Gunfighter

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:23 pm; edited 2 times in total

OK, so the three of us with PS90s had so much fun answering questions about our weapon at Tac Rifle I that I thougth we should start a thread here. One current hot-topic question seems to be the availability of 5.7 ammo. I have had no problem finding it locally at Tomball Pawn, or on the internet. Cabella's online has all you can eat at a fair price.

I was pleased that over the course of the entire weekend of Tac Rifle I there wasn't a single stoppage between the three of us shooting PS90s, and we didn't clean or dowse once. I know the wife and I fired 2,200+ rounds.

Here is a good source of info on the PS90, and other civilian FN weapons.

http://www.fnforum.net/

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 471 Location: MENA

Well known as a CQB weapon, how is the PS90's accuracy and control at 100 yards?

Great to see Women Warriors at training...

Ragnar

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 471 Location: MENA

Accuracy is of course dependent on the skill of the shooter, the quality of the weapon system, ammunition quality plus proper practice, practice and practice.

AR-15 configurations vary from CQB to highly accurate, 500+ yard systems. Hoff's and Phil Oxley's students and instructors know how effective 16" barrel AR-15's are at 200 yards in the hands of a trained, practiced shooter. Repeated 200 yard hits on 10" steel plates with 16" barrel AR's are common as are 200 yard hits on 18" plates with 5" barrel 1911's.

Knowing yourself, your weapon, the optic and ballistic tragectory(ies) coupled with practice, practice, practice makes the AR-15 a highly effective weapon.

The PS90 is a fine weapon but is not preferred by 'tip of the spear' teams where the assault rifle also serves as a CQB take-down weapon.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 471 Location: MENA

Post 1985 AR's are extremely dependable. If they weren't, today's specialized units, hostile region contractors and private sector shooters would have abandoned the platform long ago. Metallurgical and design improvements have continued over the years and I haven't seen any single weapon system, past or present, that equals the AR's all around "assault" rifle capability and versatility.

Every weapon is mission specific and no single weapon is superior in all categories.

Regardless of the preferred caliber (5.56mm, 6.5mm, 6.7mm, .308 Win, .458 SOCOM, etc.) AR style platforms (arguably) remain the most versatile assault rifles on the market today. History's conflicts have proven the AK-47's dependability but beyond 200 yards "spray and pray" applies.

Those who minimize the 5.56 round have likely not personally witnessed the combat effectiveness of hollow point and ballistic tip 5.56 rounds from CQB to 350 yard distances.

The piston operated SIG 556 SWAT combines CQB assault and <300 yard accuracy advantages of the AR with the dependability of the AK-47.

Gear up, train and fight the good fight.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

M.W. · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 172 Location: inside the loop

Not claiming any expertise on the PS90 and NOT adding any heat,lol... but wasn't the original intent of this design to be for the personnel of crew served weapons,like tanks,APC's, and artillery fire bases,to have something more than their 9mm sidearms that was powerful enough to punch thru enemy body armor and yet be compact enough for tight spaces? Hence the unusual shape and large capacity of ammo?
The whole premise was to have something to grab fast to keep their positions from being over run in CQB type defensive situations.

Anything can be pressed into as necessary long distance shooting,even handguns, but those would hardly be first choices. Also,parts and 57x28mm ammo for it in any kind of civilian emergency situtaion would not likely be as available as the AR/5.56mm/.223 rounds.

Totally just my 2 coppers opinion and having looked hard at getting one myself I reasoned that while the PS90 made a really fearsome bank robbery gun on the TV series CSI:Miami (of course it is cool that it works well for you and yours,Ragnar) I would have reservations on it being my "if I could only take one gun with me" weapon. Add to that it is far too expensive to leave in my truck for vehicle defense,thus I decided against it.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

I understand that finding all four parts of the PS90 (described elsewhere as two donuts, a canoe paddle, and Commodore Vic 20 disk drive) to repair one could be difficult in post apocolyptic Houston; whereas AR uppers, lowers, and .223 ammo would surely be available for barter at your local farmer's market. I better hoard more ammo. How much is enough?

If, as you say, the whole premise (of the PS90) was to have something to grab fast to keep one's position from being over run in CQB type defensive situations, then I am sold. That is my need, exactly.

I don't know about CSI Miami, but the Narcos in Mexico sure seem to like them, and the sidekick FiveseveN, too, according to my amigo with the Feds.

Viva la difference! Or however one says that in Flemish.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

M.W. · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 172 Location: inside the loop

Well the farmer's market sarcasisms aside does it make more sense that AR rifles (in the U.S.) and ammo might be more readily available in an emergency scavaging situation or no? You think it likely that PS90 ammunition will be laying around on dead fighters more so than 5.56mm?
Specifically because hoarding of tons of rounds is not viable where power to our neighborhoods,food,fuel supplies,and medical resources are gone is the consideration for commonality of ammo.

If you pooh-pooh this concept or think that you will never have to shoot farther than 150 meters,then probably there is no point in reading the 2007 PS90 evaluation linked here. Frank James has looked at the PS90 since the early 90's when it first came out. http://www.gunblast.com/FrankJames_FNPS90.htm

Is the PS90 a cool toy?,heck yes it is! never said it wasn't...can you take tactical classes with it? Of course you can,you are there for the knowledge the instructor gives you, a .22 conversion AR will do for that. Do the drug dealers like it for killing cops? Heck yes they do...
BUT does a mission specific, limited range weapon,with uncommon ammo,a poor out of the box sighting system,and somewhat inconsistent stopping power (and no I would not want to be hit with it like some people reply whenever stopping power is mentioned,just repeating what is in police and autopsy reports about this caliber.)
make it a first choice?
For me the answer is no,I can better spend the money on a different set up...unlimited funds then most definitely I would have one to play around with (plus a good return investment after Obama gets done with banning them) but it would not be the "go to,bug out" gun.

Lastly,I have heard the boat survival idea(both fresh and salt water) for years and it sounds cool and all till the pirates show up and see a sitting duck target on the water,lol. I wonder if the turtles or sharks would view humans as sushi in that situation?
Anyway,enjoy and have fun with it and as you said Viva la whatever,you can have the last word.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:21 pm; edited 2 times in total

If end of the world ammo shortages, replacement part availability, and long-range accuracy is driving one's rifle selection then one might consider a .308 with a bolt action. Got one already. However, that is probably another thread on this board.

With this thread, titled PS90 Q&A, I was hoping to spawn some entertaining and potentially informative discussion on the PS90.

Ragnar · Last edited by Ragnar on Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:27 pm; edited 3 times in total

Semper_Fi · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 471 Location: MENA

Grow up.

Ragnar