Buy FN 503

FN 503

FN 503® FDE

Available for commercial, law enforcement, and military.

Another slim, ultra-compact carry pistol hits the market. FN introduces its smallest model, the FN 503, a 9mm polymer-framed, striker-fired autoloader purpose-built for concealed carry. Among its features is a 3.1”/79 mm barrel with recessed target crown, enlarged controls, and FN 509-style low-profile iron sight.

FN 503, a small-sized gun

The FN 503 also sports a “skateboard tape-style” grip texture that provides all-day carry comfort. The all-metal trigger has a 5 to 7 lbs. trigger pull. A polished chamber and feed ramp ensure reliable feeding. The magazine with pinky extension holds 6 cartridges – actually, not so impressive firepower, but an extended magazine with grip sleeve can add two rounds, for a total of eight cartridges.

This is the price you have to pay for a gun whose width is just a smidge more than an inch (1.1”/28 mm, the slide itself is just 0.9”/23 mm wide), for a length of 5.9”/147 mm and a height of 4.6”/116 mm.

The FN 503 utilizes the same dovetail as the FN 509 series of pistols and is equipped with a loaded chamber indicator. For a price of 549 USD (MSRP), the FN 503 comes with two magazines (6-round and 8-round extended magazine).

 

The FN 503

The FN 503 is a highly concealable micro-compact pistol perfectly suited for concealed carry. With a legendary reputation of FN durability to uphold, the compromises in shootability, accuracy, and reliability with slim CCW handguns are solved. FN chose beefy metal parts and a better balance point to a rigid frame on a slim slide, tuning out felt recoil. The benefits of an oversize extractor and slide stop ensure failsafe feeding and control, with full height grip stippling locking into the hand to reduce muzzle flip.

Strap up and carry in confidence with the FN 503™ Semi-Auto Pistol. Built specifically for concealed carry, the striker-fired FN 503 boasts a slim profile that virtually eliminates printing for maximum concealment. The all-metal trigger offers a crisp, consistent 5-lb. pull for improved control, while the compact grip boasts aggressive, yet comfortable texturing to ensure a solid, non-slip grip you can depend on—even with large hands.

The 503 is a chassis gun, meaning the polymer grip frame is just that: a grip that can be replaced without serial number problems. Presumably, this paves the way for OEM and aftermarket grip alternatives to suit different hand sizes.

The FN 503 Pistol Continues The Trend

My personal preferences generally lean toward slightly larger handguns. The FN 509 Midsize, for instance, is one of my favorite carry guns. And I adjust my clothing choices accordingly to accommodate it. In a good holster, such a handgun is not uncomfortable to carry.

Now that you know where I stand on the issue, I have to say that this new FN 503 9mm pistol is a pretty nice gun. It represents a continuation of the industry trend toward super-slim sub-compact handguns.

They are the types of guns those who are carrying concealed are demanding. Those are guns that are selling.

It also is a further indication of FN America’s determination to address the defensive handgun needs of free citizens.

FN has long been a major player in military small arms. With their fine 509 series of pistols and now this diminutive 503, it’s evident that they’re bringing their same commitment to quality as they do with their military arms.

FN 503 9mm Pistol Easy-To-Reach Controls

The FN 503 is a well-made, polymer-frame semi-auto pistol. It fits in the palm of your hand. It comes with two magazines: one with a six-round capacity and an extended one that holds eight rounds. The extended magazine allows for a full grip on the pistol.

The slide stop release lever is on the left side as is the magazine release button. The position of the mag release button, however, can be changed for left-handed shooters and a right-side button is included if your want to make the switch.

Unlike the controls on some other small pistols I’ve tested, those on the FN 503 are sized large enough and positioned for easy access and operation. The trigger includes a passive safety lever on its face, common on many striker-fired pistols these days. The trigger is all metal, not so common on striker-fired pistols these days. That’s good.

I measured the trigger pull at about five pounds. It’s a nice trigger, with a clean break after a little take-up. There’s very little of the squishiness found on other striker-fired handguns.

FN 503 9mm Pistol Quality Features

The pistol comes with white three-dot no-snag sights. The sights are fine. But if you opt for night sights or fiber optics, it’s not a problem. The sights are placed in the same size dovetails as FN’s 509 pistols.

Cocking serrations on the slide are at the rear only. That’s okay by me. I’ve always viewed forward serrations as more of a fashion statement than anything else. I can do without them.

A small hole at the top of the chamber serves as a visually loaded chamber indicator.

The 3.1-inch barrel has a recessed target crown. The feed ramp and chamber are polished for enhanced reliability.

The checkering on the front and back straps and the stippling on the grip flats provide for a secure grip on the gun without being abrasive. You won’t need to add any sticky skateboard tape to this gun. The gun is shipped with a soft-sided pistol case.

This Pistol Is A Good Shooter

I don’t do lots of accuracy testing with small handguns. They’re not designed for target competitions.

But this FN 503 is a good shooter. It will put the shots where you want them if you do your part. It had no malfunctions during my testing.

I did most of my shooting off-hand with this gun. I was concerned at first because my initial impression when handling the gun was that its bore axis didn’t seem to be as low in the hand as with some other pistols. But when putting the pistol through its paces on an array of plates, I had no trouble ringing the steel consistently. Managing recoil with this small pistol was no problem. That helped to make target-to-target transitions easy. You can’t say that about some small pistols.

Carrying The FN 503 In A Galco Scout

While working with this pistol, I carried it in a Galco Scout 3.0 holster. This is an excellent inside-the-waistband rig. It’s made of rough-out leather with a reinforced top for easier re-holstering.

It has a plastic belt clip that’s widely adjustable for cant. And it’s ambidextrous. By removing one screw, you can switch the belt clip to the opposite side. So, you can use it for strong-side or crossdraw carry whether you’re right- or left-handed.

Takedown Not The Easiest

I have to mention one thing I don’t like about the FN 503. Field-stripping the pistol for cleaning is a pain in the neck. It entails removing the slide stop lever.

But to do so, you have to line up a tiny notch in the slide while the slide is under spring pressure with a specific tiny spot on the frame. I had to push the front of the slide against a table top and hold it there, keeping the notch perfectly aligned. At the same time, I used a metal punch to push the slide stop lever out from the other side.

Overall Favorable Impression Of This Pistol

Despite the difficult takedown procedure, I found the FN 503 9mm pistol to be a very good handgun. Those who chose this as their EDC handgun will be well-armed for potential defensive conflicts.

If you’re looking for a super-slim handgun that’s easy to shoot well, this would be a good choice.

FN America is the U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal. The company headquarters is located in McLean, Virginia. All FN handguns, except the FiveseveN, are made in the company’s Columbia, South Carolina manufacturing plant. For more information on the FN 503 9mm pistol,

The standard grip is comfortable and well designed, though the configuration puts the bore axis at a higher level than some of the 503’s competitors. Stippled panels on the sides of the grip offer good purchase, as does the pattern that is molded into the front and rear surfaces of the frame. The exterior of the pistol is devoid of any unnecessary sharp edges, which is a good thing on a carry gun.

The 503 ships with two stainless steel and polymer magazines; one holds six rounds while the other holds eight. With the more compact six-round magazine inserted, the shooter’s little finger rides below the grip.

The larger magazine uses a more generous base pad and allows for a full-fingered grip on the pistol. Clearing malfunctions can sometimes mean forcibly stripping the magazine out of a handgun, and the grip frame and base pad design on the 503 offer a positive surface to pull on if the need arises.

Low-profile, snag-free, 3-dot sights offer rapid target acquisition in any lighting, without snagging on your holster or clothing for ultrareliable holstering and drawing. A loaded-chamber indicator offers additional visual safety, while rear slide serrations ensure a positive purchase on the slide for quick, intuitive loading and clearing.

The 3.1″ stainless steel barrel is complimented by recessed target crown for improved accuracy, and boasts a polished chamber and feed ramp for flawless function. Weighing just 21 oz., and topped off with an impressive 6-round mag with a 8 round extended mag. The FN 503 is an ideal EDC, or concealed-carry weapon for new and seasoned shooters alike.

FN 503

• Type: Striker fired, recoil operated, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 6+1 rds.; 8+1 rds.
• Barrel: 3.1 in.
• Overall Length: 5.9 in.
• Weight: 1 lb., 5 oz. (with unloaded flush-fit magazine)
• Width: 1 in.
• Height: 4.4 in.
• Finish: Black nitride (steel)
• Trigger: 5 lbs., 8 oz. (tested)
• Sights: Three dots; front and rear drift adj. for windage only
• MSRP: $550
• Manufacturer: FN America,

•  5.1

The FN 503 delivers the confidence and repeatability for serious shooters who expect more from their concealed carry handgun. Accuracy is delivered with a best-in-class all-metal trigger that breaks cleanly at ≈5.5lbs, with a crisp sight picture from metal, snag-free 3-dot sights. Available in flat dark earth and black, the advanced ergonomics of the FN 503 allow instinctive and fast changes between the included 6-round and 8-round magazines.

FN 503®  Sell Sheet

• 3.1″ stainless steel barrel
• Polished chamber and feed ramp
• Recessed target crown for improved accuracy
• Rear slide serrations
• Compact polymer frame
• Advanced grip texturing
• All-metal trigger
• Consistent 5- to 7-lb. trigger pull
• 6-round mag with a 8 round extended mag

The first striker-­fired, subcompact single-­stack 9mm from FN is now shipping from FN America’s U.S.-­manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina. Dubbed the “503”, it borrows mechanical influence and design architecture from the company’s 509 series. The 509 began as an entry for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) solicitation in 2015. The 509 didn’t win, but it proved itself as a formidable sidearm that was extremely accurate and reliable.

FN claims it tested the 509 to more than a million rounds during its development. That reputation for dependability is expected to carry over to the 503. The striker design between the 509 and 503 are similar, and like the 509, the 503 doesn’t feature manual safety. There are three passive safeties including a striker block, a trigger-­safety lever, and a trigger disconnect. The striker block eliminates the risk of the striker contacting the primer without the trigger being pulled, the trigger disconnect prevents the gun from firing out of battery, and the trigger safety eliminates the risk of the trigger moving rearward by inertia if the gun were dropped.

Other features from the 509 have also been carried over to the 503. The new subcompact comes with a semicircular witness hole at the rear of the barrel hood to serve as a loaded chamber indicator. A beefy external extractor sits below to the right side of the slide to ensure reliable extraction in all conditions. This style extractor did not appear on the FNX or FNS series prior to the 509.

Like the 509, the 503’s metalwork receives a salt-­bath, ferritic nitrocarburizing treatment that protects against metallic corrosion and scuffing. It also hardens the metal, so the 503 is well-­equipped to resist exposure to moisture and perspiration. Both guns also feature a modular platform and the 503 allows the shooter to change grip assemblies.

Size & Performance

The most pronounced difference between the FN 503 and the 509 is, of course, size. The 503 is a true subcompact. The slide measures .9-­inch wide. At its widest point across the slide-­lock lever, it measures 1.04 inches. The grip is slightly narrower than the slide at .89 inch, and the depth of the grip is roughly 2.2 inches. With a barrel measuring 3.1 inches, the 503’s overall length is 5.9 inches. It measures 4.4 inches from the toe of the flush-­fit magazine to the top of the slide.

How does the 503 compare to other similar-­size guns in this category? The Glock 43 has a 3.41 -­inch barrel and measures .4-­inch longer than the 503. However, the Glock is lighter. With a full six-­round magazine, the G43 weighs as much as the FN 503 with an empty magazine. Smith & Wesson’s M&P Shield and SIG Sauer’s P365 both have the same 3.1-­inch barrel length as the 503, but the P365 is .1-­inch shorter than the FN, while the S&W is .2-­inch longer. The Shield weighs about the same as the 503, while the P365 is lighter than both by about .3 ounces.

From the magazine springs to the metal’s finish, and the grip texturing to the muzzle’s recessed target-­like crown, I find that every aspect of the FN 503 is well ­designed for serious shooters. With the slide locked back, you can inspect the chamber where you’ll see the feed ramp is polished. The metal magazines lock positively in place. Press the magazine release button, which is reversible, and even an empty one drops free of the gun.