The fit and finish of the test rifle received was excellent, and all controls worked as designed. Although eccentric in appearance, the ergonomic qualities of the Standard FS2000 were quite good, with excellent balance. In addition, the integral optic was easy to use and very clear. For handling and shooting, I fitted the rifle out with an ambidextrous Urban-Sentry hybrid sling, which is convertible to either single-point or two-point configuration.
I tested the rifle with a selection of Remington, Federal and Black Hills ammunition. There were no malfunctions during testing and the rifle performed quite well. In fact, accuracy results were good considering the use of the low-powered 1.6X optic and a not particularly crisp trigger break (a common feature of bullpup rifles due to long trigger linkage).
Although by no means inexpensive, the FS2000 Standard offers civilian shooters a unique opportunity to own a cutting-edge firearm design that takes advantage of modern technology and materials. It's also simply a blast to shoot.
Manufacturer: FNH USA; (703) 288-1292, Fnhusa.com
Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Rem.)
Action Type: Gas-operated, semi-automatic
Receiver: Aluminum alloy
Barrel: 171⁄2-inch, manganese phosphated steel
Rifling: Six grooves, 1:7 RH
Magazine: Detachable box, STANAG
Sights: Integral 1.6X optic on Picatinny rail
Trigger Pull: 91⁄2 pounds, two-stage
Stock: Synthetic
Overall Length: 291⁄4 inches
Weight: 7 pounds, 14 ounces
Accessories: Cleaning kit, sight-adjustment tool and owner’s manual
Suggested Retail Price: $2,773.27
