FNH, USA
https://www.fnhusa.com/
The trans Atlantic relationship between US gun manufacturers and the Belgian company FNH began in 1897. John M. Browning took a number of his designs to FNH, where they were put into production. Today, you’ll find an FNH plant in Columbia, SC, where many of the company’s guns are manufactured. FNH introduced two new guns at this year’s SHOT Show – the FN 15 Rifle and the FN 15 Carbine. Although the company built these guns for law enforcement and the military for many years, these are their first semi automatic variants of the M16 and M4 that FNH has built for the commercial market. The guns both have hard anodized aluminum alloy lowers with carbon steel, chrome lined barrels. The rifle has a 20” barrel while the carbine barrel is 16” long. But it isn’t the form factor of the gun that sets them apart, it’s the meticulous attention to quality that makes the FN 15s so exceptional. FNH’s quality control extends throughout the manufacturing process, including metal particle inspection, sometimes referred to as magnafluxing, which can reveal microscopic irregularities in the metal. It culminates in the exceptional fit and finish of which FNH is so rightly proud. See them for yourself at https://www.fnhusa.com/.
I would have been more like to buy a FNH built FNC para. That would have been nice, upgraded like the Swedish carbines. Another AR? Meh…
If anything deserved to have eyes rolled at it’s this, FN is trying to see if they can jump the AR-15 Gravy Train and directly compete with Colt, Pretty much their arch nemesis.
Their AR’s over nothing new to the market with basic mil-spec AR’s, Worst part is they already have the parts to produce these like they did for the Government so they stuck with the form factor for MAXIMUM PROFIT and nothing more, They should’ve produced these 10 years ago and I would’ve respected it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love FNH but I just think this is just another money grab that brings nothing new to the market, certainly not affordability, These would’ve been cool at a low price point or if you TRULY want that FN M16/M4 clone that you had in the service.
Oh please they make a large percentage of the US forces ARs as well as most of the machine guns. Why wouldn’t you think they would be consumer demand for this? You can walk into Walmart and buy airsoft guns with a Colt logo now. You must have a college degree so you learned how to be anti capitalist. How do you make your living? Sensitivity counselor?
LoL, sensitivity counselor! I gotta remember that one.
Very few manufacturers magnaflux every barrel. And very few manufacturers have a QC process meeting modern milspec.
What you’re getting for the extra money with FN AR-type rifles is the same quality control that won FN contract after contract from the US armed services for weapons that our elite units use.
So, really, depends on what you want a rifle for, and how hard you expect to punish it. I sure ain’t going to the Sandbox anytime soon; most/all of the hours I put on something like these rifles will be at a range. Those with more exacting requirements and reasons to use such weapons professionally already know what they want to use before visiting this blog,
But if money weren’t an object and I just wanted a milspec rifle, this’d be my choice. I wouldn’t use it as intensively as it’s designed to withstand, but good tools are a joy to own, even if you’re a hobby shooter.
I’m not the biggest fan of gas impingement ARs, but I used an FN M16A4 in the Marines and I never had a problem with it. Only gun I’ve ever owned/used that I still remember the serial number 8 years later. I’ll definitely buy one.
FN Manufacturing builds nothing but the best right here in Columbia, S .C. and has for many years. Keep up the good work FN…………….
Rick
“Metal Particle Inspection”? Nice try I guess. Magnetic Particle Inspection is the correct turn for this Non Destructive Test. Or, for short, MPI and NDT.
Other wise, thank you for the excellent coverage of new products.
Translated for us coonasses and rednecks in the Oil Patch, it’s “Magnafluxing”. Which is a registered trademark.
Rock River Arms has had one for over a year or two.
All the new guns are great . How can they make them when they can’t even keep up with production on anything that they make now !!
George / Atkins Weaponry
Federal contracts aren’t forever. Of course, if the Clintons’ lower unit gets elected, neither will civilian availability of these weapons. FN’s covering all their bases, bu offering civilian versions of stuff they mostly have production lines for anyway, and employees to keep busy making them.
Happy to see it. Long past overdue, but congratulations.