The FN P90 has been around for over three decades. It’s a cool gun that may just have been a little ahead of its time, thanks to NATO politics. In the video linked below, Jeremy Stone gives us a quick rundown of the P90 and tells us why it may be coming back into style.
FN P90: A Purpose-Built Weapon
Jeremy tells us that the P90 was specifically designed as a personal defense weapon (PDW). NATO decided in the late 1980s that it needed a new PDW for rear-echelon troops to replace the more expensive H&K MP5. The weapon had to be light and handy with a cartridge capable of defeating body armor.
The P90 was FN’s entry for the new weapon, along with the new 5.7×28 high-velocity cartridge. The 5.7 projectile had better terminal ballistics than the 9mm Parabellum and roughly twice the velocity, despite having only 25% of the 9mm’s mass. NATO specified that the round had to defeat 1.6mm of titanium armor and 20 layers of Kevlar.
The 5.7×28 outperformed the 9mm in the H&K MP7 and NATO was set to adopt the FN, but Germany vetoed it. They apparently wanted the MP7 really bad. But the P90 has hung around and now that NATO has officially adopted the 5.7×28 cartridge, it may yet have a place, even if it just continues its law enforcement and civilian roles.
P90 Design and Specs
The P90 is obviously a bullpup design, which you may or may not like. But the design is well thought out and very user-friendly. The P90 is fully ambidextrous, and the bottom ejection port means it won’t hit you in the face, whether you’re right or left-handed. It loads differently than most guns, with the magazine on top, but Jeremy notes that it’s so easy to use, you could do it in the dark or with your eyes closed with just a little practice.
Specifications
- Caliber: 5.7x28mm
- Operation: Closed Bolt Blowback
- Mag Capacity: 50 Rounds
- Weight: 5.8 pounds
- Barrel Length: 10.39 inches
- Overall Length: 19.88 inches
- Twist Rate: 1:9 inches Right Hand
Jeremy’s Verdict
Jeremy likes the P90. No surprise there. It’s a proven design from a respected manufacturer. And his example is select fire. What’s not to like? Unfortunately, the select fire version requires all the ATF hoops, but if you want to do the thing, you’ve got to get hopping.
Happily, there is a civilian version known as the P90S. It’s semiautomatic only and comes with a 16-inch barrel. It’s also only available with 30 or 10-round magazines. But it’s still a sweet little gun. The 5.7 ammo has long been a deterrent for some folks because it’s never been cheap or widely available. But, as Jeremy points out, the price is trending down. That should continue as NATO expands its use and other platforms adopt the cartridge.
Jeremy says he thinks it would be a nice gun for home defense, or even a SHTF situation, especially in an urban setting where the P90’s compactness would be a real asset. Of course, urbanites may run afoul of local gun control laws, so make sure you know the deal.
Not everyone needs a PDW, but the FN P90 certainly fits the Pistol Caliber Carbine role as well, assuming you want to drop the coin. But good PCCs aren’t necessarily cheap either way, so maybe that’s something you’re interested in.
Give the video a look. Jeremy shoots it well, talks about its strengths, like the low recoil, and how much fun it is. I mean, how can you go wrong with a “lightweight ambi space blaster with basically no recoil and armor penetration?” You probably can’t. Happy shooting, y’all.
