Photo: Nick Jacobellis
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The FNP-45 Tactical is the largest pistol in the FNH USA handgun line, and it offers just about everything a warrior needs in a big-bore fighting pistol. It features a 14- or 15-round magazine, a barrel that can accept a suppressor, a set of high-visibility suppressor sights, a slide-mounted safety that allows a DA/SA pistol to be carried cocked and locked like a Model 1911, and a factory cutout on top of the slide near the rear sight that can be used as a platform for installing a compact red dot optic.
Competition shooters have used optics on pistols for some time, but the FNP-45 Tactical is the first dedicated tactical pistol to be manufactured to accommodate a compact red dot optic. This means that for the first time a pistol does not need to be worked on by a gunsmith to reshape the top of the slide to accommodate an optic.
Add a tactical light from Streamlight or SureFire to an FNP-45 Tactical equipped with a compact red dot and you have an excellent weapon for going into harm's way. You can also attach a suppressor to the barrel and that will allow you to undertake tactical ops without ear protection. The FNP-45 Tactical also comes with a thread protector that can be screwed on to protect the tip of the barrel from damage when you are not using a suppressor.
Great Design
The base FNP-45 is a high-capacity .45 ACP with excellent ergonomics. It weighs slightly less than two pounds unloaded and is 7.87 inches long, 6.33 inches high, and 1.58 inches wide. Note: If you plan on using the FNP-45 Tactical model with a suppressor for SWAT applications, be advised this pistol has a .578 x 28 right-hand thread pattern.
Surprisingly, the FNP-45 series pistols do not feel super heavy like some .45 ACPs. This is a benefit of FN's lightweight polymer design. I should also mention that despite its size the FNP-45 does not feel like a boat anchor. In fact, the FNP-45 Tactical is actually very comfortable to carry fully loaded for long periods of time.
If you are used to shooting a DA/SA pistol or a 1911, you should have no trouble transitioning to the FNP-45 or FNP-45 Tactical. Regardless, once you get some trigger time with this pistol, you will find the FNP-45 to be a piece of cake to shoot. It's incredibly soft shooting. This is important for law enforcement officers who need to deliver accurate follow-up shots in a gunfight.
To date I have tested three FNP-45 base model pistols and one FNP-45 Tactical. The primary differences between both models are the threaded barrel and high-visibility sights on the Tactical model.