Fusion Firearms XF PRO — a full-metal, no-apologies review

The first time I picked up the Fusion XF PRO it didn’t feel like the usual “me-too” 9mm on the range. It has a weight and presence that tells you immediately this was built from metal and intent, not cost-cut polymer. Fusion went full-metal on purpose: aluminum bar-stock CNC work, an optic-ready slide, a complete rail on the frame, and a grip that points like a pistol that knows what it wants to do. That presence is the XF PRO’s personality, heavy enough to soak recoil, solid enough to instill confidence, and built so that when you hand it to a buddy they pause before saying anything other than, “Wow, feels nice.”

Here are the specs you’ll want to know (straight from Fusion and the listings we checked): it’s a metal striker-fire platform in 9mm, built from precision CNC bar-stock materials and finished in Tenifer/QPQ on many variants. The standard barrel is a 4.0" fluted Glock Gen-4 compatible barrel, the gun is optic ready and ships with RMR and RMS/C plates, and Fusion lists Glock® magazine compatibility as a headline feature. Typical retail paperwork and vendor pages list an overall length around 7.29" and a weight in the neighborhood of ~1.66 lb (about 26–27 oz)depending on configuration. The factory trigger is a competition flat-face, one-piece steel milled style and Fusion bundles interchangeable grip panels (different thicknesses) so you can tune hand fit without swapping frames.

Fusion doesn’t skimp on the out-of-the-box presentation: the XF PRO commonly ships with two magazines, optic plates (RMR + RMS/C), spare grip panels, a cleaning kit, and a hard case — real, useful accessories that make it feel like more than just a pistol at that price. That included hardware is a big reason the XF PRO punches above its MSRP in perceived value.

Shooting the XF PRO is where the story gets interesting. In stock form the gun is stable and tracks well — the metal frame and weight tame recoil and the full frame rail gives you a solid, premium feeling when you present. But the XF PRO really changes character with Fusion’s drop-in ported barrel and the accompanying guide-rod / spring kits. Slide the ported 4" barrel in and pair it with Fusion’s 13-lb guide rod assembly (or the spring kit they offer) and muzzle flip drops noticeably; follow-ups become significantly easier and the gun starts behaving like a flat, deliberate “tac driver.” These parts are sold as direct replacements / upgrades on Fusion’s parts page and are essentially plug-and-play for the platform. If you want a metal gun that can be tame and soft for fast strings, this swap is the single most transformative change you can make.

We equipped our review sample with a Gideon Optics Granite and the included plates made mounting painless — the optic sat low and natural and didn’t require additional fitting. If you want the exact setup we ran, use code JAYWETH at Gideon Optics.

For range ammo we bought from Brownells (use code BOP10 like we did) — both are the plugs we run on MacBroz reviews and they worked great for testing.

Now the honest part — the pros and cons (no fluff):

Pros (what made us smile)

• Price/value: For a metal-framed, optics-ready pistol that ships with plates, spare grips, a cleaning kit and a hard case, the market positioning is excellent. Fusion puts meaningful extras in the box that usually cost extra elsewhere.

• Quality of materials & fitment: Bar-stock, CNC machining, tight tolerances and solid finishing give a premium feel. The frame and slide register very well; fit and finish are noticeable in the hands.

• Glock magazine compatibility: Use the massive aftermarket for mags and spares — practical and easy.

• What’s included: RMR + RMS/C plates, spare grip panels (different thicknesses), cleaning kit, case — meaningful kit that pushes perceived value.

• Ergonomics & controls: The grip angle and accessibility of controls feel natural (more in line with classic metal framed designs than a polymer Glock). The complete rail on the frame adds a robust, premium feel.

• Ported barrel + spring kit option: Drop in the ported 4" barrel and swap springs/guide rod to turn the gun into a very smooth, low-rise shooter — real, usable modularity from the factory parts catalog.

Cons (what bugs us)

• Trigger is lackluster: It’s not a terrible trigger, but it’s not crisp match grade either. Expect some mush before the wall and a reset that’s adequate but not exceptional — many owners will feel compelled to upgrade for competition work.

• No magwell (out of the box): Reloads can be fumble-prone until you build muscle memory. There aren’t a ton of high-quality magwell options yet, so reload speed for competition-style runs won’t be native to the platform unless you install an accessory or train for it.

• Holster ecosystem: Because the XF PRO is thicker and its profile differs from mainstream polymer pistols, holster options (especially the top-tier IWB/OWB makers we prefer, like Tier1 Concealed-level fits) are limited compared to Glock/Shield/XDE ecosystems. You’ll need to hunt for a perfect fit or wait for more holster makers to add molds.

• Weight & carry: The metal frame is great for recoil control, not so great for folks chasing the lightest EDC. If everyday conceal carry is your top priority, this is a tradeoff: better shootability vs. heavier pocket presence.

Accessories and support: Fusion’s parts catalog already lists the 4" fluted ported barrel and 13-lb guide rod assembly(drop-in parts), and there are third-party grip enhancers (like HandleIt grips) and aftermarket parts starting to appear. Mag catches, small parts, and additional optic plates are either available or in development — Fusion’s approach is clearly modular and parts-forward.

Who should buy this? If you want a metal-frame, optic-ready 9mm that accepts Glock magazines and gives you a premium feel without boutique pricing, the XF PRO is one of the most compelling values out there. If you’re a competition shooter chasing the absolute lightest trigger or need instant access to a massive holster mold ecosystem, you might feel friction until the market catches up. But for range addicts, tinkerers who love swap-and-test upgrades (ported barrels, springs, optics), or someone who wants a metal pistol that behaves like a higher-priced gun — this is a really good pick.

Bottom line: Fusion built a pistol that feels like a statement. It’s solid, tunable, and thoughtfully packed; its weak points are fixable and mostly down to ecosystem maturity (holsters, magwell options, trigger aftermarket). Drop in that ported barrel and spring kit, mount a Granite or similar red dot, and the XF PRO becomes the kind of pistol you’ll load first and explain later.