Cybergun FN Herstal FNS-9 GBB Pistol

If you're looking for a highly modern GBB pistol that isn't a Glock but looks like a prettier version, the FNS-9 could be the one! This GBB pistol sports full metal construction with a high-density polymer frame and licensed trademarks from the designer of the real steel firearm, FN Herstal. The FNS-9 has the "duty pistol" set up and is equipped with a 20mm Picatinny frame rail for a tactical flashlight or laser and simple but effective white dot combat iron sights. This makes it an interesting alternative to EU-style pistols for the Law Enforcement or Military look and for those who want a subtle "means business" style to their Airsoft sidearm.

Starting at the front of the pistol we can find the iron sights, which are fixed combat sights with white enamel dots for easy target acquisition. The rear sight, found at the very back of the slide, has "anti-glare" serrations on its surface to ensure the sight remains visible in any ambient lighting condition. The outer barrel and slide of the FNS-9 are constructed from alloy and boast a hard-wearing matt black finish with a slight texture to effectively simulate the finish applied to the real pistol. The barrel of the FNS-9 does not have threads but instead includes mock rifling grooves which are visible right at the tip.

On either side of the slide, we have two sets of serrations to enhance grip; one set at the front, and one at the rear. The front serrations are designed to allow for "press checks" to confirm the chamber condition of the real FNS-9, and to allow those with lower hand strength to cock the pistol easily. The rear serrations are for conventional use when cocking the slide of the pistol manually, and provide enough grip to be worked effectively without ripping your hands up.

The slide design of the FNS-9 has a slim profile and has been relieved in its upper section to reduce weight and make the overall footprint of the pistol smaller to aid re-holstering and allow for more compact carry and a reduction in snags. This gives the FNS-9 a more modern look than the classic chunky Glock slide, and the FNS-9 fits in well with FN's other sleek and attractive designs (SCAR aside!). The mock extractor, found at the rear of the ejection port, is a separate part for added realism and also includes a red enamel indicator. This is a non-functional feature but is included to simulate the loaded chamber indicator of the real FNS-9, which protrudes with the red indicator when a round is in the chamber and the pistol is ready to fire.

On either side of the slide we can find licensed FN Herstal markings which are precisely and deeply engraved, making them really pop on this discrete, business-like pistol. On the left side, the markings read "9MM - FNS-9 - (FNH Logo)" and the markings on the right read "MADE IN USA - FNH USA Fredericksburg VA." These markings are one of the FNS-9's best aesthetic features, and the designers of this pistol made the right choice when choosing engraved markings over the white painted markings found on some licensed Airsoft pistols.

When it comes to the controls, the practical features of the FNS-9 really shine through. There is no manual safety on this pistol, matching the most modern pistol designs out there, including the real FNS-9. Instead, we have a two-stage safety trigger in a similar style to an M&P pistol, with a separate lower section which needs to be pressed in order to fire the pistol. This means you are not at risk of a twig or other protruding object catching your trigger and causing an ND, and you don't have to waste mental energy on remembering to take the safety off before unloading on the target!

The magazine release can be found where the trigger guard meets the frame, as in most modern pistols. What is not like most modern pistols is that this mag catch is ambidextrous without the need to swap sides or add any additional parts. This is a very impressive feature, though we should not be surprised. This is an FN design, so ambidextrous functionality is a prerequisite. The catch is shaped so you can either press straight down, as you would with an EU or 1911 pistol, or sweep your thumb down as you might with an H&K pistol like the USP, covering all bases and allowing users of other pistols to pick the FNS-9 up and use it with ease.

The slide lock/release catch is also ambidextrous and is presented on either side for fast access with the shooter's thumb. This slide release is a low profile design, similar to that of a Glock, and despite its low profile design, it is very easy to reach from a firing grip. On either side of each catch, the frame is built up to prevent the catch from accidentally being pushed upwards if you take a high grip on your pistol. This is a known issue with 1911 pistols, and its nice that FN thought of this and designed their pistol for use with modern, high shooting grips.

The FNS-9's grip is styled similarly to the FNX and FN Five-seveN pistol, with squared texture on either side together with an FNH logo in the centre and linear texture at the front of the grip for the best combination of friction and comfort for use without gloves. The interchangeable rubber backstraps feature pyramidal checkering and a lanyard loop at the base of the grip in case you want to tether your pistol to your belt to prevent it from going missing in the woods. The backstrap pre-installed on the pistol is the slim type, but a large type is also included in the set. To remove the original backstrap all you need to do is pull it off from the base near the lanyard loop, and the new backstrap can be slid on from the base.

The trigger guard is an enlarged type, intended for effective use even with thick tactical gloves. At the front of the guard, we can see a section of linear texture which is intended to provide an additional index point for competition shooting holds such as the "European grip". Just ahead of the trigger guard we come to our 20mm Picatinny frame rail, which allows any 20mm Picatinny accessory to be mounted. This would be a great spot for a tactical flashlight, but please, please do not mount a grenade launcher here. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!

The HOP-up unit of the FNS-9 is similarly positioned to the TM EU series and can be accessed with the slide removed for a field strip. The slide can be removed by first removing the magazine and cocking the slide of the pistol. With this complete, pull the slide back to align the semi-circular notch on the left side of the frame with the disassembly lever, also on the left side, just above the trigger. With the slide held in this position, you can then rotate the disassembly lever counter clockwise by 90 degrees, after which the slide can be removed towards the front. The HOP-up adjustment gear can be found on the bottom of the outer barrel.

To reassemble the pistol you will need to slide the slide back onto the frame from the front, then pull the slide back to realign the disassembly lever with the cut-out and rotate it back into the original position. The fit between the slide and frame of the FNS-9 is quite tight so we advise you to field strip the pistol very carefully, and when reassembling pay particular attention to the engagement between the slide and rails along either side of the hammer group.

So, if you're looking for a pistol no one recognises but everyone thinks looks awesome, the FN Herstal FNS-9 from Cyber Gun would be a fantastic choice. Even more so if you are left-handed, as this pistol is the most ambi-friendly pistol out there. The FNS-9 would also make a great pair with an FN SCAR replica or FN P90 to complete a perfect FN Herstal loadout!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Licenced FN Herstal trademarks
• High-vis white dot iron sights
• Enlarged trigger guard
• Ergonomic pistol grip with replaceable back straps
• 20mm Picatinny pistol rail on the frame
• Realistic disassembly process
• Two-stage safety trigger - M&P style
• Ambidextrous magazine release
• Ambidextrous slide release catch
• Well-positioned controls - All well within reach
• Lanyard loop at the base of the grip
• Gear adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible during field strip
• Slim slide design with bevelled front end - Easy to re-holster
• Front and rear slide serrations for additional grip

Package Includes

• Cyber Gun FN Herstal FNS-9 GBB Pistol
• 22rnd FNS-9 GBB magazine
• Replacement grip backstrap x1
• User manual