First Look: New FN 309 MRD – FN's Everyman Handgun

Back in September, FN invited a handful of media folks out to South Carolina for an early look at what they've been working on. Among the lineup was something I didn't expect: a pistol aimed squarely at the operator, average Joe, and newbie alike. The FN 309 MRD is FN's attempt to crack into the consumer 9mm market with a gun that's supposed to be easy to shoot, easy to use, and easy to own. After putting around 300 rounds through it at Sawmill Training Complex in Laurens, I walked away thinking they might actually pull it off.

More FN @TFB:

• FN America Unveils FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical
• FN Introduces the FN SCAR 15P In .300 BLACKOUT
• TFB Review: The FN Guardian – FN America's Most Affordable AR-15
• FN Herstal – New FN MINIMI Mk3 Light Machine Gun
• A Reevaluation of Squad Lethality and Firepower, the New FN MTL-30

What FN's Going For

The 309 MRD sits at an MSRP of $549, which puts it right in the thick of the crowded striker-fired 9mm market. FN's pitch is straightforward: this is a gun built for people who value practicality and precision in personal protection without needing to drop $700+ on a gun. It's optics-ready out of the box, comes with both a 16-round and 20-round magazine, and features what FN calls their "Reflex-inspired firing mechanism" with an internal hammer. The trigger breaks at roughly 5 pounds with what's supposed to be a clean reset.

Specs-wise, you're looking at a 3.8-inch barrel, 7.4-inch overall length, and 22.5 ounces unloaded. It ships with drift-adjustable polymer sights: a U-notch rear and fiber optic front. The slide is direct-mount optics-ready, compatible with Shield RMSc and Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprints, with adapter plates available for other options. FN designed the slide with 25% lower racking force compared to traditional tactical pistols, and the polymer magazines require 40% less spring loading force than metal alternatives.

Hands-On Time: New FN 309 MRD

Picking up the 309 for the first time, the grip texture stood out immediately, and I mean that in a good way. As a former FN employee who spent time in their engineering range back around 2016-2017, I remember the FNX series and 509's aggressive texturing well. Endurance testing those left your hands feeling raw. FN went with a more modern sandpaper-style texture on the 309, and it's a smart move. Enough grip without tearing up your hands after a few hundred rounds.

The grip angle is where things get slightly odd if you're used to Glocks or M&Ps. FN's calling it a "neutral grip angle," and raising the gun to sight alignment feels different at first. Not bad, just different. A few range sessions would sort that out.

Range Time: New FN 309 MRD

We spent most of the day at distances between 15 and 25 yards, and the 309 was genuinely pleasant to shoot. Recoil management was comfortable enough that follow-up shots came easy, and fatigue wasn't an issue even after burning through 300 rounds. When I wasn't just enjoying having free ammo, I could settle in and make accurate follow-up shots without much effort.

I shot it with both irons and a red dot. I think we had Vortex Defenders mounted, though honestly, it might've just been optic fatigue talking, but I ended up preferring the irons. That U-notch is catching on more and more, and I'm a fan.

Accuracy with both setups was solid. No complaints. The TFBTV guys decided to do a full 1160-round burn-down right there, and from what I saw, the gun kept running without malfunctions, cleaning, or drama. The only issue was that it was getting too hot to handle comfortably after that kind of abuse. I didn't spot anyone else having problems either. The polymer magazines held up fine. They were, in fact, easy to load. They felt solid, not cheap, and nobody was fumbling with them.

Street price will likely come in under $549, which makes this extremely competitive. For a new shooter or someone looking for a reliable defensive pistol without breaking the bank, the 309 MRD checks a lot of boxes. It's not trying to be the new Navy Seal gun or win a military trial. It's trying to be a good gun for regular people. Based on what I saw in September, it's got a real shot at doing that. According to FN’s latest communications, the 309 MRD should be available sometime in Q1 of 2026.

SHOT Show and Beyond

I'll be checking these out again at SHOT Show next week at the FN booth. If you've got questions about the 309 MRD, whether I left something out, you spotted a feature you want more details on, or you're curious about something specific, drop them in the comments. I'll bring your questions directly to FN and get them answered. This is your chance to help shape the coverage, so don't hold back.