New guy needs help from you EXP Fs2000 owners

[Cyber.45]

New to the FS2000 & am thinking about buying one. My biggest concern is the durability or reliability of the "white plastic" deal on the bolt assembly. Sorry I don't know the actual part name, as I said I am new to this weapon system. I have seen pic's in other post titled "normal wear?". That have shown that "plastic" part chewed, burnt & appearing to be on the verge of a catastrophic failure. I know that the life expectancy of most weapons is about 90% (proper maintenance, ammo & handling) but plastic in the main operational area where the spent casing is being heaved back in a violent action when fired, seems like a Achilles heal. I know the Belgian military uses this weapon with the similar internals, so that says speaks well of it but I don't have a armory & a government budget to be replacing such a uncommon weapon specific part either. Its not like I can just get on to midwayusa.com for spare parts..lol I was wondering if any of you could share their thoughts on this to ease my mind? Pic's would be great with a rounds fired count would help too. Thanks...

[tqtran]

The "switch" (white plastic) should be fine during normal use.
I would also agree that it seems to be the weakest link in the FS2000.
But it usually only break during reassembly.
I keep a spare switch in the stock (in the storage area) of my FS2000.
You can contact FNH/Browning for spares or just call up FN if you ever break on and they can get a replacement out to you.
I just bought a few spares just incase that way I can easily replace it while waiting for me free replacement switch in the mail, if I were to ever break mine.

[Cyber.45]

I see, thanks for the correct name.

Well I have looked at nearly every post on this Fs2k section of the forum. The biggest "turn off" I have is that this weapon seems to be a "gun safe or range Queen weapon". Do to its highly complex design to achieve modularity it lacks the reliability or durability. I have only come across 2 total reply post that have would warrant a vote of "self defense ready". The look & feel of the weapon are amazing but with the internal working mechanism of a Swiss atlist clock, too much to go wrong & the post's show it..

I submit this logic starting with a quote..

"Anything that is complex is not useful and anything that is useful is simple"~ Mikhail Kalashnikov.

As a collector, a FNH "fanboy" or a guy with extra cash.. I could see the point in buying a Fs2000. But for a solider, enforcement (at any level) or as a long term survival/self defense tool? I'm not so sure.. I am not some kind of end of days or SHTF nut but with the proper maintenance, it should serve you well at the range & if your life depends on it for years without needing to send it in for service/repair. Re-spring or fine tune, sure.. But not for broken parts through normal use.

Sure its sexy, modular, ergonomic, common magazine interface & accurate. But for me, if I don't know that under normal use (forgetting adverse conditions) with routine maintenance that the charging handle wont snap off, that the firing pin wont make 100% strikes without modification out of box, the switch wont be eaten away by spent brass or... One of the 20+ springs or plastic levers wont break/come loose causing a weapon failure... That's writing a check at the least on a costly tool or in a survival situation; the loss of a meal, your life or your loved ones life.

If anyone has anything to add or offers facts that oppose my thoughts on this PLEASE by all means. Am I reading to much into the problems with this weapon & its just like everything else... You will hear 10 negative before you hear the praise? I really am on the fence with this one... Help kick me over, one way or the other.. Thanks.

[M@D-M@X]

Would you trust your life with the FS2000 or reach for another weapon?

Just to asnwer your question.

Under standard circumstances. >YES<

If armageddon is present where I have nothing at all except my weapon and I'm a SHTF nut. >NO<, I'll probably take Mr. Mikhail Kalashnikov's quote and take my AK47 instead.

If you don't mind me asking you, what is the intended use/purpose that you have for this rifle?

Max

[MP_OHIO]

Sounds like you have some reliability questions with the fs2000. I would trust it. Although I don't have a huge amount of ammo down the pipe(yet), it hasn't even hiccupped on any ammo I threw down it.

Would it be my shtf gun, probably not. I would reach for the PS90 before that as its the same ammo as my sidearm FiveSeven, holds 50 rounds, is light and for the most part reliable(plus I have like 12k rounds) Long term, I wouldn't let my Ruger Mini 14 stray to far from my reach. That gun just seems to scream reliablity and longetivity. Although its not the most accurate, it hits the target.

[dchang0]

I would definitely trust my FS2000 as a SHTF primary. HOWEVER, this would not be true had I not made many mods to mine so that it works as a 3-gun rifle.

I'd pick my AR over an out-of-the-box FS2000 any day.

[Cyber.45]

Would you trust your life with the FS2000 or reach for another weapon?

Just to asnwer your question.

Under standard circumstances. >YES<

If armageddon is present where I have nothing at all except my weapon and I'm a SHTF nut. >NO<, I'll probably take Mr. Mikhail Kalashnikov's quote and take my AK47 instead.

If you don't mind me asking you, what is the intended use/purpose that you have for this rifle?

Max

First off.. Thank you for your reply...
Now To answer your question, I have a desire to own several firearms chambered in common/readily available ammo, that are not only able to be combat accurate but reliable. For all intensive purposes I am (by most democratic standards) a "Armageddon nut". I want to have the tools & training available to defend or provide for my family. That includes a fun day at the range with the family, repel a threat if someone breaks in to my home or if/when SHTF & I need not only defend my family long term but hunt for food. So I have the background/training & stay sharp with drills bi-weekly.. Now its just a matter of weapon selection.?.

In my cachet of firearms I feel meets these qualifications I have:
3x AK-47's, 7.62x39- one Milled, one Stamped & one "decked-out" (quad-railed with all the bells & whistles) . I am just a big fan of the design & the reliability (in my opinion) is the most important factor here.

M1a SOCOM II 7.62x51 NATO (.30- As their adds say's "Bring enough gun". Heavy but battle tested action with a shortened length for CQB. My first rifle was my Grandfathers M1.. I grew up with this style of rifle & love its power & with the SOCOM II it adds a new capabilities.

M4 Benelli 12gauge. Everyone needs a serious/purpose built shotgun..lol

& several handguns ranging from 9mm to .50AE..

I am missing the 556/.223 from this collection.. This had bothered me for some time now. I HATE the AR line of weapons for several reasons. Most personal is while in the 101 Infantry & two tours, I had two instances with the M4/AR platform that almost cost me my life. The military configuration is not as tight of tolerance as the civilian version for combat conditions & they still failed me. First off, Ill say this.. Yes I maintained my weapons, I never rest my head until my weapon is cleaned & inspected. So while I respect this platform for being accurate & wouldnt want to be down range from it.. Bottom line, I don't trust the operating system..

I have been trolling the error-net for months now looking, watching & reading up on various weapon systems.
I am down this selection:

FS2000
Sig556
Scar16s
ACR

I have handled all of the above & like each for various reasons but I keep coming back to the FS as my first choice... I really like the feel & look of the weapon above the rest. ALL of the reviews by magazines "rave" about this rifle (the FS2000).. How reliable it is, all kinds of ammo used, accepts AR15 mags & in general great gun! The only thing these people can say bad about it is the price.. Well I really don't care about the price..lol So I turn to the end user/owners. People who have spent more than a few hours with the weapon, like here on this forum.. Like with most products you have lemons or bad apples.. Go look up ANY car or truck & you will find someone bad mouthing it or a "WTF- this is broken" ... I can accept this but The only reason I don't have a FS2000 in my hands now is the shear amount of negative posts about this weapon regarding its dependability & reliability.

I only run good/factory ammo (even in my AK's) BUT if in a SHTF scenario I can only find 20 year old .223 ammo for this weapon & not 556, I need to know it will fire & not have a light strike or FTF. Or that one of the MANY plastic components like the switch wont fail/break (with normal wear) or the charging handle with a few "HK speed load slaps" (life or death) wont snap off..

Long story short.. ok, not really..lol.

In a perfect world (as we know it now), what is the PRIMARY role of this weapon system for ME? Range drills or for fun shooting targets with the family.. But with the knowledge that it will go the distance if needed.. If in a SHTF scenario or a home invasion, I would reach for one of the AK"s first! BUT it would be nice to know that the FS2k would be at the ready to serve the role just the same. Is the FS2000 a Farrari type weapon? Looks great, feels great & that will run/perform for a while but in the end would be "in the shop for repair more than in the drive way?" If so.. I don't want a exotic "sports car" type of weapon now & would disregard this weapon until I had the extra cash to buy just a "fun gun"...

The other weapons downside is that the SCAR & ACR are too new to get long term real world feedback & might be crap. The Sig556 seems to be a "love hate" mix like the FS2k & while lacking the plastic parts problems of the FS2k, it still has (in some opinion's) the FTF & ammo bias characteristics. What are your thoughts on this?

[Cyber.45]

I would definitely trust my FS2000 as a SHTF primary. HOWEVER, this would not be true had I not made many mods to mine so that it works as a 3-gun rifle.

I'd pick my AR over an out-of-the-box FS2000 any day.

Thanks for your reply.. I got to ask ya..

What mods have you made that improve over its original design?

[Cyber.45]

Sounds like you have some reliability quetions with the fs2000. I would trust it. Although I don't have a huge amount of ammo down the pipe(yet), it hasn't even hiccupped on any ammo I threw down it.

Would it be my shtf gun, probably not. I would reach for the PS90 before that as its the same ammo as my sidearm FiveSeven, holds 50 rounds, is light and for the most part reliable(plus I have like 12k rounds) Long term, I wouldn't let my Ruger Mini 14 stray to far from my reach. That gun just seems to scream reliablity and longetivity. Although its not the most accurate, it hits the target.

Thanks for the reply..
I agree with you on the reliability of the mini-14. The only downside I have with it is that its a full length rifle with matching weight & that it doesn't take common AR mags. Other than that, I love the platform & in my opinion other than than a AK... I cant think of a more dependable semi auto action...

[dchang0]

Thanks for your reply.. I got to ask ya..

What mods have you made that improve over its original design?

Here's what I've done:

1) Clipped off inside of magwell dust skirt to get true drop-free without removing all of the dust skirt. This is great for fast mag changes in 3-gunning, and it will translate well over to an actual gunfight.

2) Lightened the mag release spring by clipping a few coils off.

3) Polished the trigger "coathanger" rod and hammer sear to improve trigger pull. The high trigger pull will be the only problem on the FS2000 that I am unable to completely fix.

4) Lightened the firing pin safety spring by clipping a few coils off to fix light primer strikes issue. I used to get two light strikes per 100 rounds fired.

5) Replaced curved foreend with FNH Tri Rail foreend (a must-have for bracing against barricades to steady your shot)

6) Installed decent muzzle brake to reduce recoil for faster follow-up shots. I will most likely upgrade to a better brake.

7) NOT done yet: upgrade the barrel to a match grade stainless barrel