FN jumped into the mix with a last-minute submission and it was a doozy. The 509 series is by far one of the most reliable and durable striker-fired pistols on the market with an incredible amount of engineering that went into its operating system and its juggernaut build quality.
The 509 CC Edge takes the compact model to the next level by borrowing some ideas from the 509 LS Edge introduced a couple of years ago. First, the CC Edge features a gold, titanium-nitride finish on the barrel to contrast nicely with the Graphite PVD finish on the slide. Out front, the 509 CC Edge sports a self-indexing compensator that is claimed to reduce muzzle flip by up to 25% for quick follow-up shots while the user is better able to stay on target.
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FN’s “compact” 509 pistols are what most would consider to be a traditional sub-compact form factor with their native 12-round magazines. However, the CC Edge not only ships with a 12-round magazine but also two 15-round magazines. All include weighted baseplates, with the 15-rounders wearing extensions that offer a fuller grip for the shooter, somewhat mimicking the feel of a standard compact pistol.
The 509 CC Edge incorporates FN’s patented, low-profile mounting system for red-dots, which I consider to be the best system available from any manufacturer. The 509 CC Edge ships with four adapter plates and a wide variety of neatly arranged screws so shooters have everything they need to mount their optic and hit the range fast. To aid with red-dot use, the CC Edge wears a set of suppressor-height sights that include a fiber-optic sight up front for easy daylight visibility.
The 509 CC Edge is dressed to the nines with every feature you could want including a reversible magazine release, Picatinny rail, ambidextrous slide stop, extremely effective grip texturing and interchangeable backstraps for a more personalized grip fit. On top of that, the CC Edge sports more premium features like lightening cuts in the slide, a re-designed, long-wear conical striker, a flat-faced trigger and a recessed barrel crown for improved accuracy.
For the scoring criteria, the 509 CC Edge got pretty good marks across the board. Its biggest weakness for the evaluators was the $1,569 price tag. Most felt it was overpriced for a polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol, even with the extra features and accessories. Also, the trigger pull was pretty good, but not what you would expect with a pistol in that price range. That said, the build quality was fantastic and the CC Edge did extremely well (as expected) where it mattered most with accuracy, reliability and even shoot ability with the compensator mounted. While you might pay a lot for the 509 CC Edge, there’s no question that you will get a lot in return.
