#fn57

The FN 5.7 x 28 caliber has been in existence since the late 1980s but truly hasn’t been considered a mainstream cartridge. The FN 5.7 x 28 cartridge was developed and introduced by FN Herstal as a cartridge for both pistols (the FN Five Seven) and PDWs (the FN P90 bullpup). The overall length of the cartridge is similar to that of a .22 rimfire magnum, but packs quite a punch with a projectile between 23 and 40 grain reaching velocities between 2,300 and 3,000 feet per second. Energy of the different loads vary between 380 and 580 foot pounds of energy. In comparison, a .22 rimfire magnum cartridge reaches velocities around 2,000 feet per second delivering around 300 foot pounds of energy. Both of these cartridges feel similar in terms of felt recoil in my opinion. Now as far as cost per round, .22 rimfire magnum currently is 30 cent per round whereas the FN 5.7 x 28 cartidge is typically somewhere around $1 per round which is a significant different in price especially when compared to other pistol caliber cartridges such as the 9 x 19 luger.

Mostly due to the cost of the FN 5.7 x 28 ammo have I stayed away from purchasing any sort of firearm that utilizes the FN round. Many times I have looked at purchasing an FN Five Seven pistol as they typically have them available over at Brownells, but even the firearms that shoot this cartridge are priced well above and beyond what similar pistols that shoot more common cartridges such as 9MM. Some time ago, other manufacturers started to release their own version of pistols chambered in the FN 5.7 x 28 cartridge. Ruger released their pistol, which right away was priced well below that of FN. They followed up shortly after with their PC carbine chambered in 5.7. PSA released their version, the Rock, that came in even cheaper than the Ruger pistol. I was considering purchasing either one of those, but then S&W released their M&P 5.7. As soon as I saw it, I picked one up to see what all the fuss was about.

My first trip to the range with the S&W M&P 5.7 pistol and $100+ worth of ammo (2 boxes of FN SS195LF) was quite the eye opener. I had long heard how soft shooting the FN 5.7 was, but had yet to experience it first hand. Here you have a cartridge worthy of defensive use, that has no more recoil than a rimfire pistol would have. The S&W M&P pistol uses a sleaved barrel that incorporates a rotating locking lug assembly. Quite an ingenious design if I must saw so myself. Recently other ammunition companies such as Federal and AAC have started to produce the FN 5.7 x 28 cartridge at much more wallet appealing prices. Hopefully more supply will equal lower prices in the long run.

So with so many new firearms being released that utilize the FN 5.8 x 28 cartridge, is this caliber back and possibly entering the main stream? Many folk, including myself used to view it as an exotic caliber, but with companies like Ruger and S&W releasing new firearms using it, is the FN 5.7 x 28 caliber back? Only time will tell, but I do believe it’s off to a great start with increasingly becoming popular.