5.7x28 - gimmick or useful SD round?

[dubya450]

I'm sure most of you know what the FN Five-seveN is and if anyone has knowledge about the 5.7x28 round I'd like to hear what you think about it. I picked up a Five-seveN a few months ago along with 1000 rounds and 2 extra mags from cabelas. I really think it's a cool gun, accurate, reliable, light and high capacity. I get alot of mixed opinions from friends/family and strangers at the range. Anything from its the best SD round available to its a useless gimmick (both of which I know aren't true) but what do you all think? Is it a worthy SD round or not? The 1000 rounds I picked up were the ss197 factory ammo with 40gr v-max bullet but i also ordered 50 Elite Ammunition's T6 55gr all copper round. I know there are probably better SD pistol's/calibers and i own many other pistol's from 9mm 10mm 45acp ect. just think the Five-seveN is a cool, different gun.

So, what's your view on the Five-seveN, or more specifically, the 5.7x28 round?

Cory

 

[Shipwreck]

I have two PS90 carbines. I keep a lot of extra ammo. I will only shoot factory ammo, however. I do prefer the 197 over the 195 ammo.

I have owned other rifles in the past, but these are the only two I have now. I am satisfied with the guns and caliber, and I love the 50 round mags.

Realize, that EVERY 5.7 thread generally breaks down, with the same handful of guys who have no experience with the round coming to say how much it sucks. They seem to search out the mere mention of the caliber, and swoop down. After many years, I generally avoid these threads because they always end up the same. No one will ever agree.

Just do what you feel comfortable with.

 

[Texan Scott]

the five-seven was designed to be an effective, controllable FULL AUTO AP ROUND. If you can't have AP or full auto, it's kind of like .22 hornet repackaged for semi-autos. If it's what I had, i'd use it- and empty the mag. It'd be LETHAL, for sure; as a MANSTOPPER, it'd probably work in large numbers. Given that i'm likely to empty WHATEVER into my target no matter what, that's probably a non-issue for me.
Personally, i don't own semi-autos. I have in the past, and I'd LOVE to have another 10/22, but i don't. For hunting, i like lever guns; they're what i know.
If i had semi-autos in the stable, i suspect a 5.7 ballistic tip would be my feral cat round of choice.

 

[Orion8472]

You need to run a search on this topic because it has be hashed and rehashed more than it needs to be. There is no reason to start it all back up again.

What you will get are those who think it is "just a plinking round. . . and too expensive". Others will state that the round is a very viable round for SD. Others will exclaim it as the best round ever.

Bottom line is. . . . .search and find.

 

[el Godfather]

It is as useful as you want it to be.

 

[longhair75]

I handled one at the last gun show, and it felt pretty light. What is the recoil like? It would seem to me that it be pretty heavy.

 

[dubya450]

The recoil is very controllable. With a good grip and stance you can stay on target through rapid fire and still group good. Personally I'd say its 50% of the recoil my glock 19 has. Other people may think more or less but either way the felt recoil just isn't there really.

 

[Skribs]

If the 5.7x28mm is a "glorified .22", then the .357 magnum is a glorified .380.

Honestly, the 5.7x28mm imitates rifle capabilities in a pistol package. It comes in a light gun, has light recoil, and has a wound channel bigger than what caliber alone would suggest. And it comes with a bigger flush magazine than any 9mm handgun out there. It does more than just work well full-auto and pierce armor, the energy dump causes enough cavitation trauma to increase the size of the wound channel, and low recoil is good for semi-auto as well.

On the other hand, there is not a lot of support for the 5.7 yet (its only available in a single-action or a few noname-brand models), there isn't much ammo availability, people don't like reloading bottlenecked cases, and it is loud. Most of these are availability issues as opposed to engineering issues. There's also the problem of the velocity when using it at some pistol ranges (since it functions more like a rifle round) and lack of ammo commonality with a smaller gun (I can get a LC9 and XD9 and use the same ammo in both).

I think the 5.7x28mm is a great round, and it would have a significant amount of success if another well-known manufacturer (HK, Sig, Beretta, Glock, Springfield, S&W, Ruger, etc) would come out with a few models to spruce up the interest, and more ammunition for this caliber were produced. As it is, it is in sort of a flux where people don't want it due to availability, and it's not available because people don't want it.

In short, it is definitely a good SD round.

 

[G|0cKbYtE]

I own a Five-seveN and have carried it for well over a year now. I have also participated in some of the forum's exhaustive caliber debates already alluded to. I would recommend you do a search and read through a couple. It will be enlightening for sure.

As far as your original question; the Five-seveN - like many other pistol calibers - will be just as effective as your aim. The Five-seveN is a pistol, it isn't a death ray. If you shoot somebody in an extremity like the arm, their arm will break, but they won't die.

The good news is, you have 21 shots to hit the "off button" which is the central nervous system. The gun also exhibits very light recoil relative to other common pistol calibers allowing faster shots on target from less than professional shooters.

If you have some of EA's new T6 rounds, then you have some of the nastiest Five-seveN rounds available. Any threat to you will not be safe behind car doors, Level IIIa body armor, or other barriers that stop many other pistol rounds. Just aim for center mass and the gun will do the rest.

 

[TimboKhan]

Fellow high roaders

Feel free to discuss this, but make sure it stays civil. For whatever reason this round brings out the worst in posters. It's just a round, not a reason to resort to zealotry, so keep it civil and factual, please!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[G|0cKbYtE]

No kidding! I'm almost convinced that discussions regarding the 5.7 platform should be treated like religion and politics and relegated to a separate part of the forum. It's that bad.

Several small forums heavily populated with law enforcement are abnormally set against the platform. But if you think about it, they probably have a point. The Five-seveN in the wrong hands could be a problem due to its unique characteristics. Fortunately, we still have a bit of the 2nd amendment left declaring our rights to protect ourselves from threats - including the government.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'd be interested in seeing the differences in actual performance in gel and other media between 5.7 from the pistol vs. 5.7 from the rifle. Out of a rifle, even a .22 LR can have impressive results.

 

[dubya450]

Not that i wish anyone to be shot or have to shoot someone but I'd like to see the real life statistics of actual man stopping power of the 5.7x28 as far as police who use weapons chambered for the round. I have heard that its a pretty nasty varmit load though! it just hasn't been popular enough yet to see major use I guess.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Instead of relying on the internet, I just shot some dead pigs with my 5.7 (they come free with the ranch). I'm entirely confident in the performance of the 5.7x28mm round after having done so.

 

[G|0cKbYtE]

Instead of relying on the internet, I just shot some dead pigs with my 5.7 (they come free with the ranch). I'm entirely confident in the performance of the 5.7x28mm round after having done so.

Please share your pictures or notes if you have any. I have a lot of pictures and statements saved of people who have taken game with the 5.7 platform.

Edit: I just noticed you said "dead pigs". I take that to mean they weren't live when you shot them?

 

[beex215]

not really helping but

looks to be an interesting round and ive always wanted a ps90 sbr. looks to be a very fun toy to play with. its rather expensive for the weapons that chamber that round though.

 

[G|0cKbYtE]

Not that i wish anyone to be shot or have to shoot someone but I'd like to see the real life statistics of actual man stopping power of the 5.7x28 as far as police who use weapons chambered for the round. I have heard that its a pretty nasty varmit load though! it just hasn't been popular enough yet to see major use I guess.

If you do a search of my name in this forum you will stumble into several extremely comprehensive threads providing exactly what you asked for.

 

[EddieNFL]

I'm almost convinced that discussions regarding the 5.7 platform should be treated like religion and politics and relegated to a separate part of the forum.

Where is that?

 

[G|0cKbYtE]

I don't know if this forum has a separate place for religion and politics, but many do. That way those that aren't interested in all the bickering can just avoid all the discussions easily.

 

[TimboKhan]

He is joking. THR does not have religion or politics forum.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[dubya450]

G|OcKbYtE I just read through some of it, thats a pretty good thread. That was a few months before i joined this forum. SORRY to all who have to be bored by yet another 5-7 thread, I should have checked the archives first.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Not that i wish anyone to be shot or have to shoot someone but I'd like to see the real life statistics of actual man stopping power of the 5.7x28 as far as police who use weapons chambered for the round.

Fort Hood.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Is it a worthy SD round or not? The 1000 rounds I picked up were the ss197 factory ammo with 40gr v-max bullet but i also ordered 50 Elite Ammunition's T6 55gr all copper round. I know there are probably better SD pistol's/calibers and i own many other pistol's from 9mm 10mm 45acp ect. just think the Five-seveN is a cool, different gun.

With the VMAX bullet you might get 7" of penetration before the bullet completely explodes into tiny fragments in soft tissue - far short of what most people would deem to be acceptable performance for self defense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQmmqszUmY

The Elite Ammo loads would be much better suited for defensive carry. Do I think it's an ideal cartridge for defensive carry? No. But is it ineffective? It will put a hole in someone which is all that's required. As long as it penetrates 12"-18" of soft tissue and the bullet maintains its mass (doesn't explode into tiny bits), it's good to go.

I think most people that carry it do so because it's interesting and new - it has a certain novelty to it. Others like to carry a proven round with proven ammo and won't stray from that path. Which is right? Who knows. Do what flops your mop, it's your life to live!

 

[LightningMan]

I personally think the SS197 round is watered down, and not up to the cartridges potental. Elite Ammuntion, is loaded quite to the max, as they advise not to reload the emptys. I know as I had some Super Raptors, S4 cases, which expanded enough that they would no longer fit in the shell holder or even hold a primer in place. Plus EA is expensive, and you may have to wait a while to get it. I myself prefer to reload, I can get better performance than the SS197 and even if I load to the max of published data, I can still get 2 maybe 3 loadings out of the brass, before it's no good. LM

 

[barnbwt]

The 5.7 is controversial in gun circles as an extension of the epic/ongoing "Momentum v. Energy Wars" everyone seems to take sides on. The 5.7 is pretty much the fastest, littlest bullet out there (that is still pistol-able), and that bugs the hell out of folks who believe damage comes from mass (not speed). If there was a super heavy, super slow round that would still fit in a pistol (.45 long colt cowboy load?) similar bashing would probably come from the 5.7 and magnum guys.

Myself, I'm a hot-rodder. I own a Five-seven, a .357 Magnum, and a CZ-52. Those are all well on the side of Energy as opposed to momentum, as far as ballistics (yes, .357 is more flexible in this regard.) I personally find sharper, shorter recoil more controllable in handguns. I feel like the bulk of my mass is pushed around less after each shot (momentum).

However, my taste is opposite in rifles, I prefer slower, heavy bullets. Unlike pistol shooting, your elbows don't really absorb much energy before the impulse meets your (relatively) fixed shoulder, so your tissue must dissipate the momentum transfer directly (ouch). Though a slow, heavy round hurts, the impact is softened by duration, your "fixed" shoulder is better suited to soaking up momentum than a skinny arm (well, mine anyway). My next rifles will be 7.62x39 and 45-70. I currently have. 308s, but I have come to the conclusion their high-speed flat trajectories are unnecessary for the distances I shoot.

Ultimately, to claim energy or momentum to be paramount is silly, since the same two terms (mass and velocity) show up in the equations for both, they are two sides of the same coin. An infinitely heavy bullet cannot move, and can do no harm. A completely weightless bullet will come to rest instantly without penetrating, and can do no harm. In my completely unqualified opinion, I think we crossed a threshold with smokeless powder, where any centerfire round has the energy and momentum to be effective, and the argument is therefore moot. Let's instead debate whether a flared-end on your Blunderbuss improves your patterns!

It's a personal preference thing, and you won't know where you stand until you shoot a five-seven, and satisfy your interest in its capabilities. Personally, I have found my arms are better at quickly dissipating energy without losing my sights, than my overall stance is at recovering from momentum transfer. I chose rounds that fit me best (but boy are they LOUD! )

TCB

PS: "He is joking. THR does not have religion or politics forum." Coulda fooled me...

PPS: Forgot to answer the OP's question: Both. It's a bullet, it will maim or kill depending on what it hits. The real truth of the 5.7x28 round is satisfying to neither the fanboys nor the haters. Reality rarely is.