Gun Tests recently tested an FN Police Shotgun 12-Gauge Pump No. 17674 that came with an extra stock for $270.
They asked a four-person test team to run through the gun and to see if the pump could stand up to the rigors of a Gun Tests evaluation. All in, they fired about 300 rounds of shotshells and slugs through the gun, some of them on the range but most in magazine-clearing speed shooting, the better to stress the operator and product and find out any flaws in the gun’s performance. Here’s what they found:
The FN Police Tactical shotgun came with two stocks. This shotgun was made by U.S. Repeating Arms in New Haven, CT, for FN Herstal. (Unfortunately, the New Haven plant is closing.) FNUSA lists two versions of the gun on its website, the 7+1 gun we tested (No. 17674) and a 4+1 gun (No. 17675). Two other “police”-marked pump shotguns FNUSA lists are the FN Tactical Police Shotgun and the FN Tactical Police Shotgun Fixed Stock. For our test gun, a 14-inch-barrel is sold to law enforcement on special order.
Elsewhere on our FN Police, we noticed it came with a post front sight and elevation adjustable tangent rear sight. Both sights were dovetailed in. The receiver was also drilled and tapped for mounting a scope or other sight. We liked the matte manganese phosphate finish. It did not reflect light.
The crossbolt safety was located in front of the trigger, and we found it largerand well made. There was no doubt when it clicked On or Off. It locked in and out of place like a safety should. When the safety was On and the gun wouldn’t fire, the shooter could not see red on the safety bolt, and the button sat nearly flush with the trigger guard, so he could easily tell by feeling it that it was on or off.
At the butt end of the gun, the FN Police used an actual recoil pad that is effective. Out front, the ridges on the forearm were pronounced, so the shooter’s hand is less likely to slip off when racking the slide. Also, the trigger group came out and went in with ease, a boon to maintenance.
At the muzzle, this shotgun came with two screw-in choke tubes (IC and Modified). We used the IC choke for our testing, and we were happy with the patterns it produced at 20 feet. The gun shot to point of aim with birdshot and buckshot loads, and its adjustable sights allowed us to fine-tune where the slugs hit.
The FN functioned well with all of the 2.75-inch loads we tested, but it, too, had problems with some of the 3-inch shells. As a result, we would steer clear of 3-inch magnum ammunition in both guns, partly because it caused feeding problems, but also because 3-inch shells are overkill, in our view. The 3-inchers’ recoil is moderately to substantially greater, and the shells have a greater tendency to hang up on extraction. A high-brass 2.75-inch shell is plenty for any self-defense use, we feel, and in most cases standard or even reduced-velocity shotshells are fine, too.
This shotgun had sling swivels. The barrel was 2 inches shorter than others in the same category, yet it had a greater magazine capacity (7+1). The trigger had some take up, but it broke clean.
The additional Speed Feed SF 1 Tactical stock comes with a nice recoil pad and will hold four shotgun shells (two on each side) in the butt. We didn’t see a need to switch stocks. Eight rounds seemed like enough ammo for our needs. The receiver had a loading gate, which made it smooth and easy to load the magazine.
Gun Tests Recommends: FN Police Shotgun No. 17674 12-Gauge Pump, $270 retail. Best Buy. The FN Police Tactical Shotgun is a great buy at $270 (plus shipping and dealer transfer fee.
