The rear sight, however, is narrower than full size sights to fit the thinner slide. As you may already know, the Glock 43 is a compact 9mm pistol, similar in size to the Smith & Wesson Shield, Walther PPS and Kahr CM9. How do these two handguns stack up against eachother? Guns that receive this treatment hold up well to the daily effects of perspiration in my experience. Im also a fan of the black nitride finish for carry. The longer magazine also reduces shooter fatigue when firing string after string. The process isnt cumbersome either. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Anything with the Glock title also has an almost immediately massive aftermarket. Such a practice is heavily regulated and subject to applicable laws. Using the design, performance and reliability standards of the FN 509 family as inspiration, the FN 503 has been purpose-built to conceal quickly and discreetly without compromising on the features and performance FN customers require - like it's 3.1-inch barrel with recessed target crown to ensure dependable accuracy; enlarged controls and soft recoil that make the FN 503 . I dont think there is a wrong choice. Finally an FN without their stupid ambi mag release. Zimmerman VS Elvis. My First Training Experience at Gunsite Academy. I had been invited in April to the launch party Glock threw right before the NRA show. The grip is a bit longer than most sub-compacts and allows even shooters with large hands to get a full and proper grip with the extended magazine. They are not, however, exactly identicalto full size Glock pistol sights. The pistol ran fine, andthere were certainly plenty of people on hand who did like the gun. Did you or your shooters have any complaints or failures to lock on empty with the thumbs-forward grip? Those with the smallest hands might find it slightly more awkward than the aforementioned competitors, but those with medium to large hands (such as the guy writing this) will find it a bit more to their liking. For me, I have to consciously move my trigger finger back a bit to get to the trigger face when I shoot a G43, a Shield, or a P365 or Springfield Hellcat. Thats the hot side of the gun, seems like you could burn youraelf reaching for it. Its an older review and not as good as my more recent reviews, but it is here if you would like to read it: https://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/gun-reviews/sig-p290-rs-enhanced-review/. 509 midsize is my 1st option. The new subcompact comes with a semicircular witness hole at the rear of the barrel hood to serve as a loaded chamber indicator. Using the design, performance, and reliability standards of the FN 509 family as inspiration, the FN 503 has been purpose-built to conceal quickly and discreetly without compromising on the features and performance FN customers require, the iconic gunmaker said. I do not endorse any specific product and this video is not an attempt to sell you a good or service. FN 503 sights: https://amzn.to/2Zfkmf8, 1776 United shirts [including Signers]: (use code Mrgunsngear for 20% off): http://bit.ly/2rCn5PW, Nine Line Apparel shirts: (discount code MRGUNS20): https://glnk.io/nxl/mrgunsngear, My Amazon store: The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. Psa 5.7 Rock Pistol Optics Ready W/ Threaded Psa Dagger Compact 9Mm Pistol With Extreme Carry Rock Island 1911 Tactical 9Mm 5" 8Rd Pistol. The metal magazines lock positively in place. The Shield weighs about the same as the 503, while the P365 is lighter than both by about .3 ounces. Ill offer a bit of advice: Dont leave the eight-round magazine behind when you take your 503 to the range. Weight: 21 oz. The FN 503 is only offered in 9mm and is short, trim and has a 6+1 capacity. Yes its made in Croatia but the Hellcat checks all the boxes for me. For FN fans looking for a slightly larger double-stack in the same flavor, the FN 509 Compact series, which has a standard 12+1 capacity and the capability to accept all higher capacity FN 509 magazines, could be an option. The barrel has a polished feed ramp and is target crowned and recessed something you dont expect on a palm-sized handgun. This raised dot was likely the result of the plastic molding process as it does not resemble the other areas of the grip. Enough to garner attention, but not enough to blow up anyones gun. Quick Cash Offer Get Offer We make you an quick cash offer online The extended slide stop and the fenced-off reversible magazine-release have a raised texture. How does the 503 compare to other similar-size guns in this category? The 509 didnt win, but it proved itself as a formidable sidearm that was extremely accurate and reliable. Once the slide is free, the barrel and spring can be removed. You may have better luck. FNs first entry into the sea of slim-line pistols on the market breaks down like this: The FN 503 is a seriously slim 9mm and features an advanced texture for a secure, comfortable grip. The Aftermarket Embraces FN's 509 With water dripping off the frame and muzzle, the 503 just kept running and grouping holes on paper. First is the grip housing. Its understandable why. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's Hook and Loop Holsters Using Velcro Brand Fasteners. As a man whos relied on Glock pistols for literal life-saving application, I especiallyexpected the company to produce a handgun that would reliably run. appreciate the feel of a metal trigger. The Concealed Carry Channel 32K views 2 years ago FN 509C vs HK VP9SK: Your Non-Glock Alternatives Gunscom 12K views 4 months ago FN 509 VS Glock G19 in a Defensive Battle Gunscom 77K. Id traveled all day to get to the event, so I figured that my impressions of the gun may have been unfairlycolored by a general malaise often associated with long trips. The slide locked back on an empty mag time after time. Disclaimer | Privacy Policy. However, it does do better than the Glock G43s 6 round standard while keeping the size smaller but even the Glock has magazine extensions that can bring the magazine up to 10 rounds. Just 3.1-inches with an equivalent sight radius, it is not geared to long-range accuracy but you have to keep in mind this is a slim single-stack 9mm envisioned for concealed carry. This allows the slide assembly to move forward on the frame rails. [Hands-on + Video]. I really appreciate it. Copyright 2023 Pew Pew Media, Inc. All rights reserved. FN never really makes a bad gun and theFN 503is no exception. Its now 2022, and more than 7 years since Glock introduced the G43 pistol. Shallow channels along the top of the grip offer a landing place for the shooting finger and thumb. If I had a dollar for every G43 review Ive read, Id be a rich man.OK, thats an exaggeration. Stoeger Cougar 8000 9mm: Newer Isn't Always Better. After that article was done, Glock granted me an extension to hold onto the gun for an addition 60 days for this review. As you may already know, the Glock 43 is a compact 9mm pistol, similar in size to the Smith & Wesson Shield, Walther PPS and Kahr CM9. Your email address will not be published. Both guns also feature a modular platform and the 503 allows the shooter to change grip assemblies. I was also at the Glock event in April, and seemed to have a less than amazing initial impression as well, and I think some of this was due to the slide not locking open after the last round. Im buying the 503 just to piss people off. We (including YouTube) will not be held liable for any injury to yourself or damage to your firearms resulting from attempting anything shown in any our videos. I guess that just seems like a curious choice in such a quality firearm - and at a great price. I do like the slight size advantage of the 43, plus the familiarity between Glocks. All of that pent up demand has now been unleashed, and everything related to the new gun stands to bring customers through the doors. Your Cart is Empty View Deal . Why are front serations important to anyone? FN dispensed with the need for thread-locking compound by using an O-ring sandwiched between the slide and the optic-specific MRD plate to keep the screws secure. I had a magazine assignment come up thatwould put guns in the hands of new shooters, and Glock was happy to provide some pistols for the event. After a break-in period, this gun ran without any issues. During the class, the gun was shot by a petite homeschooling momand an athletic male firefighter. A sturdy gun, it proved controllable and was easy to recover, shooting very flat. I felt that recoil was a little snappy, but not uncontrollable. Courtesy FN. Which one is right for you?https://www.yss.org/donate/Here is a link to donate to a loc. GunsHolstersAndGear.com is a for-profit website. That is a feature that you can determine whether you like or dislike for yourself. FN 503 Subcompact Concealed Carry Handgun Review: Better Than A G43? Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. Since I do not, I am willing to reduce capacity for increased convenience. sportsmans.com 495.99 View Deal Tabletop Comparison FN 503 Subcompact Concealed Carry Handgun Review: Better Than A G43? The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. The ergonomics of the FN 503 are just what you want from a carry gun. Imitation or the use of anything demonstrated in my videos is done AT YOUR OWN RISK. The three-dot iron sights are low-profile, while trigger pull averages 5 pounds-force (22 N). We at Guns & Ammo think so. A hex wrench is included for mounting the light and making aiming adjustments. I carried the G43 for a number of years, but Ive since swapped over to the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro as my daily driver. At the time of this review, Glock is not an advertiser or sponsor, nor am I in any talks with them to be one. The G43 is a solid pistol that will serve the self-defense needs of many people. The striker block eliminates the risk of the striker contacting the primer without the trigger being pulled, the trigger disconnect prevents the gun from firing out of battery, and the trigger safety eliminates the risk of the trigger moving rearward by inertia if the gun were dropped. The Hellcat is 6 inches long versus the Glock 43s 6.26-inch length. The slide has low-profile iron sights to prevent snags and utilizes the same dovetail as the FN 509 series of pistols. Stay in the know. The FN 503 is very new to the market right now so we might see better aftermarket options for larger magazines soon. When carrying, the FN 503 is almost indistinguishable from the popular G43, P365 and XD-S. Sizing the new FN 503 pistol to comparably-sized handguns like the Springfield ArmoryHellcatand the Smith & Wesson M&P9Shield, the most noticeable difference is the beefy wide grip. Travis has trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines, and the Afghan National Army. 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