.5 – 7.7 lb. Sight Radius: 5.79″ MSRP: $1,104Three features really stand out with the FN 509 Tactical but there are many more that add icing onto a great piece of cake. FN’s patented optics system also means it has a level of future-proofing you don’t normally see in the optics world. Able to fit almost any red dot on the market today, FN is committed to supporting new optic footprints as needed. A cold hammer-forged barrel keeps the FN 509 Tactical precise and durable over a long service life. And better yet, the CHF barrel is threaded 1/2×28 making it easy to add a compensator or suppressor of your choice to the gun. While you don’t need to add it, having the ability keeps options open down the road as your style and needs change is nice. The FN 509T grip isn’t just another polymer grip with a little checkering. Not only are the slide stop and magazine release fully ambidextrous, but the grip itself has multiple types of checkering and stippling for the ultimate controlled grip.Every FN 509 Tactical also ships with two interchangeable backstraps so you can dial in the perfect fit for your hands. Some icing-on-the-cake features include the suppressor-height Trijicon 3-dot green Tritium night sights, 5.5-7.7lb trigger pull, sight protecting slide cap, external extractor, loaded chamber indicator, and MIL-STD-1913 mounting rail. The FN 509 Tactical also ships with one 17-round magazine and one 24-round magazine, or two 10-round magazines for ban states.The FN Low Profile Optics Mounting System is a patented method of mounting optics that gets the optic way lower than traditional mounting systems. A lower optic is easier to shoot, faster to shoot, and a lot easier to co-witness iron sights with. FIT, FEEL, FINISHAvailable in FDE or black finish, the FN 509T is a well-finished pistol that was designed based on the FN submission to the US Army Modular Handgun Trials. Easy-to-use controls are made just the right size for use under stress, but not so large they get in the way of normal shooting. Deep serrations on the rear and front of the slide give the shooter plenty of real estate and grip even when the gun or your hands are wet. Weapon controls on the FN 509T are completely ambi. And not in the “you can switch sides so it works” kind of way. These are truly ambi. Out of the box, the magazine release and slide stop release work both left- and right-handed. No changing controls or moving things around is required. Great for lefties or for when you need to switch hands. WHO IS THE FN 509 TACTICAL FORThis might be the perfect pistol for anyone looking for a handgun that doesn’t skimp out on the upgrades and features but doesn’t go overboard with unnecessary bulk.Or if you want to add some upgrades you have all of the pieces you need to make that happen. Throw an optic on top, add a compensator or suppressor, break out the 24-round mags, snap on a weapon-mounted light and you have a pistol that is ready to throw down. For new shooters who need a pistol they can grow into, the FN 509T offers a wide range of features without racking up the dollar signs. For experienced firearm owners who are looking to build something new, the FN 509 Tactical is a sleeper waiting to be unleashed. LOOSE ROUNDSThe FN 509 Tactical is a Goldilocks pistol with teeth. It can become almost anything you want it to be or you can leave it as it came out of the box and still have a gun that won’t let you down. New shooters can especially appreciate the FN 509T because of the wide range of shooting styles it accommodates. For home defense, EDC, CCW, competition, or just plinking at the range the 509T can do it all with no modifications. But if you want your FN 509 Tactical to specialize in one of those aspects, it’s easy to add a couple of accessories to really make the 509T shine bright. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. 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