Based
on the P90 and built around FN’s revolutionary 5.7x28mm
ammunition, the PS90 provides a compact, lightweight and completely
ambidextrous firearm capable of fulfilling numerous security,
personal defense, competition and recreational shooting roles.
The 10, 30, or 50-round magazine runs horizontally along
the top of the PS90. Fired cases are ejected downward where
they cannot interfere with the user. The bullpup design with
16.04" barrel and closed bolt operation give the PS90 outstanding
accuracy with very low recoil and integral muzzle brake. The
PS90 offers a reticule sight that is fast and accurate.
A
BIT OF P90/PS90 HISTORY
By
the late 80’s, it became evident to many militaries and
law enforcement agencies that pistol-caliber carbines were
losing their effectiveness against adversaries equipped with
the most modern lightweight body armor. While small rifles
chambered in 9mm Luger allowed their users to minimize their “load
out” weight and size envelopes, the guns left a lot to
be desired in the performance department. Yes, you can use
the same ammunition in your pistol as you can in your Heckler & Koch
MP5 – but the rifle’s slightly longer barrel length
and full automatic fire capability only gave moderate increases
in effectiveness.
The
FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon was developed in Herstal between
1986 and 1987. The gun was designed in conjunction with the
5.7x28mm cartridge, and a pistol (the FN FiveseveN) which fires
the same ammunition came some years later. The primary design
objective was essentially to introduce a modern replacement
for the pistol-caliber carbine. This carbine would be just
as lightweight, have select-fire capability, and deliver a
high-velocity, lightweight round capable of doing a number
on light body armor.
The
gun that resulted was nothing short of…well… futuristic.
It was created with the use of modern (for the 80’s,
anyway) materials and design techniques. Largely made of polymer,
the gun held a 50-round top loading magazine, was extremely
compact, and even included an integrated reflex sight. Hello,
end-of-20th century! It is quite the modern take on the venerable
bullpup carbine design.
The
most controversial part of the P90’s design is the ammunition
it fires. To the well-informed, the 5.7x28mm cartridge is simply
a cut-down 5.56x45 (.223 Remington) cartridge. The latter,
used every day by hunters stalking tiny to medium-sized game
(like prairie dogs and other varmints) is also NATO’s
“go-to” cartridge for the individual soldier. US politicians heard
about the armor piercing capabilities of the new cartridge and basically declared
them
“cop killer” bullets. What our esteemed members of congress declined
to tell the American public was that MOST rifle bullets with high ballistic
coefficients and moderate velocity will also pierce light body armor. I digress.
For
those unfamiliar with the 5.7x28, just think “it’s
half of a .223”. The previous statement isn’t 100%
true, but it’ll do for now. Some of the 5.7mm bullets
used in commercially available loadings are merely lighter
.224 bullets, and can also be loaded into .223 cartridges.
The size and weight savings allowed FN to pack 50 rounds into
a small magazine, and the 5.7’s lack of heavy case taper
allowed them to design “stick” magazines instead
of “banana”
shaped ones.
The
P90’s development represented a nice leap forward in
the compact rifle market. And much to our delight, FN began
selling a civilian-legal semiautomatic version in 2005. This
rifle is appropriately named the PS90.
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