5.7x28mm

You will soon discover that the same guys jump in on these threads everytime.

Generally, people who have never owned one will tell you why it sucks. And, people with experience with them will tell you why they like their 5.7 weapons.

Out of a handgun, it is basically between a 380 and 9mm in power. Out of the PS90, the energy is comparable to a 9mm (longer barrel = more speed).

I will likely buy the new S&W 5.7
 
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I can tell you that they are great for handloaders with tiny fingers! lol … If you are planning on a 5.7x28, get into hand loading and create your own full little pills, they use .224 bullets. I would recommend getting a “M” style expander and a Frankford universe seating die kit. seating depth is tiny.
 
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Its kind of expensive. Its great to reload, very cheap to reload. Cases need to be trimmed like a rifle case after every shot.
My interest has shifted more to subsonic 5.7 that will stabilize through a silencer. Usually plated, flat base bullets.
 
My only experience with the 5.7x28 was when I had an AR57 upper so can't comment on usefulness of the cartridge out of a pistol.

Now onto reloading the 5.7x28.

It is not all that friendly to reload, especially for new reloader's. I'l list some of the negatives.
  • Very small window between minimum and maximum powder charges - not much room for error
  • The 5.7 tends to blow out the neck so the number of reloads per case is lower
  • You have to deal with the coating that is applied to the cases at the factory. The coating is definitely needed when using P90 magazines that rotate the round before chambering. The coating isn't much of an issue with traditional style magazines but still something to take into consideration.
If yo want to learn more about the 5.7x28 and reloading it, I suggest checking out https://www.fivesevenforum.com/index.php?sid=1a82f37261e3ffa0b6f33a6778db8093

While the 5.7x28 is not hard to reload, you definitely have to pay close attention to what you are doing.
 
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My only experience with the 5.7x28 was when I had an AR57 upper so can't comment on usefulness of the cartridge out of a pistol.

Now onto reloading the 5.7x28.

It is not all that friendly to reload, especially for new reloader's. I'l list some of the negatives.
  • Very small window between minimum and maximum powder charges - not much room for error
  • The 5.7 tends to blow out the neck so the number of reloads per case is lower
  • You have to deal with the coating that is applied to the cases at the factory. The coating is definitely needed when using P90 magazines that rotate the round before chambering. The coating isn't much of an issue with traditional style magazines but still something to take into consideration.
If yo want to learn more about the 5.7x28 and reloading it, I suggest checking out https://www.fivesevenforum.com/index.php?sid=1a82f37261e3ffa0b6f33a6778db8093

While the 5.7x28 is not hard to reload, you definitely have to pay close attention to what you are doing.

Yes, it is definetly not for a new reloader to try, IMHO
 
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Its kind of expensive. Its great to reload, very cheap to reload. Cases need to be trimmed like a rifle case after every shot.
My interest has shifted more to subsonic 5.7 that will stabilize through a silencer. Usually plated, flat base bullets.

I got to ask. Why?

And your answer can be a simple as, because I can.

I'm really just curious because it seems in my mind to be a fruitless effort when one can just shoot 22lr 40-45gr for dirt cheap subsonic. No doubt you will pick up some BC's and it's cleaner and reloadable but...
 
I got to ask. Why?

And your answer can be a simple as, because I can.

I'm really just curious because it seems in my mind to be a fruitless effort when one can just shoot 22lr 40-45gr for dirt cheap subsonic. No doubt you will pick up some BC's and it's cleaner and reloadable but...
I always wonder about 5.7x28 Subsonic. Also Why… now if your doing a 72g 5.7 Sub and can stabilize it, different story and a cool story too.
 
I got to ask. Why?

And your answer can be a simple as, because I can.

I'm really just curious because it seems in my mind to be a fruitless effort when one can just shoot 22lr 40-45gr for dirt cheap subsonic. No doubt you will pick up some BC's and it's cleaner and reloadable but...
After I got my gemtech SFN I found that full power factory ammo wasn't a good match for the suppressed fiveseven pistol. The silencer made the recoil worse and it really stretched out the brass bad. It seems like the SFN was designed for the subsonic 5.7 ammo that's pretty much unobtainable.
Subsonic 5.7 ammo fires bullets much longer bullets, is cleaner burning and way more reliability than any 22lr.
And I can always switch back to full power, or slightly reduced power 5.7x28 ammo that uses fast burning powder, is super sonic and loaded for accuracy.
 
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...Out of a handgun, it is basically between a 380 and 9mm in power....

Which is to say that it is ineffective in the sense that it falls below the most common standard for effectiveness. Specifically, it fails to obtain the minimum penetration in calibrated, temperature-controlled 10% ballistics gel, and it also fails to achieve 1.5X expansion. While I agree with the assessment that its effectiveness is improved (slightly) from the 10" barrel of the P90, so does the effectiveness of 9x19mm in PDW's. Where 5.7 gains an advantage over 9 in PDW's is in soft armor penetration when used with AP ammo. Even so, with that size weapon, a short-barreled 5.56 is going to be far superior against armor.

800px-Cartridge_Comparison_5.56x45mm%2C_4.6x30mm_HK%2C_5.7x28mm_FN_and_9x19mm_Para.jpg
AAA battery, 5.56x45, 4.6x36mm HK, 5.7x28mm FN and 9x19mm
 
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On a 5.7x28 handgun the biggest bullet that can remain stabilize through a silencer and be subsonic, with a 1:9 twist is about a 60gr flat base.
A 62gr boat tail will stabilize out of the gun going subsonic, but screw on a silencer they tumble. Fire them at full power and they are fine, but no longer subsonic.
 
One has to subscribe to velocity damage in the form of extreme stretch cavity to say it has advantages over 9mm.

For me it would be a fun ranch/woods gun for taking long shots at varmints/predators or stumbling across a grouse out hunting in the mountains for some camp meat.

I could see myself carrying it from time to time in certain social settings or on trips. 22+1 in the S&W 5.7 is pretty enticing in a round with down range ballistics that it has.
 
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My local shop finally got in their first S&W M&P 5.7 pistol. I was the first one to look at it... And... I found the grip too big for my smaller hands. Too big, back to front. I had a feeling this would happen. But as they advertised it as the thinnest 5.7 grip (side to side), I thought the thinness MIGHT make up for the longer cartridge sized grip... I had to try it, because the gun is really interesting....

2 handed, it works. 1 handed, the grip is too long. So, while I wanted to buy it, I passed. I have had to sell too many guns over the years because they were too big for my hands... They always seem like they will work while I am at the gun store... But after several range trips, I always see the truth. Especially any 45 that isn't a 1911....

I also finally looked at a 2011. I had been told the grip was fatter than a G17, so I never bothered to look at them... I didn't want to find out it worked, and then I would want to spend a ton of money for a nice one... It's "okay" in the grip size, but is on the border of what fits my hands.

So, no purchase today :(
 
The main wrist joint where it pivots up and down to the tip of the finger?

My hands are very bony. I don't have much meat on them...

Yes, just curious; I have average hand size I would say but don't seem to have issues with many handguns.
 
Looks like 6.75" from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist, and 6.5" from the tip of the tip of the trigger finger to the wrist
 
Looks like 6.75" from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist, and 6.5" from the tip of the tip of the trigger finger to the wrist

Ok, I'm 7.5" and 7" so that probably makes a decent difference in reach.

I'm just curious as this pistol definitely has my interest, oddly enough.