Multiple Problems with FN FNX-45T (Tactical Pistol)

[Old Dog]

My FNX-45 has been flawless. Yeah, the trigger is loooong and sproingy, no nightsights, but it is an absolute tack-driver.

 

[Assault Rifle]

My FNX-45 has been flawless. Yeah, the trigger is loooong and sproingy, no nightsights, but it is an absolute tack-driver.

View attachment 1810144

They are nice guns.

 

[GrayGoose]

.45 ain't for everyone

You're going to hurt Alec Baldwin's feelings.

 

[Assault Rifle]

You're going to hurt Alec Baldwin's feelings.

Different cartridge...

 

[spookshack]

Unfortunately for the OP, he FA FN FO.

 

[sufacedweller]

Did FN disclose which exact ammo they used to test fire it?

Yes they did. I tried factory fresh ammo in all the manufacturers' types that they tested my pistol with, and I had the same failures, as did several friends who also fired it. My friends each have with about 30 years of shooting experience of all types of firearms, as I also have. I tried at least six different brands of 50 round boxes.

I returned the gun to FNX for a factory refund. I bought another brand new one for $150 less from Impact Firearms, and it came with five factory mags instead of two. I fired 200 rounds of Underwood Ammo .45 +P in it, and the pistol has since functioned flawlessly with every factory type of .45 ACP ammo. The original pistol was a lemon. It happens.

 

[sufacedweller]

Hello @sufacedweller . Yeah. I thought those initial comments were kinda snarky too. That sometimes happens, especially with newcomers. Especially with the first few responses. But bear with us. Sooner or later someone helpful usually weighs in. But the first page of responses can be all over the map. Admittedly we have been getting a lot of complete beginners on the forum the last few years. But there was no reason you should have got responses from us that assumed you were a beginner. Your description of the problem was thorough, and it was clear you were no novice with semiautos, and had already eliminated the obvious problems such as limp wristing or any other problems with your grip, and had tried several different kinds of ammo, and gun cleaning--the obvious things that one usually suggests to novices. I note that @orygun nailed the problem exactly just from your description of the malfunctions . And came up with good relevant suggestions. I was not so sophisticated. I just happened to have been watching internet info on the FNX 45 tac for a few years because I intermittently covet one. (But every time I get near to buying one, I get seduced by another .44 mag revolver.) So I knew other people had problems with the breaking in period on the FN45 Tac too. And that it was a breaking in problem, not defective guns. Note that one of the messages in the FN forum was a suggestion as to what exact Glock spring you could substitute if the standard break-in tricks for the FNX 45 dont work.

Happy New Year!
Carol

I returned the gun to FNX for a factory refund. I bought another brand new one for $150 less from Impact Firearms, and it came with five factory mags instead of two. I fired 200 rounds of Underwood Ammo .45 +P in it, and the pistol has since functioned flawlessly with every factory type of .45 ACP ammo. The original pistol was a lemon. It happens. Thank you for your assistance, Information, and your concern.

 

[sufacedweller]

Sounds like the recoil spring is too tough for the loads being used and isn't allowing the slide to move fully rearward. Is a slightly lighter spring available?
Got any +P ammo to try?

I returned the gun to FNX for a factory refund. I bought another brand new one for $150 less from Impact Firearms, and it came with five factory mags instead of two. I fired 200 rounds of Underwood Ammo .45 +P in it, and the pistol has since functioned flawlessly with every factory type of .45 ACP ammo. The original pistol was a lemon. It happens. Thank you very much for your suggestion.

 

[MikeInOr]

I can't see on your website how I can post a message. Would you please help me do that? Here is what I want to know:

I purchased a FN FNX-45T (Tactical) and it has several problems. Has anyone encountered these or any other problems with this model pistol?

1) Stove-piping of fired rounds, both longitudinally inline with the barrel, and perpendicular to the barrel.

2) Ejection of casings into shooter's face, head and chest.

3) Intermittent failure of slide to lock back after final round is fired from magazine, regardless of number of rounds that are initially loaded into it.

For reference: I tried 3 different factory magazines, and I've shot around 800 rounds through it, (thus more than satisfying the "break-in period") which included 7 different manufacturers' ammo of new brass 230gr .45 cal ACP (including Remington, Winchester, Federal, Fiocchi, AMMO, Blazer Brass, Sellier & Belloit). I tried various double and single-handed holding techniques. Three of my friends, with decades of handgun experience shot my pistol, and had the same results.

I cleaned and lubricated the pistol, and sent it to the FN Factory for an analysis after firing about 400 rounds. Their report said that the gun arrived dirty and dry, and that the gunsmith found nothing out of spec with it. They blamed it on "shooter mechanics." Following examination, the video they took of the firing test showed correct functioning. They returned the pistol to me, and I fired about another 400 rounds through it. The same problem occurred, so I convinced the FN to re-examine the pistol. Their report was the same as the first time I sent it to them for analysis. At that point, I asked for a refund.

I am extremely disappointed that this "combat pistol" malfunctions frequently in several ways. I have not been able to find a pistol that feels this good in my hands, and has all the features that I seek in a tactical firearm. I'm interested in other peoples' experiences with the FNX-45T.

Welcome to the board! I have no experience with the FNX but do have plenty of experience with this board. The dregs of the board have made it very easy for you to know who to block. Once you get this basic housekeeping out of the way this board can actually be some what friendly and informative.

I returned the gun to FNX for a factory refund. I bought another brand new one for $150 less from Impact Firearms, and it came with five factory mags instead of two. I fired 200 rounds of Underwood Ammo .45 +P in it, and the pistol has since functioned flawlessly with every factory type of .45 ACP ammo. The original pistol was a lemon. It happens. Thank you very much for your suggestion.

Thank you for posting the follow up despite your rude reception.

 

[sufacedweller]

@Stomper , you and I have played the reciprocal insult game innumerable times and enjoyed it. Most recently within the last couple of days. You know perfectly well I get it. Yet the minute I tell you frankly that you've screwed up you yap about my not understanding this reciprocal insult (ball bustin') game while knowing perfectly well I do. You are being disingenuous.

Using 'female,/'woman'/'girl'/'lady' as an insult is one thing when its among among males. In mixed company it's sexist. It's telling women here that they don't belong here and don't matter, arent a legitimate part of the audience. It was of course also intended to insult the newcomer. But it was by telling him that he won't be accepted here if he interacts in a friendly normal way with the women here. So it was a double attack on me and other women. In addition, cr@pping on the new guy has a distinctive flavor of the bully. He hasn't even been here long enough to have access to the reaction buttons. Let alone decide whether we are worth bothering with. You screwed up.

I am often pleased and proud of my fellow NWFA members. And impressed with how much expertise there is here. This time I was embarrassed and ashamed. OP did about the most thorough description of a problem I've ever seen. He told us in detail about what he had done and already eliminated. The responses mostly suggested things he had already eliminated. Or just made snarky comments with no substance. Or treated him like a rank beginner who needed to be told things he clearly did know about and had already tried.

Today, I finally was granted access to being able to post Reactions. I couldn't have better stated what you wrote in your post above, and I greatly appreciate that you did. Thank you for taking the time and effort to attempt to educate those individuals who seem to be clueless (or just crass) about implicit bias, self-restraint and decorum within a public forum, respectfulness, and that one's choices in use of language do matter.

This is the first firearms-related community posting site that I've joined. I did so because I had serious problems with the FNX-45T that I purchased, and hoped that via the collective experience & wisdom of you members, I might gain some useful insights/guidance. I indeed did receive the info I needed, but it was not a pleasant experience.

Regarding my FNX situation: I requested that FN process a factory return and issue me a full refund. They did so. I suspected that particular pistol was somehow defective, despite what the FN customer service staff were telling me.

There is no other model pistol that has ALL the features that match the specifics which I'm seeking, and many FNX owners reported great satisfaction with their gun's performance, so I purchased the identical model (also NEW) from Impact Firearms. I paid $150 less than the retail price, plus it came with 5 new factory 15-rd mags, instead of the usual 2 mags. I broke it in by firing 200 rounds of +P. It has since functioned properly with any brand/type ammo. The original was a lemon. Thanks to those of you for your useful & helpful suggestions!

 

[sufacedweller]

Personally I would think someone who expresses:

Would have enough experience to at least be able to minimally diagnose some of the issues he experienced long before 800 rounds and 7 different types of ammo, let alone TWICE returning it to the mfg.

I too, am in the same timeframe of longevity in experience with firearms and only ONCE did I send a firearm back to a mfg. - and that was due to a cracked frame so It was out of my hands but other than that I have always managed to resolve ANY issues I have had with ANY firearm I have owned.

I am certainly not an 'expert' but I consider myself a pretty good 'novice' gunsmith and have done a lot of work on my own guns, as well as those of friends of mine with mostly positive experiences and outcomes.

Well, aren't you just magnificent!

 

[sufacedweller]

In a face-to-face conversation, people would not talk s*it, insult, or joke about you in front of your face. There is a reason that many members don't post comments on this forum or any other social media because of insults and nasty comments. In my experience, most members on this forum are good and will help you out and research the issue for you. Some comments are meant to be humorous, but it's insulting to the OP and discourage others from posting comments or asking questions.

EXACTLY! Thank you for articulating this so well.

 

[sufacedweller]

I put over 4k rounds through my fnx45t and I abused the hell out of that thing. Never had an issue. Lot of training with that gun. Only reason I got rid of it was because it was my last 45.


I can't imagine having as many issues as you have. You probably have a lemon. I let my wifes sister and cousins shoot it and they have zero experience and they shot it fine. I assume yours is a dud

It was a lemon. See my updated posts.

 

[Member 24198]

In a face-to-face conversation, people would not talk s*it, insult, or joke about you in front of your face. There is a reason that many members don't post comments on this forum or any other social media because of insults and nasty comments. In my experience, most members on this forum are good and will help you out and research the issue for you. Some comments are meant to be humorous, but it's insulting to the OP and discourage others from posting comments or asking questions.

I disagree, if my buddy or even a random person at the range relayed the story in this manner, my first question would be "why did you send a dirty gun to the manufacturer", followed up with "how much shooting experience do you have?".

 

[sufacedweller]

I disagree, if my buddy or even a random person at the range relayed the story in this manner, my first question would be "why did you send a dirty gun to the manufacturer", followed up with "how much shooting experience do you have?".

I did clean and oil the pistol thoroughly before returning it to FN for an analysis— both times. I did not disassemble the trigger assembly and clean those components. Perhaps that's what their gunsmith was referring to when they claimed it was 'dirty and dry' when they received it from me. I think that's just their standard CYA statement.

This is a combat pistol. What do they expect, that a soldier is going to clean it to factory-new condition every time it's fired?

That pistol was a lemon. The new one works properly.

 

[DB is Here]

I think that's just their standard CYA statement.

 

[spookshack]

New gun works, old gun was a lemon. Whew, now that we got that squared away, we can put this tread to bed.

 

[DB is Here]

New gun works, old gun was a lemon. Whew, now that we got that squared away, we can put this tread to bed.

But first, make me a sandwich...

 

[orygun]

New gun works, old gun was a lemon. Whew, now that we got that squared away, we can put this tread to bed.

No, no, no! We have a horse that needs beatin.

In all seriousness, having a gun that doesn't function well and then buying another of the same is a huge test of faith. I'm glad it worked out for the OP.

 

[Certaindeaf]

No, no, no! We have a horse that needs beatin.

In all seriousness, having a gun that doesn't function well and then buying another of the same is a huge test of faith. I'm glad it worked out for the OP.

If you pronounce "Lemon" reminiscent of Christmas Story "Fragile" it makes it OK.