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  4. First Look: New FN 502 Tactical .22

Described as the industry’s first slide-mounted, optics-ready rimfire handgun, the new FN 502 Tactical is packed with a lot of features right out of the box. 

Announced earlier this month, the FN 502 departs from the Browning-branded .22 LR pistols of old (Challenger, Medalist, and Nomad, etc.), which were meant for bullseye-style target shooting and plinking, and rolls full tacti-cool. Based on the styling of the company's successful new FN 509 series, the new hammer-fired (not a misprint) 502 includes what FN describes as a "best in class" trigger, 15-shot magazine, full ambi controls, a threaded barrel, and an interesting low-profile micro red dot mounting system paired with suppressor-height sights.
 

FN 502
Basic specs on the FN 502 include a 7.6-inch overall length with a 4.6-inch barrel. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
Weight, unloaded, is 23.7 ounces. The pistol is 5.8 inches high with the standard 10-shot mag inserted while the width is 1.4 inches over the ambidextrous surface controls. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
This makes it almost a dead ringer in size for the standard FN 509, or slightly taller and longer than the FN 509 Compact, shown (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
When compared to other recently introduced .22 LR pistols, it is shorter than the Taurus TX22 Competition, which is optics ready with a barrel-mounted MRD plate system, while stacking up more equal in size to the Glock 44.  (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN also makes the 502 in their traditional "50 Shades of FDE." (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Break Down 

 

FN 502
Disassembly is easy via swinging a left-side takedown lever 90-degrees to the vertical position after clearing the gun and locking the slide to the rear. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The gun strips to its basic components with no surprises other than the fact that we had to remove the 1/2×28 TPI thread protector from the barrel to allow it to clear the slide. Of interest, the slide only weighs 5.1 ounces without the barrel and recoil spring assembly inserted and 11.1 when those components are installed. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
Frame-mounted surface controls include an ambidextrous slide stop, magazine release, and manual safety lever with a red indicator dot. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
Single-action with a rounded combat-style hammer, the FN 502 has a trigger that breaks very nicely for a factory pack. Take up runs about a half-inch and breaks at about 5 pounds. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The factory sights are suppressor-height and co-witness through micro red dots. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The front sight is dovetailed to the slide as is the rear sight that is mounted to the metal MRD cover plate.  (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The FN 502 slide, frame, and fire control group are marked that they are made by Umarex in Germany. This shouldn't be much of a surprise as Umarex partners to make licensed "tactical rimfire" pistols and rifles for a variety of large gunmakers including Beretta and HK. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
As is correct for such guns, it has a slew of German proof marks including the triple crown of the Cologne proof house as well as triple serial numbers.  (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
It has excellent ergonomics including a multi-textured grip, front slide serrations, and a scalloped magazine well. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
It has a lowered and flared ejection port along with a cutout in the hood that serves as a loaded chamber indicator. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502 mags
The included mags, a flush-fit 10-round, and an extended 15-shot model, load easily with the assistance of a pull-down tab. The extendo beats most rimfire pistols on the market with few exceptions, such as the 16+1 capacity of the Taurus TX22 series or Kel-Tec's logically-named P-17. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

 

Optics


The 502 uses a hybrid form of FN’s excellent and rock-solid Low-Profile Optics Mounting System that we've had positive interactions with in the past. As the slide is so light, apparently to make up for the difference in weight with a micro red dot attached, the selection is limited to just the Trijicon RMR, Vortex Venom, and Shield RMS footprint. Also, to keep it balanced, the red dot adapter plates – which include the rear sight – are plastic while the cover plate that is installed is metal.  
 

FN 502
The FN 502 ships with three one-piece polymer adapter plates for red dots. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The plates switched out easy enough with a T10 Torx bit, wrench not included. Note the slide cut goes down into the mechanics of the slide. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
We had a CT 1550 red dot sight on hand, and it fit in the Shield RMS pattern. We found the gun, with the CT 1550 installed, 15+1 rounds loaded, and a TAC 65 suppressor mounted, to weigh 30.5-ounces. In other words, very comfortable. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
FN 502
The MSRP of the FN 502 Tactical .22LR pistol, sans optics, is $499. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)


So how does it shoot? We've got about 300 rounds through it suppressed and unsuppressed and really like it, so stay tuned for an update soon. 
 

 

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