Weapon Talk ~ FN P90

Joshua1975 SG

FN P90

Caliber: 5.7x28mm SS190
Weight: 2.54 kg empty; 3 kg loaded with magazine with 50 rounds
Lenght: 500 mm
Barrel lenght: 263 mm
Rate of fire: 900 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 50 rounds
Effective range: 200 meters

The FN P90 submachine gun (SMG) was developed in the late 1980s as a defensive weapon for the troops whose primary activities does not include small arms - vehicle and tank crew members, artillery crews etc. Standart pistols and SMGs chambered for pistol rounds were proved ineffective against enemy soldiers, wearing armour (bulletproof) vests, so FN Herstal developed a new round with enhanced penetration - the SS190. This round looks like scaled downt 5.56mm NATO round and forces the pointed, steel core bullet to the 600-700 meters per second at the muzzle, thus being capable to defeat standart CRISAT helmets and armour vests at reasonable distances (50-100 meters).

The P90 is a blowback operated, selective fire weapon. It is fed from 50-rounds box magazines, made from transluscent polymer. The magazine is being located above the barrel, with the cartridges being aligned at 90 degrees to the barrel axis. Each magazine has built-in ramp that rotates cartridge to align it with the barrel prior to chambering it.

The P90 controls are completely ambidextrous, with charging handles located at the both sides of the weapon, and the safety/fire mode selector is located below the trigger. The P90 also features downward ejection of the spent cases. P90 is built in bull-pup configuration, with polymer stock, and features built-in reflex collimator sight with 1X magnification and reticle automaticaly ajustable to the light level, as well as a set of the backup open sights. P90 may be equipped with special silencer, that should be used with special, sub-sonic variant of the 5.7x28mm cartridge.

P90 may be referred as a forerunner of the PDW (Personal Defence Weapon) concept, that arose in last 4 or 5 years.

P90 is used by Saudi Arabia, Peruan Special Forces and some special units of Thailand army, and offered for export by FN.

John Ching SG

As good as the P90 is, theres still some set back which is why not widely used. 1st its expensive, 2nd mags are too long to be kept in any combat webbing & 3rd 5.7mm round is still not recognise by NATO as standard round.

H&K also have a new PDW, MP7, using 4.6mm. http://www.hkpro.com/pdw.htm

quivalen SG

just add another plus point about the P90 - with the silencer on, it is really silent - the sounds of the empty cartridges hitting the ground make more noise than the actual firing. first hand experience. for comparison, i've heard that the suppressed mp5 on the other hand, is not actually very silent.

|-|05| SG

Originally posted by quivalen:
just add another plus point about the P90 - with the silencer on, it is [b]really silent - the sounds of the empty cartridges hitting the ground make more noise than the actual firing. first hand experience. for comparison, i've heard that the suppressed mp5 on the other hand, is not actually very silent.[/b]

the suppressed mp5 aint.......but the mp5A5SD(i think that's the name) is.....it's suppressor is built in i believe?

SpecOps87 SG

Yup,the MP5SD series SMGs have their silencers integrated into the barrel of the weapon itself,as such it is quieter compared to other weapons where the silencer is fixed onto the weapon.

Comparing the FN P90,with the H&K MP5,its a pretty close fight as both weapons have their pros and cons.The P90 has a higher calibre,higher velocity round the 5.7mm and has a longer magazine containing 50 shots.Whil the tried and tested H&K MP5 series of weapons is compact,stable,reliable and fires from a closed-bolt position,this allows the weapon to be fired very very accurately.

The P90 does have a flaw in the sense that it is very expensive,and has a uniquely strange "turn-table"of sorts in the magazine where the round will execute a 90 degrees turn before being loaded into the chamber.However,though this seems like a long process compared to the normal style of feeding,the P90 can unleash rounds faster then the MP5 can.

Thus it is usually up to the individual user of the weapon to see what suits his operation.Btw,during the Thai Hospital Raid a couple of years back,Thai SF were even using the standard M-16A1 to assault the building.Thus,it can be seen that its not the equipment you use,but rather the way you have been trained that really matters.

chunyong SG

if u all mean the Aluminium silencer for MP-5, it can't compare with the in-built one loh....its a hell of a dif...P90 allows a driver to shoot with just a hand so dat they can still drive when shooting. the design and size allows P90 to be placed between the driver seat and door, u caan even put it in the mappocket of the cardoor itself. Smile

P90 is very good...almost on par with MP-5.

John Ching SG

I think its better to compare the P90 to the H&K MP 7. MP 7 is the latest PDW using 4.6mm. Like P90, it too is design for 1 arm firing, its just as compact, its just as expensive, etc.

John Ching SG

I think its better to compare the P90 to the H&K MP 7. MP 7 is the latest PDW using 4.6mm. Like P90, it too is design for 1 arm firing, its just as compact, its just as expensive, etc.

BTW, with regards to the Thai hostage incident, regardless of whatever weapon they can be issued, the end result would be much the same. Confused

chunyong SG

PDW cannot compared with P90 one....PDW buay zhai one

BeEtHoVeN SG

eh P90 is a PDW ... (personal defence weapon) Wink

Joshua1975 SG

Laughing look at the post above Mr. Green

Troy437 SG

How much does one cost?

The grip look funny.....izit meant for snipers?

BeEtHoVeN SG

it is more for second-line army guys such as logistics as well as for special operations ... snipers normally has one spotter to protect them if things get rough ..

Joshua1975 SG

Rolling Eyes
The FN P90 submachine gun (SMG) was developed in the late 1980s as a defensive weapon for the troops whose primary activities does not include small arms - vehicle and tank crew members, artillery crews etc. Standart pistols and SMGs chambered for pistol rounds were proved ineffective against enemy soldiers, wearing armour (bulletproof) vests, so FN Herstal developed a new round with enhanced penetration - the SS190. This round looks like scaled downt 5.56mm NATO round and forces the pointed, steel core bullet to the 600-700 meters per second at the muzzle, thus being capable to defeat standart CRISAT helmets and armour vests at reasonable distances (50-100 meters).

The P90 is a blowback operated, selective fire weapon. It is fed from 50-rounds box magazines, made from transluscent polymer. The magazine is being located above the barrel, with the cartridges being aligned at 90 degrees to the barrel axis. Each magazine has built-in ramp that rotates cartridge to align it with the barrel prior to chambering it.

The P90 controls are completely ambidextrous, with charging handles located at the both sides of the weapon, and the safety/fire mode selector is located below the trigger. The P90 also features downward ejection of the spent cases. P90 is built in bull-pup configuration, with polymer stock, and features built-in reflex collimator sight with 1X magnification and reticle automaticaly ajustable to the light level, as well as a set of the backup open sights. P90 may be equipped with special silencer, that should be used with special, sub-sonic variant of the 5.7x28mm cartridge.

P90 may be referred as a forerunner of the PDW (Personal Defence Weapon) concept, that arose in last 4 or 5 years.

P90 is used by Saudi Arabia, Peruan Special Forces and some special units of Thailand army, and offered for export by FN.

Joshua1975 SG

special operations maybe yes but 2nd line such as log Question might as well say for ppl on the street.

Laughing

BeEtHoVeN SG

my dear Joshua, plz read up on why they term P90 as a PDW ..

The PDW provides a compact package for support crews, crew served weapons personnel, drivers and other logistics troops who don't need a issue assault rifle but rather are more concerned with personal defence, thus the term.

BeEtHoVeN SG

sorry, double post

chunyong SG

i mean HK one lah, the one dat can transform like transformer into an over sized pistol, SMG and watever they claim.

palmerised SG

how about taking barrett's m468 rifle which is chambered to the new 6.8mm, not 5.56mm, and in hollow-point? complete with eotech hds and vertical foregrip with a surefire attached.. sweet Mr. Green