The FN P90/PS90

The FN P90/PS90

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about the FN P90/PS90 today. This rifle offering is one of the most popular and unique models in the FN catalog due to the P90’s many media appearances. We are going to go over what the firearm is while delving into traits, features, use cases, and other considerations. Without further ado, let’s talk about the FN P90/PS90.

Who is FN?

FN, or Fabrique Nationale, is a well-known Belgian firearms manufacturer. The company’s American branch was founded in 1981 in the form of FN Manufacturing, a site based in Columbia, South Carolina. The American location was established to facilitate domestic production of firearms utilized by the United States military such as the M240 and M249 machine guns. Prior to 2014, FNH USA, the Belgian company’s main branch in the United States, and FN Manufacturing existed as separate entities. In 2014, 125 years after FNH’s founding, these two American entities merged and became a single entity known as FN America. While FN America is the title of the single, American entity representing FNH, FNH USA branding and nomenclature is still present on things such as ammunition boxes.

The Original P90

The PS90 is essentially the civilian version of the iconic P90 personal defense weapon (PDW). This firearm essentially bridged the gap between pistols and rifles by providing an intermediate bottleneck cartridge in a small package in the form of the 5.7x28mm. The P90 design came about after a NATO request for a cartridge to replace the 9mm cartridge with a new standardized round which was more effective against late Cold War body armor. Additionally, the P90 was designed to be a potent and capable PDW for vehicle crews, support personnel, special forces, and counter-terror units. At its core, the P90 is a 10.4” PDW which features a bullpup design. The P90 is a select fire firearm which facilitates both semi-automatic and fully-automatic fire. Similar to the Steyr AUG, full-auto fire is accessed via a progressive trigger, though the P90 requires that the selector is set the automatic setting. The P90 notably features a top-loading magazine and ejects spent rounds downwards, two distinct design traits which depart from established firearm norms. Purchase 5.7x28mm Ammo

A Civilian P90

The FN PS90 at its core is a civilian version of the P90. Naturally, the firearm lacks the select fire capabilities of its predecessor. This is to say that the PS90 simply has “safe” and “fire” settings and lacks the iconic progressive trigger of the original design. In order to comply with federal regulations, the PS90 features a 16.04” barrel rather than the 10.4” barrel of the actual P90. This 16.04” barrel features a barrel sleeve with an integrated muzzle brake which aids in recoil reduction. The barrel sleeve is pinned in place and cannot be removed without the use of tools such as a drill and hammer.

Unique Magazines

The P90 magazines stand out from the rest due to their unique design and method of operation. Unlike other detachable box magazines which are inserted at the bottom of a firearm and feed upwards, P90 magazines are loaded from the top and feed downwards. Additionally, P90 magazines rotate and store rounds horizontally. This is to say that while the top round is oriented in a standard style, the rest of the cartridges are rotated to the side. Notably, P90 magazines boast a standard capacity of 50 rounds of 5.7x28mm ammo. This high capacity is possible due to the unique mechanism used to retain ammunition. Magazines can also be had in either 30 round or 10 round forms.

Unique Cartridge

The 5.7x28mm cartridge used by the P90 and PS90 is a unique round that essentially bridges the gap between pistol and rifle cartridges. Notably, the cartridge is the size of a handgun cartridge while possessing the appearance of a rifle cartridge. The 5.7x28mm features a distinct bottleneck appearance which is conducive to high velocities. These high velocities are accompanied by low recoil and flat shooting trajectories.

P90/PS90 Ergonomics

In the firearm world, there is no analogue to the P90/PS90. The size and form factor truly set the P90/PS90 apart from other, more conventional designs. While plastic stocked bullpups are well-known, nothing has the profile of the P90/PS90. The thumbhole design and integral forward handstop provide unique ergonomics unlike any other firearm. This ergonomic layout combined with the small size of the firearm may make it challenging for larger individuals to comfortably hold a P90/PS90. Additionally, the lack of a means to adjust a length of pull may leave some shooters wanting. That being said, the length and size of the design are appropriate for most shooters, especially if wearing thick clothing or body armor. Controls on the firearm are prominent and can easily be accessed by left-handed or right-handed shooters alike. The ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handle on the P90/PS90 is easily accessed with either hand via the side of the firearm. It should be known that the P90/PS90 design lacks a bolt-hold-open mechanism and this charging handle must be racked with each new magazine to facilitate loading. Additionally, the magazine release located at the top of the firearm is also ambidextrous and can easily be used by shooters of all types. The safety is also centrally located within the trigger guard and can be accessed via an index finger from either hand. Purchase 5.7x28mm Ammo

Availability of Accessories

The P90/PS90 platform is not the most supported design in the world. Shooters will find that other designs such MP5, AR9, and B&T style firearms have a greater degree of aftermarket support. This is not to say that the P90/PS90 is not supported by aftermarket accessories, just that there are fewer options on the market. Companies such as HB Industries, Haga Defense, CMMG, and B&T are among the producers of P90/PS90 accessories. These accessories come in the form of extended controls, barrels, optic mounts, muzzle devices, and even suppressors.

Viability as an SBR

The PS90 is an incredibly viable SBR. Unlike other cartridges, the 5.7x28mm does not suffer ballistically when used in a 10.4” barrel. In fact, the cartridge was essentially designed to provide near-rifle velocities in a short barrel package, like a handgun or PDW. By turning a PS90 into an SBR, you are using the design and cartridge as intended. By swapping the 16.04” barrel for a 10.4” one, the PS90 becomes much more portable and handier and closely resembles its P90 counterpart. The addition of a short barrel allows a user to access a threaded muzzle, facilitating the attachment of many potential muzzle devices such as suppressors. A shorter barrel will also allow for a smaller package than the factory PS90 barrel, even when a suppressor is attached in most cases.

Conclusion

The FN P90/PS90 is an iconic design which has been appreciated by many across the globe due to its merits as a firearm and its massive media presence. While we here at True Shot Ammo do not carry firearms, we do carry a wide range of ammunition for sale. This wide range of ammunition covers a wide range of popular calibers and gauges such as 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, .22 LR. Naturally, this inventory also includes 5.7x28mm ammo for sale. Whether you want to buy 5.7x28mm ammo or buy bulk ammo of another type, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.