Over the past two decades I have fired and tested many .40s and there are still several around the homestead. The latest test gun is the FNP-40 from FNH which stands for Fabrique Nationale Herstal. The parent company is FN, however the FNP-40 is clearly marked “FNH USA Fredericksburg VA. MADE IN USA” on the right side of the slide.
The FNP-40 is advertised by FN Herstal as a DA/SA semiautomatic pistol and is to be carried with the hammer down. Unless the hammer is deliberately cocked before firing, the first shot is double action and subsequent shots are single action. Once that first shot is fired it is always in the ready-to-go single action mode unless the decocking lever is pressed downward, which allows the hammer to go forward and place the pistol in a safe mode.

The FNP-40 is a “plastic” pistol in that the frame is a polymer with an integral grip frame coupled with a steel barrel and slide resulting in an unloaded weight of just under 27 ounces with an empty magazine in place. Fill the magazine with 14 rounds and the carry weight is then just under 35 ounces. Since we are talking weights, we can mention here the trigger pull in the single action mode on our test gun according to the RCBS Premium Trigger Pull Scale is 4-3/4 pounds. The molded grip frame is checkered front and back and stippled on both sides giving a most secure gripping area. The grip frame is also provided with two easily interchangeable backstraps, one curved and one with a flat contour. It came with the rounded version installed which I quickly exchanged for the better feeling, to me, flat backstrap and never found any reason to go back. The grip frame is very comfortable, with a nice wide semi-beavertail at the top which makes it very controllable and easy to fire. Even with my short stubby fingers I have no problem reaching the trigger when the FNP-40 is in the double action mode.

Both front and rear sights are set in a dovetail and are of the three white dot variety making them very easy to see and to also pick up quickly. On the frame, we find a rail in front of the triggerguard for installing a tactical light and three controls on the left side. Those three controls, from front to back, are the takedown lever, the slide release, and the decocker. The latter is ambidextrous and thus is also found on the right side. As a right-hander, I found the de-cocker easy to reach with my thumb without having to change my grip. The magazine release is found on the left side at the juncture of the frontstrap and triggerguard and with my short thumb it is necessary for me to slightly change my grip to be able to push in the magazine release button. When the button is depressed the magazine drops freely and easily. Three 14-round magazines are provided with the FNP-40. That allows for an awfully impressive and easily carried amount of firepower.

The sights are not only easy to acquire, I found them to be set to shoot right to point of aim using my shooting technique, my hands and my choice of ammunition. Six varieties of ammunition were fired through the FNP-40 with slightly over 300 rounds being fired. Functioning was 100-percent perfect with no problems whatsoever.

Although the magazine capacity is 14 rounds, I chose to never load more than 13 and even then the last round took a little extra effort to insert. Even firing 13 rounds takes an awful lot of concentration for me and, except for a military application, it is not likely this many rounds would ever be needed even though it is comforting to have them.

The FNP-40 was test-fired using 13 rounds at both 10 and 20 yards and a more reasonable four shots at 7 yards. When used in a self defense situation it is very unlikely anyone would ever need as many as four rounds and rarely at a distance over 21'. Groups were fired with my forearms resting on a sandbag and also from a braced standing position. Results are found in the accompanying table; take note especially of the fact that 4-shot groups were 1-1/2" or less and point of aim equaled point of impact. I don’t think any more could be asked of a self-defense semiautomatic pistol chambered in .40 S&W.