FN 509 9mm vs FN 509 Tactical 9mm

Both are 17+1 full-size striker-fired 9mms with the same 5.5 lb trigger, same 1.35" width, same 5.79" sight radius and the same safety package and interchangeable backstraps. The FN 509 Tactical 9mm adds a 0.5" longer barrel (4.5" vs 4.0"), which is threaded, along with a factory optic cut and suppressor-height night sights. It is 0.5" longer overall (7.9" vs 7.4"), 0.19" taller (5.75" vs 5.56") and 1.0 oz heavier (27.9 oz vs 26.9 oz). The FN 509 9mm is not optic-ready, has no threaded barrel and wears 3-dot luminescent sights. MSRP is $639 against $989, a $350 gap for those features.

Pick the FN 509 if:

• You are not mounting an optic or a suppressor, so the Tactical's two headline features go unused
• You want the $350 lower MSRP ($639 vs $989) at the same 17-round capacity and 5.5 lb trigger
• You want the shorter, lighter gun: 7.4" long and 26.9 oz, 1.0 oz under the Tactical

Pick the FN 509 Tactical if:

• You want the threaded 4.5" barrel for a suppressor or compensator
• You want the factory optic cut and suppressor-height night sights that co-witness over a red dot
• You want the Flat Dark Earth finish rather than black

Capacity, trigger, width and sight radius are identical, so the $350 buys the threaded barrel, the optic cut and the taller night sights. If none of those are in your plans, the base 509 is the same shooting gun for less.