The idea of a defensive handgun being reserved for use only in self-defense situations is quickly fading, and I welcome that change. When my students pose the question, “Which handgun is best for protection?” my response is almost always “the one you practice with the most.” In an effort to offer carry-ready handgun that's shootable and easy to train with, FN American introduced its 509 CC Edge XL, a semi-auto handgun built for your waistband yet intended to spend more time out of the holster than in. This latest 509 answers the call to make the 509 CC Edge more range-expedient by mating the full-size grip of the 509 series with the feature-packed slide of the CC Edge. In doing so, the gun’s balance is shifted towards shootability, control and comfort while also increasing capacity to 17+1.
Like many other handguns on the market, the Edge XL uses striker-fired ignition system and a trigger that looks more like one you'd find on a competition pistol than a concealed-carry firearm. Its straight profile is what initially caught my eye, as this is proving to be the choice of discerning marksmen. A closer look revealed its wedge-like profile, which drives the pad of your trigger finger precisely where it needs to be to ensure a straight-back pull. In other words, if you were to press it incorrectly, you’d know it.
As with most striker-fired setups, a safety blade is located in the trigger bow but is barely noticeable when your finger is properly positioned (another function of the bow’s shape). Dry fire revealed a middle-of-the-ground pull weight of just over 5 lbs., which is light enough for accurate shooting while still offering some safety margin. After cycling the action and allowing it to return forward, I was quite pleased with its reset. I found it to be snappy, positive and extraordinarily short. This is important for rapid follow-up shots, as less movement means your firing hand has a better chance of staying put as you prep for the second shot.
Assuming a two-handed firing position gave me a better window into the 509 CC Edge XL’s control layout and grip texture. The front and rear straps had an interesting stepped texture that mates well with the rougher areas of the typical hand. The side panels were more like sandpaper but still less aggressive than the other areas. I found the overall circumference to be comfortable for my hand (for reference, I wear a size LG glove), but FN includes a flat backstrap for those who prefer it a touch smaller.
FN also positioned the slide stop particularly close to the rear, which makes it easier to engage with your shooting hand. It is also ambidextrous, which helps both lefties and righties, as you can swipe it with a finger on each side, reducing the amount of binding you’ll experience. The magazine catch arrives installed for right-handed operation and is not reversible. Instead, left-handed buttons are available, as are ambidextrous options. Lastly, a four-slot accessory rail is molded into the dustcover, allowing for a weapon-mounted light, laser or other peripheral equipment.
Although the frame is technically the heart of a pistol, the slide of the Edge XL is where all the magic happens. Its most unique feature is the compensator, which redirects muzzle blast and helps to control recoil. This is affixed to the 4.2" barrel via a lug system, which sidesteps conventional threading, thus helping it to achieve compliance in more states. When you pair that with the available 10-round magazine set, this pistol is able to be offered to many gun owners stuck in states with magazine-capacity restrictions.
Immediately behind the compensator are six lightening cuts that further slide the tipping point closer to the shooter while relieving enough weight to ensure reliable operation when an optic is mounted. The Edge XL includes a variety of plates to match the red dot of your choice to the frame. However, as brilliant as the sights were, I opted to use them instead in this evaluation. Both are dovetailed into the frame, allowing for adjustment, if needed. I enjoyed the fact that the rear sight was book-ended by a pair of sight protectors.
Selecting ammunition for this pistol was interesting, as it checks a lot of boxes. Being low-recoil makes a round an excellent candidate for competition and general range use, so I decided to try First Breach’s 124-grain match load. This company is brand-new, and after leaving a tour of their facility, ultimately impressed, I decided it was time to test its flagship product. Being that the Edge XL is intended for concealed carry, I was sure to include a pair of defense-oriented loads as well. Hornady’s Critical Duty has always served me well and addresses the issue of hollow-point failures due to material clogging. Alongside this was another new product from a company called Velocitas. Its monolithic bullet promises barrier penetration by offering the ability to “roll into itself” and, of course, will expand when it meets a liquid medium.
On the range, I gathered accuracy and velocity data from a bench to gain a perspective of what I could expect from this handgun. The initial results were pleasing, especially considering that I was pushing it much further than a typical defensive engagement, and even most USPSA and IPDA target distances, for that matter. From here, I performed several rapid strings of fire, starting with a few controlled pairs. Popping two rounds on target from a low-ready position happened in less than half a second, which is a glaring function of the compensator.
Recoil was light across the board, but the gun really shined with low-weight, high-velocity fodder, as it produced enough steam to effectively run the compensator. Target transitions also happened quickly, but as I’m typically recovering from recoil when I’m moving the gun, the benefit of the compensator was less noticeable here. On the other hand, I found six-round Bill drills to be ultimately controllable, thanks to this hardware, so overall, I found the compensator to be a welcome addition.
I called it quits after exhausting more than 300 rounds without any malfunctions whatsoever. The gun did need a thorough cleaning, though. Disassembly requires completely unloading the pistol, locking the slide to the rear, removing the magazine, and rotating the takedown lever upward. After allowing the slide to fall forward, pressing the trigger lets it slip off the frame. Taking the comp off requires nothing more than pushing in inward while turning it, just like a cap on a pill bottle. The PVD finish made exterior cleaning as simple as wiping it with a solvent-soaked rag, and the rest was the same as cleaning any other firearm.
Although it is pricey, I really liked what FN did with the CC Edge XL. A gun that is fun to shoot will have the person carrying it to the range more often, fostering a greater proficiency, should they ever find themselves in a defensive situation. Although cliché, I’m not ashamed to write that you can’t put a price tag on that. Knowing that this pistol fills multiple roles helps us to swallow the cost a bit, particularly when it shares lineage with some of FN's well-known and reliable firearms. For those looking for a high-quality self-defense tool with a side of fun-to-shoot, look no further.
FN 509 CC Edge XL Specifications
Manufacturer: FN America (Dept, AR), PO Box 9424, McLean, VA 22102; (703)-288-3500; fnamerica.com
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Slide: stainless steel; graphite PVD finish
Frame: polymer
Barrel: 4.2”
Rifling: 1:10”-RH twist
Magazine: 17-round detachable box (10-round available)
Sights: drift-adjustable fiber-optic front; drift-adjustable serrated rear notch
Trigger: single-action-only; 5-lb., 3-oz. pull
Overall Length: 7.5”
Height: 5.9”
Width: 1.35”
Weight: 29 ozs. (unloaded with empty magazine)
Accessories: owner’s manual, two extra magazines, spare parts kit, mounting plates, flat backstrap, soft case, lock
MSRP: $1,625
