Initial impression of the FS2000 on opening the box: why the HELL did they stick this thing in a cheap cardboard box??
Okay, let’s forget that for now. The FS2000 standard handles very well. It is far less ‘substantial’ in person (in pictures it looks really, really tall) and is very easy to manipulate. This bullpup was designed (apparently) with wearing gloves in mind, and there are no problems at all manipulating the safety or operating the weapon while wearing gloves.
The optic on the Standard is mounted on a low picatinny rail, covered by the pictured shroud. The shroud pops right off easily enough (you push a button towards the front, slide it forward, and presto!) revealing the entire assembly. It has a nifty, fairly fast reticle, and the light transmission is very good and the 1.6x magnified image is very crisp. No problems aquiring the target in evening light. With both eyes open, BAC isn’t a problem, as the shroud is actually very narrow. It sports a fixed, backup sight on top of the shroud along the lines of the PS90 USG irons.
The rifle is obviously designed to be fired off hand. Benching it is, for me, uncomfortable. But its balance and design allow for very easy shooting standing, kneeling, or laying in the prone. This is a battle rifle with a battle sight.
I won’t pretend that you will win precision matches with it, but I was able to hold sub 2” groups with the factory sight in the prone with most of the ammunition I used at 100 yards. You use a small tool that comes with the rifle to adjust the optic, turning knobs. A quarter turn on the knob = about 4 inches at 100 yards, so it’s an imprecise yet effective adjustment. There is “guestimation” involved in adjusting this optic just like the optic on the PS90. You can obviously adjust for less than a 4 inch move, but it’s about guessing the right ‘slight’ amount to move the adjustment mechanism. I believe MO would call this “minute of enemy” shooting.
Now, bang for the buck. I used HK mags for the first run. Lake City 5.56 62 grain ran trough the thing flawlessly, as did older surplus 55 grain 5.56. My own 62 grain reloads using a recipe of H Varget powder also ran without a hitch. The forward ejection system ROCKS. I had hangups (as I sort of expected) with my 55 grain sierra SP reloads. The soft lead noses on those things have caused problems in most of my autoloaders, and the same held true here. They just have a tendency to screw up. A mag of 40 grain V Max loads also worked without a failure.
So all in all I had three or four malfunctions, which were anticipated since I have experienced the same with my AR15s and Sig 556 using the same ammo. Based upon this limited run of about 120 rounds, I would have to say that I personally believe this rifle to be at LEAST as reliable as a top shelf AR15 and much, much more comfortable to shoot than the same AR15 with the stock collapsed, while being shorter still.
SINCE WRITING THE ORIGINAL REPORT:
I have used normal GI mags of various manufacture without serious problems. I have had several light strikes with older LC surplus 5.56 ammunition, however from the same batch I have had similar malfunctions in my bushmasters. I have not encountered the same fickle nature in terms of ammunition that others have reported; I am not saying it hasn't happened, I'm saying I haven't had any issues.
I can't speak to the STG556 vs FS2000 issue since I dont own an STG556, but I have been VERY happy with my purchase.
Worth it? Absolutely. Get one before you can’t. I would definitely shop around though, since in my local area even the tactical is sitting on the shelf with a $2,600 tag on it (I paid a total of about 2075 by the time I was driving home with it). Use gunbroker and enjoy your new toy, just like wolly!
