The FNP-45's disassembly lever works much like that of the Sig Sauer pistols. Lock the slide back, rotate the disassembly lever, and then ease the slide off the frame. With the slide removed, the barrel, recoil spring and guide rod all come out without any effort. Reassembly is just as fast.

The FNP's polymer frame also houses several steel parts, including the ejector, fire-control parts and the front and rear slide rails. The rear rails are just .356 inch while the more substantial front rails measure 1.549 inches.

The slide that rides smoothly on those rails is made from stainless bar stock. Some are finished in a durable, black Melonite while slides on the stainless model, which I tested, are left in their natural color but bead blasted to an attractive, matte finish.

The FNP's slide is somewhat boxy but retains a low profile that doesn't place it too high over the hand. That's a good thing because the higher the bore is over the hand, the more muzzle flip you get. The combination of a heavy steel slide and a lightweight, polymer frame exacerbates the problem. Thankfully, that is not an issue with the FNP-45.

FNH-USA FNP-45
Manufacturer	FNH USA, www.fnhusa.com, 703-288-1292
Type	DA/SA samiauto
Caliber	.45 ACP
Capacity	14+1
Barrel Length	4 1/2 in.
Overall Length	7 7/8 in.
Weight	33.2 oz.
Sights	three-dot, low profile, snag-free rear with thin-blade front. Night sights available for additional cost.
Trigger	DA, 10lb., 1 oz.; SA, 4lb.
Grips	checkered polymer frame wth interchangable backstraps
Finish	matte stainless slide over polymer frame (tested); black Melonite-coated stainless slide over polymer frame also available.
Width	1.56 in.
Price	$725

Snag-free, low-profile sights are dovetailed into the slide fore and aft. The test gun had two white dots in the wide-notch rear sight and one in the thin front sight blade. Night sights are also available for those who are so inclined.

The slide houses the FNP's robust extractor, which also serves as a loaded chamber indicator, and its 41⁄2-inch, hammer-forged barrel. The slide has 12 forward-raking grasping grooves at the rear. The FN logo, ".45 ACP," and "FNP-45" are tastefully etched on the left side of the slide, while the company name and address, "Stainless Steel" and "Made in USA" are etched on the right side.

The test gun came with three 14-round magazines. At the first opportunity, I loaded them up and headed to the local sheriff's range to run some rounds through the newest addition to the FNP line.

I've found that guns change when you start putting rounds through them. Sometimes, guns look and feel great in the store but don't shoot worth a darn, while others are sort of ho-hum but win you over on the range. The FNP-45 fell into the second category.

There is nothing about the quality or features of the FNP that made me doubt it, but I was concerned that its big grip would make the pistol difficult to manage, especially in double-action. My concerns proved to be unfounded--thanks to the fact that the molded polymer frame doesn't need grip panels, which would make it thicker, and its 1911-esque grip angle. On the range, I forgot all about the fact that I was shooting a double-stack .45 ACP.