WARNING:  This is long as I got to rambling about various stuff in addition to the SLP.  You've been warned.


FN Self Loading Police (SLP) 12ga. Shotgun


I was in the market for an auto loading shotgun ever since I saw a Remington 11-87 held in the air and labeled an assault rifle (guns like “these” were to come under attack from anti-gunners).  I wanted a do-all shotgun for competition, hunting and defense and wanted it fast.  

I shopped around for a high capacity self loader and the Competition Master was at the top of my list.  With the CM no longer in production it was now or never, and then I stumbled on the Winchester SuperX2 Practical Mark II.  Similar set up but with a 3 inch chamber and ‘cool’ sights.  I like sights.  I was going to put sights on the CM anyway so this was a step in the right direction.  Still wasn’t sold on the 22 inch barrel for close quarters stuff.  Is four inches worth the extra round?  The wife says no.

Get it?  Ok let’s move on.

In shopping around for the best price on a Mark II, I came across the FN SLP.  It’s just like the Winchester Mark II but with an 18 inch barrel and one less capacity.  There are a few other differences as well.  The FN top rail is attached to the receiver, the Mark II has a cantilevered barrel (rail attached to barrel not receiver).  The length of pull is ¾ inch shorter on the FN.  This is great for shooting with body armor.  I don’t shoot in body armor anymore, but I do like a very short buttstock.  Shooting an M4 with a Crane buttstock I prefer it on the second shortest position for all but prone.  That’s how short I like the length of pull.  I’m going to look into shortening the FN buttstock some more.
Enough about me, back to the FN.  

The FN comes with two gas pistons.  One is for “up to 1 ¼” ounce and one for “over 1 ¼”.  It came with the lighter one installed and I left it in place.  I planned on shooting only 2 ¾ my first time out.
It is chambered for 3inch shells however.

The info I found on the FN stated that it comes with Tritium inserts.  Mine did not so I can’t comment on how good they work.  The sights though, are quite good.  The rear is a large ghost ring with dots at 9 and 3.  The front is a protected blade with white dot.  On the range in varying light conditions I found them quick and easy to use.  Using buck and slugs the sights put the rounds on target at 25 and 50 meters.  The rear is adjustable but I didn’t make any adjustments.  

The trigger mech is very good.  I like the feel.  It’s pretty light with a clean break.  I don’t have a trigger pull gage at home but I’d put it at 5lbs.  The safety is of the barrel variety sitting right behind the trigger.  If you’re right handed it’s very easy to finger the safety off on your way to the trigger.  If you’re left handed, you can have the safety swapped around to give you the same convenience.  I like it much better than the Mossberg style.  Just personal preference.

The one negative I found was during loading.  The shotshell “spoon” has a notch in the front edge of it.  As I load the shells into the magazine with my thumb, this “V” notch is wide enough to let my thumb go up a little too high.  When I lift the spoon and load with my thumb, my thumb has enough room to wedge between the front of the spoon and the magazine follower or base of shell.  When I try to remove my thumb, the spoon acts as a wedge and the V notch grabs the top of my thumb nail.  I pull a little harder and the notch shaves some nail off like a chisel.  This happened to my coworker as well.  The edges of the “V” notch need to be stoned a little so it won’t bite into my thumb nail.  By thumb nail I don’t mean the end, I’m referring to the area near the nail bed.  Think of the reloading action with the rifle shouldered and you should be able to get what I’m talking about.  I’ll take a picture when I get home on post it in this thread.  It doesn't happen all the time, but enough to want to take care of it.

Let the fun begin.  I read an article on Winchesters web site regarding the Super X2s cyclic rate.  That article stated that 5 rounds were fired in just over a ½ second.  It’s faster than I can, or want, to pull but it is nice knowing its capability.  Now I know the FN was not tested in that article, but I believe the SLP is just a tactical version of the SuperX2 platform.  

Recoil was manageable although I could not shoot slugs as fast as I could pull and keep them on target.  A slight pause is necessary.  Not that I think more than one would ever be needed for a single target, this was done for function testing.  The slugs hit high at 25, but were good at 50.  Without a rifled choke tube I didn’t get too carried away with accuracy testing.  I shot all rounds using an improved cylinder choke with good success.

This range trip was more for function and reliability testing than for outright accuracy and pattern testing.  Reliability was excellent.  Using Sellier & Bellot brand 00 Buck (full power) I could squeeze them off as fast as possible and stay on target, the muzzle did not climb.  Completely swiss cheesed a 14 x 18inch target at 12 yards.  I was actually surprised at how fast the magazine empties (loading 5 at a time).  The last shot was fired before the first shell hit the gound.  Caution for home defense though, there is a tremendous amount of smoke using the Sellier & Bellot rounds.  I mean a LOT.  There was a slight breeze at the range, but in a closed space it could hide the bad guys like a smoke grenade.  Add a sure fire light and like high beams in fog, you will see nothing.  Of course, smoke works both ways.  I will try some reduced recoil loads next time out and see if there is a measurable reduction in smoke.

I realize that talk of rapid fire and cyclic rates may come off a little Mall-Ninja’ish.  This was done in a controlled environment, on an empty range.  Testing how fast it shoots does not measure how good it is as a defensive or hunting tool.  It does tell me how well it will work when I can’t afford the extra thought process to utilize it.  By that I mean that I would rather focus my attention on my cover, my families location and whether the threat warrants squeezing the trigger.

My next range trip will be for groups and pattern.  I’m going to try rifled and turkey chokes to see just how versatile this SLP is.  Turkey season is almost here.

i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/want2race441/guns.jpg
S

Good reivew!

Now we need to see more PICS!

Here is the notch in the "spoon".  It's not that bad, but I had to mention it.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/want2race441/FNspoon.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/want2race441/FNsights.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/want2race441/FNLOP.jpg

Wear on the choke tube from 00 Buck and slugs.  This is the improved cylinder.  It's not lead you see, it's the finish wearing through.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/want2race441/FNchoketube.jpg

Thanks for posting the review!  

Thats not wear on the choke tube, thats love marks!

how much did that bad boy run you if you don't mind me askin.

Where is the SLP manufactured if you dont mind me asking?  If it is built stateside with the winchesters then there would be no problem changing stocks to collapse/fold like there is with the benellis.

Quoted: Where is the SLP manufactured if you dont mind me asking?  If it is built stateside with the winchesters then there would be no problem changing stocks to collapse/fold like there is with the benellis.

BUMP

'Cause I'm wondering the same thing.  

To take this to a rediculous extreme, is there an accessory rail for the forend, also?

A USA made pistol grip, stock, and rail would count as US parts, anyone have an idea what would be necessary to keep imported parts under ten, if it does apply?

JOE

$800 BIN on Gunbroker.

I don't know where they are built.  I thought they were assembled overseas.  As for Win's, I thought all but the 1300 were also built overseas as well.  I'll see if I can find anything.

S

Contacted FN.  Here you go:



The SLP is made in Belgium along with the Browning Gold and the USRAC Super X2.  The SLP is really a Super X2 Practical with a 18" barrel instead of a 22" barrel.  <<ha-ha I WAS right>>

FN owns Browning and USRAC (Winchester Guns)

I have never seen the SLP offered with Tritium inserts. Someone must have gotten that wrong.
<<asked why mine didn't have Tritium sights>>
At this time, we don't have tritium inserts for the SLP, however you might ck the Brownells catalog and see if they offer some.  The sights are also used by Benelli and others so it is fairly poular.

Thanks for your support of FN.



Super fast response by Dist. Sales Manager!  I don't know why, but I really dig FN stuff.

Cause FN is the illest...

Quoted: Contacted FN.  Here you go: I have never seen the SLP offered with Tritium inserts. Someone must have gotten that wrong. <<asked why mine didn't have Tritium sights>> At this time, we don't have tritium inserts for the SLP, however you might ck the Brownells catalog and see if they offer some.  The sights are also used by Benelli and others so it is fairly poular.

Ha!  Maybe FN should check their own website:

Target acquisition The ghost type sights with tritium allow a better and quicker acquisition of the target. They are mounted on a Picatinny Rail, allowing the installation of other types of sights should the mission require it.

Technical data : • Caliber  12 gauge with 3 inch chamber • Weight w. empty mag  3,770 kg (8.32 lbs)   • Overall length 109 cm (43 in) • Barrel lenght  560 mm (22 in) • Magazine capacity 8 (12/70mm), or 7 + 1 in chamber (12/76mm) • Sights Front sight and ghost ring sight w. Tritium • Operating principle Gas operated, semi-automatic • Finish Matt finishing on barrel, receiver and bolt

BTW, has anyone with one of these shotguns tried it with reduced recoil tactical loads?  Does it cycle them reliably?

Thanks!

I still have to buy some chokes, but I will pick up some RR/Tactical loads if I can find them.

Quoted: I still have to buy some chokes, but I will pick up some RR/Tactical loads if I can find them.

Howdy, just checking in to see if you had tried them out yet?

I've checked all but one local shop, no one has reduced recoil stuff around here.  I'll have to order some.

want2race... thanks for the review... I just ordered an FN SLP today and I'm expecting it to arrive in a week or so.

First I must say, my name is Don and I have a raging shotgun addiction gettin' goin'!

Sure seems to me that the FN SLP is the cat's meow in a self-loading defense shotgun.  I love the size, capacity is good, and the Winchester Super X2 action has gotten a lot of very positive reviews.  I am also considering getting an SX2 Practical Mk I with it's 22" barrel and capacity of 8+1 rounds w/ 2 3/4" stuff.

My other shottys are a Mossberg Persuader 18.5" and I just got a NIB 1100 Comp Master (same basic set-up as the SX2 Practical).  There would be an overlap with the 1100CM if I got the Practical also, so I could keep the better of the two or just have an extra cool shotgun... I guess you can't have too many!  hinking.gif

Are ya still lovin' your FN? Does it work well in 3-gun matches?

I've been busy building an AR and doing some work on an FN.  Now that those are done, back to the range.  

Gun show this weekend, hopefully SOMEONE will have some 'tacticool' loads for the 'gage.

Still dig the FN too.  I nearly bought a Comp Master but I really like the sights on the Practical and SLP.

S

want2race... CDNN has a special on the FN Police Shotgun, which is basically a police oriented Winchester 1300... much like the SLP, but in a pump version.  They're selling them with two stocks for $269... pretty difficult to pass up.  I decided to order one as a pump compliment to my SLP.  I keep hearing how nice the action is on Winchester 1300's so the FN Police SG just sucked me in. Looking forward to checking it out.

I'm approaching 100 rounds out of my 1100CM since picking it up earlier this week... all I can say is WOW, I love it.  Wouldn't mind adding a Practical Mk I someday either... just to round out the stable.