Striker-fired pistols are extremely popular these days, but it wasn’t always so. They had to overcome a history from their first few decades, as choosing to abandon the trusty hammer usually meant living with a spongy trigger and questionable ignition. Many people have hesitated to adopt strikers for these reasons, but having no hammer does eliminate the possibility of snagging it on the draw, which could be just as detrimental as a misfire.
The compromise between the traditional hammer and the striker is an internal hammer system, and, thanks to FN America, we now have a micro-compact in that best-of-both-worlds niche. This line of pistols has been dubbed the Reflex for the guns’ supposedly instinctual nature, and the lineup includes an optics-ready version that carries the MRD (micro-red dot) moniker.
A cursory glance at the Reflex will tell you that it’s built to integrate with your skin. Starting with the frame, there is coarse knobbing on both the front and rear straps, while finer texturing adorns the side panels. The roughest parts of your hand will fall within the areas where the texture is sharper and more sparse. This allows calloused skin the relief it needs to meld into the firearm, which increases retention and recoil-control. The gentler side panels accommodate the softer areas of your hand, making the gun comfortable to shoot, so you’ll be more eager to practice with it. Additionally, this is the area that will likely be pressed against your skin when carrying.
Working our way up the gun, the slide sports oversized, deepened cocking serrations designed to guarantee a tight grip. There is also a beveled front to help with holstering, a single-slot accessory rail, a chamber window and a reversible magazine release.
Out of the box, the Reflex features an excellent set of sights, including a tritium front to aid in low-light use. I found the sight radius to be outstanding, as FN went through the trouble to stretch these out as much as possible, which significantly increases accuracy on a smaller pistol. If a red-dot isn’t immediately in your future, these standard sights are nice; however, if you bought this gun specifically as an optic host, you’re in for a treat. FN includes a screw kit to accommodate the most-common electronic sights on the market, making installation a snap in most cases. I wish more manufacturers would do this, as even with my extensive collection of fasteners, I still often find myself walking into a hardware store with a slide in my hands and a dumb look on my face.
The cut is designed for the Holosun K-series/Shield RMSc footprint, which puts a plethora of options on the table. I’ve been a big fan of the original RMSc sight since its inception, so this decision was a no-brainer. Sure enough, there were screws in the bag that fit the holes seamlessly. In four minutes, I had the slide cover removed and the red-dot installed. Peering down the pistol, I found the height of the iron sights to be superbly matched to this optic. In short, they were tall enough to be used in the event of a battery failure but not so obtrusive that they blocked most of the lens.
To test this firearm, I selected a pair of widely ranged FMJ practice loads. Remington’s 115-grain UMC filled the bill for the light stuff, while Winchester’s 147-grain “white box” satisfied my need for heavier fodder. Lastly, I chose Hornady’s 124-grain XTP load to represent typical carry use as it serves the middle ground and has been proven effective.
I carried the Reflex MDR to the range in a DeSantis Inner Piece 2.0 in-the-waistband holster with the 11-round magazine in the pistol and the 15-rounder in the attached magazine carrier. Wearing nothing more than jeans and a T-shirt, the pistol disappeared on my waistline and wasn’t noticeable when walking to the car, packing or even driving to the range.
Starting with the lightweight Remington ammo, I was impressed with the overall accuracy and recovery. This also gave me a more intimate feel of the trigger. I would describe it as having a distinct wall and a rolling break, which many folks prefer, as it gives them a chance to work through any anticipation they are building up before the gun fires. Using a Lyman trigger gauge, I found that it even broke a tad lighter than advertised, which is always refreshing. Switching over to the Winchester ammo provided even more controllability, as the heavy bullets produce a long push rather than a short slap like most lightweight rounds. As predicted, the happy medium was Hornady’s 124-grain load, and it also produced the tightest groups of the day.
Moving onto some manipulation drills, I liked the pairing of the oversized magazine release with the recessed slide-stop. This ensures magazine exchanges will be easier. Swapping in the larger mag provided more gripping surface than truly seems necessary (for reference, I wear a size large glove), making this gun feel like it was at least a class larger.
As I prepared to depart the range, I weighed the pros and cons of the pistol while I pondering who might be the top candidates for purchasing one. Starting with the pros, it had excellent sights, excellent ergonomics and a capacity that is right on par with a gun of this size. The downside was minimal and largely subjective: I wasn’t wild about the slick forward section of the frame. I like a little grit there to keep my thumb in place and also to serve as a reference for your trigger finger. As it’s small enough for defense outside the home, configurable enough for work inside of the home and comfortable enough to plink with, it’s perfect for somebody just starting out. Additionally, the trigger is responsive enough for them to develop a proper press. Adding it all up, I think FN balanced the most-important features of a defensive pistol well.
