⚠⚠I have since purchased and tested a FN Reflex after the creation of this video. I do not recommend the FN reflex to anyone and would caution anyone interested in this firearm! Get a GX4, hellcat, or p365 instead to name some better options. This pistol has a fundamental design flaw when it comes to accuracy that is unacceptable. Please refer to my latest update video regarding the FN Reflex here: czcams.com/video/gtQNv_Fzv70/video.html
best video ive seen on this gun. wish I got my hands on one before I bought my sig tacops just to compare. Love the tacops just curious about the internal hammer.
I just bought the Reflex yesterday . I am impressed with the engineering of the pistol. I have two minor gripes the back sights are just paint not self illuminating. The front sight blade is awsome orange with a glow in the dark center. Also the contour were the grip meets the mag does not match leaving a sharp ledge that digs into your palm when you grip the grip tight. I think I can round it off with a small file.
Excellent video, pace and detail. Comparisons are a good touch. Thank you. Look forwed to finding one in person. I don't know how many firearms use the "polymer" guide rods, but as a newbie gaining experience with firearms, thats a drawback for me. My first purchase was a walther pdp (which i love NOW), but when I replaced that cheap, plastic, lightweight rod, it made all the difference in the world. I hoped for more at $500+ this time. 😮💨
I only have experience with a few, but I'd respectfully disagree. They're made to market a lighter carry weight and ultimately cut manufacturing costs. The result is a gun that's snappier, has worse recoil, and harder to reacquire/stay on target. Though small in number, there are some quality issues around as well.
@@kevinknapp9473 you cant tell the difference in recoil between a polymer guide rod and a steel guide rod. its in your head. you are talking about 2oz of weight at most and there are zero reliability issues in any of the high end guns with polymer guide rods. yes, it makes the gun a little lighter. yes, its cheaper. both good things. if you are worried about the weight of a guide rod, a polymer pistol is not for you. look into a steel frame gun.
mag release on the 545 does not get caught up at all. not sure where that comes from, i carry mine appendix with side car, no issues with the mag release, but i will say this video really has me intrested in this refelx, i carry a 43x in the summer months. and the mag cap is great in this one, great video...
@@maximusjoseppi5904 Hmm looked thinner I’m trying to get ahold of one. I can only look online and the overall grip seems smaller. I have fairly large hands.
I think you're right. The Shield Plus is wider side-to-side and front-to-back. Like with everything, it's a compromise of recoil management versus concealability.
Is there a greater danger of unintended discharge (accident tal discharge) when carrying the Reflex with one in the chamber vs. the hellcat or p365 with one in the chamber? It would seem the internal hammer fired Reflex is a bit more dangerous in this regard?
@@maximusjoseppi5904 In the past I couldn’t bring myself to buy a Taurus. Many years ago they were known as junk. But I understand they have come a long way with their product. I got 365X and both Hellcat and Hellcat Pro. One I’ve had for two months now is the Canik METE MC9. I’ve put about 500 through it now. Very nice for EDC. Impressive.
@@benperea8483 it's a pretty standard polymer 9. Interesting optics mounting solution but other than that it doesn't do anything unique. Not a fan of the aesthetics personally
@@maximusjoseppi5904at does the FN Reflex offer over the Canik MC9 that make me want to spend that much more? Say I have a strict $1,000 limit on my entire EDC setup that includes training, optics, lights, and ammo… that’s totally doable with the Canik with the lower price all the stuff included. How would that work with the FN Reflex when over half the budget is already used on the bare firearm?
I own the reflex along with basically every other popular model in this class of firearm. Its literally just a hellcat with an internal hammer. It’s a nice gun an all, but no real room for innovation when you are that late to the party.
theres nothing in common between the hellcat and the reflex aside from their size? saying its an internal hammer says they innovated. it also has a unique trigger safety. its not about being totally new, its about doing it better and it does a lot of things better and completely different than all of its competitors.
If you already have a Hellcat Pro/Shield Plus/P365/Max-9, do you need to buy this? No. But for a new owner you basically just admitted it's an improvement on this subclass, particularly being hammer fired.
@@libertyprime9307 because I don’t just have self defense in mind. Owning firearms can be a hobby too, you say that like it’s taboo or something. And no I said the only real innovation is the fact that it’s hammer fired. When it comes to actual applications it literally feels like a tp9 sc trigger from canik. Felt recoil and handling is pretty much like a hellcat. Never said it wasn’t a nice gun, I like it and will probably never get rid of it, but it’s literally just like any ol micro 9 with a nice trigger.
@@rowdyghost4713 _"Owning firearms can be a hobby too, you say that like it’s taboo or something"_ What in the actual fuck did I say which in any way insinuated this? lmao.
Looks like the hammer fired construction wouldnt allow for the ambi slide release typically found on their striker fired models. 11% of the marketplace will appreciate that decision.
I like FN but every video I have seen on this gun, they all have experienced the dead trigger. That slide has to be cycled fully for the hammer to reset. For those that carry with an empty chamber that could be the difference between life and death, so it is a no go for me, although I always carry chambered, I just don't think I could rely on it cycling properly.
there shouldnt be anyone that carries with an empty chamber, youre asking to die... but if you rack the slide back far enough to put a round in the chamber, you will have cocked the hammer. the only reason people are getting a dead trigger is because a striker gun only has to be cocked a few millimeters for it to be reset to dry fire. its not applicable to actual use. to reset the hammer FOR DRYFIRE practice you need to rack it back about a half inch... again, totally irrelevant to the function and reliability of the gun. what you are noticing isn't relevant to what you're worried about
@@maximusjoseppi5904 I agree with carrying chambered, but there are people who don't, and I don't understand their thinking on it. Thanks for the reply.
@@maximusjoseppi5904so i should fr keep one in the head? Wat abt the missing external safety. Ik it has other passive safeties but i feel nervous with it chambered for some reason like ill accidentally do something wrong. It takes 1 second to cock it. Why not just wait? Im really jw
@@anneececarterYou shouldn’t carry with one in the chamber if you are nervous about it. Carry however you are comfortable… until you are comfortable carrying with a chambered round. As for the 1 second to rack the slide statement, it only takes one lesson in a training course (with a snap cap loaded gun) to debunk that completely. Nobody else is gonna be able to make you un-nervous about it. Carry however you are comfortable.
Does anyone know where I can find a compensator for the FN Reflex? Any searches automatically lead to the FN 509. Not sure if the 509’s compensator will fit on the Reflex.
@@PeteJab because they don't do much, they cause reliability issues, and they make a gun that's intended to be as small as possible bigger. The only reason to buy a tiny gun like this is because it's tiny. It's worse than a bigger gun in every way.. so if you're going to make it a bigger gun, buy a bigger gun
I am a fan of the internal hammer however, the striker fired Canik Mete and Canik TP9 Elite SC has about the best trigger that I've ever come across with the exception of the 1911 trigger. You have to try a Canik at least once. Sorry, I know this is a FN review. Lol.
Lol, you are even mentioning in the same breath those cheap plastic Canik triggers with a 1911 trigger. All the Caniks I have either dry fired or shot had long trigger take-ups. I think you probably confuse a great trigger with a short reset. The fact is on a carry or self-defense gun a very short reset is not that important, because most likely you will let the trigger come all the way forward after your first shot.
Depending on where you live if you want to feel safe just carry a knife. Otherwise full size all three of them shoots crap. I carried the 365 XL sometimes because it Hass 17+ one it needs a trigger job because the one that Sig gives you is absolute trash. To the one guy saying this is the worst comment asked my friend he’s a captain for Atlanta PD I switch what I carry depending on where I go from my hypercomp Zev to the staccato to my Sigg, 365 and how much movement I have to do.
When bad guys carry guns, just bring a knife and go Rambo on them lol. Close the distance, eating lead on the way in, and make it a contest of I stab you while you shoot me, let's see who dies first.
I just bought one from gun broker. The seller was a top tier seller, bit should i be scared because i seriously have not seen one on many websites where they are wither sold out or out of stock. Think its legit?
yes, its legit, they started arriving at dealers yesterday and the day before. seems like most of them available right now are the non-optic ready and the MRD should be coming along soon. this one arrived at one of the largest gun shops in my area yesterday and they only got 1 so they are trickling. i think you will be pleasantly surprised by its features, its a first of its kind being an internal hammer fired 9mm. im waiting for a MRD to buy it
⚠⚠I have since purchased and tested a FN Reflex after the creation of this video. I do not recommend the FN reflex to anyone and would caution anyone interested in this firearm! Get a GX4, hellcat, or p365 instead to name some better options. This pistol has a fundamental design flaw when it comes to accuracy that is unacceptable.
Please refer to my latest update video regarding the FN Reflex here: czcams.com/video/gtQNv_Fzv70/video.html
Very good review of the Reflex. Thanks for the comparison to the others.
The side by side comparisons were very informative.
Can here " When The Levee Breaks" in the background, my favourite Zeppelin classic
Great review came to see exactly what i needed
Great review and comparisons.
Thanks for your review. I appreciate your feedback.
Pretty good review man. Think I’ll be getting one of these
best video ive seen on this gun. wish I got my hands on one before I bought my sig tacops just to compare. Love the tacops just curious about the internal hammer.
We got one into our shop yesterday. It lasted two hours. A truly amazing trigger. Can’t wait till the buyer comes back so I can shoot it.
I just bought the Reflex yesterday . I am impressed with the engineering of the pistol.
I have two minor gripes the back sights are just paint not self illuminating. The front sight blade is awsome orange with a glow in the dark center.
Also the contour were the grip meets the mag does not match leaving a sharp ledge that digs into your palm when you grip the grip tight.
I think I can round it off with a small file.
Great video very well done
I love my reflex. It really surprised me.
I just hope FN comes out with a long slide/barrel version of this pistol, like the P365 XL.
How come?
Yeah love the short grip long slide concept. Got a Taurus gx4xl recently and it just feels less "wiggly" when you point it
I would be so down for a 4” barrel version
FN is good at diversifying its platforms.
did you shoot it? I want to know if yours shoots low and to the left as well. Mine did, another youtubers did.
Excellent video, pace and detail. Comparisons are a good touch. Thank you. Look forwed to finding one in person.
I don't know how many firearms use the "polymer" guide rods, but as a newbie gaining experience with firearms, thats a drawback for me. My first purchase was a walther pdp (which i love NOW), but when I replaced that cheap, plastic, lightweight rod, it made all the difference in the world. I hoped for more at $500+ this time. 😮💨
theres a lot of guns that use polymer guide rods, theres no downside to them.
I only have experience with a few, but I'd respectfully disagree. They're made to market a lighter carry weight and ultimately cut manufacturing costs.
The result is a gun that's snappier, has worse recoil, and harder to reacquire/stay on target. Though small in number, there are some quality issues around as well.
@@kevinknapp9473 you cant tell the difference in recoil between a polymer guide rod and a steel guide rod. its in your head. you are talking about 2oz of weight at most and there are zero reliability issues in any of the high end guns with polymer guide rods.
yes, it makes the gun a little lighter. yes, its cheaper. both good things.
if you are worried about the weight of a guide rod, a polymer pistol is not for you. look into a steel frame gun.
@@kevinknapp9473I'd suggest doing some research before you make any comments.
@@maximusjoseppi5904no nonsense answers are killer! Keep on rockin dude i fwy
mag release on the 545 does not get caught up at all. not sure where that comes from, i carry mine appendix with side car, no issues with the mag release, but i will say this video really has me intrested in this refelx, i carry a 43x in the summer months. and the mag cap is great in this one, great video...
do not buy a reflex. they have QC issues and potentially a design flaw causing accuracy issues. you can watch my latest video on it.
Equalizer is hammer fired. Love the trigger over my g19.
you like the trigger on a glock? haha. never pick up a walther.
@@maximusjoseppi5904I think he was saying that he likes the trigger on the Equalizer better than his G19.
The thinner grip is definitely a disadvantage for controlling the gun. I rather have a slightly thicker grip like the shield plus.
the shield doesnt have a thicker grip than the reflex, its just a taller bigger gun.
@@maximusjoseppi5904 Hmm looked thinner I’m trying to get ahold of one. I can only look online and the overall grip seems smaller. I have fairly large hands.
I think you're right. The Shield Plus is wider side-to-side and front-to-back.
Like with everything, it's a compromise of recoil management versus concealability.
Is there a greater danger of unintended discharge (accident tal discharge) when carrying the Reflex with one in the chamber vs. the hellcat or p365 with one in the chamber? It would seem the internal hammer fired Reflex is a bit more dangerous in this regard?
no but the gun is trash, buy a gx4, hellcat, 365 instead
My next one. I’m convinced. I will order one tomorrow.
haha watching my more recent videos. dont buy one. it has some defects.
Thanks for the info! Maybe not then.
@@manac2334 go gx4, hellcat, or 365. Gx4 is my personal favorite
@@maximusjoseppi5904 In the past I couldn’t bring myself to buy a Taurus. Many years ago they were known as junk. But I understand they have come a long way with their product. I got 365X and both Hellcat and Hellcat Pro. One I’ve had for two months now is the Canik METE MC9. I’ve put about 500 through it now. Very nice for EDC. Impressive.
I just bought one last night....off to the range today 🙂
did you get an MRD version? how was it? i still cant find an MRD
They didn't have one but I love it anyway! BTW do have an opinion on the new "Echelon" 9mm (Springfield Armory)
@@benperea8483 it's a pretty standard polymer 9. Interesting optics mounting solution but other than that it doesn't do anything unique. Not a fan of the aesthetics personally
@@maximusjoseppi5904 I kind of thought the same thing! Thank you so much
Tons of comparable weapons for lots less money. FN is proud of their stuff, too proud for me
Yeah that’s right,$599 I don’t think so.
not exactly... all of the high quality firearms in this category are the same price. 365, hellcat, reflex all 550-650 depending on features
Bro they’re going for 500 dollars. What price do you expect on a firearm? Like 200 bucks?!
@@maximusjoseppi5904at does the FN Reflex offer over the Canik MC9 that make me want to spend that much more?
Say I have a strict $1,000 limit on my entire EDC setup that includes training, optics, lights, and ammo… that’s totally doable with the Canik with the lower price all the stuff included. How would that work with the FN Reflex when over half the budget is already used on the bare firearm?
@@Frenchfrys17Canik is a new brand and I rather trust FN
Are the rails steel or aluminum?
Whats the name of your gun shop I want to order
Just picked up my reflex a week ago and i love it. Sig or the hellcat just dosnt compare. Cant stand the trigger pull on a sig
I so agree. I have them all but there is something about the reflex.
I was disappointed with my 365 trigger as well. Almost prefer a glock’s trigger.
@@luked4043 lol
I love it! Got one in black with the fn holster which stay sold out like the gun itself
I’ve been wanting a reflex compared to all the competition
too bad the MRD is no where to be found, huh haha. i cant even find one
@@maximusjoseppi5904 either my LGS has one in stock or I’d have to go and order it from their website . Waiting cause I bought an Lcp max last week
I own the reflex along with basically every other popular model in this class of firearm. Its literally just a hellcat with an internal hammer. It’s a nice gun an all, but no real room for innovation when you are that late to the party.
theres nothing in common between the hellcat and the reflex aside from their size? saying its an internal hammer says they innovated. it also has a unique trigger safety. its not about being totally new, its about doing it better and it does a lot of things better and completely different than all of its competitors.
If you already have a Hellcat Pro/Shield Plus/P365/Max-9, do you need to buy this? No.
But for a new owner you basically just admitted it's an improvement on this subclass, particularly being hammer fired.
@@libertyprime9307 because I don’t just have self defense in mind. Owning firearms can be a hobby too, you say that like it’s taboo or something. And no I said the only real innovation is the fact that it’s hammer fired. When it comes to actual applications it literally feels like a tp9 sc trigger from canik. Felt recoil and handling is pretty much like a hellcat. Never said it wasn’t a nice gun, I like it and will probably never get rid of it, but it’s literally just like any ol micro 9 with a nice trigger.
@@rowdyghost4713
_"Owning firearms can be a hobby too, you say that like it’s taboo or something"_
What in the actual fuck did I say which in any way insinuated this? lmao.
Looks like the hammer fired construction wouldnt allow for the ambi slide release typically found on their striker fired models. 11% of the marketplace will appreciate that decision.
looking at those price tags for your guns hurts my brain.
I like FN but every video I have seen on this gun, they all have experienced the dead trigger. That slide has to be cycled fully for the hammer to reset. For those that carry with an empty chamber that could be the difference between life and death, so it is a no go for me, although I always carry chambered, I just don't think I could rely on it cycling properly.
there shouldnt be anyone that carries with an empty chamber, youre asking to die... but if you rack the slide back far enough to put a round in the chamber, you will have cocked the hammer. the only reason people are getting a dead trigger is because a striker gun only has to be cocked a few millimeters for it to be reset to dry fire. its not applicable to actual use. to reset the hammer FOR DRYFIRE practice you need to rack it back about a half inch...
again, totally irrelevant to the function and reliability of the gun. what you are noticing isn't relevant to what you're worried about
@@maximusjoseppi5904 I agree with carrying chambered, but there are people who don't, and I don't understand their thinking on it. Thanks for the reply.
@@maximusjoseppi5904so i should fr keep one in the head? Wat abt the missing external safety. Ik it has other passive safeties but i feel nervous with it chambered for some reason like ill accidentally do something wrong. It takes 1 second to cock it. Why not just wait? Im really jw
@@anneececarterYou shouldn’t carry with one in the chamber if you are nervous about it. Carry however you are comfortable… until you are comfortable carrying with a chambered round.
As for the 1 second to rack the slide statement, it only takes one lesson in a training course (with a snap cap loaded gun) to debunk that completely.
Nobody else is gonna be able to make you un-nervous about it. Carry however you are comfortable.
Slide is not milled for reflex sight?
There's an optics ready version and a standard version
Does anyone know where I can find a compensator for the FN Reflex? Any searches automatically lead to the FN 509. Not sure if the 509’s compensator will fit on the Reflex.
don't comp a pocket gun
@@maximusjoseppi5904 why?
@@PeteJab because they don't do much, they cause reliability issues, and they make a gun that's intended to be as small as possible bigger.
The only reason to buy a tiny gun like this is because it's tiny. It's worse than a bigger gun in every way.. so if you're going to make it a bigger gun, buy a bigger gun
@@maximusjoseppi5904 ah, okay. Thank you for the helpful insight.
This may be different than 509s, but from the outside, it looks the same. So to people, they are the same guns.
yes, people are very surface level. thats why there's people like me to inform
I am a fan of the internal hammer however, the striker fired Canik Mete and Canik TP9 Elite SC has about the best trigger that I've ever come across with the exception of the 1911 trigger. You have to try a Canik at least once. Sorry, I know this is a FN review. Lol.
i mean, canik is just a cheap budget walther clone.. never been a fan of a single gun they've made. this is a much higher quality product.
Lol, you are even mentioning in the same breath those cheap plastic Canik triggers with a 1911 trigger. All the Caniks I have either dry fired or shot had long trigger take-ups. I think you probably confuse a great trigger with a short reset. The fact is on a carry or self-defense gun a very short reset is not that important, because most likely you will let the trigger come all the way forward after your first shot.
@@maximusjoseppi5904omg i agree with everything ive ever seen u say about this firearm!
I got one at academy 499
sorry to hear that haha
wow so small and its internal hammer
I'm seeing alot of new videos of this baby right here , there all sold out
because they arent released in large numbers yet. have to wait a couple months and then they will be everywhere probably
@@maximusjoseppi5904shit I checked about aix sites, I stay in fl, I'm about to head to my store and check it like I really need another firearm
@@markuswilliams2944got mine in tampa for 499. They got a few stores in orlando that have it for a lil more.
Depending on where you live if you want to feel safe just carry a knife. Otherwise full size all three of them shoots crap. I carried the 365 XL sometimes because it Hass 17+ one it needs a trigger job because the one that Sig gives you is absolute trash. To the one guy saying this is the worst comment asked my friend he’s a captain for Atlanta PD I switch what I carry depending on where I go from my hypercomp Zev to the staccato to my Sigg, 365 and how much movement I have to do.
knives are terrible self defense tools. good pepper spray is far superior to a knife
@@Shieldel you must carry one of those crappy guns. Do you know the statistic to missing and shooting else someone else by accident?
@@Shieldel I’ve carried for 15 years and never came close to using it. You carry for a living? L O L.
When bad guys carry guns, just bring a knife and go Rambo on them lol.
Close the distance, eating lead on the way in, and make it a contest of I stab you while you shoot me, let's see who dies first.
@@libertyprime9307 it’s 2023 I’d just strip naked and be like come get at me bro
Fn looks better
Why is That gun 600$ that’s stupid
its not, its $500-550 like every other gun in this category is.
No red dot mount for FN. 👎
they have an MRD model
@@maximusjoseppi5904the red circle glows in the dark as well
I just bought one from gun broker. The seller was a top tier seller, bit should i be scared because i seriously have not seen one on many websites where they are wither sold out or out of stock. Think its legit?
yes, its legit, they started arriving at dealers yesterday and the day before. seems like most of them available right now are the non-optic ready and the MRD should be coming along soon. this one arrived at one of the largest gun shops in my area yesterday and they only got 1 so they are trickling. i think you will be pleasantly surprised by its features, its a first of its kind being an internal hammer fired 9mm. im waiting for a MRD to buy it
Yeah they have been showing up quite a bit now. I ordered mine a week ago from Midway, just picked it up from my FFL yesterday.