Finally some 5.7x28 ammo

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browningguy

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Went by Gander tonight to pick up a new pair of gloves for a hunting trip and low and behold they had a couple of cases of 5.7x28 on the shelf. They had the American Eagle 40 gr. for $24 a box, even though I don't like it as much as the FN I decided to go ahead and pick up an extra 500 rounds.
 
Oooh be DAMN careful with that.

The noses aren't as pointy as the Fiocci / Hornaday tipped ammo.

They WILL hit the feed ramp and bullets WILL get set back. Which - on that cartridge, is REALLY dangerous.

I bought 500 of them earlier this year, and quit shooting it completely after the first 200 rounds. I have gone through 6,000+ rounds of Fiocci and never a single feed issue. Every magazine I run through of that American Eagle stuff, I'm getting 2-3 jams. Always the nose on the feed ramp. So I cycled a full mag through by hand. 47 of those chambered. 25% of the bullets were set back noticeably; the worst, was set back a full 1/4 inch.

I don't even want to THINK about what that does to the chamber pressure.

Anyway... careful with that stuff.
 
Woah, nelly, I hadn't heard about that follow up test you did :eek:. Sounds like they need to start staking or crimping the bullets more aggressively, or even better, find a bullet shape that works better. You'd think AE could copy the SS197SP profile with a cheap FMJ bullet, or something :confused:

TCB
 
It's about time that some brilliant manufacture comes out with a real, strong enough plastic case that can handle the pressures of hi-intensity munitions. I thought of a case for the above round that featured an internal "shelf" that the bullet could sit on, and not be driven back. The shelf would be over a narrow cylindrical tunnel that would hold the powder, and perhaps that all would be fused to an aluminum/ceramic case head. Being absent of any brass or steel, this might be a way to a less expensive case. A nylon bullet jacket might be additional, needing only lead for weight. Who knows…..
 
Trent, is that with a fiveseven pistol or PS90? I've run a lot of the American Eagle 5.7 ammo through a PS90 without any problems.
 
It's about time that some brilliant manufacture comes out with a real, strong enough plastic case that can handle the pressures of hi-intensity munitions. I thought of a case for the above round that featured an internal "shelf" that the bullet could sit on, and not be driven back. The shelf would be over a narrow cylindrical tunnel that would hold the powder, and perhaps that all would be fused to an aluminum/ceramic case head. Being absent of any brass or steel, this might be a way to a less expensive case. A nylon bullet jacket might be additional, needing only lead for weight. Who knows…..
Splithoof, they already make brass with "shelves" inside the case, just not for the 5.7x28 that I am aware of. I agree they should do it to that and other pistol bottleneck cartridges though.
 
I've personally ran about 1000 rounds of AE through my 5.7 without incident. My LGS usually has a few boxes on the shelf every time I go in there (with the occasional Fiocci (FN label) box).

I would agree with that their could be some improvements to increase the safety margin with this round (I don't dare reload for it...yet) but then again it is a fairly "exotic" caliber that doesn't get a lot of attention from different ammo manufacturers.
 
Hoodfu - this was with a PS90. I ran it through two different rifles, and several different magazines, pretty much the same results in every case.

I haven't ran it through my FiveSeven pistol yet, a little wary of putting known bad ammo through a plastic gun that my hand is wrapped around. I've seen the results (on gun AND shooting hand) of a kaboom before the handgun, and it's not something I'd want to go through.

The ammo was very accurate - I shot it in a match earlier this year and did well (out to 200 yards).

But the stuff makes me nervous.

On the batch I have, the noses are typical FMJ, slightly rounded. When fed from the magazine sometimes they hang up on the chamber face. While the action / springs on a PS90 aren't *too* strong, compared to other guns I own, apparently it's strong enough to set the projectiles back in their cases.

As with anything, I'm sure this phenomena can vary lot-to-lot, and as each rifle is going to be slightly different, your mileage may vary.

I didn't even notice the problem for the first full magazines. But then I had a jam. Which I'd never had in a PS90, ever. I shrugged it off. Until I had another. I noticed that round that I cleared from the action was significantly shorter than it should be.

From that point I grew more concerned. The rest of the ammo I have isn't getting shot. I have dies, and this winter, it's getting re-manufactured in to 40gr ballistic tip. Those are pointy enough they'll never have feed problems.

FWIW I have older gen PS90's (with the old trigger packs).
 
Interesting. Yeah, I've got a very recent one. Everything I'm reading says they're made by the same people who make FN's rounds, just with different packaging and in this case, different bullet heads. I have a lot of the stuff so I'll see if I can go shoot off some more and see if I have any issues.
 
A bit off topic but if anyone has old 5.7 brass I 'm looking for some. Not to reload so condition not important.Thanks
 
The Academy store near me has had the AE 5.7 in stock for about 2 weeks now, minus of course my consumption.

I use it just for practice and keep the FN stuff for carry. At least until elite can get back to full speed.
 
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