Maiden Voyage Range Trip New FN Reflex - 19 May 2025

[Lab4Us]

Ordered and picked up new Reflex MRD last Thursday and got it to the range first time today, sans optic. I always like to shoot a gun at least once before I mount an optic in case there are issues.

This is the subject of the range report.

My first 100 rounds were Federated Ordnance NATO 124g FMJ, with a rating of 1250 FPS at muzzle (out of longer barrel, I’m sure ).

Here are the first 5 rounds, 2h standing, 3 yds. Certainly can’t complain.

Fired the rest at the distances specified (in yards). I will say I had a hard time with sights eventually as I wear trifocals and have a lifelong astigmatism and it got harder and harder to try and line up sights.

I suspect those groups above will tighten up with an optic installed.

For the next 100 rounds, 50 were American Eagle 124g FMJ, followed by 50 Federal Premium LE Tactical 124g +P HST, FPS of 1150 for FMJ, 1250 for HST.

5 rounds FMJ at #1 and 5 rounds #2, slow fire at 3 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 5 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 7 yds.
5 rounds of FMJ at #5, slow fire at 15 yds.
5 strings of double tap to #3, 1 to area above #3, all FMJ.

Then repeated the above with the HST. Only difference is with the HST, I did the 5 strings at the end, 2 double tap into #4 and one into #5. Again, I think an optic will definitely help me past 3 yds because of my vision issues.

So 200 completely flawless rounds fired downrange with zero feeding issues and zero ejection issues. All full magazines started from a +1 configuration without issue.

A solid gun that I won’t hesitate to carry (except not with optic until after I mount it and test it). It will be an EPS Carry I already have ready.

About the only negative I have is that under the rear frame, just below the “beaver tail”, there is a seam. That seam started wearing a potential blister near the end of my session which made me happy I stopped when I did! I’m sure I can correct it with a bit of sandpaper or some grip tape, but then again, this won’t be a range gun and will only be having 50 rounds of carry ammo run through it about once a month or two, so it may be a none issue. Would still prefer it smoothed out though!

In the end, either all the problems folks reported about the early Reflex have been worked out or I am just very, very, lucky.

 

[Annihilator]

Ordered and picked up new Reflex MRD last Thursday and got it to the range first time today, sans optic. I always like to shoot a gun at least once before I mount an optic in case there are issues.

This is the subject of the range report.

View attachment 83657

My first 100 rounds were Federated Ordnance NATO 124g FMJ, with a rating of 1250 FPS at muzzle (out of longer barrel, I’m sure ).

Here are the first 5 rounds, 2h standing, 3 yds. Certainly can’t complain.

View attachment 83654

Fired the rest at the distances specified (in yards). I will say I had a hard time with sights eventually as I wear trifocals and have a lifelong astigmatism and it got harder and harder to try and line up sights.

View attachment 83655

I suspect those groups above will tighten up with an optic installed.

For the next 100 rounds, 50 were American Eagle 124g FMJ, followed by 50 Federal Premium LE Tactical 124g +P HST, FPS of 1150 for FMJ, 1250 for HST.

5 rounds FMJ at #1 and 5 rounds #2, slow fire at 3 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 5 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 7 yds.
5 rounds of FMJ at #5, slow fire at 15 yds.
5 strings of double tap to #3, 1 to area above #3, all FMJ.

Then repeated the above with the HST. Only difference is with the HST, I did the 5 strings at the end, 2 double tap into #4 and one into #5. Again, I think an optic will definitely help me past 3 yds because of my vision issues.

View attachment 83656

So 200 completely flawless rounds fired downrange with zero feeding issues and zero ejection issues. All full magazines started from a +1 configuration without issue.

A solid gun that I won’t hesitate to carry (except not with optic until after I mount it and test it). It will be an EPS Carry I already have ready.

About the only negative I have is that under the rear frame, just below the “beaver tail”, there is a seam. That seam started wearing a potential blister near the end of my session which made me happy I stopped when I did! I’m sure I can correct it with a bit of sandpaper or some grip tape, but then again, this won’t be a range gun and will only be having 50 rounds of carry ammo run through it about once a month or two, so it may be a none issue. Would still prefer it smoothed out though!

In the end, either all the problems folks reported about the early Reflex have been worked out or I am just very, very, lucky.

Nice shooting, your Reflex functions fine according to your targets, well done.

 

[Recusant]

Looks like a keeper to me.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Ordered and picked up new Reflex MRD last Thursday and got it to the range first time today, sans optic. I always like to shoot a gun at least once before I mount an optic in case there are issues.

This is the subject of the range report.

View attachment 83657

My first 100 rounds were Federated Ordnance NATO 124g FMJ, with a rating of 1250 FPS at muzzle (out of longer barrel, I’m sure ).

Here are the first 5 rounds, 2h standing, 3 yds. Certainly can’t complain.

View attachment 83654

Fired the rest at the distances specified (in yards). I will say I had a hard time with sights eventually as I wear trifocals and have a lifelong astigmatism and it got harder and harder to try and line up sights.

View attachment 83655

I suspect those groups above will tighten up with an optic installed.

For the next 100 rounds, 50 were American Eagle 124g FMJ, followed by 50 Federal Premium LE Tactical 124g +P HST, FPS of 1150 for FMJ, 1250 for HST.

5 rounds FMJ at #1 and 5 rounds #2, slow fire at 3 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 5 yds.
10 rounds FMJ at #3, fast as front sight on target at 7 yds.
5 rounds of FMJ at #5, slow fire at 15 yds.
5 strings of double tap to #3, 1 to area above #3, all FMJ.

Then repeated the above with the HST. Only difference is with the HST, I did the 5 strings at the end, 2 double tap into #4 and one into #5. Again, I think an optic will definitely help me past 3 yds because of my vision issues.

View attachment 83656

So 200 completely flawless rounds fired downrange with zero feeding issues and zero ejection issues. All full magazines started from a +1 configuration without issue.

A solid gun that I won’t hesitate to carry (except not with optic until after I mount it and test it). It will be an EPS Carry I already have ready.

About the only negative I have is that under the rear frame, just below the “beaver tail”, there is a seam. That seam started wearing a potential blister near the end of my session which made me happy I stopped when I did! I’m sure I can correct it with a bit of sandpaper or some grip tape, but then again, this won’t be a range gun and will only be having 50 rounds of carry ammo run through it about once a month or two, so it may be a none issue. Would still prefer it smoothed out though!

In the end, either all the problems folks reported about the early Reflex have been worked out or I am just very, very, lucky.

That was a good workout. Your new pistol seems to be working out well. Sure, don't be afraid to take a little sandpaper to smooth out the seam and make it comfortable, just a little at a time until it's right.

My eyesight is not what it used to be. I've put an optic on just one of my pistols so far but I'm considering a second. With a little more practice and trainng I hope to feel confident with an optic as my EDC. It's a process. Thanks for sharing your journey. Your targets are looking pretty good.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Lab4Us]

Hi,



That was a good workout. Your new pistol seems to be working out well. Sure, don't be afraid to take a little sandpaper to smooth out the seam and make it comfortable, just a little at a time until it's right.

My eyesight is not what it used to be. I've put an optic on just one of my pistols so far but I'm considering a second. With a little more practice and trainng I hope to feel confident with an optic as my EDC. It's a process. Thanks for sharing your journey. Your targets are looking pretty good.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

For me, the optic targeting is so much easier. Focusing away on the target is so much clearer that trying to focus closely on the front sight (which is so blurry to me when striving for that equidistant light on each side and level across the top, it’s always a “best guess”). The other plus is that with my astigmatism, I’ve never been able to really keep both eyes open when using iron sights (unless I want to guess which front sight I’m seeing is the correct one to be focusing on).

The optic makes all that go away. Sure, the green dot is still a little blurry due to astigmatism, but nothing like the irons, and I can really zero in on a target point while keeping both eyes open.

I was actually carrying my Hellcat with optic yesterday while putting the Reflex through its paces. The one thing I did forget to mention in my review was the feel of the single action only hammer in the Reflex. Was way easier to hold gun through the very brief trigger squeeze - likely what makes it so accurate. Quite different from the striker pull of the Hellcat comparing micro to micro.