FN 510 Tactical Review | Outdoor Life

With the latest launch of the FN 510 Tactical, Fabrique Nationale has positioned one other brick within the wall of the modern 10mm pistol market. I first heard, or learn, in regards to the 10mm Auto as a child—within the Tom Clancy e book Rainbow Six. It was utilized by the fictional elite anti-terrorist unit due to its large margin of energy over the 9mm. The 10mm was almost relegated to the pages of fiction itself after falling out of favor with the FBI however has leapt out of obscurity lately. It’s confirmed to be not only a high-powered choice for two-legged attackers, however a balanced and efficient cartridge for bear protection.

Based on the FN 509 chambered in 9mm, the FN 510 Tactical is an up-sized model that each new and seasoned FN shooters can recognize. It’s a full-size, polymer-frame 10mm that comes normal with some versatility-adding attributes that almost all comparable 10mm pistols don’t have. It doesn’t solely give FN followers a pistol that they already know nicely; the FN 510 is a typically related and viable gun in an more and more aggressive discipline.

• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Magazine Capacity: 15+1, 22+1
• Magazine Material: Nickel-coated metal, polymer baseplate
• Dimensions: 6 inches (H) x 8.3 inches (L) x 1.45 inches (W)
• Weight: 32 ounces (measured)
• Frame: FDE Polymer, 4-slot accent rail
• Slide: Steel, flat darkish earth end
• Barrel: 4.71-inch, hammer-forged, threaded muzzle (.578 in. x 28)
• Sights: Tritium three-dot, metal, suppressor peak
• Optic: Slide reduce and optics adapters for a number of purple dot optics
• Trigger: double-action, 5 kilos, 13 ounces (measured)
• Safety: No exterior security
• MSRP Price: $1,139

The Advantage of Familiar Pistols

The resurgence in recognition of the 10mm, particularly as a backcountry protection cartridge, is due largely to its shootability. It’s a cartridge that’s typically a lot simpler to grow to be proficient with than among the previous barrel-chested wheel-gun rounds. It additionally has an ever-increasing monitor report as an efficient bear protection choice. We ran some drills at our 2022 gun take a look at to get a really feel for the shootability of the 10mm vs a packable .44 Mag. Results have been clear. An individual is extra prone to carry, observe, and hit what they’re aiming at with a 10mm.

Until a couple of years in the past, choices for 10mm pistols have been successfully restricted to at least one: the Glock G20. There have been, after all, the Glock G29 and G40, however Glock had the market cornered. The 10mm does very nicely in double-stack pistols, and gun makers have caught on. Many producers have launched their very own 10mm pistols, and we’ve lined weapons from Glock,  Springfield Armory, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Lone Wolf Arms, and extra. New fashions have introduced competitors, innovation, and selection to the 10mm area—one thing each shooter needs to be completely satisfied about.

Different makes and fashions of pistols really feel and shoot in another way, and most shooters develop preferences about what particular types and weapons we like and shoot nicely. When the G20 or a 1911 have been the one possible 10mm choices, that’s what everybody had to make use of. Now, somebody who shoots or carries a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm can get a 10mm in the identical platform they’re already snug with. With their 9mm pistols carrying a robust following already, the 10mm FN 510 Tactical is a wonderful addition that many shooters will be capable of shoot nicely proper out of the field. 

Breakdown of the FN 510 Tactical

The FN 510 Tactical is a considerably cumbersome, full-sized pistol. It’s a polymer-framed, striker-fired gun that’s like many different striker-fired pistols in a number of methods. It is available in black or flat darkish earth (fde) colour schemes and has entrance and rear cocking serrations on the slide. The body has a four-slot accent rail for mounting a light-weight—one thing of essential significance for a bear protection gun—and the grip options a mixture of checkered and stipple texturing that gives some strong traction.

Sights and Optics

The FN 510 Tactical comes normal with suppressor-height three-dot tritium evening sights put in. The rear sight is blacked out aside from the small tritium capsules that glow at nighttime, and the entrance sight’s capsule is surrounded by a small white dot. The sights supply a very good stability of visibility and precision. The rear sight is protected by wings that reach from the optics reduce cowl plate—like what you’d see on older service rifles just like the M1 Garand.

Another normal function of this 10mm pistol is its optics reduce. The FN 510 comes with a number of optic adapters for in style pistol purple dots. Mounting purple dot sights just like the Leupold Delta Point Pro is easy and simple. The base of the Delta Point is simply too thick to co-witness the iron sights, however another sights with thinner bases will enable the sights to be seen by the window.

Innards of the FN 510

The FN 510 discipline strips simply, by way of a rotating takedown lever that’s above the set off guard. With the slide locked to the rear, rotate the lever about 100 levels clockwise, then slowly let the slide down. You’ll want to drag the set off, like with a Glock, to permit the slide to maneuver freely off the entrance of the body.

This 10mm has comparatively skinny slide rails, and the entrance slide rails are a part of a metal insert into which the takedown lever is put in. This model of takedown lever is conducive to being swapped with a GoGun Gas Pedal. They make one for the FN 509, however I’m ready on my order to see if the levers are the identical in each fashions. If, or when, they make a appropriate Gas Pedal, it is going to be a wonderful addition; it’s one thing that makes an enormous distinction in countering the 10mm’s recoil.

The FN 510 Tactical makes use of a dual-spring telescoping information rod and a 4.71-inch threaded barrel. It can be utilized with a suppressor, however many shooters will select to make use of a compensator to cut back the spicy muzzle flip. Because of the 10mm’s recoil, it’s vital to notice that the body of the 510 has a metal insert the place the slide contacts the body on the again finish of the recoil cycle. I’ve seen 10mm pistols with polymer because the contact floor fail due to the fixed pounding towards the entrance of the slide.

Like nearly each different present 10mm pistol, the barrel options what most would name a completely supported chamber. Early era Glock 10mm pistols bought a foul rap for barrels that inadequately encapsulated the case head on the high of the feed ramp. High-pressure 10mm hundreds would typically bulge brass out within the space that wasn’t lined. On the road, you’ll hear this described because the “Glock smile” as a result of the bulge is half-moon form. Although the FN 510’s chamber doesn’t utterly cowl the case physique, it’s on-par with different manufacturing and aftermarket 10mm barrels from firms like Lone Wolf Arms. You will possible see some slight case bulge with some high-pressure ammunition, however you may safely shoot any respected 10mm ammo on this gun.

Controls and Capacity of the FN 510

Left-handed shooters often get the shaft with each rifles and pistols, however the FN 510 Tactical is an exception. This 10mm pistol comes normal with purposeful ambidextrous controls proper out of the field; nothing to change or modify. Both sides of the gun have slide cease releases which are textured-and-rolled metal tabs. They look and performance very very similar to these on the Smith & Wesson M&P 10mm. The levers are simple to succeed in with out breaking grip and don’t require a lot strain to launch or lock the slide.

The FN 510’s journal catch buttons are additionally totally ambidextrous and could be engaged from both facet of the grip. The buttons are rectangular and knurled for simple use, however the backside sides are beveled to guard them from by accident being pushed whereas taking pictures.

The 510 comes with two steel-bodied, nickel-plated magazines that perform nicely. One journal has the usual 15-round capability and the opposite holds a whopping 22 rounds. Some will definitely scoff, saying that you just’ll by no means be capable of get off that many pictures in a defensive scenario with wildlife—and also you most likely gained’t. However, I can attest that when issues go sideways within the woods, ammo can go quick. I feel 15 rounds will often suffice, however I don’t belittle somebody who desires 22. The solely different factor I famous in regards to the magazines is that they’ve good, stiff springs and are very troublesome to load when new, particularly the 22-rounder. Get your self a very good magazine loader.

Shooting the FN 510 Tactical

I put over 600 rounds of assorted 10mm ammo by the FN 510, together with FBI Lite-level ball ammunition, full-power ball, and 180- and 200-grain defensive hole level and strong ammo. I additionally fired hand-loaded max-load-level 200-grain lead bullets and 115- and 150-grain Lehigh Defense copper solids. Everything functioned completely. The non-jacketed lead bullets did go away lead fouling within the bore, as one would anticipate with any 10mm pistol, but it surely’s simply eliminated with some solvent and a tight-fitting brush wrapped with some strands of copper Chore Boy scrub pad.

Initially, I discovered the FN 510 to be snappy for its dimension, however with some adjustment to my grip, the pistol actually grew on me. With its grip angle, the 510 feels someplace between a Glock G20 and the Sig P320 XTen. It’s not as sharply angled because the Glock, however steeper than the Sig. The recoil cycle feels akin to that of the G20. You’d higher dangle on to this pistol, however most shooters might realistically study to handle and shoot the FN 510 nicely.

How Accurate is the FN 510 Tactical?

When broaching the topic of handgun accuracy, significantly with defensive handguns, we have to be particular about what we’re discussing. Generally, handgun accuracy has two main parts: the on-paper accuracy potential of the pistol and the sensible accuracy or shootability of that pistol. How simple is it to shoot the gun precisely sufficient for potential self-defense functions?

For an on-paper accuracy mixture, I fired 5 five-shot teams every with two kinds of ammunition: full-power 200-grain Federal HST hole factors, and Winchester USA Ready 180-grain FMJ. I fired from a bag-supported place at 50 ft utilizing a purple dot. Average group dimension was 1.62 inches.

For a sensible analysis, I ran the 510 by a number of drills at each 21 and 50 ft. I can’t shoot it as shortly as a 9mm pistol however maintaining my pictures contained in the A-zone of a USPSA/IPSC silhouette and holding a quick tempo wasn’t exhausting. The extra I shot this 10mm, the sooner I bought.

The double-action set off wasn’t excessively heavy, however the lengthy set off pull made exact taking pictures a problem. It’s not as troublesome to handle as say a revolver fired in double-action mode, but it surely’s not as exact as single-action triggers. The attain to set off is longer than on pistols just like the Sig XTen and Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm, and lots of of my stray pictures have been due in-part to that set off—a minimum of that’s my excuse.

The suppressor-height iron sights are simple to shoot precisely, however throughout speedy strings of fireside, they are often tougher to re-align and hold monitor of than sights which are nearer to the bore axis. Whether utilizing iron sights or a purple dot, I feel {that a} compensator would subjugate muzzle flip properly—for those who don’t thoughts the noise.

Each completely different mannequin of 10mm pistol has its quirks, and as soon as I bought used to these of the FN 510, it grew on me and I can shoot it nicely.

Where the FN 510 Tactical is a Winner

The FN 510 Tactical has nice compatibility with varied lights, optics, and compensators, and is ambidextrous proper out of the field. It’s a good-shooting gun, and a few customers will actually like the choice to make use of with both the 15- or 22-round journal.

Read Next: The Staccato P: Tested and Reviewed

Where the FN 510 Tactical Could Be Better

I’m not a fan of the double-action set off, however that’s a staple of FN 500-series pistols.

Final Thoughts on the FN 510 Tactical

The FN 510 Tactical is a strong choice for anybody available in the market for a 10mm pistol. It’s huge, but it surely’s manageable. For anybody who already shoots and loves FN pistols just like the 509, the 510 will likely be a best choice. For everybody else, it’s a rugged, high-quality, reliable gun. If it matches you nicely, you may’t go unsuitable with it.