Sometimes just one little change can make all the difference in the world. The original FN 509 paired a compact 4-inch barrel with a full-sized, 17-round frame. While that may work well for duty personnel, it was a bit large for concealed carry, unless you wore a heavy coat or other outer garment. That all changed this year when FN introduced the new FN 509 Midsize, which utilizes a shorter frame that houses a 15-round magazine.
The pistol weighs in at a chunky 26.5 ounces unloaded. Everything about the FN 509 Midsize looks and feels like a military-grade piece of engineering. The grip features three types of aggressive texturing that just seem to lock the pistol solidly into my hand, But Terrill felt it was too aggressive for regular use.
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The FN 509 Midsize includes front and rear cocking serrations, a Picatinny rail, and fully ambidextrous controls, including the magazine and slide release. As Terrill pointed out, there is no manual safety. However, the pistol includes four passive safeties for additional security.
The stainless steel slide and cold-hammer-forged barrel both have an FNC finish for extreme resistance to wear and corrosion. The barrel also has a recessed crown to protect the rifling in case the gun is dropped on the muzzle.
Both Terrill and I enjoyed shooting the 509 Midsize immensely, and for whatever reason, the trigger pull was much more pleasant than other FNs I’ve tried. In fact, the break came in at just 5.42 pounds. That’s not target-pistol quality, but it’s perfect for a pistol intended for a military and law enforcement audience. The reset is quite good, with just a tiny bit of forward movement until a very audible and tactile response alerts the shooter about its condition.
The 509 Midsize comes with large luminescent three-dot sights. We both found them very easy to see and fast to acquire in daylight. Night sights are available as an upgrade, since the luminescence fades rather quickly on the standard sights. Despite my preference for a lighter trigger, I shot the 509 Midsize extremely well, dumping an entire magazine into a 1.5-inch group at 10 yards without breaking a sweat. Probably the reason we liked the 509 Midsize so much was because it made us look so good.
