FN 509 LS Edge - Ultimate Competition Handgun? [Review]

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The FN 509 series of handguns, including the FN 509 LS Edge, are striker-fired, polymer-framed semi-automatic magazine-fed pistols. This one, in particular, is chambered in NATO-standard 9mm parabellum. Speaking of ammo, the Edge feeds these previously affordable 9mm rounds from steel-bodied 17-round magazines that feature oversized polymer baseplates for ease of handling. 

The magazines also feature witness holes at the back so shooters know how much ammunition is remaining in them. They also feature bright orange followers making it simple to determine if the magazine is completely empty even in low light.

These magazines are propriety to 509-series handguns, but the good news is that FN includes three of them in the box with the gun. So while they might not be the $10 el-cheapo Korean magazines certain other guns use, you won't need to buy too many additional ones for competition use. Personally, five magazines for a pistol is a minimum and 10 is ideal. But literally, no production handguns include that many magazines so three is pretty damn generous.

What's Included

Speaking of which, the FN 509 LS Edge doesn't just include three magazines in the box, it also ships with a plethora of other accessories that shooters will find very useful. For instance, FN ships the gun with a small soft-case that features elastic loops for securely carrying both the gun and all the included magazines.

The Edge also includes two interchangeable back-straps which are secured to the gun with a horizontal roll pin as well as a set screw in the front that also secures the aluminum magazine well flare.

But the real star here is the complete set of optic plates the 509 LS Edge includes. These allow mounting of multiple styles of micro red dots, including Trijicon RMR's, (and any optic that uses that mount like the Holosun 503c) and several others. For a full list check out the FN optics mounting quick setup and reference guide located here and in the physical manual included with the gun.

FN 509 LS Edge Features

As you may have guessed from its appearance, the FN 509 LS Edge is a purpose-built competition pistol. As such, it includes several noteworthy features that make is particularly well-suited to competition use, as well as casual shooting sessions.

Features like the highly aggressive molded grip texture which is even sharper than what is used on standard FN 509 handguns. This is crucial to quick shooting and rapid weapon-handling while under pressure. It's so aggressive that if a shooter doesn't grip the pistol tightly, it will be somewhat painful to shoot. But with a proper, solid grip, the LS Edge feels comfortable both during handling and shooting.

Another solid feature is the extended, target-crowed, hammer-forged barrel. Whereas the original full-sized FN 509 used a four-inch barrel, the LS Edge ships with a five-inch one. This has two practical effects on the gun - it increases both projectile velocity and the gun's sight radius (AKA how far apart the sights are).

This allows shooters to more confidently take further shots with the FN 509 LS Edge, as the sights provide a finer, more accurate sight picture, and the rounds themselves 'drop less' over distance. Additionally, the extra mass provided by the elongated barrel and slide further reduces felt recoil, making follow-up shots easier.

Sights for Sore Eyes

Back to the sights, the FN 509 LS Edge features somewhat unusual-looking sights, but they're still traditional post and notch style - but with a few twists. First off, FN chose to utilize suppressor-height sights with the LS Edge presumably so they could co-witness through a micro red dot. But more than that, the sights themselves are very useable and intelligently designed.

The front sight is a windage-adjustable steel serrated blade with a green fiber-optic insert for lightning-fast sight picture acquisition. At the rear, the notch is an extra-thick matte black design with anti-glare serrations at the rear for a more crisp, better-contrasting sight picture. This combination makes a shooter's eye naturally snap to the front sight, and in testing was very usable in all but the darkest of rooms.

Around the rear sight, the FN 509 uses an interesting set of protective wings that feature horizontal serrations at the front. These are there to assist a shooter charging the slide from the top or performing a press-check. They're also integral to the sight plate cover but aren't attached to the rear sight itself. This is because FN wanted shooters to be able to retain the rear sight with a micro red dot installed - pretty clever.

Beneath the rear sight, the FN 509 LS Edge's slide features attractive, traditional vertical serrations at the rear, and lightening cuts at the front. The slide itself is coasted in a graphite PVD finish which is incredibly durable and resists corrosion very well.