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FN P90

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P90
The P90
TypePersonal Defense Weapon (PDW)
Place of origin Belgium
Service history
In service1994-present
Used bySee Users
Production history
DesignerStéphane Ferrard
Designed1986-1987
ManufacturerFabrique Nationale de Herstal
Produced1993-present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
MassTemplate:Kg to lb empty
3.0 kg (6.6 lb) loaded[1]
LengthTemplate:Mm to in
Barrel length263 mm (10.4 in)[2]
Width55 mm (2.2 in)
Height210 mm (8.3 in)
Cartridge5.7x28mm[3]
ActionStraight blowback, closed bolt
Rate of fire900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity716 m/s (2,349 ft/s) with SS190
Effective firing rangeSights fixed for 150 m
Feed system50-round detachable box magazine
SightsTritium-illuminated reflex sight, back-up iron sights

The P90 is a Belgian designed 5.7x28mm personal defense weapon (PDW) developed between 1986-1987 by Stéphane Ferrard at Fabrique Nationale de Herstal. The weapon’s name is an abbreviation of Project, and the number 90, which specifies a weapon system of the 1990s.

Development

The PDW contains several innovative features, including the proprietary ammunition. It uses the new, 5.7x28mm cartridge which has a greater penetrating capability, lethal range and flatter trajectory than most pistol caliber cartridges[citation needed][dubious – discuss], such as the NATO-standard 9x19mm Parabellum[citation needed]. Initially the weapon used 5.7x28mm ammunition with the SS90 cartridge (lightweight, roundnose, jacketed projectile with a polymer core), as well as tracer, training (reduced range), sub-caliber (increased velocity and effective range of up to 250 m) and blank ammunition. The first prototype firing this ammunition was completed in October 1986, and over 3000 PDW had been produced until 1993 in a low-rate initial production run. Simultaneously, FN chose to revise the ammunition, with the intention to use it in a planned semi-automatic pistol of the same caliber (known today as the Five-seveN). The new cartridge, designated the SS190, has a more conventional full metal, plated steel jacket, lead core and steel/aluminum penetrator. Several other projectiles were also developed for the new cartridge, including the L191 tracer round, a subsonic SB193 bullet and blank ammunition. This modified version of the P90, adapted for use with the new ammunition was introduced in 1993.

The P90 is considered a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), and is designed as a compact but powerful firearm for vehicle drivers, operators of crew-served weapons, support personnel, special operators and anti-terrorist units.

Design details

The P90 is a selective fire straight blowback-operated weapon with a short recoiling barrel and fires from a closed bolt. The return mechanism consists of two parallel spring guide rods that also guide the bolt carrier assembly. The weapon uses an internal hammer striking mechanism and a trigger mechanism with a three-position rotary dial fire control selector, located centrally beneath the trigger. The fire selector also provides a manual safety against accidental firing (the dial in the “S” position – weapon safe, “1” – semi-automatic fire, “A” – continuous fire mode). When set on “A”, the selector provides a two-stage trigger operation. Pulling the trigger back slightly produces semi-automatic fire and pulling the trigger fully to the rear will produce full-auto fire. The “safe” setting disables the trigger.

The P90 uses an original horizontally-mounted feeding system that is patent protected in the United States (patent 4905394 dated March 6 1990), authored by Rene Predazzer. It uses a 50-round box magazine, mounted parallel to the bore axis that locks in place between the charging handles and optical sight, flush with the receiver top cover. The magazine is made of a lightweight, translucent polycarbonate. The base of the magazine is located near the muzzle end, the feed lips – above the barrel chamber in a circular bulge that contains the feed tray. Cartridges in the magazine body are double stacked to the left side. The magazine features a follower with rollers and a spiral feed ramp that will rotate a cartridge 90° to the right aligning it in a double stack pattern within the magazine.

The weapon’s barrel is fitted with a ported flash suppressor (with a diagonally cut leading edge), that also acts as a recoil compensator (early models did not have the cut in the flash hider). The P90 is equipped with an unmagnified HC-14-62 reflex sight from Ring Sights, which enables quick target acquisition up to 150 m and operation in low-level lighting conditions (it has a tritium-illuminated aiming reticle). Newer units are fitted with the Ring Sights MC-10-80 sight designed specifically for the P90. It uses a forward-aimed fiber optic collector to illuminate the daytime reticle, which consists of a large circle of about 180 MOA, with a 20 MOA circle surrounding a dot in the center. The night reticle consists of an open “T” that is primarily illuminated by a tritium module or moonlight and ambient light drawn in by an upward-facing collector. The sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation and can be used with night vision equipment. Auxiliary fixed sights are provided on both sides of the receiver's cast aluminum optical sight housing.

The P90is fully ambidextrous; it can be operated by right or left-handed shooters without making any modifications to the weapon. The charging handle, auxiliary fixed sights and a magazine release are symmetrically laid out on both sides of the firearm. The manual selector below the trigger can be operated from either side of the trigger. Spent cartridge casings are ejected downward through a chute located aft of the pistol grip, keeping fired cases out of the shooter's line of sight.

The P90 is designed in the bullpup configuration, with the pistol grip (with thumbhole) and oversized trigger guard serving as the forward grip. The P90 is a modular firearm and consists of 69 parts that disassemble into four main groups: the barrel with integrated sight assembly, receiver (with return mechanism), stock body with trigger and firing mechanism and the magazine. The P90 makes extensive use of polymers and lightweight alloys to reduce both the weight and the cost of the weapon.

It can also be fitted with a laser aiming module (integrated into the stock body, beneath the barrel) and the SP90 sound suppressor (made by GemTech), which has a length of 184 mm and weighs 550 g.

Variants

The firearm is produced in several variants. All of them can mount certain optional accessories such as tactical slings, empty case collector bags, bayonets, visible and infrared laser aiming modules (LAM) and tactical flashlights.

The P90 TR features a receiver-mounted triple MIL-STD-1913 rail interface system or "Triple Rail" (TR). There is one full-length rail on the top of the base and two rail "stumps" on both sides of the receiver. The side rails serve as mounting points for tactical accessories such as laser pointers or halogen flashlights, while the integrated top rail will accept various optics with no tools or additional mounting hardware required. Some components of the P90 TR and standard P90 are not interchangeable since the entire receiver assembly is different.

Another variant is the P90 USG which is similar to the standard P90, but with the exception of the revised optic system developed based on input from the United States Secret Service and other government agencies. The aluminum sight uses a non-magnified black reticule that does not require ambient light. This sight does not suffer from the problems of the regular MC-10-80, since the reticle does not "wash out" against bright backgrounds.

The P90 LV and P90 IR add an integrated visible laser pointer or infrared pointer respectively. Both units are manufactured by the Australian company Laserex Technologies. The lasers have three internal settings: "off", to prevent accidental activation, "low-intensity", for combat training and extended battery life, and "high-intensity" - for maximum visibility. The laser's power switch is a green button located under the trigger grip. The battery compartment is located below this button.

The FN PS90 is a semi-automatic only sport version designed for the civilian market. It has a 407 mm barrel, an olive drab synthetic stock body (black synthetic stock is available in limited production quantities), and an MC-10-80 reflex sight identical to that used on the standard P90. The MC-10-80 can be removed and replaced with a special top rail in order to use third party optics. The barrel has 8 right-hand grooves, a 1:7 twist, a rifled length of 376 mm and comes with a fixed "birdcage" type flash suppressor. The overall length of the PS90 is 667 mm. The trigger pull is rated at approximately 7.5 to 8 lbf (33 to 36 N). The receiver assembly is drilled and tapped to accept accessory Picatinny rails on either side. The front swivel sling mount is not included, and installation requires the barrel shroud to be unpinned and removed. It accepts the standard P90 50-round magazines, but is sold only with a 10 or 30-round magazine depending on local and state regulations. The PS90 weighs 2.9 kg empty and 3.4 kg with a fully loaded 50-round magazine.

The PS90 TR, or Triple Rail, uses a different receiver assembly that is similar to the P90 TR. The standard back-up iron sights are no longer present, and instead, the top of the receiver is machined to form a Picatinny rail. There is no provision for using back-up fixed sights with the PS90 TR. Two plastic side-rails are included for mounting lasers or tactical flashlights. The PS90 TR is available with either an olive-drab or black polymer stock.

Another semi-automatic variant is the PS90 USG, which like the standard PS90, replaces the MC-10-80 reflex sight with an unmagnified sight with a black ring aiming reticle. The PS90 USG is also available with either olive-drab or black furniture.

Users

The MC-10-80 reflex sight daytime reticle.
PS90 disassembled; breakdown of major PS90 component groups: 1. trigger group, 2. barrel and optical sight assembly, 3. butt plate, 4. magazine, 5. bolt carrier and recoil assembly, 6. stock body and trigger. The standard P90 disassembles into similar main components.
  • P90/PS90 magazine release pad.
    P90/PS90 magazine release pad.
  • PS90 safety selector. Note that it is the opposite of the P90 selector, and does not have an "A" setting for fully-automatic fire.
    PS90 safety selector. Note that it is the opposite of the P90 selector, and does not have an "A" setting for fully-automatic fire.
  • Moving parts group. 1. Rate of fire stabilizer, 2. Extractor, 3. Ejector.
    Moving parts group. 1. Rate of fire stabilizer, 2. Extractor, 3. Ejector.
  • The previously loaded cartridge rotates 90 degrees.
    The previously loaded cartridge rotates 90 degrees.
  • The low-light reticle of the reflex sight. Note that normally it is not this clear or bright. The tritium module should make it glow red/orange. A light is shined into the fiber optic for this photograph.
    The low-light reticle of the reflex sight. Note that normally it is not this clear or bright. The tritium module should make it glow red/orange. A light is shined into the fiber optic for this photograph.
  • 5.7x28mm ballistics using a 50-yard (46 m) zero with the PS90 and MC-10-80.
    5.7x28mm ballistics using a 50-yard (46 m) zero with the PS90 and MC-10-80.
  • 5.7x28mm ballistics using a 100-yard (91 m) zero with the PS90 and MC-10-80.
    5.7x28mm ballistics using a 100-yard (91 m) zero with the PS90 and MC-10-80.

References

  1. ^ Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, Hogg, Ian, Weeks, John, pages 101-102
  2. ^ Military Small Arms of the 20th Century, Hogg, Ian, Weeks, John, pages 101-102
  3. ^ P90 SUBMACHINE GUN — FNH USA TACTICAL SYSTEMS
  4. ^ Richland County Sheriff's Department
  5. ^ Richland County Sheriff's Department — Special Response Team
  6. ^ Cops go ga-ga over latest gadgets
  7. ^ Agency Issue (Very Long) - Real Police: Law Enforcement,Police Officer,Criminal Justice,Background Checks website

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FN P90.
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