Ballistic gelatin test results : 5.7x28mm (FN5.7 and PS90)

[Brass Fetcher]

Special thanks to J.K. for sponsoring this test in full and Shadan7 for setting this up, in the initial stages.

Cartridge : 5.7x28mm FN SS195 lead free FMJ (Part # 10700013)

Firearm : FN PS90 rifle (16.1" barrel length) and FN 5.7 handgun (4.8" barrel length), as indicated

Block calibration : 9.1cm @ 591 ft/sec

Shot 1 - Fired by PS90. Impacted at 2157 ft/sec, penetrated nose-forward to 2.1" depth, at which point the bullet tumbled and partially spit the core out of the jacket. Final penetration depth was 7.6" and recovered weight was 28.1gr.

Shot 2 - Fired by 5.7 pistol. Impacted at 1969 ft/sec, penetrated nose-forward to 3.8" depth, at which point the bullet tumbled and spit the core section out of the jacket. The core material penetrated to 7.9" and the maximum penetration depth was 9.7". Bullet recovered at 27.6gr weight.

At this point, the test setup was altered. At the request of the test's sponsor, the potential liability of the tested bullets in the case of an overpenetration of the target in an interior room was assessed. This was accomplished by the cutting of the gelatin block into two 8"x6"x6" blocks, placing one piece at a linear distance of 4" from the face of the FBI 'interior wall' test fixture (two pieces of 0.5" wallboard, on a 2x4 frame), while placing the other block 4" back from the rearmost wallboard panel. This setup is illustrated by the attached photograph of the test setup.

Block calibration for this event was 10.5cm @ 590 ft/sec.

Shot 3 - Fired by PS90. Impacted at 2153 ft/sec, penetrated to 8.0", exited the back of the gelatin block and the jacket section was recovered after through-penetration of both interior wall panels. Bullet fragments did not penetrate the gelatin block. Core section was spit and was not recovered.

Shot 4 - Fired by 5.7 pistol. Impacted at 1983 ft/sec, bullet was not recovered, but by inspection of the wallboard directly behind the block, no part of the bullet penetrated the rearmost drywall panel.

 

[Shear_stress]

Another fascinating test. Interesting that, in the first test, the round penetrated more out of a pistol than a rifle. Is the bullet working as designed? Was the permanent "wound track" greater in size from the PS90 (as the photographs seem to show)?

 

[Soybomb]

Thanks for the work, my opinion of 5.7x28 is personally unchanged still.

 

[PPGMD]

Cartridge : 5.7x28mm FN SS195 lead free FMJ (Part # 10700013)

The SS195 is the non-expanding hollowpoint round if I remember correctly.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Thank you, but that is why I listed it as a FMJ instead of a hollowpoint. Yes, the point is 'hollow', but that appears to be more intended for usage as an aerodynamic 'trip wire', which reduces the drag on the bullet from the ambient air. I would imagine that the PS90 would push the bullet as fast as it could go ... so if expansion was going to happen, I imagine that is the platform that would make it happen.

 

[Odd Job]

Thanks, that is very interesting, as always.

 

[possum]

thanks for sharing i was wondering about the 5.7 in the gelatin!

 

[12many]

Great. I was hoping you would test the 5.7.
Seems to be a very controversial round. It appears the tumble creates a large wound channel. Penetration seems low, likely due to the tumble and low weight of the round. I will be interested to read what others say.

 

[12many]

JE, on your last shot #4, did the bullet tumble in the first gel block?

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Interestingly, I fired another shot out of the rifle (on a spare piece of undamaged block) - the bullet spat the core, as it did with the pistol shot. The permanent cavity was indeed larger on the pistol shot, due to the core-jacket separation. Yeah... I was scratching my head on that one too...! It is hard to predict what a bullet will do during a gelatin test... when this is coupled with the high (and sharply increasing) stresses put on the bullet as the result of a high impact velocity, bullet performance becomes less predictable beforehand.

Yes... all bullets tumbled on shots 1-4.

 

[12many]

IMHO, I think this round is pretty amazing, at least to me for a combat gun.

It seems to combine light armour vest penetration, which most handguns will not do.

It also is a tumbling round that is alleged and seems to cause great tissue damage, likely great than FMJ 9mm.

It also is carried in a 20 round package that weights very little loaded and can be carried on the hip, so it has some advantages over a rifle.

And, it has little recoil so it suits a wide range of users.

Pretty neat, particularly from an engineering standpoint.

 

[buzz_knox]

It seems to combine light armour vest penetration, which most handguns will not do.

It also is a tumbling round that is alleged and seems to cause great tissue damage, likely great than FMJ 9mm.

The armor piercing ammunition is tightly controlled and only available to gov't/military.

Other gel testing has shown the 5.7 tends to have wound ballistics lower than a 9mm.

 

[12many]

Yes, I know, that is why I said combat. It is/was designed for military use based on what I have read.

When you cite its comparison to 9 mm, is that FMJ as would be required by military, or JHP?

 

[buzz_knox]

If I recall correctly, the gel tests I've seen put the FMJ still ahead of or equal to the 5.7. I could be mistaken on that. Most of the time, the comparisons are done to JHP as the 5.7 is being considered more as an LE weapon in such tests.

One point to consider is that apparently the penetratation standard that the 5.7 was designed to meet have been overtaken by events. The armor standards have been increased based on real world experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas, and the penetration needs have increased accordingly.

 

[alucard0822]

Thanks for another great test. seems like a similar design to the 4.6mmX30 H&K. Seems like a poor tradeoff of penetration for velocity. If you are cleared to buy AP 5.7, you could also buy AP 9mm. If ammo didn't cost as much as it does, I think it would be a fun plinker, probably has a flat enough trajectory to shoot at 50+ yards

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Does anyone know of the legality of owning the 5.7 AP ammo? If it is OK to own, now would be the time to ship me some rounds - I will be returning the 5.7x28mm guns that I have to the owner in the next 2 weeks or so.

To be honest, I don't see performance much different than what we see here ... if a heavier bullet is used, that does not tumble, than there will be deeper penetration ... which most people agree is a good thing... ...

 

[alucard0822]

the AP ammo falls under the AP pistol ammo ban, It looks to me the 5.7 has a similar shaped channel to 5.45x39, 7.62X39 and other rifle cartridges that employ tumbling as their main wounding mechanics, but on a MUCH smaller scale. If the AP ammo didn't tumble it would basically become a glorified .22, Ideally it would preserve velocity untill 6" or so, then begin to yaw or tumble to 12"
Most of the high velocity battle rifle calibers are at least capable of penetrating 12+" and would be able to reach vitals. see the other tests done and see if you agree

 

[panzermk2]

Next time try the SS197. Instead of tumbling like the SS192/SS195 it is designed to fragment and in my opinion is better for self defense

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Good idea.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I enjoyed your 7.62 Tok tests more. And like post #3, my opinion for this round has not changed.

 

[Geronimo45]

This looks like a round the .gov might like for low over-penetration worries for hostage situations and the like. Maybe that's why the Secret Service bought a few up - so that in a shooting scenario near the prez, there's less chance of civvie casualties.

As for civvies - it's evil, black, and high-capacity. What more could you want?

Personally, I likes it a lot (mainly 'cause lots of other folk don't). Thanks for the test!

 

[Plink]

I'm thankful for the test. I've been trying to find as much info as I can on the cartridge's performance. So far from everything I've seen, the performance is not very inspiring for a self defense round, which was to be expected anyway.

My main interest is in a flat shooting, lightweight handgun for taking "pot meat" when I'm hunting larger game. As soon as the aftermarket catches up with accuracy improvements, I can see myself owning the pistol though.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

FWIW - I found the pistol and rifle to be great shooters. I'm no expert marksman, but I practice shooting, heh, 3 times a week. Both guns were sharp, and very little recoil.

 

[Shipwreck]

Interesting results - thanks for posting!